How IBO 3D scoring works
The International Bowhunting Organization scores its 3D targets on four rings: 11, 10, 8 and 5. Distances are never marked.
IBO is not IFAA. The two acronyms look alike, but they are different organizations with different rulebooks — the IFAA 3D rounds use other zones and other values.
Keep an IBO score with ArcTrail 3D
The scoring rings
| Where the arrow is | Points |
|---|---|
| 11-ring (or «X») | 11 |
| 10-ring (or heart) | 10 |
| Vital area | 8 |
| Body | 5 |
| Miss, or not touching body color | 0 |
How the rings are drawn (II.B.1–4): the 11 is a circle centered inside the 10, roughly a quarter of its size; the 10 is a circle inside the vital area; the vital area roughly covers heart, lungs and liver; the rest of the animal is body.
A line cutter scores up: a shaft touching the line of a higher scoring area gets the higher score (IV.B.2.c).
The horn rule
An arrow embedded in the horn of an animal, not touching body color, is a miss and scores zero (II.B.5). No other 3D rulebook on this site has a rule quite like it, and it catches people out: a hit on the target is not always a hit on the scoring area.
Unmarked distances and stake colors
IBO targets are always set at unmarked distances (II.A.3). Judging the distance is part of the shot. The rulebook sets a maximum distance for each stake color:
| Stake | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Blue | 50 yd |
| Green | 45 yd |
| Red | 40 yd |
| Yellow | 35 yd |
| Orange | 30 yd |
| White | 25 yd |
| Neon pink | 20 yd |
ArcTrail 3D does not record the distance of a target, so this table is here for reference, not something the app checks.
Where the 440 comes from
You will often see 440 quoted as the perfect IBO score. It is 40 targets × 11. The IBO rulebook itself does not fix the number of targets — we searched the whole document and there is no such rule.
ArcTrail 3D uses a 40-target preset for its IBO 3-D mode, and says so in the app: it is a choice of the app, not a rule of the IBO.
Ties
IBO uses the number of 11s to break ties for most places (IV.F.1). That is a ranking decision taken at the event: ArcTrail 3D records every 11 you shoot, but it does not rank anyone.
Practice IBO with ArcTrail 3D
ArcTrail 3D is a free scoring app for training and for your own record of rounds. Pick the IBO rulebook once, before you start, and the app switches to one arrow per target and the 11/10/8/5 rings:
- 3-D — the 40-target preset, one arrow each;
- Training — the same rings, from 1 to 99 targets.
It works without a connection on the course, keeps a diary of your rounds and shows how your scores move over time.
ArcTrail 3D is an independent project and is not affiliated with the IBO.
At an event, the tournament rules, the organizer's instructions and the official scorecard always apply. Check them with the organizer before you shoot.
Source
Every rule on this page comes from IBO Rules and Class Definitions — 2026 (the IBO-Rules.pdf document), articles II.A.3, II.B.1–5, IV.B.2.a and c, and IV.F.1, read on 17 September 2026.
The other American circuit works differently: ASA 3D scoring. Every 3D rulebook side by side: 3D archery scoring compared.