BHA Rules Of Competition 2023
For anything NOT covered below, please refer to ASA Shooters Association 2023 Rules of Competition below ASA Pro/Am Rules
General Rules
- Only BHA Chapters, with current liability insurance, will hold BHA-sanctioned tournaments.
- Rangefinder use is allowed on known distance targets.
- During tournaments, all classes will follow the same format for known and unknown distance
competition as they do in ASA Pro/Ams. - Start times may be “casual” with shooting groups (arranged by class or otherwise mixed) or “shotgun” with assigned shooting times and stakes. The host chapter or organization has the right and responsibility to delay or cancel a tournament in case of severe weather. In the event, the weather shortens the competition, results, and awards will be based on a round completed by the class or other fair means decided upon by the host chapter. The method of determination will be announced prior to the dismissal of competitors and any grievances will be filed in the form of a protest.
- ALL participants shall wear non-offensive clothing. All clothing shall completely cover any undergarments regardless of the age of the participants. ASA Pro/Am clothing guidelines are recommended, but not required.
- Prior to the start of the competition, the host chapter will provide shooters with any necessary information particular to the course before they proceed to their first target.
- Slower groups must let faster groups pass them to maintain the pace of shooting. No group may hold up other groups during a tournament.
- A group or individual may not approach the next shooting stake until the group occupying that stake has fully cleared the area. Anyone advancing to the competitor’s area of any other state and/or interfering with another group will receive a score of zero for that target.
Awards/Payout
- Hosting Chapters shall be responsible for all awards/payouts (if applicable) for local tournaments, Trail Shoot Legs, and State Championship.
- Please refer to the ASA Payout Schedule for all payout-eligible classes. (see classes chart)
BHA State Championship:
- The State Championship will be a 1-day shoot. The cost for participating in the State Championship will be $30 for all payout possible classes and $10 for all non-payout classes.
- The host chapter will set two (2) ranges of 25 targets for the State Championship.
- Competitors must be current members of BHA to participate in the State Championship. Competitors may join BHA onsite at the State Championship.
Targets
- McKenzie-like targets that have 8, 10, and 12-ring scoring areas are recommended for BHA tournaments but are not mandatory. The 12-ring may be the ASA Pro-12 Ring or a ring in the “center” of the 10-ring which is scored as 12.
Classes:
The BHA Tournament Committee, consisting of the Tournament Director, Zone Directors, President, and Vice President has the authority and responsibility to assign a registered shooter to a higher competition class based on knowledge of the competitor’s prior archery performance or experience or the individual’s established competition level in another organization.
- Amateur– These classes are open to shooters who are not otherwise deemed
“Professional” by their competition status in BHA or other archery organizations. - Youth Classes – In the interests of safety and the well-being of our youth, all competitors in the Youth and Eagle classes must be able to draw their bow under control and without undue difficulty. If in the opinion of the Range Official the competitor is having difficulty drawing the bow the competitor shall be required to decrease the poundage to allow them to properly draw and shoot the bow regardless of arrow speed
- Known and Unknown distance class formats for BHA will mirror those at the ASA Pro/Am level.
Tournament Committee:
The Tournament Committee will consist of five (5) members including the Tournament Director, Zone Directors, and President.
- Any grievance or protest must be filed in writing with the Tournament Committee within one (1)hour of completion of a round, along with a $20 protest fee.
- In addition to ruling on grievances submitted by shooters, the committee will establish penalties and sanctions in keeping with the ASA Pro/Am Rules for conduct and repeat rule violations.
BHA State Shooter of the Year
- BHA State Shooter of the Year (SOY) will be a cumulative score of two Trail Shoots (Northern Zone “NZ” Trail Shoot, Central Zone “CZ” Trail Shoot, Southern Zone “SZ” Trail Shoot) AND the State Championship. For example, the shooter may shoot all three trail shoots plus state, but only the two highest scores plus State will count for SOY. To be eligible for BHA SOY you must be a paid member at or before the State Championship of that year.
- The BHA will provide Shooter of the Year awards at the State Banquet in August.
Move-Up Rule
Any shooter that places in the top 2, twice in the SOYT Legs and/or State Championship, or wins State Shooter of the Year must move up the following year if there are five or more competitors in that class, and if not restricted by age and if a class available to move into.
Classes
Open Class Equipment Rules for Adult, Young Adult & Youth:
May use any compound or recurve bow, sight, release, stabilizer, or equipment unless specifically prohibited in any other part of these rules or by a ruling of the Competition Committee. BHA reserves the right to review any equipment/accessories and determine if their suitability for competition.
