Perdido resident Tom Boatwright is no stranger to attention. Over the years he has accomplished a great deal in the world of competitive archery and outdoors challenges and has done so on some big stages, having won the Field and Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge in both 2009 and 2011.

In 2012, however, he has stepped into an even bigger arena.  Boatwright will appear as one of the contestants in this year’s Field and Stream contest, which will be aired during a 13-episode reality television show, the first of which will air tonight on Outdoors Channel.

Boatwright competed head-to-head with 14 other contestants last month in Branson, Mo. for the chance to claim the top prize of $50,000 and the results of the contest will be aired beginning tonight at 8:30 p.m.

In the meantime, Boatwright himself is not able to say much about  his experiences filming the show, as he has agreed with the network not to give away how the contest unfolded.

Boatwright, who has competed in the challenge four years running, did say this year was a bit different.

“It was different this year because last year we did seven events. This year they made 17 events so we definitely had our hands full,” he said.
Boatwright said the biggest difference is how the challenge was filmed.

“It’s on tv every year,” he said. “But this year they made 13 episodes instead of four so it’s more like a reality tv type of thing. But no one gets voted off or anything like that. It’s all a skill-based type of thing.”

Boatwright may be sworn to silence about the show’s outcome, but he will, however, have a chance to socialize with fans of the episodes tonight at the Bay Minette Civic Center, where a free viewing of the show’s season premier will be held.

Boatwright said he a meet and great will begin at 7 p.m. and he he is hoping for a great turnout.