Just want to start the thread with some impressions of archaic Bavarian crossbow shooting. All over the world, there are since 2500 years a lot of different variants of crossbows in use.

In Europe and Germany we have the target disciplines on 10 meters and 30 meters (two positions) and something like field crossbow up to 60 or more meters.

But in Bavaria (and some other regions of Germany) we still have the historical "eagle crossbow shooting". The shooters shoot with a special kind of crossbow into the height. 

There is in the height of 30 meters (33 yards) on a pole a big wooden eagle mounted. The wooden eagle is in diameter 180cm (70 inches) and weight 25kg (55 lbs).

                 Biggi. 

Waiting for the guys bringing the eagle!

The eagle is painted in its special traditional colors on the side which one can see from the ground.

Back side is wooden.

Crossbows are waiting for being on duty.

These are special crossbows with a big stock, which the shooter can set on the shoulder.

Leaning on the bench is explicitly allowed!

The rules are as follows: the shooters draw the order in which they shoot.

The first shooter starts with his shot. 
But first they have to shoot away the "crown" of the eagle, with the two bars.
Second part of the eagle is on the left, the shooters have to eliminate the dagger-sword with the whole red leg.
Third part is on the right, the shooters have to shoot down the apple on the right, with the whole red leg.

These three extremities are called "premiums".

If these three premiums are fallen, the rest of the eagle can be shot down.

The picture shows an eagle, where the three premiums are already fallen.
The shooter who eliminates a premium gets a special prize.

The red arrow shows a small piece of wood, which was hit by the bolt and falls down.

Each shooter has to wear a hat. So his head is covered. And there is a shelter, where the waiting shooters and visitors are standing.

When the wood falls down, the shooter has to go for collecting each small part. 

Because the shooter who shots down most of the wood will be the winner! So he is searching for each wooden chip.

They put it onto a balance and the prey will be weight. A scorer lady writes it down in a list, how much each shooter brought in his turn.

A match is finished, when the eagle is shot down completely.

Or after three hours. This is the maximum time for a match. If the shooters don't hit very good, it might be after three hours, half of the eagle is still on top of the pole...

          Biggi.