The 2021 Total Archery Challenge event in Tennessee is in the books, and it proved to be another record breaking event for the TAC crew and attendees. We were on location to give away Bowhunting.com swag and meet and greet folks stopping by the booth. The annual event continues to be the ideal venue to reconnect with bowhunting friends and family from across the country.Â
My boys and I made the trip to the Circle E Guest Ranch in Belvidere, Tennessee for the first afternoon of the event and were blown away to see the pasture parking jammed full of cars. As mentioned above, the event has grown exponentially since it started just a few years ago.Â
“This event has grown fast,” says Sean DeGrey, TAC founder. “We’ve seen tremendous growth in just a few years here in Tennessee.” The Southeast event in Tennessee is one of newest locations for the TAC event and it’s quickly doubled in size over the last 4 years. Â
Friends & Family
Visit a TAC event and you’ll quickly see that it’s an event designed for friends and family. With ample opportunities for shooting, checking out the latest hunting gear, camping, and hanging out with like-minded bowhunters, this event is pretty much the next best thing to hunting camp.Â
You’ll find tons of family and friends making this an annual can’t-miss opportunity that goes on the calendar year after year.Â
My boys had a lot of fun hanging out and shooting on the Dead Ringer Range. It was located close to the vendors for easy access and seemingly endless shooting opportunities all weekend. Â
The Gear
With a great lineup of vendors on location, the TAC event offers plenty of opportunity to lay hands on the latest and greatest gear each year. You’ll find everything from archery accessories, arrows, bows, Yeti coolers, optics, eBikes, packs, apparel, beverages from MTN Ops and Black Rifle Coffee, and the RMEF trailer with mounts of the biggest bull elk you’ll ever see.Â
Black Rifle Coffee is one of the newest TAC sponsors. Their team was on hand to keep shooters fueled with triple-shot beverages throughout the weekend.Â
On the Range
As the name implies, the Total Archery Challenge, will test your shooting skills like no other archery event on earth. The event offers 4 courses to choose from, totaling 100 targets with some of the toughest shots you’ll shoot all year. With plenty of rugged terrain to hike through, and some shots out to 100+, this event is pretty much 3D archery on steroids.Â
It’s not uncommon to see shooters come off the range with big smiles on their face and far less arrows in their quiver than when they started. “Need more arrows!” seemed to be the word we heard the most when shooters came back by our booth after a day on one of the TAC courses. Â
Win the Truck!
One of the most popular novelty shoots any TAC event is the opportunity to win the TAC truck. The TAC truck is a beefed up, total package hunting rig designed to go anywhere your hunting adventures take you. It even comes with a FreeSpirit rooftop tent, making it the ultimate mobile hunting rig this season.Â
Want to win it?Â
No problem. Just put your arrow in the 12 ring – at 111 yards. Only then will you be eligible for the final draw to win the truck at the end of the TAC tour of events.Â
This year’s Chevy truck is sponsored by Bear Archery.Â
Upcoming TAC Events
Be sure to check out a TAC event when it comes to your part of the country this summer.Â
Upcoming events include:Â
7 Springs, PA – June 3-6
Boyne Mountain, MI – June 11-13
Terry Peak, SD – June 25-27
Sunlight Mountain Resort, CO – July 9-11
Big Sky, Montana – July 16-18
Park City, Utah – July 22-25
Snowbird, Utah – July 30-Aug 1
Keep up with all the latest from the Total Archery Challenge crew, or sign up for an event at www.totalarcherychallenge.com.Â
Brodie Swisher is a world champion game caller, outdoor writer, seminar speaker and Editor for Bowhunting.com. Brodie and his family live in the Kentucky Lake area of west Tennessee.