It’s just another bow shoot, what’s the big deal? In recent years, there has been a trending buzz amongst bowhunters and shooters alike, over a bow shoot that is anything but ordinary.
Over the past decade, the Total Archery Challenge, often referred to as TAC, has turned from a fresh idea into one of the most talked about events in the archery world. Thousands of archery shooters travel across the country to hike mountain courses, test their skills at challenging distances, and spend a weekend immersed in archery culture.
Recently, I spoke with Sean DeGrey from TAC, as well as other hunters and shooters who participated in a recent challenge. My goal was to find out why the Total Archery Challenge is so popular and what keeps hunters and shooters coming back year after year. I learned that the real story behind TAC isn’t just the shooting. It’s the people, the experience, and the unique mix of community, adventure, and industry involvement that continues to drive its inspiring growth.
Where It All Started
Total Archery Challenge founder and co-owner Sean DeGrey saw potential in a struggling 3D archery event held at a Utah ski resort. While working in the event industry, he encountered a concept he believed could be reinvented into something bigger and more engaging for archery enthusiasts.
Around 2012, DeGrey purchased the event’s assets, primarily targets, and rebuilt a new format from scratch. His vision was simple, to remove the pressure and anxiety of competition and replace it with a fun, welcoming environment that appealed to shooters of all experience levels.
Instead of focusing on scores and trophies, the event would emphasize adventure, technical shooting challenges, and camaraderie. The goal was to create something entirely different from the traditional 3D shoots that had become stagnant within the archery world.
What Is the Total Archery Challenge?
Today, many consider the present time the peak of TAC and its 3D archery experience, which is held at scenic resorts and outdoor destinations across the country. Shooters hike courses filled with 3D targets that are set at random distances and angles, from close shots to some that extend past a hundred yards.
During an event, shooters encounter steep uphill and downhill scenarios designed to mimic real hunting conditions while also pushing archers outside their comfort zones. But despite the challenge, TAC isn’t built around competition alone. Instead, the focus is on participation, improvement, and having fun.
Whether someone is a beginning shooter or a seasoned professional, the TAC format allows everyone to share the same mountain and enjoy the same experience.
Growth Fueled by a New Vision
In its early years, growth came slowly. Many archers, particularly in the Midwest and Eastern United States, were unfamiliar with long range shooting and western style courses. But after a few seasons, the idea caught on. Archers loved the new format and the adventure focused approach, and participation numbers began climbing rapidly. Today, TAC events collectively host tens of thousands of participants annually, with individual events ranging from a couple thousand shooters to well over 5,000.
What once seemed like an experimental shift in 3D archery has become one of the most anticipated events in the sport.
A Community That Sets TAC Apart
While the courses and scenery draw people in, many say the real reason they return is the community.
Participants often form lasting friendships on the mountain. Groups plan annual trips together, and some shooters travel to multiple TAC stops each year as part of a shared tradition. Others arrive solo, confident they’ll leave with new friends and connections.
That culture extends beyond participants to vendors and industry partners. I recently sat down with Steve Allie, Marketing Director at Nexus Outdoors (Tuo Gear, ScentLok, and Blocker Outdoors), a multi-TAC vendor and participant. He describes these events as something that, unlike traditional trade shows, is beneficial for the archery business, as well as the everyday bowhunter.
Rather than crowded indoor convention centers, TAC feels more like a relaxed outdoor gathering. Pop-up tents and open air setups create a laid back atmosphere where brands and attendees connect naturally. According to Allie, vendors quickly develop relationships not only with customers but also with fellow exhibitors, creating a strong family like culture that carries from one event to the next.
A Vendor’s Perspective: Why Brands Love TAC
For many outdoor companies, TAC offers a unique advantage to boost interest and, in turn, sales. The TAC atmosphere provides direct access to a passionate audience that is second to none.
To gain a different perspective, I asked Allie to explain how Nexus Outdoors used TAC as a platform to introduce its gear to hunters and shooters who might not otherwise encounter a direct-to-consumer brand in traditional retail stores. “The ability for hunters and shooters to see, touch, and try products firsthand provides invaluable exposure,” said Allie.
Because TAC hosts multiple events across the country, brands benefit from repeated interactions with the same audience, building recognition and trust over time. Allie also noted that TAC attendees are often serious hunters preparing for Western adventures or expanding their skill sets, making them an ideal customer base for Nexus Outdoors and other companies alike.
Allie added that it is equally important to experience the positive atmosphere. Participants arrive eager to shoot, learn, and explore new gear, creating an environment where conversations feel natural rather than transactional.
Why Everyday Hunters Should Attend
Beyond the social aspect and industry presence, TAC provides practical benefits for archers. Allie points out that the courses push shooters to expand their skills in ways that a typical archery range session doesn’t.
Archery requires consistent practice, and TAC’s varied terrain and shot scenarios help hunters refine form, judgment, and confidence with their equipment. For many bowhunters, the experience serves as both a challenge and a training opportunity, helping them become more effective and ethical shooters in the field.
The Mountain Festival Experience
When speaking with various shooters and participants from past TAC events, I was reminded of a season in my life that inspired me to pursue a career in the hunting industry.
As a teenager in the late 90’s, my father and I would attend the annual Fall Hunting Classic at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo. In the late 90’s, this event was packed with vendors from the hunting industry, all showcasing their latest products for attendees to try hands-on. Everyone would be excited for the upcoming season and enjoy the camaraderie with other hunters. Many of the attendees I spoke with shared the same feeling during the Mountain Festival.
In addition to the courses, TAC hosts a large vendor area often referred to as the Mountain Festival. Major manufacturers and local companies gather to showcase new products, offer demos, and interact directly with consumers. Depending on the location, the festival can include dozens or even more than 100 vendors. But the atmosphere remains cooperative rather than competitive. Brands share booth spaces, support one another, and engage with attendees in a relaxed, outdoor setting.
The event also features film nights, after parties, conservation fundraisers, prize opportunities, and other entertainment. Even visitors who never set foot on the shooting courses can spend an entire weekend enjoying the festival.
Economic and Cultural Impact
The influence of TAC extends well beyond the event itself. Host communities see a significant economic boost from thousands of participants who attend each weekend, stay in nearby motels, and eat at local restaurants.
Yet one of the most notable boosts is the local pro shops, which often see increased sales leading up to nearby events. More broadly, TAC has helped breathe new life into 3D archery by introducing a fresh approach that attracts both experienced shooters and newcomers.
Why Total Archery Challenge Keeps Growing
According to both organizers and vendors, TAC’s success stems from a combination of factors. Hunters and shooters come for the technical challenges and unique shooting scenarios. They also value friendships and a sense of belonging. As well as the chance to experience stunning outdoor locations and connect directly with industry leaders.
But above all, people attend for the atmosphere that is welcoming, outdoor focused, and where people share a passion for archery without the pressure of competition. By blending challenge, community, industry involvement, and adventure into a single experience, the Total Archery Challenge has created something that resonates deeply with modern archers, and its growing popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
