Sir Gordon’s Traditional 3D Shoot is our once-yearly, traditional archery focused event. Dedicated to Gordon Veil, a San Diego Archers club veteran for over 50 years, this traditional shoot will be hosted by the San Diego Archers on
Sunday, May 3, 2026
at the Rube Powell Balboa Park Archery Range
On the day of the shoot, visit the visitors’ table between 7:30 am and 8:30 am. Sign the paper waiver form for each participant and pick up a blank scorecard before entering the practice area.
Range briefing will begin after 8:40 am, and shooting will commence after 9 am.
Volunteers are needed at 7am to help set up and take down targets!
If you’re unable to help set up targets, please help us in taking down and storing the targets at the end of the shoot. Remember: volunteers receive a $15 club credit card to shoot for FREE!
Contact us if you’d like to help.
The Sir Gordon Traditional Shoot includes:
32 3D Targets
2 Arrows per Target
Scoring: 10-8-5
Maximum Score: 640
Rangefinders Not Allowed
This unmarked, 3D Target novelty shoot, with no rangefinders allowed, will use a wide range of high-quality Rhinehart and Mackenzie targets set in various hunting scenarios with ranges out to 40ish yards.
The Classes
Traditional Recurve Class (TRAD) – The bow must adhere to the standard recurve design and the riser must be constructed primarily of wood. Arrows may be of any material (carbon, aluminum, or wood) and the bow may utilize a raised, fixed, arrow rest, but a plunger is not allowed. Stabilizers and/or levels are prohibited for this competition.
Longbow Class (LB) – The bow must adhere to the standard longbow design, and deflex/reflex is allowed. Wood must be the primary material used in the construction, an arrow rest (shelf) may be incorporated but it must be positive of center on the bow’s riser. Arrows may be of any material (carbon, aluminum, or wood), and must be shot from the shelf, no elevated rest is allowed in this class. A pad, to protect the arrows, may be added to the shelf.
Primitive Class (PR) – The bow may be of any design used during the 18th or 19th centuries. The bow must be constructed entirely of natural materials. Laminations are allowed as long as they are of natural material and only natural adhesives bind them to the bow (No Fiberglass, Carbon Fiber, Epoxy). Arrows must be made of wood. Plastic nocks are acceptable.
All shooters other classes welcome to shoot in the Fun Shoot Class!
Final scores will reflect 3 classes for awards and recognition: Longbow (LB), Primitive with Wood Arrow (PR), Traditional Recurve (TRAD), all other equipment classes may enter the Fun Shoot (FS) No awards for the fun shoot class
About Mulligans and Doe Tags
If you missed or scored low with the first arrow, a mulligan allows you to take another shot at a target. Your score is determined by that second (mulligan) arrow even if your score turns out worse than the first arrow.
You could use the second mulligan on the same target but your score is determined by the last arrow shot.
There is a maximum of two buck-doe spreads in the field where the is doe placed between the buck and the archer. If you hit the doe and do not have a doe tag, you score negative five (-5) points on that target. With a doe tag, you score zero (0) points however you cannot use a mulligan if you hit the doe regardless of possessing a doe tag or not.
If you hit the buck or miss completely, you may use a mulligan and your score is determined from that second arrow.
3D Shoots will NOT be canceled due to bad weather!
All score card are to be turned in at the registration table
