General
rules pertaining to all styles are found in the section
marked "General." Rules pertaining to a specific
style are found under the headings in the following
table.
Barebow
- Freestyle - Freestyle
Limited - Competitive Bowhunter
Freestyle Bowhunter - Freestyle
Limited Bowhunter
Traditional - Freestyle
Limited Recurve/Longbow
A.
General:
1. A conventional Bow of any type may be used provided
it subscribes to the accepted principle and meaning
of the word "bow" as used in archery competition,
i. e., an instrument consisting of a handle (grip) riser
and two flexible limbs, each ending in a tip with a
string nock. The bow is braced for use by a single bowstring
attached directly between the two string nocks only.
In operation it is held in one hand by the handle (grip)
riser while the fingers of the other hand draw, hold
back and release the string. In cases of physical disability
of the arms or hands, a chew strap may be used in place
of fingers or release aids.
2. Compound bows may be used, provided:
a. Basic design includes a handle riser (grip) and flexible
limbs.
b. Total arrow propelling energy is developed from a
flexing of the materials employed in limb construction.
c. Weight reduction factor is of no consequence.
d. Bows which develop any portion of arrow propelling
energy from sources "other than the limbs"
shall not be allowed, This is not to be construed to
mean that compound bows which employ other sources of
arrow propelling energy, not specifically listed in
this paragraph, will be allowed.
e. The cables of the compound shall be considered as
part of the string and all applicable string rules except
color requirements shall apply.
3. The maximum peak draw weight allowed in NFAA competition
shall be 80 lbs., with a maximum speed of 280 FPS with
a variance of 3%.
4. Any device that would allow the mass weight, or the
draw weight of the bow to be relieved from either or
bow arms, at full draw, shall be declared illegal.
5. All overdraws shall be designed in such fashion as
to prevent the arrow from falling off the
shelf causing an unsafe condition.
6. All requests for rulings on equipment must be accompanied
by an example of the item in question to the assigned
committee and for examination by the Board of Directors
prior to voting.
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B.
Barebow:
1. Archers shooting Barebow style will use bow, arrows,
strings and accessories free from any sights, marks
or blemishes that may be used as a sighting aid.
a. String will be one consistent color of the archer's
choice. The center serving on the string will be served
with one layer of any material suitable to use, but
material will be of one consistent size and one consistent
color.
2. An adjustable arrow plate may be used provided it
does not extend more that 1/4" above the arrow.
3. The use of stabilizers shall be permitted.
4. One consistent nocking point only is permitted and
may be held by one or two nock locators, which shall
be snap on type, shrink tubing, thread or dental floss,
tied or served on the serving. Nocking point locators
shall not extend more than one half inch (1/2")
above or below the arrow nock when at full draw.
5. Only one non-adjustable draw check and level mounted
on the bow, neither of which may extend above the arrow
and a mechanical type arrow rest and cushion plunger
are permitted.
6. Only gloves, tabs, or fingers shall be permitted,
except in the case of physical disability of the arms
or hands, a chew strap may be used in place of fingers.
7. All arrows shall be identical in length, weight,
diameter and fletching, with allowance for wear and
tear. Powder on the arrow points shall be permitted
as a visual aid.
8. The ends or edges of laminated pieces appearing on
the inside of the upper limb shall be considered a sighting
mechanism.
9. No device of any type, including arrow rest, that
may be used for sighting, may be used or attached to
the archer's equipment.
10. The pylon (string clearance bar) will be allowed
in this style if it is not located in the sight window.
11. Any part of the arrow rest extending more than 1/4
inch above the arrow is deemed illegal in the Barebow
style.
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C. Freestyle:
1. Any type of sight and its written memorandum may
be used.
2. Any release aid may be used provided it is hand operated
and supports the draw weight of the bow and is not attached
to the bow other than the bowstring. In the case of
physical disability of the arms or hands, a chew strap
may be used in place of fingers or release aids.
