Tate, tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in and around the small town of Wewoka, Oklahoma. I have two awesome boys, aged two and four years old, and a wife named Wendy. When I’m not preparing for or traveling to matches, I spend my free time hunting, riding four-wheelers, or fishing with the family. We have a spring fed river that runs through our property that has a ton of smallmouth and largemouth bass in it, so we spend a ton of time on the river.
What age were you when you started shooting, and who taught you?
I’d imagine I had nerf guns as soon as I could hold them, but my dad started letting me shoot pop cans and bottles with a 22LR at four years old. My dad was and still is without a doubt the main reason I have gotten to where I am in the shooting world today. Shooting is in my blood. My dad traveled and shot competitive archery until my brother and I got older, when it was too hard on him being away every other weekend.
What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from shooting?
I’ve learned several things from shooting, but the main one is that you have to train for how you want to perform. You can’t expect to consistently place high if you don’t want to put in the work. It’s like everything else in life, you won’t get any more out of it than you put in!
Who has been your biggest influence in shooting, and why?
Without a doubt, my dad. He has always made me feel like I was as good as anyone and as long as I didn’t let myself get in the way, I could win on any given weekend. Dad was with me at the first major, national level match that I won, and several others along the way. He’s played a big part in my confidence and success. I’ve been really fortunate to be able to call him up on the phone and get pep talks every now and then.
What is your specialty and what led you to choose that?
Long range precision rifle. I think like a lot of people, I started with the desire of increasing my effective range while hunting. One thing led to another, and the competitive side kicked in. Six years later, I’ve been all over the country and made some lifelong friends and dented a few primers along the way.
How do you prepare for a competition?
Working in the industry and being a co-owner of Impact Precision Shooting LLC means that I don’t get to train as much as some people think. The main thing I do before leaving for a match is to make sure my rifle is running well and the dope is tracking at distance. When you show up at a match, you have to know that your rifle is going shoot to go where you point it. It is hard enough trying to decipher all of the variables that can throw the projectile off course on the way to the target, so you have to have good equipment and know it well. This game is so mental, I like to take notes after a match of everything I felt that I could have done better. Maybe a position I got in that didn’t work well or how I rushed through a stage instead of taking my time and making good shots, instead of worrying about getting them all off.
Tell us about your competition set up.
My comp setup includes an Impact 737R action sitting in a Foundation MG2 stock. I’ve used Bartlein barrels chambered by Wade Stuteville at Stuteville Precision for four years now. For optics I use a Nightforce 5–25 ATACR, with a MIL-C reticle in the new Hawkins Precision one piece tactical mount. I’ve used Hornady bullets exclusively for three years now and exclusively used the Hornady 110gr A-Tips since they were available to me last fall. My rifle is fitted with a Jewell trigger, Impact Precision 2 port brake, and Hawkins DBM. I load for myself when I get in a pinch, but most of the time I get my ammunition from Clay’s Cartridge Company. I send him my components and load data, and he sends me complete ammo back!
What has been your greatest achievement?
I would have to say that winning the 2019 National Rifle League Series Finale and clinching the Series Points Race — that win has been my biggest accomplishment to date.
What are your goals for the future?
My goal now is to make a run at winning the AG Cup and the Precision Rifle Series Points Race. They’re big goals but why not!
How long have you been a Hornady shooter?
This was my second full year as a Team Hornady shooter but I have been shooting Hornady bullets for several years.
Do you hunt and if so, can you tell us a little about that?
I sure do, that is how this all started with me. I grew up hunting. We bow hunt, rifle hunt, duck hunt, hunt predators, hunt wild hogs and hunt turkey! Hunting is something I got to share with my dad and grandpa at a very young age. Life lessons can be learned in the field that can’t be taught anywhere else. You can learn how to take care of the land and appreciate everything that it is. I just started sharing that with my oldest boy this year. It’s awesome watching how kid’s brains think and how much they can appreciate the little things in the outdoors that sometimes, as adults we can forget or take for granted.