“Life… It’s Better with a Bow.”
Total Archery Challenge’s famous tagline rings true for everyone in the archery community. From target competitors to recreational recurve shooters, and from extreme compound stalkers to traditional hunters, we all share a passion that brings us together and connects us with the natural world. Total Archery Challenge took this all into account when they designed their “best outdoor sporting event in the United States.” TAC, as it is most commonly referred to, is a multi-day, scenic, and unforgettable archery experience that can be found across the country. Their professionally built courses offer over 100 3D targets per event and are designed to test archers of all skill levels with varying course challenge levels. The raffles, novelty shoots, and huge prizes are just icing on the cake.
With 2026 events lined up in Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, there is bound to be a TAC event within driving distance of you, wherever you may me. And hey, a ton of people fly out to these events, too. With the allure of winning an offroad truck and testing your mettle on challenging 3D mountain courses in the most scenic areas of the country, there is no doubt that TAC is an attractive event for archers all over the country. One thing you might be asking yourself as you prepare for your first trip to TAC is, “What am I going to need?” Well, that’s what I’m hoping to answer in this article.
What You’ll Need:
- Your Bow - Tuned and ready to shoot at distance.
- At Least a dozen arrows - If you’re not a seasoned distance or angle shooter, consider bringing even more, just in case.
- Your Preferred Quiver - Whether you prefer a hip quiver or keeping your arrows in a backpack, some place to store them while on the trail is a requirement.
- Your Release - The last thing you want to forget is your release because the pain of missing out on your TAC shoot, or having to buy a release at the event, can be quite painful. Make sure to bring a backup just in case, too.
- A Good Ol’ Pair of Boots - Good hiking boots are a must (unless you want to have sore feet and blistered toes, that is). View some great options HERE.
- WATER - Don’t be a tough guy and try to complete a challenge course with no extra hydration. It is safer, healthier, and smarter to bring ample levels of hydration with you on the course.
- FOOD - Bring light trail snacks like trail mix, granola bars, beef jerky, snack sticks, etc. If you are inclined to include a plastic bag filled with your grandma’s spaghetti in your backpack, more power to you - just don’t forget a fork.
- Arrow Puller - You really don’t want to ruin your hands or get an arrow stuck if you don’t have to.
- Optics/Optics Harness - A rangefinder is essential for knowing accurate distance on difficult targets, and a set of binos might prove useful for mapping out obstacles and planning your shot placement. The harness just helps keep them tight to your person and easily accessible. Maybe throw in an extra rangefinder battery, too.
- Tools - No archer should leave home without at the very least a set of Allen keys for field work. While TAC supplies some tools to work on your bows at the main event area, they are limited supplies with limited access.
- Pens - You wouldn’t want to be caught with a scorecard and nothing to write with, would you?
- Bow Stand - Sure, you could hold your bow the whole time and only set it down carefully when pulling arrows, but after a while that is going to be a real pain.
- Backpack - If this is already covered as your quiver, great! If not, it might be helpful for, you know, storing all of the things you won’t be holding while shooting.
- Appropriate Attire: Don’t underdress and don’t overdress. Check the weather and make sure what you’re wearing works for a day of hiking through potentially rough terrain. Bringing backups in your vehicle is never a bad idea, just in case you need a rain jacket or to change into shorts.
- Sun Protection - Whether you fall into the “t-shirt, shorts, and sunscreen” crowd, or the “Hat, sun hoodie, hiking pants” crowd, make sure you take sun protection seriously. You don’t want sunburn ruining the memory of a great time.
- Small First Aid Kit - You don’t want to need something and not have it.
- Extra Parts - You could leave a bunch of extra d-loops, pliers, nocks, points, etc. in your vehicle if you don’t feel like buying anything you might need from the LAS trailer.
Remember to get your Nock Times (the archery equivalent of golf’s Tee Times) purchased and scheduled as far ahead of time as possible. Once nock times are sold out, the event is sold out. Each Nock Time (your group) has a MAXIMUM shooter count of six to keep the event flowing in a timely and respectful manner. This will be enforced.