RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

I have been reading all the ideas about the Hunter Class and heres one of mine. Novice Hunter Class (NHC) . This class would have two courses set up with 20 targets on each course and your registaition would be handled right there at the beginning of each course. IBO membership could be an option. All the rules would be the same as the Hunter Class and would be governed the same way. The NHC would not have awards but would be handled just like the Bow Hunter Defence. EXAMPLE You walk up to the first course and sign up to shoot those 20 targets, when you are done turn in your score card and you will have 1 entry into the prize drawing. Registar for the second course and shoot it and you will have 1 more entry in the drawing with a maximum of 2 entries per event. As for cost it could be set at $15.00/course or both courses for $25.00. Now for the moving up a class the top 10 scores will have to move up the following year and join the IBO.(if membership is not required to shoot this class). I know there is some sharp edges on this theory but I'm sure that someone will come up with a way to smooth out the rough spots. Not perfect but it's possibly a start in the right direction.

RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

I might be wrong(god knows that has happened before) but I thought that the hunter class was designed to get the the guy that showed up at our local events with his quiver mounted to his bow and full of arrows to come to an Natonal Event and fling a few arrows at foam targets? If you want competitiive classes come play in the MBR or MBO? I made a post this morning. you people aren't using your head about this! Go back and take a look at what I and some of the others are saying about the Hunter Class! Isn't it time to make it a novice class, where the guy that has his quiver mounted to his bow isn't concerned with what Joe Budda shots at Erie or Nelsonville. People are asking what changes need to be made to the hunter class?, maybe no changes need to be made, only that competiors need to think about why they are in that class to begin with!!!
Rudy Abersold

RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

I am new to IBO as I have said before. Hunter Class to me is not a novice class. If anyone will look at the Southern Triple Crown scores you will see that not many shooter's scores were way up. At Wetupmka only the top 6 shooters were up over 400. At Rome, only the top 3 shooters were up. At the final leg in Pensacola only the top 9 shooters were up. Perhaps to some the hunter class is easy but certainly not for me. The courses were very tough and yardages were hard to determine. The little signs saying welcome to the IBO did not help my feelings any either(LOL). I was a little intimidated by the pressure and the shooters wearing the sponsored shirts as well as many other sights that I encountered for the first time. Despite all of these things, I focused on the positive things as Jeremy Blackmon advised me to do. I not only had a great time but did not shoot too bad for my first time in the IBO. I shot with some great shooters from 16 years old to 60 and had a great time meeting and shooting with them all. I learned invaluable tips from each and everyone of them. They not only made me feel welcome but helped my wife with her shooting as she had only been shooting since Christmas of 2003. This to me is what makes the IBO what it is. This thread proves that, as all of you have given your opinions as to how to make the hunter class better, not easier for yourselves to shoot in. I think as Bowpro said that we need to go back to page one of this thread and list the ideas and see as he stated which two directions we need to go. I can see that we need to create a true novice class but at the same time have a class for a shooter that is between that level and MBR and MBO. Just when I think that I have the answer someone gives me something else to think about on here. Some really great suggestions have been given and I hope that something really good comes out of all of the great ideas put forth on here.

RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

nys
I think the numbers speak for them self. The many people that are shooting in the hunter class are not all bubba's but they are people that do not have to win to enjoy themselves. If all the suggestions about being for novice archers only, are all these people wrong. I live in NY and shoot in a league that averages about 95 to 100 shooters a week and 40% or more are shooting hunters class for a variety of reason and we also have a noncompetitive class that only draws a very few new archers but does have some seasoned archers shooting. The practice class as we call it shoots for a dollar less entry fee.

RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

Thanks guys (center punch and fast fletch), thats what I said in the beginning of this post. And, I still think that, that might be a way to go, even with shorter yardages or something that just anyone can show up and shoot.

One thing I would like to bring to the surface here before I leave to try and kill myself in the New River this weekend (actually I think its the wife who's behind it, but anyway). We are a bowhunting organization, but, we pay the bills and get things done with the money made at these shoots. I, along with most, do not mind the entry fees, thats what keeps us going and moving ahead. And, remember, how we (as an organization) get our bling-bling, by target shooting. These shoots were more than likely started as "real-life practice". Now, it's competition. I love this sport, not neccessarily every thing about it, but I still love it. Shooting in the yard, shooting at 3-D targets at unknown yardage, getting my bow super tuned, then putting in a bow press to make it shoot a little better, and screwing the whole thing up beyond all belief.

We are united as bowhunters, but I would bet there are a couple of us at these shoots who do not hunt. But, they looove to target shoot, just like the rest of us do. That makes us united as 3-D archers also. These are not real life hunting situations, but thats what we strive to immitate. If it were, I wouldnt get a shot all year, and could you imagine the backups. We use these shoots local and national and back yard, to better prepare ourselves for a hunting situation by training ourselves, and practicing shooting form and function, while building confidence in our abilities, so we do not make a bad shot on a real-live-animal. I dont think I would ever take a fifty yard shot at an animal (a real one that is), unless every possible condition was correct, and they seldom are at those distances (oh, it would have to be a big animal too). But, I would sling a whole quiver at a foam one, pull'em, and do it again a couple of times.

So, we are trying to figure something out, tons of good ideas. But, how do we preserve what we have, while building to get what will draw new shooters, and more bling-bling. I have already stated my thoughts earlier. I apologize for the long winded posts. I feel as though we do not need to loose track of who we are, but we need to chart a course for further and better growth and development, and that would have to include new blood (not that anythings wrong with what we got) by getting kids involved and encouraging those kids (and their parents) who are interested.

nysrep, maybe you are right, keep the hunter class for the novice. But, if that were the case, remove the money payout except for the world and keep it the same as it is now. I am sure you would see a lot of guys moving out for the money. After weeks of this thread, I am beginning to think that could be an option too. But still, the average Joe is not going to show up at a TC shoot and pay $55 to shoot 40 targets and get a membership. Where do we go and what do we do without messing up what we already have? I really dont know.

