You can shoot bow novice or Hunter class--you will however not be allowed to move your sight though once you start. Most local clubs, and certainly most local archers, do care about the rules and guidelines due to the time and money we have invested in our craft in the name of fairness. However, all of us are interested in growing the sport and want everyone to have fun. These shoots are not full of pomp and circumstance, like most new people think. Actually, it is quite the opposite--it is very casual and laid back. Think of it this way--casually walking around the woods shooting with your friends and having a blast. That is more representative of what a shoot is really like.
Most people are worried that most of us are highly competitive and very skilled and that is far from the truth--98% of us a mere mortals, so don't worry about shooting above your level. The only difference between most of us that shoot competitively and those that don't is that we know where to aim and a few tricks that inexperienced people don't know, but will very quickly pick up. For instance, a friend of mine that is on here started last year and was scoring near the bottom almost everywhere he shot, but always had a great time. Fast forward to this year, and he is scoring near the top at almost every shoot he goes to.
Every club/shoot that I know of has a "fun class" that you can shoot in if your equipment will not allow you to compete within the guidelines, or you just don't care about competitive shooting and would rather just shoot and fun.
There are many clubs near you: Old Hickory, No Excuse, Twin Oaks, etc...--we're blessed in Mid-TN with all kinds of archery clubs.
