www.insidearchery.comMARCH 2026®
4 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 202616INSIDE ARCHERY (Volume 29, #2) ISSN #1940-3879, USPS #024-412 is published 10 times per year (Jan / Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep / Oct, Nov, Dec) by Apollo Creative Inc. PO Box 15827, Colorado Springs,CO 80935. Periodical postage paid at Colorado Springs, CO 80935 and at additional offices. Postmaster please send address changes to INSIDE ARCHERY, P.O. Box 986, Levittown, PA 19055-9998.INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026 | VOLUME 29 | NUMBER 222PeopleNon-Profit CornerChristian Bowhunters of AmericaHeadhunter Bow StringsOut-of-This-WorldBowstring MaterialBy Michaelean PikeMarket TrendsArchery 101Tuning Precision:The Universal Tuning GaugeBy George RyalsBow Report APA Archery Black Mamba Pro 6Pro Shop Essentials Pine Ridge ArcheryC-YA Debonder Solution2026 Flagship BowsThe top bow models thatwill set the stage for 2026.By Patrick MeitinGear Report LVL-HED Bow-Tuning Levels2026 ATA Best of ShowHot products customerswill be actively seekingduring the 2026 sales season.By Inside Archery Staff344672122218 40323034 1246
■ Bow / Crossbow / Gear Report WebXtras■ insidearchery.com online exclusives■ Weekly newsfeed of archery news from around the industryinsidearchery.comWe are a new and improved resource for archery news, new gear and more, launchingevery Friday online and as an E-newsletter. ■ Visit archerynewsfeed.com and [email protected] to have content included in Archery Newsfeed.■ Subscribe for FREE to recieve Archery Newsfeed at insidearchery.com/enews.6 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 20265018810827048INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026 | VOLUME 29 | NUMBER 2Inside theIndustryInside TrackATA Show 2026—A Look BackYour ATA InsightsWhitetail Season’s Over—What’s Next?By Joe Shead, Archery Trade AssociationATA ActionATA Show Week Signals a New Erafor the Archery IndustryBy Tristan Asbury, Archery Trade Association2026 ATA Trade Show ReviewA visual recap of the annualgathering of the industryLeading Archery ManufacturerBuilt on Passion:The Story Behind Flawless WhitetailIndustry 5QFive Questions with Jerry Carterfrom Carter Enterprises70324872
MARCH 2026 INSIDE ARCHERY
8 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE TRACKATA Show 2026—A Look Backith show season completed I’ve had time to take stock. Overall, Inside Archery enjoyed a productive show—visiting those who make the world’s largest archery trade magazine possible and chatting with those who drive archery. That would include NASP, National Bowhunter Education Foundation (congratulations Marilyn Benz for your well-deserved ATA Impact Award!), Pope & Young Club and Christian Bowhunters of America—just as random examples.We also scoured the floor searching for new and exciting products—leading to additions to my wish list. A very random list would include Bowtech’s Alliance 33 and Bear Archery Redeem bows, and Victory Archery’s VLR arrows carrying Zeus Titanium, Speed or Annihilator Blood Reign broadheads. HHA Sport’s XV3 mover sight and Vapor Trail Archery’s The Float really caught my eye. Versa Outdoors ladder sections, Hunter Safety Systems’ Slap Strap and Arsenal’s latest wares have me rethinking the entire saddle-hunting thing. I really look forward to seeing what Headhunter String’s Alien Fiber will do for bow performance and bowstring longevity. Please don’t think I’m picking favorites, as I saw plenty of other intriguing new products. This list was compiled off the top of my head.Spending some time shooting Bear Archery traditional bows with my old friend Fred Eichler rekindled that itch and showed me it was time to work on regaining those skills after a major hand injury suffered awhile back. Bear Archery has always been an obvious single-string favorite, with the new Adams Archery bows sparking considerable interest…My personal highlight was watching hundreds of youngsters compete in the 2026 S3DA Indoor Open tournament. It warms my heart to see so many young people enjoying archery. I observed a lot of authentic sportsmanship and old-fashioned manners and came away feeling better about our future. This was reinforced during the Bowhunting Super Show, when after finding we had a bunch of extra TargetTack Shot Showdown targets I began handing them out to random kids. Nearly all accepted them with a genuine thank you—which I’d wager wouldn’t occur as frequently at, say, a video-game convention…As always, thousands of dedicated retailers (including more than 100 first-time retailers) attended the show to peruse the 400+ exhibitors in attendance. This year however, the Archery & Bowhunting Supershow pulled in about 7,500 more people, with about 98 percent of exhibitors staying on for that portion of the show. Retailers who attended the Show arrived to do serious business, with most company representatives we talked to reporting brisk orders. This is a good gauge of how the industry is doing. That said, I couldn’t help notice that some of archery’s biggest brands no longer attend the show. I miss seeing many of those people, and not supporting the industry seems a bit odd to me. Too, some of the industry’s biggest “super-stars” no longer make an appearance—with obvious exceptions—which I also find puzzling.The ATA Trade Show really is worth supporting, and time well spent. WInside Archery®is a publication ofApollo Creative IncPrinted in the USA.Publisher Apollo Creative IncExecutive EditorPatrick Meitin • [email protected] EditorMichaelean Pike • [email protected] Asbury | Mitzi R. FredericksMichaelean Pike | George Ryals | Joe SheadSales & Marketing DirectorStephen Mack • [email protected](814) 341-9313Design & ProductionER Graphics / Ed Rother • [email protected] DesignerTara BondarSocial Media ManagerJason AsheVideo EditorMarc BalistreriAccount Manager Pam Ludlam • [email protected] Services & Change of Address:Inside Archery® Circulation Department Inside Archery, PO Box 986, Levittown, PA 19055-9998 Phone: (844) 862-9286 • Fax: (888) [email protected] OfficeInside Archery® / Apollo Creative IncP.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935Phone: (719) 495-9999 • www.InsideArchery.comInside Archery founded in 1998 by Bill and Sherry KrenzInside Archery® Copyright © 2026 Apollo Crreative Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Inside Archery® is a registered U.S. trademark of Apollo Creative Inc. Opinions expressed in by-lined articles or columns are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, the magazine or its staff.Submission Guidelines: Apollo Creative Inc and Inside Archery® magazine assume no responsibility for unsolicited editorial, photography or art submissions. Contributors submitting articles, photos or art do so at their own risk. Material will not be returned without a selfaddressed envelope with sufficient postage. No contract, agreement, term or condition provided by any contributor shall be binding on Apollo Creative Inc unless it is signed and returned by the Editor.Archery, hunting and bowhunting are inherently dangerous activities. Improper use of hunting or archery equipment may cause serious injury or death. Always follow state and local hunting safety rules, and get required permits or licenses before hunting. Apollo Creative Inc uses reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-todate information in our publications; however, we do not make any warranties or representations as to accuracy or completeness. All information in this magazine is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Apollo Creative Inc is not responsible for researching and investigating the accuracy of the contents of stories or advertisements published in this magazine. Readers use the information in this magazine at their own risk. Apollo Creative Inc assumes no liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this magazine, or arising from use by any person of the information in this magazine.
10 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026INSIDE THE INDUSTRY YOUR ATA INSIGHTShether you want to extend this season a little longer or start planning for next year, there’s plenty to do in the offseason.We dread the last day of archery season almost as much as we anticipate opening day. Some bowhunters are ready to get back to normal, while die-hards may feel lost or empty now that they can’t participate in their favorite activity. So, what do you do in the offseason?For some, whitetails are a yearround pursuit. Spring is a good time to trim major shooting lanes or move permanent stands. Granted, new growth will pop back up in summer, but doing the work right now gives deer plenty of time to get used to the changes. After that, it’ll be time to tackle timber stand improvement projects and to plant and maintain food plots. Then there’s summer scouting, running trail cameras, creating watering holes and setting up mock scrapes. Deer season is practically a full-time job! But there are other ways to pass the offseason, too. Hit the Road and Keep Hunting ■ If you’re not quite ready to trade the bow for work gloves, another option is to hit the road and hunt another state to pursue other species. Maybe hogs in Alabama? Or exotics in Texas? It’s pricey and not for everyone, but an African safari WBY JOE SHEAD, ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATIONmight be an option. Safaris are typically conducted from spring through summer, during the offseason back home. But it doesn’t have to be anything so exotic. Depending on where you live, bowfishing may be an option. Of course, there’s always turkey hunting. Spring turkey season has just started in many states, so you can fill the hunting void immediately.Plan for Next Year ■ Now is also a good time to start planning your next big bowhunting adventure. The offseason is a good time for sitting at a computer and researching which states harbor the best opportunities for the species you want to pursue. Then you can contact wildlife biologists, study draw odds, do some online scouting and apply for tags. It’s also a good time to contact outfitters and pick the brains of some of their previous clients, if possible. It’s never too soon to plan your dream hunt.Joining an archery league is another fun way to pass the offseason. It’s a good excuse to keep shooting, which maintains muscle tone and shooting form. Plus, you might learn tips from other archers or have a chance to try out someone else’s equipment. You’ll likely make new friends and perhaps even meet new hunting partners. Depending on the league, you may be shooting at paper targets, 3-D targets or a projected video screen. Any of these options will help keep you in bowhunting shape and keep your form in tune during the offseason.The offseason is also a good time to analyze your gear. Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting a new sight but didn’t want to change in the middle of the season. Or maybe now is the time for a new bow. You’ll have plenty of time to get used to it before hunting season. The offseason is also a good time to add accessories or make adjustments. Check over your equipment to make sure everything is in top condition. Wax your string and cables. It may even be time to replace them. Is your string serving unraveling? Are any of the bolts holding your accessories rusty? Give your bow a once-over and maintain or replace parts.Physical conditioning and exercise is always worthwhile, and the offseason is a good time to build a new routine. Now is a great time to stretch, lift weights and do exercises that will improve your strength and agility, which will make you a better bowhunter. A quick internet search can teach you what to do. Just imagine how these exercises could pay off when you have to hold at full draw for an extended period on that buck of a lifetime next fall!Finally, it’s never a bad idea to make improvements to your shooting form. Have a coach or hunting partner watch you shoot and ask them for an honest critique of your form. It may even be time to tear down your whole system and start anew. Maybe try some blind-bale shooting to work on your stance, breathing, muscle memory and release. The offseason is the perfect time to work on any problems with your shooting sequence so you’ll be in perfect form when archery season rolls around again.Visit our Store Locator at bowhuntersunited.com/find-store to find a shop near you and get yourself set up with anything you need during the offseason. IAWhitetail Season is Over—What’s Next?
12MARKET TRENDS ARCHERY 101INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026BY GEORGE RYALSTuning PrecisionThe Universal Tuning Gauge [UTG]everything is perfectly square to start.One significant difference in how the nock point is set is the tool’s focus or clamping point. The original bow square clips on the string and rests on the shelf or arrow rest to find the nock point that you like. The UTG clips on the arrow or the string. Using the arrow on modern compound bows makes it much easier to visualize the proper nock setting for your specific arrow than using the string alone. Centering the arrow with the nock you plan to use and marking the string is very accurate and easy. Often, shooters will center the arrow in the bow, set the nock, and then put the he Universal Tuning Gauge is the newest “modern bow square.” Though you can use it to set your nocking points and measure brace heights as you would with the old bow squares of yesteryear, the UTG will do all that and much more.In this article, I’ll go through how to use the multitude of functions on the UTG and why you want to. This is the first big change in bow squares in probably 50 years. The Universal Tuning Gauge is packed with features to help you get the most out of your initial tune and log accurate measurements so you can set up multiple bows or make a field repair and have a solid chance that all your marks are still good.Setting The Nock Point & D-loop ■ Using the UTG, it’s easy to square up the tool with your bowstring, then put the arrow in line with your Berger hole. Allowing you to move the tool and arrow up/down the string until your chosen nock point position is found. Once found, it’s easy to mark. Knowing that rest on the bow. I personally install the rest and set it where I want it, then set the arrow position around the rest location. Either works, but I’m old school like that.You can also clip the UTG to the string at a 90 Degree angle to set nocking points and D-loops, if you prefer. Attaching the UTG to the string or the arrow will give you the same result. However, I find using the arrow to set nocks and loops more effcient, accurate, and much easier to position.Setting Centershot & Blade Angle ■ When setting the center shot on the rest, the UTG has the standard 13/16” position marked with a dot at the end of the tool. It’s printed on both sides of the UTG, so it works easily with right or left hand. You can also use one of the sliders on the long axis of the tool to set the arrow rest angle. Recording and keeping the rest angle in your log will make it easy to set up backup bows identically and make field repairs more effcient and accurate.Peep Height & Sight Mark Apps ■ The UTG’s dual pointers are my favorite feature. When setting the peep height, the vertical measurement is extremely important when getting sight marks using TThe Universal Tuning Gauge uses the string and the arrow for various measurements and setup procedures. It’s the new bow square, the all-in-one tool to get you closer to the perfect tune with minimal trial and error.Continued on page 14BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
