Joella Bates has competed in archery tournaments for 14 years at the local and regional level, and 12 years at the national level in events hosted by ASA, IBO, and NFAA. She has shot archery professionally since 1994 and have earned over $100,000 from tournament winnings and bonuses. Her most significant achievements as a competitive archer are my five 3-D Archery World Championship titles and 1995 ASA Woman Pro Shooter-of-the-Year and 3-D and Target Archery Woman Shooter-of-the-Year. In 1988 Joella compiled 13 top 3 finishes in 18 events.

A bowhunter for 38 years Joella began bowhunting in 1989 and have since taken well over 100 animals and 51 different species (subspecies) with a bow.

In 1998, she took an Asian Water Buffalo, and on May 10, 2001, she became the first woman to take African Cape Buffalo with only a bow and arrow. In 2003, Bates executed a green-hunt for a Rhinoceros with a bow and tranquilized arrow. Between April 6th and May 8th, 2004, Joella became the first woman to take a Turkey Grand Slam with only a bow and arrow and then the first woman to arrow the birds in a single season.