The Annual Tournament.
Is usually held on New Zealand's statutory holiday weekend of Queens Birthday, normally the first full weekend of June. It encompasses all 3 days starting with a social gathering at a selected local tavern or pub on the Friday night proceeding the weekends festivities.
The weekend combines 2 days of field shooting with the presentation of game and tournament trophies as well as the AGM and a social.
The annual tournament is the only formal occasion of the NZ Bowhunters Society where the membership is invited to attend but above all it is a social event where hunters get together to relax and talk hunting and more importantly talk bowhunting.
The Field Shoot.
The field shoot is a unique event as it has it's own style and facets usually not seen at other field archery events. While it is fair to say there is a level of competitiveness amongst fellow hunters, it is truly a social event where beginners and experience hunters mix and share lots of hunting stories and bowhunting advice.
This event is completed rain hail or shine, usually rain, so just as with hunting you must prepare for all types of weather.
There are usually 2 course's and all targets are depictions of animals or 3D animal targets. For each course, 20 static targets are set up in a circuit in bush or hunting type conditions. Each target has a variety of pegs set at unmarked distances defining shooting positions that closely depict shots, simulating hunting conditions in New Zealand. Scoring of these targets depends on the target round set for the day.
4 additional targets, called specialty targets are also integrated within each course simulating quick shooting and moving target situations and give an added challenge and uniqueness to our field shoot.
Annual General Meeting.
Sunday evening, all members attend the AGM, as with all general meetings, formalities such as election of executive positions and remits are dealt with. The committee then highlight the goals achieved for the year and the members set the goals for the following year.
The AGM is also the time when special awards are presented like the Master Bowhunters Awards and also presentations for special or outstanding hunting achievement during the year.
Next years tournament location is also debated and the successful host is given the nod to commence preparations.
At the AGM venue the years trophies in the way of antlers, horns and tusks will be on display, any trophies which need scoring will be scored by official Douglas Scorers drawn from the membership and there is time after the formal AGM to admire the trophies and meet the successful hunters. Supper and refreshments usually follow and the social atmosphere continues.
Other Activities.
Included in the weekend is the jugding of the photographic entries for the 3 catagories, Game taken, Wildlife & General bowhunting.
The judging of the animal skin competition also takes place.
There are roaring competitions for both men and women normally held during the Sunday lunch break.
What to expect on the field course.
3 Arrow Round.
This round is where the 1st shot is taken from the RED peg, generally not always this will be the furthest peg from the target. If that shot misses the then the archer moves to the WHITE peg and tries again. If unlucky again the archer then moves to the last & BLUE peg for their final attempt. Each peg move results in a reduction of score & works as follows.
RED PEG. Heart = 20 points / Lung = 18 points / Body = 16 points
WHITE PEG. Heart = 14 points / Lung = 12 points / Body = 10 points
BLUE PEG. Heart = 8 points / Lung = 6 points / Body = 4 points
And a complete miss 3 time scores 0
The possible course total is 400 + 160 points on specialty targets to max out at 560 points
2 Arrow Round.
On this round the archer takes their 1st shot from the WHITE/YELLOW peg and if the shot results in a miss then the archer moves to the YELLOW peg, which is generally further away or in a more challenging shooting position. The main difference on this round is that the scoring is the same from both pegs. Heart = 20 points / Lung = 15 points / Body = 10 points. And again a complete miss from both pegs results in a 0 score. The possible score is the same as for the 3 arrow round.
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