lets say we are shooting at an alligator and i shoot high on it and hit an 8 on the top killzone. does that count as a 5 or 8?

kill zones are in relation to the way the target is positioned for the shot. Most of the alligators that I have seen have a kill zone in the traditional spot behind the shoulder and the other one is on the back. I have seen the alligator strapped to a tree to get to shoot the one on the back but most of the time it is the side view that we shoot at and if you hit the top kill zone from this position it would count as a 5 and not an 8.

justin, if there is a sign at the shooting stakes telling you to score the side kill zone only, and you shoot it in the back kill zone you would get a five. If the club doesn't tell you which zone to score the shooter can score any zone in which he hits. According to IBO rule #6 All scoring zones shall/can be used unless otherwise noted at shooting stake. Hope this clears up any questions that you have, good luck Rudy

hi justin, ive seen this same thing happen on local and national courses.
if you hit in the 10,8,5 where ever its at on the target you get that score.
just try to take it away from someone sometime and you'll find out fast.
good luck,,,,,,,,,, phil

Not at an IBO shoot, we had to get a ruling on this the first year they had the gator. I saw a guy win the triple crown when he hit the ten ring on the top from a side shot, in other words another 1/2" higher and he would've missed. It was scored a ten by the ibo and he won by two points. Still think that was a bad call.

nysrep is correct in his understanding of the rules. If a club wants a specific kill zone used it must specify so. The aligator is a good example of a target which is often set so that both kill zones are open. (shooting from an elevated location at a broadside or slightly turned target.) From that position an argument can be made as to which is the safer shot to take. I've also seen the "lucky" shot hang by a thread in the top 10 or 11 ring when it was obviously not intended. The rule protects the choice of open shots when not specified while trusting to the integrity of the competitor in the event of a "lucky" near miss. In this event I will usually leave it to the competitor how they want the arrow scored. They can rightfully keep the points, which most will do, or they can take a five, which a few have done.