As with all sports, there are certain rules we must follow. Below are the rules we use on our courses at Pine Ridge Archers, our Bylaws, the etiquette of a good archer, and links to some of the international organisations and their rule books.
PRA Bush Course
The Pine Ridge Archery "bush course" is our unmarked animal course. We follow the standard IFAA rules, but for our own records we have fewer divisions, simply because there are so many divisions possible. We do not distinguish between males and females - they all shoot against each other, and we have no Veterans division. Juniors shoot in the same division, regardless of their equipment, as do the cubs. We do have a Peewee division which IFAA does not - this is for archers under 8 years old. Basic rules for the course follow:
- For your score to count towards annual trophies, you must shoot with another person
- Scorecards must be signed by two people
- Arrows must be clearly numbered 1,2,3 and be shot in the correct order
- When shooting, stand with your foot behind, and touching the peg
- No overhead drawing
- Do not discuss the distance with other archers, at any time
- No range finders on the course at any time
- Do not touch the arrows until all scores have been recorded
- An arrow must cut through the line into the higher zone to score the higher points. Touching the line is not enough for the higher score. See pictures below:
- When looking for lost arrows, one member of the group MUST stand in front of the target
- Cell phones must be turned to "silent" at all times
PRA Field Course
The Pine Ridge Archery "field course" is our marked course. At any time it may have field faces, hunter faces or animal faces. Look at the target face on target one to see which round is in place, and use the appropriate pegs. The rules for these rounds are slightly different to those for the "bush course":
- For your score to count towards annual trophies, you must shoot with another person
- Scorecards must be signed by two people
- Four arrows are to be shot at each target in the field and hunter rounds. In the animal round, arrows must be numbered 1,2,3 and be shot in order
- When shooting, stand with your foot behind the peg, or an imaginary line between the two pegs
- Take note of any "walk up" or "fan shot" signs at each target
- No overhead drawing
- Do not touch the arrows until all scores have been recorded
- An arrow must cut through the line into the higher zone to score the higher points. Touching the line is not enough for the higher score. See pictures above
- When looking for lost arrows, one member of the group MUST stand in front of the target
- Cell phones must be turned to "silent" at all times
PRA Bylaws
Pine Ridge Archers has a short set of rules which we ask all members to abide by:
- Smoking is prohibited on all of the courses and around the clubhouse
- No rubbish is to be left on the courses or surrounds
- No shooting of any animals or bird life on the courses or surrounds
- No damage to any plants or trees except for the minimal removal of greenery that obstructs the shooting path to a target
- In keeping with the promotion of a family sport and values, no vulgar or obscene language or gestures to be made
- Any gates that are opened are to be securely closed behind you
- Please park vehicles safely on the roadside, not down the driveway
- Check all gear before shooting, including arrows, nocks, strings, servings, limbs, cables etc. Equipment failure can injure yourself and others
- Shooting fees are to be paid before venturing on to a course
- Alcohol is not permitted on the course. Alcohol is permitted after a shoot in the immediate area of the clubhouse
- Be considerate of fellow shooters and Pine Ridge neighbours
- Unsportsmanlike behaviour will not be tolerated
- Rangefinders are NOT permitted on the bush course
- Cell phones should be switched OFF or in SILENT mode
Archery Etiquette
While not rules, there are certain things that make shooting more enjoyable for all:
- Always remain on the paths in the bush
- When people are shooting keep noise to a minimum
- Ask all archers if they mind you drawing their arrows. This needs to be done only once.
- Do not touch any arrows until scoring is completed
- When looking for lost arrows, one member of the group MUST stand in front of the target
- Do not offer advice unless asked
- Do not touch another archer's equipment without permission
- If you break another person's arrow through carelessness (eg while drawing arrows, standing on it etc) then pay to replace it
- Cell phones are to be turned off or in silent mode
- Rangefinders are NOT permitted on the bush course, however binoculars of up to 8x power are permitted on both the bush and field courses
- Pets are not permitted on the Pine Ridge property
Kiwi 3D
The Kiwi3D set of rules is downloadable here.
IBO
IBO rules can be found on the IBO website.
NZFAA
The NZFAA follows the rules set by IFAA. This rule book is downloadable here.