The following equipment/accessories are prohibited in all classes:
- broadheads or any other point or tip not intended for target use;
- retaining mechanisms that allow the bow to be mechanically held in the drawn position (except crossbows);
- laser sights or devices;
- devices or any outside agency (including stabilizer bar or prop stick) that allows the mass weight of the bow to be relieved from either arm while shooting or that allows for steadying the bow with any part of the body other than the bow hand. BHA retains the right to waive certain equipment restrictions or shooting rules under specific circumstances for physically challenged competitors.
The classes delineated below are offered at the Pro/Am level. Individual ASA State Federations and ASA Clubs have the option to combine and/or decline to offer certain classes. All earnings requirements for classes are based on a shooter’s ASA Pro/Am earnings and Shooter of the Year bonuses from their individual class competition. Paybacks exclude the Team and the Known Distance bonus competitions, as well as ASA Federation paybacks. The Classes listed reflect maximum arrow speed, maximum yardage, and a designation as either Known or Unknown. The participant’s age will determine any class with an age restriction or requirement reached on or before December 31st of the calendar year of competition.
BHA reserves the right at any time to assign a registered shooter to a higher competition class based on knowledge of the competitor’s prior archery experience, performance in other archery competitions, or the individual’s established competition level in another organization. If, for example, someone shooting BHA for the first time feels that they are entitled to compete in the Known 40 class, but their previous archery experience, or competition status in another organization, confirms that they are not a novice, then BHA reserves the right to require that individual to compete in a higher class.
Fixed Pin Class Equipment Rules for Adult, Young Adult & Youth:
Sights – fixed pins, no pin limit. Movable sights may be used but must be locked down into a fixed position that will be verified by the group prior to competing. Magnification is not permitted in any 30-yard fixed pin class but is permitted in all 40-yard pin classes. Clarifiers or verifiers in the peep are not considered magnification and are permitted.
Stabilizers – A front stabilizer or a system including quick releases, enhancers, and/or weights may be used, but may not exceed twelve inches (12”) in total length from the tip of the stabilizer (or system) to the point of attachment on the front of the riser provided by the manufacturer. A rear stabilizer or a back bar system (V-bar) may be used with no restriction on bar length.
Professional
Anyone who competes using a compound bow as a certified professional in other nationally sanctioned 3-D, indoor or field events must compete in the appropriate ASA Professional or Semi-Pro Class. Anyone who receives sponsor support that exceeds $4,000.00 per year in products, equipment, services, or direct cash support is required to shoot in Semi-Pro or higher. Anyone who has earned more than $10,000.00 in career ASA Pro/Am earnings must compete in Semi-Pro or higher unless a waiver has been granted by the Competition Committee. A competitor in a Pro Class who won less than $300.00 in their previous year of competition may participate in a semi-pro class. Moving back to an amateur class requires Competition Committee approval upon a written request.
Pro Classes: Open to ASA members in good standing and the payment of an annual ASA Pro Certification.
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown/Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Pro | 50 | 290 | Unknown | |
| Known Open Pro | 50 | 290 | Known | |
| Senior Open Pro | Age 50 and over | 50 | 290 | Unknown |
| Women’s Open Pro | 50 | 280 | Unknown |
Semi-Pro Classes:
Open to ASA members in good standing and an ASA Membership is required. Anyone winning an amount less than four times the class entry fee during their last year of ASA competition may request to move down prior to a competition, but anyone who has won their way out of an ASA class may not return to that class unless approved by the Competition Committee. Competitors in a class designated with a (+) will be required to move up at the completion of the season to a pro higher class when meeting both or the following criteria:
- Earning an amount equal to 12 times their class entry fee in class winnings plus Shooter of the Year bonus.
- Having either two top-ten finishes or one top-five finish.
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
| Semi-Pro Open (+) | 50 | 290 | Unknown | |
| Known 50 (+) | 50 | 290 | Known | |
| Senior Known 50 | Age 50 and Over | 50 | 290 | Known |
| Women’s Known 50 | 50 | 280 | Known | |
| Crossbow 45 | see below | 45 | 330 | Known |
Crossbows must be in sound working condition with functioning safety and maintained in compliance with the manufacturer’s specifications. No replacement or alteration of a manufacturer’s trigger assembly or safety mechanism shall be allowed. Scopes up to 6x power may be used and may be equipped with lines or mill dots, but no light or image may be projected and there may be no range-finding capability. Except as may be required due to an approved medical exemption, crossbows may only be shot in a standing position and the use of any device or outside agency including quivers, added foregrips, brackets, slings, hooked butt-plates, palm rests, stabilizer bars, rails, supports, prop stick(s) or any device that adds weight or allows the mass weight of the bow to be relieved from either arm or to steady the bow is prohibited; unless specified next. Use of a manufacturer’s cocking/cranking device, one level, and one manufacturer’s stirrup, weight(s) no larger than 2” in diameter and no more than 4” in combined totaled length, and one set of limb vibration dampening devices shall be permitted if safely attached and not affecting the safe functioning of the crossbow. If a cocking/cranking device is attached to the bow, it must be utilized as the method of cocking the crossbow. Use of the forward elbow against the ribcage or side is permitted. Bolts/arrows must be identical in size and weight with a minimum of three (3) vanes with a maximum outer diameter of .366”/9.3mm. Crossbows may be cocked while at the on-deck position and loaded only when the shooter is at the stake. When loaded it must always remain pointed downrange. A “let down” as referenced in Shooting Rule “L” with a crossbow is defined as moving to any position which allows the shooter to relieve the weight of the crossbow in a resting position. With regard to Shooting Rule “H”, there will be a three-person committee of shooters on the range who will review any equipment issues.
