The summer of outdoor archery practice culminated in the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle's 2020 Yukon 3D Outdoor Championships last Saturday at the biathlon range.

Gaël Marchand, the executive director of the Aboriginal Sport Circle, said it was great to be able to host a competition for the archers.

"Especially our competitive archers, they lost the Arctic Winter Game," said Marchand. "It was good to be able to have a tournament."

Archery was going to be making its debut at the 2020 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the week-long event on March 7.

Marchand said there several disciplines to the sport; 3D archery is a means to replicate hunting. Around the course, different animals were set up for the competitors to take aim at: a squirrel, ram and turkey, to name a few.

"(3D) archery based on the same skills as shooting at a target," said Marchand. "But, it is more difficult because you have to deal with the weather and the inclination of targets – that's why they are set up in different locations."

At a target shooting archery competition, the athletes would shoot three arrows per round. That is not the case in a 3D tournament, instead they get one.

"The upside to 3D archery is it is not as intense physically," said Marchand. "They will shoot 40-50 arrows."

The highest score an archer could achieve on each animal was 11, which includes a bonus point. The targets on the animal reflected the would-be kill-zone. Five points were scored for just hitting the target.

The tournament was two rounds, one in the afternoon and one at dusk, some archers only shot one of the two rounds.

Pre-cub, barebow archer Isaac Kinsella shot a 74 in his one round of the day.

Cub, compound archer Emmet Kapaniuk scored 273 over two rounds.

Mitchell Ruldoph shot a 242 to win the Cadet, barebow category. Hayden Wallace scored 210 and Gabriela Browning shot 185.

Sofija Jewell shot a 256 to win the Cadet, compound. Sam Bugg placed second with a 248 total.

David Warkeitin shot 173 over two rounds to win the Senior, barebow division. Sebastian Lane, 89 came second. Leah Pura, 80, came third but only competed one round.

Will Schenn, 333, took the Senior, compound class while Alan Hansen, 346 earned the Master, compound crown. Hans Steins, 315 came second.

As the outdoor season nears its completion with winter on the horizon, Marchand said they are working on how to hold an indoor season.

"We are now moving to our indoor season," said Marchand. "But with schools not allowing user groups the season could be compromised. We are making alternate plans."