When you talk about Sponsored shooters, you are not necesarrily talking about Pro or Semi Pro shooters. Some sponsored shooters are no doubt paid pro shooters, but not all. Some are promoting a product and receive
some equipment from companies but NOT sponsored money wise. Those in this position may not be the top shot or able to be top shooters, but do well in promoting and selling the equipment line. Some have been piced up by companies simply because of their ability to PROMOTE, not shoot.

Now, for those that shoot Semi Pro etc, then drop back into HC just for a win, I agree, they are sandbagging and should NOT be allowed to do it.
I over heard a statement in Wetumpka about one gentleman who walked on to the HC range and was a Semi Pro everywhere else, and he should NOT be allowed to comptete in HC. A disqualification would be in order in this instance as far as I am concerned

You heard and she said!
We have reviewed the lists from shoots this year and do not see the names.
If you have a name,e-mail it to us. Who was it?
No more rumors. Step up to the plate and let us know.
We cannot take action without this information.
Rumors are rumors and mean nothing!
ken12

sorry i said anything about the subject but i just think that shooters should shoot in the classes they belong in and if one has been shooting any he knows where he or she belongs. Ken thanks for your time in AL. and for looking into the subject.

that's exactly what a "honorable" person would think as i'm sure all of you are who have responded to this touchy subjuct. up until now i have competed in the hunter classes at locals (no ibo's or big shoots), this year i'm going to shoot comp or open and when i do go to a qualifier or any other shoot where i know i'm not going to win, i'm not going to lower my standards and shoot in a lower class just to place well, that would be unsportsman like. isn't that what we are, sportsmen/women?

I have looked at the results of the hunter class from Wetumpka and do not see any open shooters in the top twenty. I have gone back over the last two years on the results page and I must have missed something. Being new to the IBO I am still learning. I too shoot hunter class and enjoyed the shoot very much. I agree with Ken, if you have a particular person in mind then send it in an email so that it can be cleared up. I think the forum page gives us all a chance to vent a little and express our opinions. Sandbagging does go on in almost every sport. There is no way to stop it totally. We have the same problems in our BHA shoots here in Alabama. We stopped a lot of the unlimited and open shooters from moving down by making them shoot 100 grain screw in points and 4" fletchings and as IBO limiting them to 280f.p.s. This has helped a lot as most of the top shooters want to shoot glue in points and smaller fletchings for speed. It does not totally eliminate it but does curtail it some. Most of the posts on here are saying the same things. Those shooters that take pride in shooting and enjoying our sport, move up for the competition. If you are satisfied with easy wins in hunter class, aren't you really limiting yourself?

ok this out of hand here, first of all lets think about all this, since the one gentlemen that started the thread, seems to me he is a hunter, as most of us are.But are we forgetting who keeps these ASA and IBO shoots going? Do you think it the Hunters or the guys that promote and sell archery?And we that shoot 11 months out of the year, both hunting and 3 d, do we say ok you hunters you are taking up room, and you slowing down the pace.No we welcome everyoen to our sport,what ya got to think about this is a sport its not a way a person can make a living at.This isn t nascar, or pro football.So lets all get along, the rules say it plain you start off in HC you win 2 events you must move up, same as it reads in ASA rules.
whats the big deal, you try shooting a scope at 55 yards you think it s easy on ya eyes, arms, you havent felt fatigue til you try it.I shot in ASA as a open shooter, I pledged to go to h unter class to clean up my hunting skills, I also shoot pop ups and this is great fun to keep eyes on fitals at hunting yardages.Not that i couldnt shoot a deer out at 55 yards in the real world, but only if everything was perfect, and how often does that happen? So cheer up and for those whiners, In rome, ga, I will have ya some cheese ok, so ya can get that whine down, have fun and enjoy the sport, why ya hung up on money?spend more time on practicing, so you can beat the stew off those so called sandbaggers, you know, they are human they can be beat.everyone has a bad day. good luck see ya in room.Oh by the way, I am one of those walking billboards, so come up to me lets have a nice calm conversation.

good post! I agree with most all of the post here. We are all in this together. We are not all going to agree on everything. 3D shooters and others like them do shoot 12 months out of the year and they deserve the recognition and respect just as the dedicated bowhunter does. I will be bringing my Hoyt Protec to Rome and will join you for some good conversation and hopefully some better shooting on my part after Wetumpka.

Amen, brother! Let's pass the peace pipe and just go kill some foam till next fall gets here.

See ya in Rome.

i sent ken the name of the sandbagger and now lets see if anything is done ,i doubt that anything will be done ,he got what he wants our money