AMATEUR:
Open to BHA members in good standing. For all 45 and 50-yard classes. Any competitor in an amateur class designated below with a (+) will be required to move up at the completion of the season to a higher class for their equipment type after earning an amount equal to 12 times their class entry fee in class winnings, plus any Shooter of the Year bonus, and having either two top-ten finishes, or one top-five finish.
Anyone winning an amount less than four times the class entry fee during their last year of ASA competition may request to move down no less than two weeks prior to a competition, but anyone who has won their way out of an ASA class may not return to that class unless approved by the Competition Committee. Anyone shooting in a class higher than Bow Novice, Known 40, or Women’s Hunter may not return to those classes except for a special waiver request approved by the Competition Committee.
Men’s Open Equipment Classes:
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open 45 (+) | 45 | 280 | Unknown | |
| Open 40 (+) | 40 | 280 | Unknown | |
| Known 45 (+) | 45 | 280 | Known | |
| Known 40* | See below | 40 | 280 | Known |
*Known 40 is reserved for participants who shoot at an entry-level with open equipment. At any point during the season that a competitor in Known 40 earns more than twelve times the class entry fee in prize money in this class, they will be required to compete in Open 45, Pins 45, or higher.
Men’s Senior Open Equipment Classes:
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
| Senior Open | Age 50 and over | 45 | 280 | Unknown |
| Senior Known (+) | Age 50 and over | 45 | 280 | Known |
| Super Senior Open | Age 60 and over | 40 | 280 | Unknown |
| Super Senior Known | Age 60 and over | 40 | 280 | Known |
| Senior Masters Open | Age 69 and over | 40 | 280 | Unknown |
| Senior Masters Known | Age 69 and over | 40 | 280 | Known |
Men’s Fixed Pin Classes: See “Fixed Pin Class Rules”
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Pins 45 | 45 | 280 | Known | |
| Men’s Pins 40 (+) | 40 | 280 | Known | |
| Senior Pins | Age 50 and Over | 40 | 280 | Known |
| Men’s Pins 30* | 30 | 280 | Known |
*Men’s Pins 30 is reserved for participants new to ASA competition or who won less than twelve times the class entry fee in prize money in this class in their most recent year of ASA Pro/Am competition. At any point during the season that a competitor earns more than twelve times the class entry fee in prize money in this class, they are required to compete in a higher class.
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
| Crossbow 40 | See Semi-Pro Crossbow 45 Rules above | 40 | 330 | Known |
Women’s Classes:
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Open 45 (+) | 45 | 280 | Unknown | |
| Women’s Known 45 (+) | 45 | 280 | Known | |
| Women’s Known 40 (+) | 40 | 280 | Known | |
| Senior Women’s Known | Age 50* and over. | 40 | 280 | Known |
| Women’s Pins 40 | See “Fixed Pin Class Rules” | 40 | 280 | Known |
| Women’s Pins 30 (+) | See “Fixed Pin Class Rules” | 30 | 280 | Known |
Traditional:
The bow must be either recurve or longbow without wheels or cams. No release aid, no sights, a single stabilizer up to 12” in length measured from the point of attachment, no overdraws, no draw checks, must have one finger touching the arrow nock, and must use one consistent anchor point. No marks on the sight window, string, or bow to use as an aiming or judging reference. All arrows must be identical in size, weight, and construction.