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D.
Freestyle Limited:
1. Any type of sight and its written memorandum may
be used.
2. Release aids shall be limited to gloves, tabs and
fingers. In the case of physical disability of the arms
or hands, a chew strap may be used in place of fingers.
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E. Competitive Bowhunter:
1. This type of shooting is for those with heavy tackle
equipment used during hunting activities. Junior Bowhunters
shall not be recognized.
2. No device of any type (including arrow rest), that
may be used for sighting, may be used or attached to
the archer's equipment.
3. There shall be no device, mechanical or otherwise,
in the sight window except the arrow rest and/or cushion
plungers.
4. Any part of the arrow rest extending more than 1/4
inch above the arrow shaft is deemed illegal in the
Competitive Bowhunter style.
5. An arrow plate extending more than 1/4 inch above
the arrow is deemed illegal in the Competitive Bowhunter
style.
6. No clickers, drawchecks, or levels will be allowed.
No laminations, marks, or blemishes may appear in the
sight window.
7. A string of suitable material with a center serving
and end servings of the same or different color than
the string may be used. One consistent nocking point
only is permitted. Nocking point locators shall not
extend more than one half inch (1/2") above or
below the arrow nock when at full draw. Any marks, ties
or string attachment to the string (except brush buttons
and silencers properly located) shall invalidate its
use in this division.
8. One anchor point only is permitted.
9. An archer must draw and anchor the bowstring with
the index finger touching the nock throughout the draw
and release of the arrow. When the index finger is placed
above the nock the middle finger is placed below the
nock, the third finger, if used, must touch the middle
finger; or the index finger must touch the bottom of
the nock with the middle finger touching the index finger,
and the third finger, if used, touching the middle finger.
Finger position may not be changed during competition.
10. Releases other than gloves, tabs, or fingers shall
be deemed illegal. In the case of physical disability
of the arms or hands, a chew strap may be used in place
of fingers.
11. All arrows shall be identical in length, weight,
diameter and fletching with allowances for wear and
tear. Powder on the arrow point shall be permitted as
a visual aid.
12. The Field Captain, or his counterpart, shall be
the final authority regarding equipment and style eligibility,
and may reclassify at his discretion.
13. Brush buttons, string silencers, no less than 12
inches above or below the nocking point, and bow quiver
installed on the opposite side of the sight window,
are legal. One straight stabilizer, coupling device
included if used, which cannot exceed 12 inches at any
time, as measured from the back of the bow may be used
in the Competitive Bowhunter style. No forked stabilizer
or any counterbalance will be legal.
14. An archer will not be permitted to change the draw
weight of the bow during a round.
15. The pylon (string clearance bar) will be allowed
in this shooting style if it is not located in the sight
window.
16. No written memoranda shall be allowed.
17. All official NFAA rounds shall be considered official
rounds for the Bowhunter style of shooting, and further,
all classification shall be based upon the Field and
Hunter rounds.
18. During a round no adjustments may be made to the
bow and its related equipment unless an equipment failure
is recognized.
19. Camouflage bows will be allowed.
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F. Freestyle Bowhunter:
1. A maximum of (5) five fixed reference points: Points
of attachment shall not be considered reference points.
Sighting reference points, string peep and/or kisser
button may not be moved during a round. Scopes, clickers
and draw checks are not allowed. A round or oval housing
around the points of reference is not considered a scope
as long as no lens is used. No additional pin guard
may be used.
2. Release aids will be permitted. In the case of physical
disability of the arms or hands, a chew strap may be
used in place of fingers or release aids.
3. A pinguard mounted on the sight, and a level mounted
anywhere will be legal in this style of shooting, provided
that there are no additional marks or blemishes on either
of these items that could be used for sighting.
4. There shall be no device, mechanical or otherwise,
in the sight window except the arrow rest and/or cushion
plungers. Any part of the arrow rest extending more
than 1/4 inch above the arrow shaft is deemed illegal.
