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3D Bowhunter Challenge

9:00am - 7:00pm on Feb 1, 2025, Saturday|PA Farm Show Complex - Archery Range Hall|View Details|Add To Calendar

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Click here for the 2025 Bowhunter Challenge Flyer

Click here to Register Online

Coming Soon:

Participant Entry Policy
2025 Bowhunter & Spot Challenge Schedule Coming Soon

About the 3D Bowhunter Challenge

You can check your equipment in with us and enjoy the show when you are not shooting
You can shoot for fun, compete for in trophy or money classes
Top qualifier from each day in each class advance to the finals
Top qualifying finalists are notified by phone from event officials
Finals take place on the second Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM, with times depending on the class you are shoot
Shoot as many qualifying rounds as you would like (you must pay for each round you shoot)
Each round consists of 30 shots
It takes about 1.5 hours to complete a round (depends on if line is full)
We suggest you pre-register, but walk-ins are welcome
Binoculars are allowed
Rangefinders are allowed

*Registration Opens Soon*

3D Bowhunter Challenge Classes & Class Rules

Cubs (Ages 12 & Under)

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on sights, stabilizers or style of release.
Maximum yardage: 25 yards

Longbow Class (LB)

A one (1) or two (2) piece longbow shot with fingers directly contacting the bowstring using a glove, finger tab or bare fingers.
Archers may use up to two (2) nock locating devices, but they must use the same nocking point and anchor point for each shot
and the index finger must contact the string in the same place for each shot.
The index finger must touch the nock of the arrow.
Face and/or String walking are not permitted.
No sighting device of any kind may be used.
There shall be no markings on the bow or bowstring that could be construed as sighting marks.
No type of draw check or clicker may be used.
All arrows shall be of the same material and be of uniform length and weight.
Arrows will be shot off the hand or shelf of the riser.
The bowstring, when the bow is strung, may only contact the nocks of the bow.
No stabilizers, counterbalances, or weights of any kind may be attached or built into the bow; except a bow quiver designed to hold arrows.
Maximum yardage: 25 yards

Youth Male Release (YMR 13-14, Ages 13-14)

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on sights, stabilizers or style of release.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Female Youth (FY, Ages 13-17)

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on sights, stabilizers or style of release.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Recurve (RU)

Recurve shot with fingers directly contacting the bowstring using a glove, finger tab or bare fingers.
No sighting device of any kind may be used.
A rest or plunger is all that may reside in sight window of the bow.
A limb mounted draw check or clicker may be used.
There shall be no markings on the bow or bowstring that could be construed as sighting marks.
All arrows shall be of the same material and be of uniform length and weight.
Face and/or String walking are permitted.
A stabilizer measuring 12 inches or less may be used.
Maximum yardage: 30 yards.

Female Hunter Class (FHC)

Compound, recurve or longbow with or without sights.
May be shot with release, finger tab, glove or bare fingers.
If sight is used, it will have fixed, crosshair or circle style pins without lens or magnification.
If circle pins are used, all circles must be the same size.
A verifier or clarifier style peep sight will be allowed.
Sights may not be adjusted after entering the course.
Arrows - at least (3) feathers or vanes measuring no less than two (2) inches long (measured to 1.75).
Stabilizers, Vbars, counter balances, or weighted attachments may be attached to the bow as long as these items do not extend more than 12 inches from each point of attachment.
Stabilizer can be any shape or configuration, as long as it is contained within the theoretical sphere having a radius of 12 inches
measured from the point of attachment.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Male Hunter Class (MHC)

Compound, recurve or longbow with or without sights.
May be shot with release, finger tab, glove or bare fingers.
If sight is used, it will have fixed, crosshair or circle style pins without lens or magnification.
If circle pins are used, all circles must be the same size.
A verifier or clarifier style peep sight will be allowed.
Sights may not be adjusted after entering the course.
Arrows - at least three (3) feathers or vanes measuring no less than two (2) inches long (measured to 1.75).
Stabilizers, Vbars, counter balances, or weighted attachments may be attached to the bow as long as these items do not extend more than 12 inches from each point of attachment.
Stabilizer can be any shape or configuration, as long as it is contained within the theoretical sphere having a radius of 12 inches
measured from the point of attachment.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Senior Hunter Class (SHC) Ages 50 & Over

Compound, recurve or longbow with or without sights.
May be shot with release, finger tab, glove or bare fingers.
If sight is used, it will have fixed, crosshair or circle style pins without lens or magnification.
If circle pins are used, all circles must be the same size.
A verifier or clarifier style peep sight will be allowed.
Sights may not be adjusted after entering the course.
Arrows - at least three (3) feathers or vanes measuring no less than two (2) inches long (measured to 1.75).
Stabilizers, Vbars, counter balances, or weighted attachments may be attached to the bow as long as these items do not extend more than 12 inches from each point of attachment.
Stabilizer can be any shape or configuration, as long as it is contained within the theoretical sphere having a radius of 12 inches
measured from the point of attachment.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Hunter Money

Compound, recurve or longbow with or without sights.
May be shot with release, finger tab, glove or bare fingers.
If sight is used, it will have fixed, crosshair or circle style pins without lens or magnification.
If circle pins are used, all circles must be the same size.
A verifier or clarifier style peep sight will be allowed.
Sights may not be adjusted after entering the course.
Arrows - at least three (3) feathers or vanes measuring no less than two (2) inches long (measured to 1.75).
Stabilizers, Vbars, counter balances, or weighted attachments may be attached to the bow as long as these items do not extend more than 12 inches from each point of attachment.
Stabilizer can be any shape or configuration, as long as it is contained within the theoretical sphere having a radius of 12 inches
measured from the point of attachment.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Youth Male Release (YMR 15-17) Ages 15-17

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on sights, stabilizers or style of release.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Crossbow Class (XBOW)

Crossbows must be standard production crossbows, however, minor modifications such as Butt Plates, Strings and the like shall be permitted as long as such modifications do not void the manufacturer’s warranty or diminish designed safety standards
Hooked Butts, Palm Rests, or extra equipment used for bracing will not be allowed
All bolts must be identical in type and size and point weight
Bolts must use at least three (3) vanes or feathers and screw in field points
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Male Senior Class (MSR) Ages 50-59

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on sights, stabilizers or style of release.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Masters Class (MCBH) Ages 60 & Over

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on sights, stabilizers or style of release.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Male Bowhunter Release (MBR)

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on stabilizers or style of release.
If sight is used, it will have fixed, cross hair or circle style pins without lens or magnification.
If Circle style pins are used, all circles must be the same size.
A verifier or clarifier style peep sight will be allowed.
Sights may not be adjusted after entering the course.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Male Bowhunter Open (MBO)

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on sights, stabilizers or style of release.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Female Bowhunter Open (FBO)

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on sights, stabilizers or style of release.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Open Money

Compound, recurve or longbow with no restriction on sights, stabilizers or style of release.
Maximum yardage: 40 yards

Photos from past GAOS 3D Bowhunter Challenge events

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Want To Know More

For more information, or to register for the 3D Bowhunter Challenge, email Gary Potteiger at [email protected]