There are a lot of reasons to make the drive to the Tennessee Classic every year, but if I’m being honest, the best one is the people. Held at Twin Oaks Bowhunters in Chapmansboro, Tennessee, this multi-day traditional archery event draws hundreds of trad archers from across the country, and the atmosphere on the 3D course is something you really can’t replicate at your local club shoot. This year I had the chance to shoot the 3-D course with good friends, and what could have been just another day of shooting targets turned into one of those experiences you’re still talking about on the drive home. There’s something about stepping up to a challenging shot in the woods with your buddies nearby, arrows nocked and opinions ready, that brings out the best in traditional archery. The laughs, the trash talk, the celebrating a great shot and giving grief for a bad one — that’s the Tennessee Classic in a nutshell.

The 3D course itself gave us plenty of moments to work with, because it is not an easy walk. The target placement, terrain, and shot angles on the course are genuinely challenging, and shooting it with a traditional longbow meant every shot required real focus and commitment. But that’s what made it fun — when you’re shooting alongside friends who love traditional archery as much as you do, even the misses become good memories. In the video below, we take you along for the full ride, including the raw shooting footage, the banter, and an honest look at what it feels like to shoot a well-designed 3D course with people who make the whole day better. This video also shows that you can shoot the course with budget Black Hunter recurves and longbows. If the Tennessee Classic isn’t already circled on your calendar for next year, I hope this one convinces you to change that. Learn more about the Tennessee Classic here.