3D Archery: Beyond the Hunt – What It Is & Why It Matters

It’s a little-known discipline in our region but which is attracting more and more fans: 3D archery. It’s hunting… non-lethal, where archers shoot three-dimensional foam animals, larger than life. In Andouille, in Mayenne, the “La Maisnie d’Andol” association brings together around twenty followers.

If you thought archery was all about aiming at a red and yellow circle, think again!

Between cutting-edge sport and immersive hiking, 3D shooting is attracting more and more fans. The concept? Find life-size animals, made of polyurethane foam, hidden in the middle of the forest. A discipline where we play modern-day Robin Hood without harming a fly. Because here, no animal will end up in stew!

“It ranges from wild boar to deer, including pheasants, deer and even grizzly bears, real replicas that scream truth in three dimensions. Everyone buys the target they want. For competitions, the targets must still be approved by the French Archery Federation, to which 3D Shooting is affiliated.”specifies Pascal Théreau, president of the association “La Maisnie d’Andol”in Andouille, near Laval (Mayenne).

In Mayenne, “La Maisnie d’Andol” is the only association that brings together 3D archery enthusiasts. Around twenty enthusiasts, just as passionate about the discipline as they are about the great outdoors. Here, we don’t hunt, we shoot!

“In the association, there are no hunters. I have nothing against hunting, but it’s not my thing! What thrills me is above all archery and nature”, states, straight away, Pascal Théreau.

It’s not the feeling of killing an animal that drives us. It’s being in nature and thinking that we find ourselves in prehistoric times and that we have to kill to eat. But without having a hunting spirit.

Pascal Théreau

President of the association “La Maisnie d’Andol”

“When I started 3D archery 35 years ago, it was with a sight but I got bored very quickly. I remembered that when I was a kid, we made hazel bows and we shot on instinct, like Robin Hood and that’s what I wanted to do”remembers the Mayennais, now retired.

Instinctive shooting on a course of 26 targets spread over ten hectares. 3D archery is practiced at an unknown distance without any sign to tell you if the animal is 10 or 50 meters away. It is up to the archer to judge, on sloping terrain, through the branches, in summer and winter.

“We regularly change the course, we move the targets. But depending on the season, the course is always different. In winter, the trees are bare but there can be snow, like at the moment, which makes the targets less visible to the naked eye. When spring arrives, the leaves partly camouflage the animals”adds Pascal Théreau.

This discipline, which remains confidential, is practiced in private forests, out of sight and with safety rules to respect, so as not to hurt anyone. “Already, the route is marked, arrowed and always in the same direction and in forests which are frequented neither by hunters nor by mushroom pickers”.

3D shooting, 100% ethical hunting, between precision and conviction, with pleasure and adventure in the sights.

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