would someone please explain to me what "maximum of approximately 50 yards" is?

Well, in a nutshell it means that the yardage is not locked to a absolute 50 yard max.

Here's why. If you have been to very many tournaments, you will have undoubtedly heard talk that a certain target was past max yardage and thereby unfair. This rule allows those setting a course to utilise rangefinders, (Which have +/- accuracy standards), without the hard wall interpretation. Also, you can no longer just see a target for "maybe 48 yards", set for 50 and hold low. You need to read the target with certainty.

I hope this helps, and good luck in this years shooting.

cxl250

Your question is one that I may not be able to answer as I had never really looked at it for the wording. I think that possibly the wording would have been better if it would have been stated as approximately 50 yards. I guess that the wording of "maximum OF approximately 50 yards" is the same as plus or minus 50 yards but with the final interpation being left up to the person setting the stake. I have been in many conversations about the maximum yardages and which is best for the game. Usually the conversation is one that comes up with many pro and cons but no solutlions that satisfies the people that are truely in it for the Hunting as 50 yards is not a good distance for most people hunting with a bow and arrow.

Bluejacket has it right.
ken12

I think that the rule should have oe more stipulation added to it to keep it uniform. Add that it would be approximately 50 yards max. plus or minus 3% as with most of IBO rules.