I stumbled across a shoot this week while working in the Cullman area. I got to asking questions come to find out it was a fairly big shoot at the parish in Cullman. I think the gentleman I was talking to said the furtherest competitor had come from Austraila to shoot.

I was wanting your thoughts on which organization is more preferred as a competitive shooter, and for the younger archers which is best?

The shoot in Cullman was the ASA (Archery Shooters Association) Classic. It's their season finale. The IBO (International Bowhunters Organization) and the ASA hold national level events. Both are very good organizations for a young competitor to participate in. I have more experience with the ASA. From 2001 until 2008 I competed in at least 3 or 4 Pro / Am's a year, anywhere from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, Illinois and here in Alabama. I made a lot of good friends from all over the country during those years.

My son was right there with me. He was 7 years old when he started. The ASA's youth program was fantastic. He was fortunate enough to place 2nd twice, 3rd once, win the 2003 Southern Regional Championship and had three 2nd place finishes in the ASA State Championship. His track record was a little better than mine. I won the 2006 Georgia Pro / Am, finished 2nd in the 2003 ASA Southern Regional Championship, had numerous top 5 and top 10 finishes and won the 2008 ASA State Championshiop and finished 2nd in 2005.

As for the IBO, I shot the first leg of the Southern Triple Crown the first year they had it. Never competed in another one. Traveling to national level events gets pretty expensive, so I chose to pursue the ASA.

The BHA (Bowhunters of Alabama) is an in state organization. I am a lifetime member and served as the Tuscaloosa County Chapter president from 2008 through 2010. I'm not exactly sure how many chapters the BHA has this year, but there are county chapters all over the state. They are split into the Northern, Central and Southern Zones. Moose24 on here is the Shelby County President and also serves as the Central Zone director. Nearly every weekend from February through August there is a BHA shoot being held somewhere in the state.

The BHA shoots are a lot more casual than the nation level events. A lot of us shoot them to stay in practice for the bigger ASA and IBO events. A majority of the BHA members are also members of the ASA and IBO. All of the BHA chapters get their range liability insurance through the ASA, so each chapter is required to have 10 ASA members. Each BHA zone has their own championship and shooter of the year races. In addition to that, the BHA also has the Trail Series shoots which awards their own shooter of the year awards. The Trail shoots were set up to be like the ASA Pro / Am's, but in all takes place within Alabama. This was the brain child of former BHA President Barry Estes, who posts on here as Elkhunter. I believe there are 6 Trail Series shoots spread out all over the state during the course of the season with the finale being the state championship in August.

Like the national level events, I have made a lot of friends traveling all over the state shooting BHA tournaments. Like the ASA, my son has traveled a lot of miles participating in the shoots with me. He won the BHA State in 2008 and placed 2nd in 2006. He also won the Central Zone Championship in 2008. My track record in the BHA is a little better than his. I won the BHA state in 2006 & 2008, place 2nd in 2007 and 3rd in 2010. I won the Trail Series shooter of the year in 2006 and the Central Zone shooter of the year in 2010. I won Central Zone Championships in 2004, 2008 and 2011. Both of us have a truck load of trophies and plaques we've won over the years in BHA local shoots from around the state collecting dust. The 2008 BHA state has to be one of the most special shoots because we both came home with state titles.

The past couple of years he hasn't been able to compete as much because of school and chasing the wimmens. He graduated high school this past spring. My mother starting competing 3 years ago and has been going to the shoots with me. She's in her 60's and has managed to win a few over the younger ladies.

As for ASA or IBO? I suggest you go and compete in one each and decide for yourself. They're both good organizations. As for the BHA, join and compete here in state. It's a great family friendly organization and will help keep you in practice for the national level events.

Great post Shaw!

I would also like state that BHA is an organization that promotes and protects Bowhunting in Alabama. It's not just a 3D organization. Although they do go hand in hand.

If you are talking about attending the National tournaments, I prefer ASA. If it's local sanctioned shoots, it doesn't matter what organization the local club follows. The speed limit in ASA seems more equal and they have assigned shooting times (usually 8:00 or 12:00)that everyone shoots at the same time. If you travel in a group, it's nice to know when a buddy is due off the range. The IBO Worlds I shot in 1995 took forever to get on and then off the range........but they did have about 800 archers in the same class (MBO) to get through.

