Went to the Eastern Traditional Archery Rendezvous for the first time and the only way I can really describe it was organized chaos. It is a busy place...Lots of shooters, lots of vendors crammed into a narrow valley. Didn't get to shoot any of the ranges due to working a booth for Compton, but all the shooters had a good time. Saw Steve R and I heard Randy Grinder was there, but most of the folks were from the East coast or northeastern part of the country. I'd go back again, but for my money, the Kentucky Tradfest, Cloverdale and Compton Rendezvous are more to my liking. The Alleghenies are beautiful and a nice back drop for the ETAR shoot, but it was just too crowded and the willy nilly, camp wherever you can find a spot wasn't for me.
Yep, I was there, and agree with you totally. It has been on my bucket list for 20+ years, glad I got it out of my system. The crowds and camping conditions were horrible. Kevin brown and I were lucky enough to get permission to camp on a nearby farm (for a small fee). He was the head guy there at the shoot I believe. I appreciate him and his wife allowing us to do that. There were no amenities, just a field, but it suited us better than the onsite camping. We could not find a place to park, much less pitch a tent. I saw tent guylines crossing others it was so crowded. We shot two courses on Friday, went through the vendors and did not even return Saturday. The course was pretty, the targets were mostly R+W, and deer. Very surprised to see that from a shoot as huge as this, with such a following ! If they get the 5-6000 shooters I've heard they get it makes me wonder what they spend those shoot fees on ? That's a bunch of money, and I just cant see what it is spent on. The positive is, beautifull country, and I can now say I have slept in Potter County , PA. Also, with so many courses (7-8 ? ) We experienced no backed up courses, which makes me wonder about the attendance. Im glad it was no worse ! 20 hours of driving for that , needless to say, I wont return. I hate to bad mouth a shoot, as I know how much work it is, so please don't anyone make this post any more public than this site .Thought about the Ohio shoot coming up this next weekend. Anyone ever been to that ?
I'd say you nailed it Randy...The Eastern Ohio Shoot is a pretty good one. Part of the range is in the woods, part of it is along an old field. Nice country, enough hills to make you feel at home. I've been a couple times and enjoyed it. A handful of local vendors and guys swapping bows and such. We didn't camp, but they have on site camping and showers and bathrooms there and supposed to be some nice campgrounds close by. We'd probably make the trip but Drew moves into his dorm room that same weekend.
Well made GLLI for the first time in the Hastings location. IU would do this shoot again. Nice facilities, plenty of room to camp, park, and roam. Course was nice, but again, somewhat disappointed with target quality. Is KTBA and ITBA the only clubs that host nice rhinehart 3-D targets ? It is surprising to me that these large shoots have such mediocre targets. Its even more surprising that at our shoot fees, and excellent targets and setups that we don't have bigger attendance than these shoots. Anyway, I would return to this shoot because it is within 2 hours of relatives, and a nephew in northern Indiana will meet me there to shoot. Maybe next year I can camp on site.
Randy-if you get a chance, try the Compton Rendezvous. It's a good time, low key, plenty of camping and mainly Rhinehart targets and real close to the Indiana border.
I have been to Berrien Springs years ago when it was still GLLI, but not as Comptons. I did enjoy GLLI, and would go to camp a weekend. Its such a pretty park, with tons of shaded campsites, that makes the shoot as much as anything. More than enough vendors, and not huge crowds. I don't have to have great targets, but some of these bigger shoots I expect more. Cloverdale does not have the facilities, but does have nice targets and course.
