You’re facing a coyote that is positioned 40 yards away on a small hill. Between you and that target are trees obscuring the view. Your 3D rig is hunting with a shorter axel-to-axel length, sporting a short stabilizer and you’re aiming using pins.
A coyote is not a large target. At 40 yards firing off an arrow a little hot or a little cold and you’ll find yourself excavating behind your intended mark for an arrow that’s gone astray. There’s no easy way to avoid this type of mishap. The way to best avoid it is to practice it over and over before you encounter it in a tournament.
The same holds true for that small black bear sitting in a black hole down range at 40 yards. Or the javelina perched on a log below a crest with a tree branch over its back and leaves blocking your view. A slight error and you again are taking a pause to hunt down an arrow. Be confident when you will see these targets. Confidence that practice and exposure to competition and knowing you can hit the mark.
Taking aim on a black target in a dark hole using pins need not be an exercise in “wing and a prayer” archery (that approach has been known to work). Another way is to perfect your aim on this type of target is to practice it over and over.
You need to prepare for all sorts of target conditions during a 3D tournament. Even when you think you have all contingencies rehearsed there will a target that might throw you for a loop.