ASA has a marked range you can shoot and 3D practice ranges too. Can't speak for IBO within the last decade though....they may have improved things since then.

The only negative I have with ASA is a "14" point ring in the "8" section. Stick the thing on the rear end surrounded by "5"!

Dan was that in Oxford?

What's that, the IBO Worlds? It was held at Flatwoods, WV in 1995. IIRC, I did attend an ASA Pro-AM at Anniston several years ago.

There was an IBO world shoot in oxford years ago. Forgot what year. I shot the anniston asa shoot. That was 2002 I think.

I remember the two years they had the Pro/Am's in Anniston. The one in 2003 was the Classic. The weekend before the 2003 shoot they held the ASA Southern Regional Championship up there. Those were some pretty challenging ranges.

What class did ya'll shoot? In '02 I shot Bow Novice and in '03 I shot Open B. I also spent time in Unlimited and Semi Pro over the next few years.

I went to one of the Anniston pro-ams (year?) when I lived in SC and shot Open B at the time.

I won the classic in 02 in Anniston in Open A or B don't remember which year. Finished 3rd the next time. Shot semi pro from 04-06 pro for a while then retired

Guys thanks alot for the great posts!! I believe we will further pursue ASA. We've shot the first leg of the IBO in Wetumpka but then ball kicks in and the time to travel is gone. I will find me an ASA shoot and try it thanks for all the input.

No problem. The ASA Pro/Am season is over with for this year. Typically the first shoot of the season is held down around Gainesville, Florida the last weekend of January. Go to www.asaarchery.com to get info on next season's schedule, rules and different classes. When you go to that first pro/am make sure to take some extra cash. Lancaster Archery always has a trailer there with a lot of goodies. Also if you can get there on Friday, sign up and shoot the Pro/Am team shoot. You'll be placed on a team with a pro. It is loads of fun and you'll pick up a lot of tips and great info.

You and Shaw are the forum "hotshots"! I usually was the one 2 points shy from getting a little gas money!!!!

I just never could get two days of shooting consistently.

I tried to shoot even and maybe pick up a few 12's on saturday and sunday shoot for most of the 12's. Sometimes it worked other times it was bad

I think I got a check 2 or 3 times out of several years. The wife on the other hand, picked up more than me. Of course!

I prefer ASA over IBO. BHA is great because it is so close and casual. Great friends can be made at all.

I shot the classic this weekend and shot in the group behind the Australian. Made friends with him and exchanged info. He shot bow novice without a sight or a release. He had just came from the Vegas shoot and was headed to Ohio foe ibo. It was an awesome tournament and my first national event. I was so stinking nervous I bout puked on target 2.

I was at a Pro/Am in Virginia and had to step behind a tree on our 5th or 6th target Saturday afternoon and puke. It wasn't from from nerves or a hangover though. It was either a virus or food poisoning. Needless to say I didn't do very well that weekend.

My son got 3rd that weekend. He was 8 years old. His second target was the bedded doe. When he got to half draw his release went off and he shot over it. His class only shot 10 targets and a miss pretty much knocks you out of contention. His bottom lip was quivering because my parents made the trip up there to see him shoot and the Bowtech reps. were looking at him for possible sponsorship. I told him to forget about that shot because he couldn't get it back. Little joker wound up shooting a 96. If he would have gotten a 5 on that bedded doe he would have won it. I was extremely proud of him for handling himself the way he did. The Bowtech reps. offered him factory sponsorship right after he shot his last target. He wound up taking it. With a factory sponsorship he got contingency offers from everybody for sights, rests, arrows, stabilizers and releases. I had to sit him down and ask him which ones he wanted to use. It was pretty neat. After he took 2nd in Tennessee, I had two coaches approach me wanting to work with him and possibly start the process of him possibly shooting in the Olympics. One coach lived in Tennessee and the other lived in Kentucky, so there wasn't any way we could have made it work. Everyone used to call him the Cub Pro.