The animals have been put to bed. The grizzly bear, cougar, sheep, antelope, badger, buffalos, elk and the rest of their un-animated 3-D brethren are all safely put away in their winter sheds for the season following the Yukon 3-D Outdoor Championships at Grey Mountain on Sunday.

Twenty-five participants were out on the weekend, shooting 3-D boreal animal targets on the Competition and Hunter loops for points.

Kirk Porayko, competing in the master 60+ compound category shot a competition-winning 279 this year.

Porayko was one of three who shot over 200 this year. Alan Hansen in the master 50+ compound category shot 226, while 14-year-old Levi Stoneman shot 260 in the cub compound.

The 3-D Outdoor Championships also doubled as try-outs for the 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) archery team. Between 12 and 15 youth will be selected for a training group and the team will further be tightened to eight as the competition approaches. The NAIG will take place mid-July in Toronto.

On Sunday the youth outnumbered the adults 15 to 10.

“This was terrific,” said competitor Rob Ingram.

A few members of the 2014 NAIG Yukon archery team were trying to re-qualify, including Nila Helm of Carcross, Destiny Taylor and Stoneman of Teslin and Angie Wally of Whitehorse.

Some newcomers also came out to challenge for a spot. Chance Hassard, who shot alongside Stoneman scored 199 in the cub compound category.

He was hobbling around the underbrush on crutches after breaking his leg while dirt biking a month ago.

Many of the targets included in Sunday’s competition are new additions to the herd. A boar, fox, buffalo, standing grizzly, sheep, doe and cougar were all added to loops earlier this summer with a grant from Lotteries Yukon and support from the Yukon Aboriginal Circle.

“Lots of stuff they set up we haven’t seen before,” said Ingram. “Shooting between trees, some tricky stuff. Believe it or not, the in close targets are difficult to hit. It’s hard to estimate distance on them. Very challenging. Really nice set-up.”

The sheep has added to Ingram’s favourite area, near the end of the Hunter loop, dubbed “Sheep Canyon.”

With steep sides to the trail, archers shoot up at the sheep, an increased challenge.

“It’s a narrow trail, very steep-sided trail,” said Ingram. “It’s a lot of fun. You miss, your arrow’s gone.”

Ingram hopes more people will come out to enjoy the course.

“We’ve got a world-class facility here. It’s a lovely course,” he said. “We want more people to come out and shoot it.”

Results

Youth Beginner

1) Dharma Huff, 111
2) Mickey Dyck, 107
3) Douglas McKinnon, 25

Adult Beginner

1) Terilee Huff, 151

Pee-Wee, Compound

1) Kieran Ritchie, 149

Pre-Cub, Barebow

1) Arthur St-Laurent, 189
2) Aidan Kyikayichik, 110
3) David Stoneman, 99
4) James Rumbolt, 66

Cub, Barebow

1) Jesse Kates, 65

Cub, Compound

1) Levi Stoneman, 260
2) Chance Hassard,199

Cadet, Barebow

1) Nicholas Williams, 156
2) Destiny Taylor, 103
3) Nila Helms, 73

Cadet, Compound

1) Angie Wally, 112

Senior, Barebow

1) Adam Eason, 170
2) Laurence Rowles, 146
3) Marie-Maude Allard, 117

Senior, Compound

1) Mike Sydney, 193

Master 50+, Barebow

1) Tom Rowles, 157

Master 50+, Compound

1) Alan Hansen, 226

Master 60+, Barebow

1) Rob Ingram, 171
2) Sam Johnston, 168

Master 60+, Compound

1) Kirk Porayko, 279