MARKET TRENDS ARCHERY 10114 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026apps like Archer’s Mark. The measurement must be taken at full draw. Typically, it’s taken from the center of the arrow to the center of the peep. Up until now that peep measurement was a real pain to take accurately. Using the UTG makes it a breeze. Attach the UTG to the arrow, draw the bow in a draw board, and move the slider so it’s in line with the center of the peep. Having that measurement will allow you to keep the perfect peep height even if you change bows and the axle-toaxle length is different.String Angle Measurements ■ String angle is often overlooked in bow fit. Shooters who want to touch their nose to the string will need a wider angle. Factors that affect bow fit include the bow design, cam size & shape, limb geometry, face shape, and more. In the past, bow fit has only been thought of in the realm of axle-to-axle length. As bow technology has advanced, string angle has changed drastically over the years, even on shorter bows. In addition to bow fit, it’s very important to measure your string angle to ensure correct peep selection as well.Often, shooters attribute axle-to-axle length and brace height to overall forgiveness. These old rules on bow length and brace height came from the recurve days and don’t usually translate to compound bows. In the 90’s, it was the common thought that we needed crazy long 48” bows with 10” brace heights and, of course, round wheels for maximum forgiveness. The collective gasp from conventional shooters of the day when a few of us pros showed up with shorter bows and lower brace heights, and actual CAMS was easy to hear.Over the years, bows have become shorter and shorter as designers have learned what really creates forgiveness. Cams are being redesigned, limb angles are changing, and shapes are being rethought. With many of these changes, a shorter bow can now give a wider string angle for better face fit. As cams rotate open to full draw, the effective length of the bow gets longer. Once you find the right fit, you can use the UTG to measure your exact string angle, making it easier to evaluate other bows and cam styles for fit.When looking for a new bow, simply looking at axle-to-axle length isn’t enough; you need to actually measure a bow’s string angle to see how that particular bow will fit you compared to your current bow model. Inside the example below, it’s imperative to note that bow geometry has changed so much that a 31-inch bow can have the same string angle as an older 35-inch bow. Different designs and brands may not be identical, but the important thing is to realize that simply looking at axle-to-axle measurements is not enough. If in the past you’ve normally preferred a 35-inch bow, it’s very possible that improvements in bow geometry would now allow you to shoot a shorter bow while maintaining the same feel at full draw.The Universal Tuning Gauge is a simple but powerful tool in your arsenal. Solid basic setups will bring you closer to a perfect tune through paper from the start, and give you reliable measurements to keep your equipment working perfectly, even if you have to make an emergency repair.In the next article, we will move on to paper tuning. Including how you can use the LCA FlightCheck & FlightPaper while training to make your shooting technique more solid and consistent. Thank you for reading. You can book lessons with me online or in person at www.improvemyarchery.com. IAScan the QR code below to learn more about this tool.Scan the QR code below for \"Thing-A-Week\" episodes.Continued from page 12
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INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026PEOPLE NON-PROFIT CORNER16Christian Bowhunters of Americaenjoyed various, yummy coffees from Hunting Day Coffee and incredible King Cake from Louisiana (Wise Eye Technology). These were served free, everyday! As you might imagine, the highlight of our week is the Thursday morning prayer breakfast. Multiple organizations partner together to put on this event where a delicious breakfast is served and dynamic testimonies from a couple of special speakers is shared. CBA sponsors a table and assists in any way we can. This year the attendance was around 240, with 11 first-time decisions to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and 33 who rededicated their lives to the Lord; lives changed for eternity! Again, none of this happens without the great organizational abilities and hard work the ATA puts into making this venue possible.This year was also a little different, with the Friday and Saturday Super Show. We were so well received by those who came by our booth and were so encouraged ourselves by the many stories and testimonies that were shared with us. We were able to visit with some of the archers that were there shooting in the Rushmore Rumble or the S3D Archery competitions. You never know what to expect when something new is introduced, but so many like-minded people in the same place makes for a very gratifying experience. I would say it was a seamless addition to an already successful show!All of us at CBA want to thank the ATA for allowing us a space and welcoming us every year. If you want to know more