Lumberjack Ax Throwing Competition Rules

In the Great Outdoor Games, competitors participate in contests which utilize the tools commonly used in lumber jacking, such as saws and axes. Ax throwing is a crowd pleasing event in which competitors throw small hatchets at targets in an effort to stick their axes as close to the center of the targets as possible.

  1. Dimensions

    • Targets in an ax-throwing competition must be positioned with the center of the target 60 inches above the ground, with a throwing line marked off 20 feet from the target. In order to be legal, a hatchet must weigh more than 2-1/2 pounds, with a bladed edge less than 6 inches long. The length of the hatchet is to the taste of the thrower, as long as the ax falls within a range of 24 inches to 40 inches.

    Safety

    • When laying out an ax-throwing competition, it is important to ensure the the field is designed to maximize safety. Position the targets so the impact surface faces toward the spectators. In addition to allowing the best view, this ensures the throwers are pointed away from the fans. A clear space behind the targets should be maintained, and if possible a backstop behind the targets should be utilized to stop errant throws.

    Throwing

    • Each competitor in a competition is permitted to take one practice throw prior to their official tosses. After the practice attempt, competitors are given three throws each. In order for a throw to be valid it must be tossed from behind the foul line and remain in the target long enough for a judge to remove the ax or instruct the competitor to remove the ax.

    Scoring

    • The scoring target comprises a series of concentric circles. The center circle is worth 5 points, the next circle 4 points, then 3, 2 and 1 point respectively. Each throw is assessed based on the best possible region that the ax is embedded in. If the ax embeds on the ring between the 3 point and 4 point zones, for example, the throw is worth 4 points. A toss must only embed one point of the blade, however, as a throw with both points embedded scores 0.