Why 3D Archery Events Matter (Especially for Veterans)

I’ve walked through plenty of forests in my life—some with a rifle, some with a ruck, and now, more

Joey and Don (both veterans) at the Texas Total Archery Challenge 2025

often, with a bow and a quiver full of arrows aimed at a foam elk, deer, or the occasional zombie.

Over the last few years, I’ve attended nearly every Total Archery Challenge (TAC) event I could get to. From Big Sky, Montana to the green hills of Pennsylvania, the formula is the same: grab your bow, hike through the woods, and send arrows downrange at 3D targets that feel just real enough to get your heart pumping.

It’s one of the most healing things I’ve ever done.

There’s something powerful about moving through the trees and dialing in your shot. For veterans especially, 3D archery events like TAC, Valor Archery Challenge, and SHOT The 3D Xperience do more than improve your aim. They clear the fog. They reconnect you with nature, with yourself, and with a community that shows up for the right reasons.

Every event I’ve been to is packed with folks from all walks of life. Hunters, weekend warriors, and a solid number of veterans who are finding peace through this sport. Targets, terrain, and conversations that go deeper than surface-level small talk.

You sweat. You laugh. You miss a few shots. Then you stick one, and everything quiets down. It’s hard to explain, but that “thump” sound when an arrow hits foam is music to the ear.

If you’re a veteran looking for something to help you reset, reconnect, and find purpose again, give one of these 3D events a shot. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

–Dan Founder, Arrow and Honor Co. Draw. Aim. Heal.