What Is 3D Archery?
The discipline where archers hunt foam animals through the woods — and where shot execution under real pressure separates good from great.
3D archery is one of the fastest-growing competitive archery disciplines in the country. If you have heard the term and aren’t sure what it means, this page breaks it down completely — the format, the scoring, the competition circuit, and what it takes to compete at a high level.
3D archery is a competitive discipline where archers walk an outdoor course and shoot one arrow at each of 20–40 life-size foam animal targets. Scoring uses the ASA 12-ring system: 12 (center vital), 10, 8, 5 (body hit), or 0 (miss). The Archery Shooters Association (ASA) runs the premier U.S. circuit. Archers compete in known-distance and unknown-distance divisions across compound, recurve, and traditional bow styles.
What Is 3D Archery?
3D archery is a competitive discipline where archers walk an outdoor course and shoot one arrow at each of a series of three-dimensional foam animal targets. The “3D” in the name refers to those targets — life-size foam replicas of game animals, placed in realistic terrain at distances that vary by class and competition format.
Unlike target archery — which shoots at flat paper targets at fixed, known distances on a range — 3D archery mimics a hunting environment. Targets are placed through woods, across hills, and around obstacles. Some shots are straightforward. Others involve steep angles, shadows, and animals partially obscured by terrain. The mental and physical challenge is entirely different from shooting at a paper bullseye.
A standard 3D course features anywhere from 20 to 40 targets. Archers shoot one arrow per animal, then move to the next stake. The archer with the highest cumulative score at the end of the course wins their division.
3D Targets: From Skunks to Elk
ASA 3D targets are full-scale foam replicas of real animals — everything from a small skunk at 5 yards to a massive bull elk at 45+ yards. Each animal has scoring rings placed to represent the vital zones of that animal, meaning the rings are anatomically positioned in a location that would represent a clean ethical shot in a real hunting scenario.
The scoring rings are not always visible from the shooting stake. On many shots, archers must read the body of the animal, understand where the scoring zones sit inside that species, and execute a shot to a point they cannot directly see. This is one of the most demanding aspects of 3D archery — it requires animal knowledge, not just accuracy.
Binoculars are permitted at ASA events. Many competitive archers use them to study the target and locate the scoring ring center before settling into their shot routine.
ASA Scoring: The 12-Ring System
ASA 3D archery uses a five-value scoring system. Every arrow scores one of the following:
The 12-ring system is unique to ASA. Inside the 10-ring, there are actually two separate 12-rings — one positioned high and one low. The lower 12 is always in play and scores automatically if hit. The upper 12 must be called by the archer before releasing — if they call it and miss it, they score the lower ring or 10-ring depending on where the arrow lands.
At the highest levels of competition, the difference between winning and losing a 20-target course often comes down to whether an archer hits 12s or 10s. That two-point margin per arrow — accumulated over a full round — is where tournaments are won and lost.
Known vs. Unknown Distance
Known Distance
Yardage stakes are marked. Archers know the distance before they shoot. Rangefinders are permitted. This format rewards pure accuracy — the arc calculation is done for you, and the shot must simply be executed.
Unknown Distance
No yardage markers. Rangefinders are not permitted. Archers must judge distance by eye — reading terrain, target size, and environmental cues. This format adds a complete second skill set on top of shooting accuracy. A fast, flat arrow trajectory becomes essential.
ASA competition offers both formats depending on division. Upper 12’s athletes train for both — developing the judgment skills for unknown distance while maintaining the mechanical precision that scores 12s at known yardage.
Divisions and Equipment
ASA offers a wide range of competitive divisions based on equipment type and archer age or experience level. The main equipment categories are:
Compound Target — The most common competitive setup. A compound bow with a single-pin or multi-pin sight, release aid, and stabilizer. Arrow speed and flat trajectory are critical for managing unknown distances and minimizing hold-over at longer shots.
Bowhunting — Set up like a hunting bow. Multi-pin sights, heavier arrows, more realistic hunting configuration. Popular with archers who also hunt.
Barebow Recurve — No sight, no stabilizer. Pure instinctive or gap-shooting technique. One of the most technically demanding formats in 3D archery.
Traditional — Longbow or recurve shot with traditional technique. No modern accessories.
Age classes at ASA events include youth, young adult, and adult divisions across all equipment categories, meaning athletes compete against others in their age group and equipment class — not against professional-level adults.
How the ASA Circuit Works
State Qualifiers
Throughout the season, state federation clubs host ASA qualifier events. Archers accumulate points toward the Shooter of the Year (SOY) ranking by competing at these qualifiers. Entry fees for youth/eagle classes are $15, with a $30 mandatory qualifier entry for competitive divisions.
State Championship
The Florida ASA State Championship — held annually in Palatka, Florida — is the season’s culmination for in-state competition. Qualifying archers compete for state titles and advancement. Upper 12’s athletes are required to attend at least 4 state qualifiers plus this championship event.
Shooter of the Year
SOY points are awarded at every qualifying event based on finish position. An archer’s cumulative SOY score across the season determines their final year-end ranking. Chasing SOY is one of the primary goals of the Upper 12’s program.
Pro/Am Circuit
The ASA Pro/Am tour is the national-level competition circuit, featuring multi-day events with professional prize purses and elite amateur divisions. The highest-performing amateurs compete alongside professionals at these national events.
3D Archery vs. Target Archery
The Upper 12’s Program Is Built for This
Sarasota Archery Academy’s Upper 12’s program exists specifically to develop competitive ASA 3D archers. Training covers the full scope of what 3D competition demands: shot process, distance judgment, animal anatomy and aim-point selection, uphill and downhill angle compensation, and the mental management required to stay consistent across a full course. Athletes compete in at least 5 ASA events per season — 4 state qualifiers plus the Florida State Championship — chasing Shooter of the Year rankings.
3D Archery FAQ
Ready to Compete in 3D Archery?
Sarasota Archery Academy’s Upper 12’s program is the only competitive ASA 3D training program in Southwest Florida. Tryouts are open.