about us, just call (877) 912-5724, or visit www.christianbowhunters.org. This ministry has been around since 1984, founded in Cadillac, Michigan, by Reverend David Roose, and our prayer is that it will continue long after we are gone. Our hope is that, because of these opportunities such as the ATA give us, we just might make heaven crowded! IAWow, what a great show! For 20 years or more our ministry, Christian Bowhunters of America, has been attending the Archery Trade Show. We are always so grateful to have this opportunity to interact with so many in the archery and bowhunting industry. Our mission statement is: “Christian Bowhunters of America is a ministry to the Bowhunting and Archery world; seeking to exalt and serve Jesus Christ by leading lost people to Him and encouraging Christian growth.” We can’t think of a better place to put this into action.We are so grateful to the many archery manufacturers and businesses that regularly and continually support this ministry. Getting to see old friends and establishing new ones is something we look forward to. This year we Left to right: CBA Executive Director Merle R. Fredericks, and Mitzi Fredericks, CBA Board of Directors Secretary and Merle’s wife of 46-plus years, at the ATA Trade Show in Indianapolis, Indianna. BY MITZI R. FREDERICKS
18 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTIONARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATIONarcherytrade.orgContinued on page 20here are trade shows, and then there are moments that feel like turning points. The newly expanded ATA Show Week earlier this year proved to be one of those moments.For nearly a week in January, the archery and bowhunting industry gathered for what became far more than its flagship trade show. ATA Show Week grew into six events in one location, blending business, innovation, education, competition and consumer engagement under one roof. The result was a week that felt energized, unified and forward-looking. For those who attended, it reaffirmed the power of face-to-face interaction. For those who didn’t, the message was simple: this was a week you wanted to be part of.ATA Show Week kicked off Tuesday with the ARRO Hot Show and NABA Show—two buy-group events—followed by the New Product Launch Unveiling and Happy Hour that evening. With live entertainment, refreshments and a packed crowd, attendees got an early look at the year’s newest releases before the trade show floor officially opened. From the outset, it was clear the week wasn’t just about products. It was about conversations, relationships and bringing the industry together.BY TRISTAN ASBURY, ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATIONThe Industry’s Flagship Event ■ When the members-only ATA Trade Show doors opened the next morning, the focus shifted squarely to business. Nearly 400 exhibitors welcomed thousands of dealers ready to ask questions, demo products and write orders. Retailers arrived prepared, evaluating which products would perform best in their shops in the year ahead. Exhibitors met them with hands-on demonstrations, in-depth product education and a level of openness that underscored the value of inperson interaction.Discussions centered on innovation, supply-chain realities, shifting consumer trends and what lies ahead. Many exhibitors reported some of their strongest order-writing activity to date, crediting the quality of retailers in attendance. “We had a great show!” said Matt Minshall of .30-06 Outdoors. “We could have left the Trade Show on Day 1 and still had our best show ever!”Education sessions throughout the twoday business event further reinforced the ATA’s leadership role. Among the most anticipated offerings was the release of ATA’s new national crossbow research study. The study takes a closer look at who today’s crossbow hunter is and who the next buyer will be. It explores how crossbow participation influences broader archery sales, its impact on hunting seasons and its contribution to long-term conservation efforts—addressing a significant data gap in one of bowhunting’s fastest-growing segments. Email [email protected] for details.Product Innovation on Display ■ Innovation was impossible to miss throughout the week. From advanced bow technologies and accessory upgrades to refinements in materials and design, the industry demonstrated its continued evolution—sometimes subtle, sometimes bold.The New Product Launch Showcase and Featured Products area stood out for both ingenuity and focus on consumer needs. These weren’t products created in isolation; each reflected extensive research and real-world feedback from retailers and end users alike. Functionality, reliability and performance were consistent themes.For retailers, the opportunity to see, handle and test products while speaking directly with the designers proved invaluable. That tangible, hands-on experience reinforced why attending in person matters—especially in a category where feel, balance and performance are critical.Competition Takes Center Stage ■ Beyond the expo hall, competition played a central role in the expanded week. The NFAA Rushmore Rumble, relocated from South Dakota, delivered world-class action and drew thousands of spectators. Joining it was the first-ever S3DA Indoor Open, and together the tournaments welcomed nearly 1,200 archers.The competitions didn’t feel separate from the trade show—they felt connected. Attendees moved between the show floor and the ranges, stopping to watch, cheer ATA Show Week Signals a New Era for the Archery IndustryTUNITING THE INDUSTRY
INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026and experience the excitement firsthand. The energy reinforced a simple truth: the industry is built on a shared love of the sport. Competition added a dynamic, emotional element to a week already focused on business and innovation.The First-Ever Archery & Bowhunting Supershow ■ Without question, the most talkedabout addition was the inaugural Archery & Bowhunting Supershow. For the industry, it marked a meaningful step forward. Consumers were invited to see, touch and demo the newest products, speak directly with brands and experience the scale of the archery and bowhunting community in one place.The response was overwhelming. Families, seasoned bowhunters, competitive archers and newcomers filled the aisles and packed the shooting lanes. They asked questions, tested products and engaged with Continued from page 18manufacturers in ways that simply aren’t possible online.The Supershow didn’t just generate excitement—it created opportunity. It demonstrated how trade and consumer experiences can complement each other, ultimately benefiting retailers by sending more informed and engaged customers into local shops. “As a retailer, I am 100 percent in favor of the Archery & Bowhunting Supershow,” said Randall Wellings, partner of Straight Line Archery in Ishpeming, Michigan. “It is so much better for the consumer to see, touch and try the products in person versus making purchasing decisions online or in a catalog. Plus, exhibitors did a great job of encouraging attendees to visit their local archery shop. As retailers, we love that.”Connecting the Industry ■ Interviews, product features, social content and recap videos captured the scale and energy of the week, sharing its impact beyond those in attendance. What stood out most, however, was a sense of pride. Attendees spoke candidly about the importance of gathering as an industry—reconnecting with familiar faces, welcoming new ones and having honest conversations about the future.It was about momentum, shared goals and renewed purpose. “If you make a living in the archery industry and care about the future of our sport, the ATA Show matters,” said Chris Hamm, VP of operations of HHA Sports and founder and president of HHA USA. “After nearly four decades of attending, I left the 2026 show more optimistic than ever about where this industry is headed.”As ATA Show Week concluded, one thing was clear: this wasn’t a one-time experiment—it was a blueprint. By uniting trade, competition and consumers under one roof, ATA Show Week demonstrated what’s possible when an industry comes together with shared vision and purpose. IAINSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Jeff, Brad and Brian Adee of Headhunter Bow Strings, it is that they don’t love being interviewed and aren’t that interested in talking to us unless they have something important to share.And, boy, do they have something important to share at the moment.If you attended the 2026 ATA Show, you likely heard about Alien Fiber, Headhunter’s new serving material. Produced in conjunction with fiber experts from industries where performance is critical, this new serving material delivers exceptional durability, strength and reliability.An Unmet NeedAs compound bow and crossbow performance has advanced, the Adee brothers noticed that bowstring material wasn’t necessarily keeping up with the latest performance needs. “For quite a few years now, vertical bow and crossbow designs have been getting more and more challenging,” Jeff Adee said. “On the crossbow side, for example, companies are trying to build shorter and narrower crossbows to fling bolts even faster. It’s gotten more and more challenging to build strings and cables that can hold up and help dissipate the energy in those units after the shot. As you get narrower, you have less string material and less limb material, but you have the same amount of energy, so everything in that unit is getting hammered. We needed improved materials, and there hasn’t been a new raw material in years. All the testing we’reconstantly doing with our customers—the bow and crossbow manufacturers—proves that there hasn’t been anything Out-of-This-WorldBowstring Material22 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026
By Michaelean PikeMARCH 2026 INSIDE ARCHERY 23“Alien Fiber, Headhunter’s new serving material, is produced in conjunctionwith fiber experts from industries where performance is critical. This new serving material delivers exceptional durability, strength and reliability”
