Every once in a while, you go to a shoot that reminds you exactly why you love traditional archery. The North Florida Archers Tom Swift Memorial Traditional Rendezvous is one of those shoots.
Held in Jacksonville, Florida, this event is more than just a competition. It is a full weekend experience. With primitive camping available on site and a mix of challenging courses set deep in the woods, it brings together archers who genuinely love the craft, the challenge, and the community that comes with it.
This year, our whole crew showed up. My dad Pat and his wife Amanda, Kevin, Emily, I. all spent the weekend shooting, competing, and soaking in everything this rendezvous had to offer.
A Weekend of Shooting Together
We didn’t come to casually shoot one class and call it a day. My dad, Kevin, and I all stepped into three different classes over the weekend: primitive, longbow, and recurve.
That meant switching bows, adjusting arrows, and approaching each round a little differently. It is one of the things that makes traditional archery so rewarding. You are not just working on accuracy, you are learning how to adapt.
Going into the weekend, we had a simple goal. We wanted to shoot better than we did last year. And across every class and every shoot, we did exactly that.
The Courses That Make This Shoot Stand Out
One of the things that really sets the North Florida Archers Tom Swift Memorial Traditional Rendezvous apart is the variety of courses. Each one brings its own kind of challenge, and together they create a weekend that pushes your skills in different ways.
From realistic hunting-style shots in the woods to high-pressure specialty courses and even shooting after dark, this is not a one-dimensional event. It is the kind of shoot where you stay engaged the entire time and walk away knowing you were tested in more ways than one.
Championship Course: Shooting in the Woods
The main championship course features 30 targets set throughout the woods, and it is designed to simulate real hunting scenarios.
As you move through the course, you are not standing on a flat range shooting at paper targets. You are walking through trees, dealing with uneven ground, and figuring out each shot as it comes. Distances vary based on your class, but every archer is working through the same kind of realistic setups that make 3D shooting so engaging.
What makes this course even more interesting is how the experience changes depending on the class you are shooting.
In the primitive class, everything is stripped back to the basics. Bows cannot have fiberglass or carbon in the working limbs, and only wood arrows with self nocks are allowed. There is nothing extra to rely on, which makes every shot feel a little more earned.
The longbow class brings its own challenge, focusing on traditional longbow form where the string does not touch the bow when braced. Like primitive, wood arrows are required, so consistency and clean shooting really matter.
Then there is the traditional class, which allows recurves, longbows, flatbows, and primitive bows, along with any type of arrow. It gives a bit more flexibility in equipment, but the course still demands solid fundamentals and good decision making.
Shooting all three classes really highlights how much your setup changes your approach. The same target can feel completely different depending on what you are holding in your hand.
Some shots are wide open, while others require you to find a narrow path through limbs, brush, or awkward angles. It forces you to slow down, think through your shot, and stay focused from start to finish.
The Tom Swift Challenge
The Tom Swift Challenge is where things really get interesting.
This course was created in memory of local archer Tom Swift, and it is designed to push you. These are not your average shots. You are dealing with longer distances, tighter shooting lanes, and obstacles like trees, vines, and brush that make you rethink your entire shot.
Everyone shoots from the same distance, which really levels the playing field. At that point, it comes down to focus, execution, and trusting your shot. It is the kind of course that makes you pause, take a breath, and fully commit.
And this year, Emily absolutely stepped up and took first place in this challenge. What made it even better is that she outscored last year’s Tom Swift Challenge score by 16 points, which says a lot about the work she has been putting in.
Shooting After Dark: The Coon Shoot
Once the sun goes down, the shoot is not over. It just shifts into something completely different.
The coon shoot is held after dark and brings a whole new level of challenge. Targets are smaller, distances are shorter, and visibility is limited. Glow sticks are placed in the center of the target to give you a reference point, but beyond that, you are relying on feel, instinct, and focus. It is a fun way to end the day.
This year, my dad came out on top and won the coon shoot, which honestly just goes to show he would probably shoot just as well with his eyes closed.
The Ironman Shoot
We did not have time to shoot the Ironman course this year, but it is worth mentioning because of how unique it is.
The Ironman is exactly what it sounds like. It is a course made up of extremely difficult shots, often obstructed by limbs, brush, or tight shooting lanes. But the real challenge is that you only get one arrow for the entire course. If you lose it or break it, you are done.
It is a true test of skill, patience, and composure, and definitely something we will be making time for next year.
A Weekend to Remember
My dad, Kevin, and I all pushed ourselves shooting multiple classes. I placed second in women’s primitive, longbow, and recurve, and was honored to earn Women’s Overall Champion. Emily took first in youth and first in the Tom Swift Challenge, which was such an incredible moment to watch as a parent.
But beyond the placements, what really mattered to us was that we improved. Every single one of us shot better than we did last year, across every class and every shoot. That was the goal we came in with, and it made the weekend feel like a win no matter what.
We shot together, learned together, and spent the weekend doing something we all genuinely enjoy. At the end of the weekend, we left tired, a little sore, and already talking about next year. And honestly, that is exactly how you know it was a good shoot.
Planning to Attend the North Florida Archers Rendezvous
If you are thinking about attending the North Florida Archers Tom Swift Memorial Traditional Rendezvous, it is absolutely worth it.
Between the variety of courses, the different classes, the camping, and the overall atmosphere, it is one of those shoots that offers something for everyone. Whether you are brand new to traditional archery or have been shooting for years, you will find both challenge and community here.
This event also offers free primitive camping available on site. Staying out there adds a completely different layer to the weekend. You are not just showing up to shoot and leaving. You are part of it. Evenings slow down, conversations happen naturally, and you get to spend time with people who love this as much as you do. It is simple, relaxed, and exactly what you want from a traditional archery gathering.
You can find more details at northflarchers.org and start planning for next year.
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