What Is 3D Archery?

3D archery swaps flat target faces for life-sized foam animals. You might see stags, boar, turkeys, wolves and occasionally something exotic that has clearly never set hoof in Scotland. The point is to make shots feel more like bowhunting — without harming animals (and without needing a freezer).

Scoring Zones

Most 3D targets include moulded scoring zones:

• Kill – highest score
• Vital – mid score
• Wound – lowest score while still “on” the animal

Exact scoring depends on the specific 3D round format used by the event (standard-style scoring vs hunting-style scoring).

Standard vs Hunting Format

• Standard-style: often two arrows per target, totals count
• Hunting-style: often one arrow only — miss and it’s zero

Some 3D events are unmarked — you won’t be told the distance — so you’ll learn quickly whether your range judgement is reliable or merely confident.

Scottish Challenges

• Terrain: gullies, slopes, bog edges and awkward footing
• Wind: foam deer don’t move but arrows certainly do
• Gorse & bracken: perfect camouflage for missed arrows
• Weather: rain can make zones hard to see

Scottish 3D Wisdom

• Mentally mark where your arrow lands before you walk forward
• Be gentle pulling arrows — foam tears and club treasurers have long memories
• Aim where the vitals would be not where it’s “easiest” on the angle