I think TAC is kind of a fad, I still like local 3D events more.
Registration is a joke.
I agree the challenging shots help to an extent, but practicing at 100 yards led me to develop some bad shooting habits.
I had fun, but if I never shot another I wouldnt lose sleep over it.

 

guessing the Josh Bomar hunting videos 80-100 yard kills, proved the need for this type
of Total archery challenge ...for all the Jockos following ...it seems to be all about having fun
enjoy .......

 

The perception is people that shoot 3d events are going out there with target rigs, that they take it way too seriously, it’s slow as dirt sitting around on portable chairs, that it’s not a bring the whole family type of event, and frankly they aren’t good enough to shoot in them.

And the perception is people that shoot in TAC events are all 25 year old flat brim beereal wearing kids shooting YouTube videos of stupid shots, packing a campsite around a mountain for no reason, and frankly they aren’t fit enough to shoot in them.

Is it possible that perception isn’t reality in both cases?

I’ve been to three TAC events. Never saw anything but an all ages family event with friendly people of all skill levels. I’ve been paired with random people every time, and I’ve seen probably less than 6 arrows lost collectively among 10 people I’ve shot with. And these weren’t super great shooters, and none of them were decked out in weird clothing or gear. I’ve seen women backpacking babies down, and kids under 10 with their dad and sometimes mom shooting, so how hard do you think it is? They even encourage people to shoot from closer ranges on targets if they aren’t comfortable with or have the range for the shot.

Are there some people that borrow a friends bow and use mismatch weighted arrows they bummed and a 4 pin scope while shooting at 115 yard targets… yup, those guys are out there too, and they trash many of their arrows but they have fun. Anyone on AT would breeze through a TAC course with a few goofy shot exceptions, and if you didn’t go for the scoring ring would be 100% safe because they are prepared. TAC exposes the people that don’t have the equipment dialed and reps to execute shots. You might feel sore the next day from the downhill walk, but it’s nothing brutal.

 

I lost a toe nail from wearing crappy boots for a TAC event. LOL.
Apparently my big toe was slamming against the inside of my boot all day, developed a hematoma under the nail.
Get good shoes or boots.

 

Yeah I did too, but mine were the boots I had worn for at least 3 elk seasons. Guess they gave up the ghost. That said I only wore them because it rained like crazy the first day. I did the other two days in low top hikers and was totally comfortable. T I'll wear the new Crispi's at Terry Peak in a month but really just to break them in a bit more.

Sonny I don't know if you had never heard of TAC on this site or just locally to you, but people have been talking about it here for years. If you ever get a chance to go, I am sure you would enjoy it. I like doing the local 3d's but it has really faded around here in the last 10 years. We have a couple of local ranges here now, where we used to be able to shoot a different local every weekend. Our club only does one a year and it's an ASA qualifier. I used to enjoy those too,(before there was even any known distance) but now my equipment is no longer legal for BH and not competitive in open. I stopped outfitting my bow to be "legal" for 3d a long time ago.

 

Such a silly debate by the people get territorial on both sides. There's plenty of room for both (or all) style of events out there, and I welcome them all. Haven't been to a TAC yet but I'd like to check it out, and feel like it's nothing but a positive for the sport overall. If it flames out so be it, but there is nothing happening currently to indicate that will happen. If anything it seems like they are set to grow considerably in the next few years.

 

Agree 100%! I don't know how anyone can look at what TAC is doing and see that as anything but positive for the archery community as a whole. They truly embody their saying of, "Life... It's better with a bow." Surely we can all agree on that, even if a lot of us haven't been to a TAC event.

It's the same mentality we see in many threads here on AT. If something goes on that isn't something someone else likes or participates in, it's automatically seen as something negative by those someones.

 

just to save everyone some time reading all these posts.... people who never been dont like TAC people who have love it. your welcome

 

We're a local ASA club and in the last 3-4 years we've seen our participants go from 30ish a shoot to 10ish and we couldn't even afford to replace cores, much less a new target or add a new target addition. If it rained we were really screwed. Even on a State qualifier we'd have maybe 20. To boot we're in mid TN where 3D is kinda in a hot spot location. To add insult to injury all but one other 3D club has shut down so there's 6-7 less clubs to compete with and we couldn't get anyone to show up.

