Our Purpose To promote, encourage and foster the sport of bowhunting; further bowhunter education; act as a political coordinator and liaison for the protection and advancement of bowhunting; — function as a clearinghouse for essential bowhunter information; and — adhere to the basic ideal of the unification of bowhunters.
1984
The International Bowhunting Organization (IBO) was created in 1984 by a dedicated group of bowhunters who shared the desire to ensure that bowhunting and the ideals of wildlife conservation survive, expand and flourish to be shared, enjoyed and passed on to future generations.
Soon after its inception, the IBO launched the Triple Crown of Bowhunting, consisting of three national tournaments hosted in separate states. Utilizing identical rules and classes, the Triple Crown culminates with the crowning of national champions of various age, gender and equipment classes. The series continues to expand each year and has become the undisputed indicator of the best individual performers and equipment in the sport of 3-D archery and bowhunting.
1989
In 1989, the IBO established a series of sanctioned tournaments worldwide in which participants may qualify to compete in an annual finale to be held in a large and accommodating, destination-type venue. Presently, hundreds of local and regional bowhunting clubs host qualifying events for the opportunity to participate in 3-D Archery’s largest and most prestigious event – The IBO World Championship.
As part of the Triple Crown and World events, competitors regularly participate in a unique tradition, shooting the IBO Bowhunter Defense Fund Range. Fees collected from those who shoot these recreational ranges are earmarked for the IBO Bowhunter Defense Fund. To date, this fund has disbursed in excess of $700,000 to help ensure a strong and lasting future for bowhunting.
Today
As state game agencies are increasingly recognizing that bowhunting can play an important part in modern suburban American deer management, the IBO is prepared to play a pro-active role in the process and providing the best-trained, best prepared and most ethical bowhunters to take part in forthcoming programs and efforts. The IBO was one of the first groups to publicly recognize the growing need for urban whitetail management–and the integral part which bowhunting can play in this effort.
With the continuing support of the industry’s leading manufacturers, a network of dedicated clubs and groups, and tens of thousands of individual bowhunters, the IBO is prepared to meet the important challenges which will face bowhunting — today and in the decades to come.
