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Four friends gather in a Red Lodge, Montana Airbnb, cracking open cold ones for what they dub "Thirsty Thursday" – the night before tackling Total Archery Challenge. The energy is infectious as Taylor (Swifty) and Quentin welcome archery guide Drew Meisner and filmmaker Hudson Massey for an unfiltered conversation about all things hunting.

The highlight of their gathering emerges as they establish a friendly wager for the weekend's archery challenges: whoever loses the fewest arrows across three courses wins a half-dozen arrows of their choice, paid for by the losers. With premium arrows running $225 per dozen, the stakes feel real despite the casual atmosphere. Their predictions and trash talk reveal both confidence and caution about the notoriously difficult Sitka course they'll face first thing in the morning.

The conversation takes a serious turn when public land issues arise. The group expresses unanimous concern about proposed legislation to sell public lands, particularly Senator Mike Lee's attempts to privatize lands under the guise of affordable housing. "There is not enough people around Salmon, Idaho to need to sell 150,000 acres for affordable housing," one points out. Their passion for protecting access becomes evident as they urge listeners to contact their representatives.

Between discussions of broadhead preferences and hunting setups, Drew shares his unbelievable "zombie turkey" story – shooting a turkey through the head with a broadhead, only to have it resurrect in his truck bed and escape down a residential street, arrow still protruding from its skull. The ensuing chaos and "curb stomping" conclusion has the group both laughing and slightly horrified.

Want to hear unfiltered hunting talk between friends who don't take themselves too seriously but take hunting and conservation with deadly seriousness? Subscribe to the Hunt Swiftly Podcast for more stories, gear reviews, and authentic conversations about the hunting lifestyle. And if you're headed to TAC yourself, stop by and say hello!

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