Last year we had all our 3D courses set up and the last shoot of the year we did a second TAC style course. We call it catering to the "backpack crowd." We had 88 people show up. Only 5 of them shot the normal 3D course. This year we've added multiple TAC style shoots. Luckily we have the land and terrain to support it and we have been able to afford to replace all of our OLD 3D targets and replace the target bales from 20-100 yards. We added an elk at 100 yds at the practice bales and for $5 a pop you can try to win a brand new bow. From Jan-May we've paid for that bow 3 times. So we added a second bow to win as well.

Me and the other officers talk about it all the time. You can't please everyone but we have a ton of complaints about the course each 3D - it's too long, it's too short, it's too easy or too hard - all for the same course. The backpack crowd shows up and we set up CRAZY shots and they'll lose a dozen arrows and go down the street to Bass Pro and buy more and come back to finish. NO ONE complains about anything and they all congregate at the pavillion and buy food from our concession.

We'll have people that don't even know each other gather at the 100 yd elk, talk trash in fun and spend each other's money shooting at the elk.

We also had a problem (I've mentioned it in many threads on here in the past) of getting members first off and then getting them to help so that me and two others don't do EVERYTHING. We instituted a deal where if you show up on a work day or to help run a shoot, etc you get a ticket. Every time you help you get a ticket and at the end of the year we're drawing for a bow on that as well. Our paid membership has doubled and now we have a network of help and we actually can depend on them. The more these "outskirt" shooters and members have gotten involved, the more entrenched they have become in the club. It's been a win / win.

Even though our local club is the club for the VP of ASA, Regional Director and about 6 high profile ASA shooters we just kept going backwards in participation. I think it all boils down to way more people are into bow HUNTING as opposed to target. They just want to get out there and shoot their bows for fun. They seem to be more into "that's a dead deer" on a good kill shot compared to whether it's in the 12 or not. A lot of the 12 rings aren't necessarily where people aim for a kill shot.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Great example of the positive impact TAC has had on our community.

I believe the problem with some local 3D events is they have gotten stale and most archers, not all, were looking for something different. Let's face it, the number of archers at local 3D events that are going to go on to be successful professional archers and make a living at is incredibly small. That's why I believe the "that's a dead deer" crowd that's simply looking to have fun shooting a bow is growing and events like TAC are giving them what they're looking for. Don't get me wrong, I still like to strap on my serious face and get out there and compete with others at local 3D events but to be honest, with the rigors and stress of everyday life, voluntarily adding to that stress by shooting actual competitions is becoming less appealing. More times than not, I just want to go shoot my bow with friends, cut up and have some laughs and just have fun.

The fact that you and your board recognized a change was needed is commendable. Far too many supervisory boards are stubborn and stuck in their ways and sadly, those are the clubs that typically fade away over time. For anything to enjoy longevity, it has to be willing to evolve. Sounds like y'all did a great job of recognizing that. Kudos to you.

 

It's all an age thing. What the younger crowd wants to do drives the future. If the older crowd doesn't start setting up something for the younger crowd it dies on the vine. People my age and older get tired and quit, get injuries, die, etc.

 

I don't know. I see plenty of long in the tooth archers at TAC events. Hell, the first time I shot in San Antonio, I had to check the schedule of events to see if there was an AARP convention on the course because there were plenty of 50 an above archers out there. Granted, San Antonio is the flattest course in the entire TAC lineup right now. It was still tough shots but the walk wasn't near as intense as most of the other events. It's actually a great event for someone that is thinking about shooting a TAC event but are concerned about the physical demands of some of the courses.

 

I have shot 3 VT TAC events and 1 in PA I agree it helps grow the sport of archery. You see families attending the events and some of these young kids can really shoot. Every non shooter that just went for the hikes with me all bought bows afterwards because they enjoyed the time they spent on the mountains and the people they met. On another not I also shot a mountain archery shoot, which I absolutely had a blast. I think all these events that forced me to push my limits has made me a better all around shooter and I still enjoy local 3D events.

 

It’s the magical mystical flight of the arrow. Whats the first thing a kid wants to do - at least I wanted to? Hold that bow high and send it just to watch it arc back to earth!

