NATCHEZ — Archers from across the state will gather in Grenada July 30 and 31 for the Mississippi Bowhunters Association 3-D State Championships.

The tournament will feature hundreds of Mississippi archers shooting at the Piney Woods Range at Grenada Lake, Mississippi Bowhunters Association President Patrick Taylor said.

“This is for all the bragging rights,” Taylor said. “It’s the biggest 3-D shoot in the state of Mississippi, and the winner of this gets bragging rights and a big trophy.”

Taylor said the state tournament is very competitive and there are always many talented archers.

“Mississippi shooters are some of the top shooters in the country,” he said. “Every (national) tournament someone from Mississippi is on the podium as one of the top shooters in the country.”

Todd Haygood, who is the archery coach at Franklin County High School and also an MBA director, said he is unsure if he will attend this year’s state tournament, but he knows there will be archers from southwest Mississippi in attendance.

“I’m pretty sure a couple of our (Franklin County) archers are going, but I’m not sure who,” he said. “About two years ago I went, but being a coach and the athletic director it gets kind of hard to make it to them.”

Taylor said last year’s state tournament was in Meridian and more than 200 archers participated in the event.

The state tournament includes several different classifications and age groups including, seniors, women, young adult (ages 15 and 16), youth (12 to 14), cubs (9 to 11) and braves (8 and under), Taylor said.

Haygood said it is important for archery to get revitalized in this part of the state.

“In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, 3-D archery in south Mississippi was huge, then all those people got to be 50 to 60 years old,” he said. “We are trying to jump start and revive all of that.”

For more information about the state 3-D tournament contact 3-D Tournament Chairman Bill Tolbert at (662) 822-2629.