Hitting the Bull’s Eye
Total Archery Challenge
Red Lodge, Montana
Photography by Stu Hoefle
Thousands of camo-clad archery shooters traversed the snowless slopes at Red Lodge Mountain, shooting their way through 3D courses set up to hone their skills and test their marksmanship. Dozens of archery enthusiasts carrying bows and quivers filled with arrows, packs and harnesses strapped to their torsos, were visible from the chairlift.
Hosted by Total Archery Challenge (TAC) in late June, it was a bow hunter’s paradise as the archery community came together to participate in one of 14 such events held throughout the U.S this summer - and the first one ever held at Red Lodge.
“Red Lodge Mountain has been an amazing venue,” Conner Brockhouse, TAC Event Coordinator said. “The feedback we’ve received from the participants has been nothing but positive. The Red Lodge Mountain workers went above and beyond. We give it a 10 out of 10 rating.”
Red Lodge Mountain typically shuts down as a ski hill on April 15 to comply with the operating plan they have with the Forest Service and private landowners. That all changed last year with the installation of their new chairlift - Stache Express.
“In previous years, we allowed foot traffic up the hill,” Troy Hawks, Red Lodge Mountain Marketing Director said. “But the Stache Express chairlift slows down enough that people on foot can load. We’ve never had that before and it’s opened up more opportunities for us, including the archery event.”
In groups of six or less, the archers hiked into areas that had been designed by the TAC team. Over 100 3D targets challenged the skills of the participants as they adjusted for distance, angles and natural obstacles. With over 2400 registered participants, the mountain was as full as a busy ski day.
Set along slopes and forested areas, with rocky crags and slippery trails, the professionally designed courses were accessed by the Stache Express and the Palisades chairlifts to accommodate the hunters. But the courses were not for the faint of heart as they set up for the best position to score their mark on targets that ranged up to 100 yards.
For five Montana hunters, it was an opportunity to get together with good friends and have a little healthy competition. Chad Wiberg, Theresa Dighans, Zach Starcher and brothers, Tyler and Christ Hereim have known each other for years and often hunt together. This was an opportunity to bring out the bows and shoot for bragging rights.
“We’ve been to TAC events before and this has been a great one,” Chad said. “It’s friendly competition for sure, but I like to win!” And he did, narrowly beating Zach at the end of the weekend by one point.
Chad’s friends echoed his sentiments. As the five of them worked their way through the Sitka Course, they took turns stepping up to measure the distance with range finders, taking their time to scope and shoot. Even from 65 yards or more, the soft thud of an arrow scoring the hit could be heard.
Binoculars verified the accuracy of the shot, and the points accumulated as congratulations or laughter followed, depending on where the arrow landed.
“Some of these aren’t really realistic shots,” Theresa commented. “There’s a lot of variables that could go wrong if you’re shooting an animal at that distance. Most of us would wait for a much better shot to ensure that we didn’t wound the animal. But it’s been a great event, and the views and scenery are incredible.”
“A lot of the shots wouldn’t be ethical shots if you were hunting,” Chad added. “But this event makes you a better shooter and pushes you to the limit, and even past your limit.”
TAC doesn’t gather scores or offer awards at the end of the day. It’s non-competitive and just for entertainment. Judging by the endless smiles and laughter, everyone was having a great time.
“We give people a score card for their own use,” Conner continued. “It’s fun for each group to track how well they are doing, but this event is meant to bring people together and enjoy the outdoors.”
Although the shooters were from 43 states and three countries, it didn’t stop them from bonding through the day. A group of Canadian hunters agreed that some of the shots were hard but also added that the challenge is where the fun is.
“Can you imagine dragging a carcass from that spot?” one of them commented. The target on the Sitka course was about 70 yards downhill in heavily timbered terrain. “I think I’d wait for a better shot, but it’s sure fun!”
As the groups of archers made their way through the courses, they coached one another on ways to increase their accuracy. With a slight breeze, many had advice on adjusting sites, or where to aim.
Along another course, husband and wife, Tyler and Rebekah Weeding were shooting together. Tyler shot competitively in his youth and he and Rebekah enjoy hunting together now.
“This is the fourth TAC I’ve been to,” Tyler said, “and Red Lodge has been the best. The courses are set up really well. I’ve taken shots this weekend that I wouldn’t typically get to take. The scenery, the shots, it’s all been very cool and unique.”
On the Palisades side, Tyler remarked about a target that was accessible only by crawling over the top of jagged rocks to make the shot on a bedded animal target.
“It was positioned so that you didn’t have a clear view, it was obstructed by branches and overgrowth. It was very technical,” he explained. “And was the hardest shot I took.”
Down at the ski lodge, novelty shots were set up for those hoping to test their luck at winning prizes including a 2025 - completely decked out - Ford F-150. But the chances to win take expertise, luck and a little money. Fifteen dollars buys one opportunity to hit a bullseye on the side of a caribou at 111 yards, to quality to put your name in a raffle for the truck.
“At the end of the year, we’ll have about 250 names,” said Cayden Brockhouse, a TAC employee running the course. “From over tens of thousands of tries.”
Another novelty shot was a 3-inch hole on the side of a metal rhino offering the chance to win hunting gear. The “ping” of an arrow hitting the metal instead of the foam target was a sure sign you broke your arrow. There was a lot of that.
“There goes another $30 arrow,” Cayden quipped, when another ping sounded. “But this is a fun challenge for these guys, they can’t stop trying.”
Along with those two targets were dozens of others set up for kids and participants new to archery. Throughout the three days, hundreds of shooters practiced their shots on the range.
With thousands of arrows being shot across the mountain courses, many were lost and broken, never to be used again, but there’s a competition for finding those arrows too. Every dozen arrows turned in becomes a chance for a prize. By the end of the three days, a six-foot-high bouquet of thousands of colorful arrows stood in front of the registration trailer.
“It’s just a way to keep the area clean,” Conner said. “We like to leave the facility cleaner than when we arrived.”
The upper parking lot of the ski hill was home base to dozens of vendors introducing the latest in archery equipment. For shooters waiting for their Nock time, there was plenty of shopping to do, or a beer and burger to enjoy at the Bierstube.
The respect the participants showed for the course, the event and each other, was evident. Even with thousands of folks walking across the lower mountain, at the end of the event no evidence of their being there could be found.
“We’re delighted with the TAC event and how it turned out,” Troy Hawks continued. “They came with great attitudes. This is the type of event we’d love to see more of at Red Lodge Mountain.”