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | 30 | 280 | Unknown |
Olympic Recurve:
Bows must conform to the World Archery definition of a Recurve Bow as found in the World Archery Rules, Book 4 (Field and 3D Archery), Chapter 22, Sections 22.1 thru 22.1.10.1
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
| Olympic Recurve | 30 | 280 | Known |
Barebow Recurve:
Bows must conform to the World Archery definition of a Barebow as found in World Archery Rules, Book 4 (Field and 3D Archery), Chapter 22, Sections 22.3 thru 22.3.10.1
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
| Barebow Recurve | 30 | 280 | Known |
CLASSES: YOUNG ADULT & YOUTH (UNDER 18YRS)
Open Class Equipment Rules for Young Adult & Youth:
May use any compound or recurve bow, sight, release, stabilizer, or equipment unless specifically prohibited in any other part of these rules or by a ruling of the Competition Committee. ASA reserves the right to review any equipment/accessories and determine its suitability for competition. The following equipment/accessories are prohibited in all classes: (1) broadheads or any other point or tip not intended for target use; (2) retaining mechanisms that allow the bow to be mechanically held in the drawn position (except crossbows); (3) laser sights or devices; (4) devices or any outside agency (including stabilizer bar or prop stick) that allows the mass weight of the bow to be relieved from either arm while shooting or that allows for steadying the bow with any part of the body other than the bow hand. ASA retains the right to waive certain equipment restrictions or shooting rules for physically challenged competitors under specific circumstances.
Fixed Pin Class Equipment Rules for Young Adult & Youth:
Sights – fixed pins, no pin limit. Movable sights may be used but must be locked down into a fixed position that will be verified by the group prior to competing. Magnification is not permitted in any 30-yard fixed pin class but is permitted in all 40-yard pin classes. Clarifiers or verifiers in the peep are not considered magnification and are permitted.
Stabilizers – A front stabilizer or a system including quick releases, enhancers, and/or weights may be used, but may not exceed twelve inches (12”) in total length from the tip of the stabilizer (or system) to the point of attachment on the front of the riser provided by the manufacturer. A rear stabilizer or a back bar system (V-bar) may be used with no restriction on bar length.
YOUNG ADULT & YOUTH CLASSES:
Young adult and youth classes are not based on their year of school, but on their age as of January 1st of the competition year.
| CLASSES | AGE |
|---|---|
| Young Adult | 15-17 |
| Youth | 12-14 |
| Eagle | 9-11 |
Youth Adult & Youth Class Arrow Rules:
The maximum diameter of arrow shafts will not exceed 9.3mm or .366″; and the field or glue-in point for these arrows will have a maximum diameter of 9.4 mm or .370”. No changes or alterations to the manufacturer’s exterior finish and markings are permitted, except for the addition of fletching wraps or that occur during use.
| Classes | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown /Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young Adult Open Male | 40 | 280 | Known | |
| Young Adult Open Female | 40 | 280 | Known | |
| Young Adult Pins Male | See “Fixed Pin Class Rules” | 40 | 280 | Known |
| Young Adult Pins Female | See “Fixed Pin Class Rules” | 40 | 280 | Known |
| Young Adult Olympic Recurve | See “Olympic Recurve Class Rules” | 30 | 260 | Known |
| Young Adult Barebow Recurve | See “Barebow Recurve Class Rules” | 30 | 260 | Known |
| Youth Open Boys | 30 | 260** | Known | |
| Youth Open Girls | 30 | 260** | Known | |
| Youth Pins Boys | See “Fixed Pin Class Rules” | 30 | 260** | Known |
| Youth Pins Girls | See “Fixed Pin Class Rules” | 30 | 260** | Known |
| Youth Olympic Recurve | See “Olympic Recurve Class Rules” | 25 | 240 | Known |
| Youth Barebow Recurve | See “Barebow Recurve Class Rules” | 25 | 240 | Known |
| The following classes will shoot one round of twenty targets on Saturday morning: | ||||
| Eagle Open Boys* | 25 | 230** | Known | |
| Eagle Open Girls* | 25 | 230** | Known | |
| Eagle Pins Boys* | See “Fixed Pin Class Rules” | 20 | 220** | Known |
| Eagle Pins Girls* | See “Fixed Pin Class Rules” | 20 | 220** | Known |
| Eagle Barebow Recurve | See “Barebow Recurve Class Rules” | 20 | 220** | Known |
Note:
A universal one-size fits all bow approved for use in NASP competition with a maximum draw weight of 20# along with Easton XX75 Genesis series aluminum arrows, may be used in Eagle Barebow Recurve Class.
Junior Eagle Open – Ages 6 – 8: The following will shoot one round of twenty targets on Saturday morning:
| Class | Note | Yards | FPS | Unknown/Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Eagle Open* | Ages 6-8 | 15 | 220** | Known |
* All Eagle and Jr Eagle classes require adult supervision.
** In the interests of safety and the well-being of all youth class shooters they must be able to draw their bow under control and without undue difficulty. If in the opinion of the Range Official they are having difficulty drawing and controlling the bow, they shall be required to decrease the poundage to allow them to properly draw and shoot the bow regardless of arrow speed.