Born out of a love for archery, filling freezers with meat, and a few perfectly grilled brats, BRATS, BOWS & SHOOTIN' DOES started about 12 years ago in my backyard.

At the time, I just wanted to get a few buddies together before the season—to dust off our bows, shake off the rust, and get ready for the stand. I had a handful of deer targets set up, and the idea was simple: make it feel a little more like the real thing. I pulled the antlers off the targets—not because we don’t all dream about big bucks—but because most of the time, reality looks a little different. And honestly, it made things more fun.

Those antlers didn’t go to waste either—they became our shooting markers across ten different scenarios.

After shooting, we’d fire up the grill, eat brats, swap hunting stories, and talk about the season ahead. That first year, you could count us on one hand.

The next summer, a couple of guys asked if we were doing it again—and if they could bring a few more along. When someone asked what we should call it, the answer came easy: BRATS, BOWS & SHOOTIN DOES.

From there, it grew. A few more shooters. A few more targets. Then more space. Every year, the conversations around the grill got bigger—more ideas, more people, more ways to make it better. What started as a backyard get-together slowly turned into something much more.

But what mattered most—and still does—wasn’t the targets or the shots. It was the people.

One of the things we’ve always taken the most pride in is hearing from new shooters who showed up not knowing anyone—and left feeling like they belonged. Guys meeting new hunting partners. Sharing stories with like-minded people. Feeling welcomed, not intimidated. That’s what this has always been about.

As the event grew, so did the time and energy it took to do it right. And the truth is, this was never about making money. Everything went right back into the shoot—more targets, more setups, more ways to make it better each year.

But time is limited. Between running a business and raising four young kids, the last couple of years got away from me. As much as I wanted to keep it going, we all agreed—it wasn’t worth doing unless we could do it right.

So we took a step back.

And now, after a two-year break, BRATS & BOWS is back.

Over those two years, the conversations never really stopped. Past shooters, buddies, and the guys behind the scenes kept throwing around ideas, talking about how to build on what we started. We’ve spent time shooting other events, learning what works, and thinking about how to make this one even better—without losing what made it special in the first place.

Because at its core, nothing has changed.

This is still about bringing people together. Around food. Around stories. Around flinging arrows.

Whether you’ve been shooting your whole life or you’re just getting started, this is a place where you can show up, have a good time, and feel like part of something. That’s the goal—and it always will be.

Looking ahead, the plan is simple: keep this thing going. Keep growing the community. Keep making it something people look forward to every year.

If you leave this event feeling like we missed the mark on that, I’d genuinely want to hear about it. That’s the only way we keep building something worth coming back to.

I can’t wait to see you out there.

Bring plenty of arrows.

—Caleb