Once you’ve shot longer distances, watched your arrow float across the wide open space, and hit your target you’re hooked! 20 yards can get boring pretty quick. It kinda goes back to the “roving” we did way back when with sticks and strings.

On the 3d side, I don’t know what targets my gun club still has. Ten - fifteen years ago they bought 25 or 30 targets and tried to run 3d. Couldn’t get members to come out to help setup & tear down even though membership has work hours requirements. Guess it was to much like real work…..most just wanna ride a mower or push a paint brush. We ran 3d for maybe a season or two but attendance dropped off to basically zero. Was not worth the effort to set a course, let alone cut alternate target paths/locations. We now have what’s left of an overgrown field course inhabited by foam animals that are left out all summer for members to rove on.
I gotta say, knowing our club property, i could set up some long and interesting shots.

 

Once you’ve shot longer distances, watched your arrow float across the wide open space, and hit your target you’re hooked! 20 yards can get boring pretty quick. It kinda goes back to the “roving” we did way back when with sticks and strings.

Yep, I have a range in my back yard with enough room to shoot a 1/2 mile if I wanted. Ever since I shot my first Mountain 3D fun shoot about 4-5 years ago I cant tell you the last time I shot at my targets closer than 50 yards unless I was doing a bare shaft tune. When I shoot daily I start at 50 and work to 120. Closer shots are no fun for me anymore unless I'm hunting.

I'll be 57 this year. Still shooting TAC and some others put on by different orgs. Still pulling 80lbs. And, I shoot the "Out West TAC's" Snow Bird, Big Sky, this year Alta Utah. In other words, the Big mountain TAC's.

 

We had hike to hunt here last weekend close to 900 shooters. We would be lucky to have that many shooters at every 3D shoot combined and possibly multiplied by 2.... Sure seams like this is a new direction! Maybe not replace 3D for all or some but attracting way more than 3D does and new non 3D shooters. If its growing the sport keep on. I need to go to one I just never remember to sign up months a head of time!

 

I can only hope they grow in popularity. It would be awesome to see some of the top level competitors start using them as a real sanctioned even. The best would still do really well but it would be cool to see how some of the top pros in the world did against each other at a TAC event.
I think I will try to make it a priority to work a booth at one next year or so and get out on a Sunday with a couple dude that travel to several for work.

 

I think making it a sanctioned event would destroy the atmosphere. The vibe I got at the first one I attended was that of a bunch of people with a common interest coming together and participating for the fun and love the activity. I think that would change drastically if it became a competition.

 

I've done two so far. It really doesn't compare at all IMO to organized 3D.

It is fun but it's a long day, and requires very specific land and terrain. The latter which is probably why it's gotten so popular. But to do even a few, you are going to have travel or fly quite a distance. So to me, it's not practical as a primary discipline. And honestly, it doesn't really translate to realistic bow hunting either. It's kind of like the long drive tour in golf. Fun but not more than that for us. I'm sure we'll continue to do the one's that are a reasonable distance from us , the few times a year that is. But I'll still shoot 3D weekly, competitevely or otherwise regardless.

 

Tac is a blast 2nd year in a row Terry Peak Sd. if you are out too have a good time meet great people like minded archers people willing to share experiences and just a darn good over all experience then get to a Tac event you will
Meet plenty of new archers and see some great terrain yes some long shots here and there and some steep angles. One thing I will say for Tac it will teach you is that I should only take ethical shots on Big Game. Have fun shoot straight life is better with a Bow remember foam is your friend!

 

TAC is the most fun i have/had shooting archery. we keep score just for our own knowledge. making the long shots, albeit not realistic hunting situation, is awesome. if it was the same ole 30 - 40 yard shot that i do at my local 3D event, then there wouldn't be the "draw" to go. when we sign up for TAC, we choose the longest, most challenging courses for our nock times. we then do another "lesser" course in the afternoon. not to say the "lesser" courses aren't challenging, just the distance shots are fewer/shorter. we shoot 1 TAC event a year. been to Vermont once and PA now twice... also love the vendor village, where else can i go and see as many vendors in one place..... TAC isn't replacing local 3D shoots for me, but it gives me 1 venue i look forward to every year. if they were available every week local, there would be less hype and interest to go, not to mention the cost, time, and physical effort required to attend.

 

It wouldnt surprise me if ASA and IBO just stopped.