Lane Miles of Neshoba County aims at the target at Bonita Lakes as he practices with other participants in the field archery event of the State Games of Mississippi Saturday.

With the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships around the corner, Neshoba Central High School student Lane Miles is looking for all of the practice he can get ahead of the Grand Island, Neb., invitational.

Miles joined a number of local and out-of-town bow hunters at Bonita Lakes Park for the State Games of Mississippi Archery 3D and Field competition Saturday morning.

Miles, who has participated in the competition for the past three years, competed in a shooting event in Kentucky last week, and Texas earlier in the year. For him, what began as a hobby has now evolved into a full-blown passion.

“It started with 4H and just got bigger with this,” Miles, 17, said. “That’s pretty much what started it. Some of my buddies were shooting, and I grabbed a bow and started shooting with them.”

As with any sport, a competitive edge typically accompanies the fun. It’s no different for Miles and Quitman resident Hunter Volking, as the friends frequently face each other in area bow hunting events. The two met in one of Bonita Lakes Park’s parking lots and shared a few laughs before the start of Saturday’s competition.

“It does get competitive sometimes, but most of the time we’re out there to have a good time and fellowship and all that good stuff,” said Volking, 19, who was a member of the national 4H team last year.

State Games of Mississippi Archery commissioner Brian Stokes has been involved with the event since its inception. He is currently the president of the Queen City Bow Hunters Association, and his wife, Faye, is the association’s secretary and treasurer.

Brian Stokes remarked about the increased interest field and 3D archery has received over the years.

“We started out with just a few, and now we have up into the hundreds of competitors,” said Stokes, 61, of Meridian. “It’s unique for two reasons: First, we have field archery, and also, we have a 3D course which is known distance so people don’t have to judge yardage.”

Collinsville resident Tim Anderson was one of many who participated in Saturday’s competition. Anderson has been involved in archery for nearly two decades. He said the activity appeals to him for numerous reasons, but mainly, its simplicity.

“To me, it’s just a fun, clean sport,” Anderson, 59, explained. “It’s real competitive out here with everybody, and it’s just a lot of fun. I’m more into the 3D aspect because you’re out there in nature walking through the woods and shooting at targets. You can shoot at animals all day long, and you don’t have to drag any of them out.”