5. A string of suitable material with a center serving
and end servings of the same or different color than
the string may be used. One consistent nocking point
only is permitted. Nocking point locators shall not
extend more than 1/2 inch above or below the arrow nock
when at full draw. Brush buttons and string silencers
properly attached will be legal.
6. One anchor point only is permitted.
7. All arrows shall be identical in size, length, weight
and fletching with allowances for wear and tear.
8. Brush buttons, string silencers, no less than 12
inches above or below the nocking point, and bow quiver
installed on the opposite side of the sight window,
with no part of the quiver or attachments visible in
the sight window are legal. One straight stabilizer,
coupling device included if used, which cannot exceed
12 inches at any time, as measured from the back of
the bow, may be used. No forked stabilizer or any counter
balance will be legal.
9. An archer will not be permitted to change the draw
weight of the bow during a round.
10. The pylon (string clearance bar) will be allowed
in this style of shooting if it is not located in the
sight window.
11. During a round no adjustments may be made to the
bow and its related equipment unless equipment failure
is recognized.
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G. Freestyle Limited Bowhunter:
1. Same as Freestyle Bowhunter except for these restrictions:
a. Release aids shall be limited to gloves, tabs and
fingers. In the case of physical disability of the arms
or hands, a chew strap may be used in place of fingers.
b. An archer must draw and anchor the bowstring with
the index finger touching the nock throughout the draw
and release of the arrow. When the index finger is placed
above the nock the middle finger is placed below the
nock, the third finger, if used, must touch the middle
finger; or the index finger must touch the bottom of
the nock with the middle finger touching the index finger,
and the third finger, if used, touching the middle finger.
Finger position may not be changed during competition.
In the case of physical disability of the arms or hands,
a chew strap may be used in place of fingers.
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H. Traditional:
1. This style of shooting is for those who wish to compete
with the Recurve or Longbow.
2. No device of any kind, including arrow rest, that
can be used for sighting will be used or attached to
the archer's equipment.
3. There shall be no device, mechanical or otherwise,
in the sight window except the arrow rest, arrow plate
or plunger button.
4. No part of the rest or arrow plate may extend more
than 1/4 inch above the arrow.
5. No clickers, drawchecks or levels will be allowed.
No laminations, marks or blemishes on the face of the
bow
or in the sight window will be legal.
6. The string may be of any color but must have a single
color center serving. One single nocking point is permitted.
One or two nock locators may be used. Brush buttons
and string silencers, properly placed, may be used.
Any other marks or string attachments will be illegal.
7. One anchor point only is permitted.
8. The archer shall touch the arrow when nocked and
drawing the arrow with the index finger against the
nock. Finger position may not be changed during competition.
In the case of physical disability of the arms or hands,
a chew strap may be used in place of fingers.
9. Gloves, tabs or fingers shall be the only legal releases.
In the case of physical disability of the arms or hands,
a chew strap may be used in place of fingers.
10. All arrows shall be identical in length, weight,
diameter and fletching with allowances for wear and
tear.
11. No stabilizer or counter balance may be used.
12. No written memorandum will be allowed.
13. Bow slings are permissible.
I. Freestyle Limited Recurve/Longbow:
1. Any type of sight and its written memorandum may
be used providing the sighting mechanism has no magnification.
Levels, string peep sights and electronic devices are
not allowed.
2. Release aids shall be limited to gloves, tabs and
fingers. In the case of physical disability of the arms
or hands, a chew strap may be used in place of fingers.
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I.
Freestyle Limited Recurve/Longbow:
1. Any type of sight and its written memorandum may
be used providing the sighting mechanism has no magnification.
Levels, string peep sights and electronic devices are
not allowed.
2. Release aids shall be limited to gloves, tabs and
fingers. In the case of physical disability of the arms
or hands, a chew strap may be used in place of fingers.
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