Down Loads.
NZBS Annual Tournament
This annual event is traditionally held on New Zealand's statutory holiday of Queens Birthday weekend. It encompasses all three days starting with a social gathering at the local tavern/pub on the Friday night preceding the weekend's festivities.
The weekend combines a 3-day field shoot with the presentation of game and tournament trophies as well as the AGM and a social. The tournament is the only formal occasion of the NZ Bowhunters Society where all members are invited to attend.
The Field shoot
The Field shoot is a unique event as it has its own style and facets usually not seen at other field archery events. Whilst its fair to say there is a level of competitiveness among fellow hunters, it is a social event where beginners and experienced hunters mix sharing lots of hunting stories and bowhunting advice.
This event is completed rain hail or shine, usually rain, so as with hunting you have to be prepared for all weathers.
There are usually 2 courses and all targets are depictions of animals or 3D animal targets. For each course, 20 static targets are set up in a circuit usually in bush or hunting conditions. Each target has a variety of pegs at unmarked distances defining shooting positions that closely follow and depict shots, simulating hunting conditions in New Zealand. Scoring of these targets depends on the target round for the day.
Four additional targets, called specialty targets, are also integrated within each course depicting hunting situations and give the added challenge and uniqueness to the field shoot.
NZBS Annual General Meeting.
Sunday evening, all members attend the NZBS Annual General Meeting. As with all general meetings formalities such as position elections and remits etc are dealt with, then the committee highlights the goals achieved for the year and the members set the society goals for the following year. This is also the time where special awards are presented such as Master Bowhunter Award and those for special hunting achievements. Next years tournament locality is debated and the successful host is given the nod to commence arrangements.
Rolled in with the AGM is the competition for best heads, tusks and skins and is a showcase of the hunting achievements for that year. Official Measurers will measure heads and tusks using the Douglas score system and the presentation of skins are judged for both big game and small game categories. It's a good time to meet the successful hunters, admire their trophies and discuss hunting. Refreshments usually follow the meeting and the social atmosphere starts again rolling into the wee hours of the next day.
Three arrow round
This round is where the first shot is taken from the further red peg and if that shot has a clean miss the hunter moves closer to the white peg and tries again. If that shot is a miss the hunter moves closer to the blue peg and tries again. Each peg move gives a closer shot, and as a result the scoring for a hit at each peg reduces also. Red peg - heart = 20, Lung = 18, Body = 16 White peg - Heart = 14, Lung = 12, Body = 10 Blue peg - Heart = 8, Lung = 6, Body = 4 And a complete miss three times scores zero. The possible course total is 400 plus 160 specialty points giving a total of 560
Two arrow round
This round is where the first shot is taken at the white/yellow peg and if that shot is a clean miss then the hunter moves to the yellow peg, which is either back further and or to a more difficult shooting position. The scoring is the same from either peg. Heart = 20, Lung = 15, Body = 10 And a complete miss twice scores zero. The possible course total is 400 plus 160 specialty points giving a total of 560
One arrow round This round requires the most skill as each target requires only one shot. The scoring is not so generous but promotes a clean kill objective Lung = 10, Body = -5 And a complete miss scores -2 The possible course total is 200 plus 160 specialty points giving a total of 360.