2022 Classes|3D Archery Talk|Forum|Bow Hunters of Alabama

After reading your thoughts about the classes I thought that a look back to 20 years ago would be interesting. This is a list of BHA classes from the upcoming 2001 year.
Divisions of Shooting:
Men’s & Women’s Open -Red Stake. Shoot what you bring. 280 fps speed limit.
Men’s & Women’s Senior Open – Red Stake. 50 years and over. 280 fps speed limit.
Men’s & Women’s Unlimited – Red Stake. Release with fixed pins.
Men’s & Women’s Limited – Red Stake. Fingers with any sight.
Men’s & Women’s Bowhunter – Green Stake. Fixed pins. 100-grain field points (minimum). Stabilizer (12″ or shorter).
Men’s & Women’s Barebow – Green Stake. Use any legal BHA equipment (including release). No sights, sight-related equipment, or sight references.
Men’s & Women’s Barebow Limited – Green Stake. Use any legal BHA equipment No release aid. No sights, sight-related equipment, or sight references.
Men’s & Women’s Recurve – Blue Stake. Must use recurve or longbow (no compound). No sights, sight-related equipment, sight reference, or release aid. Shooter must hold the string with fingers. Tab or glove O.K.
Juniors – Blue Stake. Shoot what you bring.
Youth – Orange Stake. Shoot what you bring.
Cubs – White Stake. Shoot what you bring.

I counted a total of nineteen classes. Now keep in mind that during the State Championship this was increased due to the AA classes. That brings the total up to 22 classes. Everyone that’s less than 40 years old here is the definition for you:
Men’s Open, Men’s Unlimited, and Men’s Bowhunter shall have two (2) Classes. Master and “AA”, which shall be determined as follows:
The Master Class shall be comprised of the top 50% of the shooters by score.
The “AA” Class shall be comprised of the remaining 50% of the shooters by score.
If the class percentages result in a fraction, the fraction will be dropped from the upper class. (Example: If there are 15 shooters in a division where 50% of the shooters should be in Masters and 50% in “AA”, there would be seven shooters in Masters and eight in “AA”).
In case of ties at the bottom of a class, all shooters with that score shall move into the higher class. Using the above example, if there are two shooters tied with a seventh-best score, both will move into the Master’s class.
All other divisions shall have at least one Master’s class.

So…the assessment is 22 unknown distance classes. If we add the Known distance classes that are so popular now, this will increase the total substantially. I, like most everyone else, would like to trim the classes back to a dozen or less on the local level but how do we choose which ones to keep and which ones get thrown out?

Let’s consider my class for a moment. Senior Known 50. This class evolved due to 10-15 shooters participating at ASA national events wanting a pro division. These 10-15 shooters basically dominated the Senior Known 45 class so the average shooter found it hard to place in the money due to several factors which included but not limited to these factors:
Vacation time or family time to shoot.
Amount of practice needed to compete.
Income to purchase the best equipment.
In 2021 ASA made the Senior Known 45 class a move-up class. If a shooter wins $720.00 or more and 2 top 10 finishes or 1 top 5 finish you will automatically be moved to Senior Known 50. I didn’t want to leave the 45-yard class but it was the right thing to do. I’ve talked with guys who only shoot at national events because they have to work 6 and 7 days a week. I have the luxury of shooting 2-3 days a week. I like winning as much as the next guy and I’ve worked hard at it for years. My expectations are a little higher but I am still looking for the same result, a top 10% finish in every tournament. The 45 class usually had over 100 shooters and the 50 class had 20-30. Both classes are expected to see 10-15% growth this year. Which one of these classes needs to be thrown out locally. The Senior Known 45 class is typically one of the larger classes but 2 of us moved into the Senior Known 50 class this year. Is it fair to the 45-yard guys that I shoot down with them? Now considering that everyone in the 45-yard class has beaten me at some point I still don’t think that it’s fair to them. Which one goes?

(2001) Trophies:
The trophies shall be paid for by the Hosting Chapter.
Trophies are given in each class as follows:
Four shooters – Three trophies
Three shooters – Two trophies
Two shooters or less – One trophy

Is it a ridiculous thought that the local clubs spend more than they make on trophies? No, and this is why I say that. All BHA clubs are required to give out trophies. Most clubs don’t. Probably because targets are EXTREMELY too expensive! Last year I received one trophy and two plaques. Why does ASA tournaments have a higher attendance? Because they pay back money. It’s nice to get something sometimes but that’s not why most everyone shoots.

Archery is fun. That’s the reason I do it and I think that most people would agree with me.

More 2001 history
Age Groups:
Men and Women: Age 16 or older.
Junior: Age 13-15. Male and Female to compete together. Juniors may volunteer for appropriate adult divisions.
Youth: Age 9-12. Male and Female to compete together. Youth may volunteer for the Junior Division.
Cubs: Age 8 and under. Male and Female to compete together.
Seniors: Age 50 and older.

Range and Targets:
The distance from the shooting stake to the target shall be unknown (unmeasured).
ONE RED SHOOTING STAKE: Maximum forty-two (42) yards for: Open, Senior Open, Freestyle Unlimited & Limited
ONE GREEN SHOOTING STAKE: Maximum thirty-five (35) yards for: Senior Bowhunter, Bowhunter, Barebow, and Barebow Limited.
ONE BLUE SHOOTING STAKE: Maximum twenty-five (25) yards for: Recurve, Longbow, and Juniors.
ONE ORANGE SHOOTING STAKE: Maximum fifteen (15) yards for: Youth.
ONE WHITE SHOOTING STAKE: Maximum five (5) yards for: Cubs.

I don’t feel like BHA is a deer hunting organization like its roots due to the changes that are required to either improve or encourage archers to compete.
The past members and officers did an outstanding job with the fight for conversation and game laws. So well in fact that there hasn’t been any advancement since the safety harness push that I am aware of. Our bowhunting game laws here in Alabama are an accurate representation of these and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is very intuitive.
Who knows what changes lie ahead of us? I mentioned adding a known distance class in BHA back in 2009 on the forum. I was immediately pounced on! Fun fact-the hater from the forum is now competing in a known distance class.
When crossbows were brought up there were several gentlemen who fought against it passionately. I didn’t understand it because this organization is for quick and humane kills yet the crossbow guys couldn’t practice on a 3-D range. Things change and sometimes for the better.
What does that leave us to do now?
Shoot our bows and have fun fellowshipping.

Best of luck to you and prayers will be headed your way. See you in February.
Happy New Year!