P.S. If I do meet my end in a cold and raging river this weekend, I bequeth my bow press to John Cooper, and all of my other bow stuff to the IBO for auction.

RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

Ging back to page one and reading forward to page 4 I have not been able to see a true solution. I think that the IBO has done a lot for local clubs. Many of us have gone to national level shoots and come back with some great ideas for our club shoots. I will bet that many of your clubs have benefited from this type of feedback from shooters competing in IBO events. As far as the wear of target centers at the club level, that is something we all have to contend with. We have had to increase our shooting entry fees and have adapted with the increase in price of replacement. On that score I still feel that the target manufacturers could do a better design job on the replacement sections to just the 10 ring area and not the entire midsection as we have to do now.
Most all of the posts seem to agree to disagree(LOL). the main points are that the Hunter Class is a great class and would seem to be very successful. It is a very challenging class and has made me become a better shooter. I do not think that IBO should change the hunter class rules etc. as it is such a success. The only change I would make would be to make it a trophy class instead of a money class. this alone would give enough incentive for the top shooters to move up on their own. If we need a class for the novice or beginning shooter then create a new novice class with rules and restrictions as have been discussed on here already. This class would show great numbers in no time and could boast 300 shooters before too long. This would give a more natural progression for shooters that want to compete. I think that we should keep the 11 ring and scoring just as it is because it is a great system and seems to be working well. I think that we need to keep the bino's because the 10 rings on some of these targets are not located in the same spot from target to target. You can't hit it if you can't see it. Make a list of the things we would like to see change in the hunter class or a new novice class and let's take an online poll just for fun. Then let's see how many more problems arise from the changes we would make. So cast an online vote here for fun. new novice class or change the existing Hunter class?

RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

i have posted this before and will post it again, how many of the shooters are new to the sport of 3d and how many moved to the hunter class from another class. this class is intended for shooters just like hoytshooter1977, HE is new to the sport, and finds the hunter class challenging.......any shooter who can go out and shoot over 400 on a range consistently isnt being challenged by the range. he is only being challenged by his ability to hit the 11 ring. those shooters need to move up.

the issue of money, i think the hunter class is fine. i shoot in the open class because i like the equipment i use, and do not want to be a pro shooter. i shoot for fun, and would rather not think the house payment relied on my ability to shoot. that would be the ibo rapid weight loss program.......if you feel you need to shoot for more money that is available in your class, shoot semi pro or pro.....plain and simple.

i will say that it wouldnt hurt to add anther tier to the hc, with the same equipment and a 40 yard max. that would be a nice stepping stone to the mbr or mbo.

i will agree that the middle of the targets get pounded in the hc. they also get pounded by the mbr, mbo classes at the national events, but you have some of the best shooters in the world shooting the targets. on the local level, we attempt to move shooters up, but always get the same response. it is an equipment class and not an ability class. we stopped the money payout, and low and behold, the class participants started moving up as they got better and more familiar with the equipment. this is not a solution to any problem, and who ever thought having a bunch of very capable shooters as a problem, but obviously it is in some eyes. moving up the good shooters will move out 1/3 of the class. but where. that is where the intermediat class would help. the mbr could handle more shooters, the mbo is very crowded....enough to warrant multiple range combinations at the world shoot......

RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

Great Post Keith..

RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

Keith,

Lets say that we take the one third of the class and move them up to another class. How many of the one third do you think that we will loose to another organization or they will just quit participating in National events. It would seem to me that if the hunter class is so unfair to the beginning archer it would make more sense to form a class just for the beginning archers so that they have a choice. There are many ways that new people can come into the class and shoot the a top score. They could be new members that have been shooting 3D at their home club or been members of another competitive organization. In a competitive class with the large numbers that Hunter class has people would much rather be a member of the hunter class with distances that produce scores that make them look a little better than to be put in a class of someone else's choice. I have never read in the rules the stated intention of the Hunter class.
This discussion has been back and forth for so long I don't think that there is anything new that can be said. The hunter class is a very successful class and the number of unhappy participants are a small minority. I personally think that I will try to fix some of the things that need to be fixed when I see them rather than try to fix a class that isn't doing any thing but getting bigger. I would like to see a senior Hunter class as this is also a growning class that needs to bring some changes that will keep the top of the age groups growing. Many seniors are leaving the game because they think they can no longer compete.
Thats my opinion and I hope that there is something within that can help the organization Keep all of its members and draw many more.

RE: HUNTER CLASS IDEAS
 

fastfletch, you stated in your post to start a class just for the beginning archer, what do you think the hunter class is?

i realize there are great shooters out there who dont even participate in the local events, that are very capable of posting great scores.....again, i liken this to the michael jordan tiger woods theory.....go out and practice every day for four hours a day....you will never beat them, they are the best in the world at what they do......you, for all of your efforts fall into thats the best i can do catagory.......within that category you must find a place to shoot. if shooting the big scores is what makes you feel good, then thats where you need to be. if you feel you need to be challenged a little more, step up. i stated in my post that if you moved 1/3 or the hunter class there would be no other class than mbr that could handle them, i am not saying i think it should be an automatic cutoff score and you have to move that shooter out, if the shooter is that good, they should move up. i am not saying that the ibo needs to tell 1/3 of the shooters in a class, move up or quit, i realize that is a problem, and will create problems. it is not a solution. there are some great shooters in that class, obviously or we wouldnt be addressing this as a problem. but is it also fair for the newer shooter to compete against seasoned shooters? i will agree, just because a shooter is new to the ibo doesnt mean they are a new shooter...