ticipants in the same class will shoot from the same distance.
For a normal archery competition that is fine but when we use
a 3D competition as training ground for bow hunters this way
of competing is contrary to SABA’s ethics and responsibility
policy. This format forces a person to take shots from a distance
that they might not be confident or competent at.
How did SABA resolve this dilemma?
When you hunt there are three outcomes: a kill shot, a wound
or a miss. With this in mind the kill-zone of the 3D animals
was stripped of any value. Instead the peg from which a shot is
taken determines the value of that shot. SABA then changed the
competition rules to allow participants to move to another peg
should they feel that that peg is more within their comfort zone
or ability. Participants will evaluate a shot possibility from a
given peg and, based on distance and any obstacles between the
peg and the 3D target, make a decision whether to take the shot
or move to a peg that will give them a better shot opportunity.
From a bow hunting training perspective this promotes ethi-
cal and responsible hunting practices.
As for the competition leg, an easier shot will earn you fewer
points. One might think it is unfair but the reality is that by for-
feiting one or two points by taking the ethical and responsible
route the participant normally ends up winning the competition.
You might wonder how that is possible. It is all in the scor-
ing system. Let’s look at that and how it favours the ethical and
responsible competitor.
At each target you have pegs marked 1 to 5 with peg 1 as the
easiest and peg 5 the most difficult shot. Each target therefore
has a maximum points value of 5. A wound is scored –1 (minus
one) and a miss is scored –2 (minus two).
Let’s look at a typical day at a SABA 3D competition for
two participants in the same class and how taking the ethical
and responsible route benefits the participant.
Participant 1 will be our ethical and responsible hunter and
participant 2 will try to score full points at all targets.
Participant 2 made one mistake on a 56 yard shot and got a
wound, but got kill shots on all other targets. For the wound the
participant loses the maximum of five points that were up for
grabs and gets penalised by one point (–1 ) for the wound. This
one mistake cost the participant six points to end with a total
score of 94/100.
Participant 1 on the other hand decided on three targets
to rather move to an easier shot and not going for maximum
points. On one target the shot was taken from peg 4, from the
other two targets from peg 3. Kills were awarded for all three
shots and all other targets the participant got kill shots from peg- The participant therefore lost one point at one target and two
points at each of the other targets. Total points lost were five.
Our ethical and responsible hunter therefore ended with a score
of 95/100 and wins the day!
For the traditional archers, juniors and younger participants
the pegs have different values allowing them maximum points
within the limitations of their equipment.
The goal of the SABA 3D shoots is to give bow hunters a
platform where they can improve their hunting skills (shooting
accurately under difficult situations) while competing. One can
say that for the price of one competition you get to participate
in two. The first competition is between you, the hunter, and the
course. The second competition is between participants in the
same class. Thus there are two levels of awards. The first award
SABA gives is for individuals that obtained a certain score on
the day. This is in the form of a certificate and based on the
score it can be either bronze, silver or gold. Then the second
award is to the top three participants in each class. These are
bronze, silver or gold medals.
We really hope to see more bow hunters utilising the SABA
3D shoots to better themselves. I urge everybody that considers
hunting an animal with a bow, walk-and-stalk or from a hide, to
come to test your hunting equipment at our 3D shoots. This is
the unique feature of the SABA shoots: you can use broadheads,
both fixed blade and mechanicals, at our competitions. This
allows you to see if your hunting bow, arrows and broadheads
are in tune and how they perform in real hunting scenarios. The
only thing we cannot simulate is the level of awareness the ani-
mals have.
We are looking forward to meeting up with old friends
again and making new ones! Strangers are only friends you
don’t know yet. Come, let’s be friends and not strangers. •
For more info contact Vick at 082 888 0799 or admin@
sabowhunting.co.za.