A host of exotic animals were sighted in the woods and meadows outside Cranbrook over the weekend.
Buffaloes, polar bears, even a dinosaur made an appearance.
Though fake, these creatures were realistic enough as archery enthusiasts let the arrows fly at the summer Kootenay Classic 3D shoot, hosted by the Cranbrook Archery Club at their outdoor range outside of town.
With three courses of 15 targets, archers were presented with some interesting challenges that included long shots or branches and plants that obstructed the kill zones.
The shoot consisted of three courses on Saturday and two on Sunday before the medal presentations.
Heading into the range, it was clear that the event is a popular draw for archers local and abroad, which drew people from as far away as the West Kootenays and Northern Montana in the U.S.
"We had probably record numbers for campers this weekend, with numbers and stuff like that," said Elaine Johnson, the youth director for the club. "We had just over 200 people register.
"Lots of good feedback."
In addition to the regular courses set up, there was a special one, with its own entrance fee, of 10 targets with some unusual shots.
"It wasn't your regular hunting shots," said Johnson. "...The very last target was two dinosaurs down in this gravel pit with a whole bunch of bones around it, so really, really cool shots like that."
Local businesses stepped up to provide donations for prizes, while Wes' Backcountry Meats out of Fernie organized a dinner.