Crowd Favorite
Bigfoot Shot
Bigfoot is lurking at Rend Lake. Can you take this 60+ yard shot and hit your mark?
2026 / Southern Illinois
Rend Lake Archery Challenge
Dust off the bow, bring your crew, chase prizes, and get ready for Illinois whitetail season.
Registration
Dust Off The Bow And Come Shoot
WhenSaturday, September 12Check-In 7:00 AM / Shoot 8:00 AM
WhereRend Lake Archery Complex
Get Registered Sponsors + Prize Partners
Directions
Find The Range
Use the button below for the Rend Lake Archery Challenge location and open directions before you head out.
Open DirectionsSeptember 12, 2026
Twenty Targets. Plenty Of Reasons To Stay.
Bring your hunting setup, shoot with friends, and enjoy a full day of 3D archery, prize drawings, food, and friendly competition.
203D targets on a wooded trail
FreeGear drawings for registered shooters
FreeAdmission for spectators
TBAFood truck serving during the event
Register Early
Get The Free 2026 Event Shirt
Every registered shooter gets an event shirt. Select your size during registration and pick it up at check-in.
Shirt Guarantee Deadline
August 24, 2026
Register On Eventbrite Challenge Shots
Come For The Shots. Stay For The Stories.
This is not a white-knuckle tournament. It is a fun day on the range with creative shots, friendly trash talk, and prizes worth sticking around for.
Bringing it Back
ELEVATED BALLOON SHOOT
Test your skills from an elevated platform. 3 targets. 4 arrows. Can you pop them all?
New for 2026
Recurve Plinko
Use our recurve bows to try to hit as many falling targets as possible!
What To Expect
A Fun Day In The Woods Before Bow Season
Tune your bow, knock the rust off, meet other hunters, bring the family, and make a day of it at Rend Lake.
Lots of prizes
Casual groups
Bow season warmup
Family friendly
Food vendors
Meet local hunters
Event Agenda
Registration Opens / Check-In Begins
Pick up scorecards, event shirts, and get checked in.
Open Shooting
Shoot the course at your own pace with your group.
Last Group Allowed To Start Course
Scorecards Due
All scorecards must be turned in to be eligible for awards.
Awards Ceremony & Prize Drawings
Class winners announced followed by gear giveaways.
Equipment Classes
Find Your Class. Then Go Have Fun.
Hunter, Open, and Traditional classes are divided into 15 & Under, 16-49, and 50 & Over. The Genesis Bow Youth Class is youth only. Rangefinders are permitted in every class.
Hunting SetupHunter Class
Hunting-style compound bows with a front stabilizer up to 12 inches and no rear stabilizer. Fixed or movable sights, releases, and magnification are permitted.
Anything GoesOpen Class
Any compound bow, stabilizer configuration, sight configuration, target setup, or magnification is welcome.
Longbow + RecurveTraditional
Longbows and recurves only, with no sights or magnification. Traditional archers shoot with fingers.
Youth OnlyGenesis Bow Youth Class
Genesis Archery equipment only, with a max yardage of 15 yards. Rangefinders are permitted.
Course20 wooded 3D targets
Not PermittedCrossbows or broadheads
Questions?We will help place your setup
The Draw
Shoot. Laugh. Win Something. Head Home Ready.
Why It Works
Illinois whitetail season has a way of sneaking up. This event gives everyone a reason to pull the bow out early, check the sight tape, sling a few arrows, and have a good time doing it.
- Friendly for new shooters and seasoned bowhunters
- Challenge shots for prizes and bragging rights
- A local outdoor hangout, not a corporate expo
Sponsors + Prizes
The Prize Table Is Part Of The Fun
Sponsors help make the day feel bigger: giveaways, challenge prizes, local support, and gear people actually want.
FAQ
Quick Answers Before You Register
Here are the basics before you sign up, from arrival time to equipment classes and event-day rules.
What time should I arrive?
Check-in opens at 7:00 AM and shooting begins at 8:00 AM on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
How do I enter the gear drawings?
Register for the event. Every registered participant is automatically entered in the live gear drawings.
When is the free shirt deadline?
Register by August 24, 2026 to guarantee your 2026 event shirt. Select your size during registration.
Can friends and family attend?
Yes. Spectators and non-shooters are welcome, and their admission is free.
Are rangefinders allowed?
Yes. Rangefinders are permitted in Hunter, Open, Traditional, and Genesis Bow Youth classes.
Can I shoot a crossbow or broadheads?
No. Crossbows and broadheads are not permitted on the course.
Which class should I enter?
Hunter is for hunting-style compound setups, Open permits any compound setup, Traditional is for unsighted longbows and recurves, and Genesis Bow Youth is for youth shooters using Genesis Archery equipment only. Contact us if you are unsure.
Register
Ready to get the bow out?
Grab a spot, bring a friend, and make a day of it at the Rend Lake Archery Complex.