Our Mission Statement
TARG is dedicated to the education of archers and bowhunters in order to help foster more capable, accurate and ethical sportsmen and sportswomen.
About TARG: Elevating Archery Expertise
TARG, or Technical Archery Research Group, is dedicated to enhancing the skills of archers and bowhunters. Our team comprises seasoned experts who share a passion for archery and bowhunting. We aim to provide comprehensive education on various aspects of archery, including equipment tuning, broadhead lethality, and understanding game animal anatomy. By focusing on these critical areas, we empower our members to become the most accurate and lethal versions of themselves, both at the range and in the field.
At TARG, we believe that knowledge is the key to success in archery. Our mission is to educate archers and bowhunters on the intricacies of their sport. We cover essential topics such as equipment tuning, which ensures that your gear performs at its best, and broadhead lethality, which is crucial for ethical hunting. Understanding game animal anatomy and the physics of archery further enhances your skills, making you a more effective hunter.
Our Team
Brian Johnson – Founder of TARG
Brian graduated from Janesville Parker High School in 1974. He then completed a taxidermy apprenticeship with Dick Barr Taxidermy in Savage, MN in 1975. He then successfully completed an additional taxidermy training at the American Institute of Taxidermy in Janesville, WI. He and his wife Doris made their living in the taxidermy trade in Madison, WI from 1976 until 1986. During that time, the Johnsons opened an additional taxidermy business in Spring Green, WI, making them the owners of one of Wisconsin’s largest taxidermy businesses. During this time, Mr. Johnson learned to sculpture animals out of clay. He then sold his taxidermy business and entered into a contract sculpturing animals out of clay for a private company. During that period of time Mr. Johnson began to sculpture animals out of wood using a chainsaw.
He and his wife then opened a business in Hayward, WI, he also owns the “Wisconsin School chainsaw carving” which was the First state-licensed chainsaw carving school in the US. At The Anatomy Hunter, we believe that every student has the potential to succeed. We strive to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment that empowers students to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
Gavin De la Garza
Gavin is a professional photographer and an experienced guide on various game hunting ranches in Texas. Continuously experimenting with equipment and aiding in the harvesting of various game animals, Gavin possesses a wealth of knowledge. His work ethic and dedication to our cause makes Gavin an extremely valuable and key member of TARG.
Corey Haas
Corey has over 35 years of experience bowhunting the Midwest and Western states. Corey is the creator of the Bow Shop Bible app, shootingtime.com and inventor of multiple archery related products. With an expertise in tuning, Corey has made it his life mission to help aid in creating more accurate archers and lethal bowhunters in the field. Along with Eric Newman, Corey has been involved with many archery related tests in order to educate the bowhunting and archery population.
Bryan Tanner
Bryan is one of the world’s foremost experts in land management for whitetail deer. In addition to Bryan’s extensive wealth of knowledge of whitetails, he is an accomplished elk hunter and muskie fishing guide. Bryan is a selfless educator putting on many seminars related to the various topics in which he is an expert and will often go out of his way to help develop more capable sportsmen and women. His real world experience puts him in a very elite class making his role in TARG one that is priceless. Whether it’s equipment performance, land management, or hunting strategy, Bryan is a dependable “go to” source for information. Bryan is also the recipient of the Bowhunting GOAT award for harvesting 33 consecutive big game animals with one arrow; a feat that may never be beaten!
Advisory Staff
Evan Brown
Evan currently serves as a Conservation Technician for the Natural Resource Conservation Service and holds a degree in Recreation Resource Management from Oregon State University. Growing up in western Oregon, he developed a passion for rifle hunting, upland bird hunting, and fishing throughout the Coast Range and eastern high desert.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and completing college, Evan returned to archery in 2019 and moved to Georgia in 2021. As a self-taught archer, he has become an accomplished arrow builder, bow tuner, and saddle hunter. Always looking to learn, Evan enjoys testing different equipment and broadhead configurations to better understand what works and why.
Evan has successfully harvested deer and turkey with his bow and is currently pursuing his first elk while also seeking opportunities to hunt feral hogs. His passion for learning and willingness to question conventional thinking make him a valuable member of TARG, where he is helping advance standardized archery testing and research for the benefit of the entire archery community.