Arrows are whizzing through the air this weekend in western Iowa’s Cass County for the International Bow Hunter’s 3-D World Qualifier Archery Tournament. The event is drawing some 200 expert archers from around the Midwest to the Schildberg Quarry at Cold Springs State Park near Lewis. Scott Warren, of the Atlantic Archer’s Club, says the fake animals they’re targeting look just like the real thing.
Warren says they’re life-sized three-dimensional foam targets, anywhere from frogs, raccoons and bobcats to skunks and even dinosaurs. He says the sport has changed a lot in the past 15-to-20 years, thanks to advancements in the technology used to make both arrows and compound bows.
Warren says arrow speed has increased dramatically, now going some 350 feet per second with an 80-pound draw. He says the cost to get started in the sport varies, but a beginner can get a decent set-up for around 75-to-100 dollars. He recommends anyone interested in archery visit a pro-shop, where they can fit you for the right bow.
This weekend’s event in western Iowa marks to last qualifier for the year, prior to the World Championships to be held in Indiana in August.