markedly new that’s been an improvement.“So we had to do it ourselves. It’s not something we wanted to do. We’re the largest fiber user in the industry. We work well with all the current suppliers, but we were running into problems on the other end. It was getting harder and harder to meet the needs of our customer base. So we had to come up with a solution on our own.”Going Outside the IndustryTo do that, the Adees turned to people outside the archery industry.“We teamed up with a domestic processor that does work in the medical, military and aerospace industries,” Brad Adee told us. “The technology they have is far superior to what we’ve been working with in the past. These guys work in all these different markets where quality control and testing matters. I think that’s where we made a lot of the gains. With their expertise in coatings and other areas, they were able to help us expedite what works and what we need.”Jeff pointed out that there’s a big difference in performance expectations in different fiber markets.“These guys had technologies in critical-to-function markets like medical and space,” he explained. “So they had the latest and greatest in fiber making technology and could try the ideas Headhunter had.“We’re not saying anything bad about our current suppliers. They make marvelous product. It’s super strong. But the archery world needs more strength in very, very few strands. It’s got to be able to take a lot of abuse over very small sections of the material. Nobody in the medical industry is worried about fibers that are as big around as your finger. They’re looking at fibers for casts, sutures, mesh, etcetera.”After finding the right partners, the Adees approached them with some ideas they had.“Brad went to them, and these guys were like, ‘Holy smokes. We never 24 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026
thought about doing something like that,’” Jeff said.“Some of our ideas actually helped those companies grow as well because they’re able to incorporate them into some of the products they make for their existing clientele,” Brad added.“If you look at the fiber world—clothing, carpeting, ropes—there’s amazing amounts of fiber being used,” Jeff said. “High-end, high-quality archery fiber is a teeny portion of that, so companies aren’t necessarily willing to invest in equipment and R&D to come up with a new product when the return on their investment is going to be so tiny.“But when we brought ideas that would help with their current customer base, that made it a win-win. That was the deal we made with them: You help us build this stuff for the archery industry, and if you can use some of these in your other applications, go for it. We built a great relationship with this supplier because it’s turned out to be beneficial for both of us.”Alien FiberThe result of all of this is the Alien Fiber line, which includes two different products: Majic and Mystic. Both are built from next-generation UHMWPE, a fiber Headhunter says is 15 times stronger than steel. Majic offers a proprietary aerospace resin for incredible strength and abrasion resistance. Available diameters include .014, .017, .030 and .035 inch, and it comes in black or natural, which turns clear under tension.“Majic works super well on center servings, but it also works very well on the end servings going through the cams,” Jeff explained.Meanwhile, Mystic also offers a proprietary aerospace resin, as well as an advanced ceramic coating for even more strength and abrasion resistance. It’s available in .014-inch diameter and, like Majic, is available in black and natural.“Mystic material works really well going through the cams,” Jeff said. “It’s got a ceramic coating in the mixture, so it’s highly efficient. It goes in and out of the cams very smoothly without generating a lot of fricMARCH 2026 INSIDE ARCHERY 25
tion. Obviously, friction is what causes wear in the bowstring world. So Mystic has worked out really well in end servings going through the cams.”Both products are exceptionally durable and colorfast for life.“The No. 1 advantage of these materials is shooting life,” Jeff said. “Durability. Staying together. With bowstrings, you start to see wear where the bolts or the arrows go on, where they’re wrapping around cams with tough turns. You start to cut through all the little microfibers that build up the strands, and they start to come apart. So probably the biggest difference with these two products was shooting life. We’re seeing much better life over what was currently out there.”That performance is what inspired the name “Majic.”“One of the bow engineers we were working with on R&D came up with the name,” Brad explained. “He said, ‘Man, this stuff works like magic.’”As for the name “Alien,” that came from Brad.“I know nothing about marketing, but I figured it’d be something easy for the marketing guys to work with,” he said.For Jeff, the name feels appropriate.“We were trying to solve the problems in the industry by coming at it from a whole different universe,” he said. “Alien fits that.”Extensive TestingWhile many members of the industry only learned about Alien Fiber at the ATA Show in January, most people actually saw the material long before the launch. That’s because Headhunter has been working on this material for quite some time and began using it for some of its OEM bowstrings about a year ago.“Between the development and all the testing, we’ve been working on this for a few years,” Brad said.“We’re fortunate,” Jeff said. “We don’t have a sales and marketing team, so we don’t have anybody that was pushing us to get the new product out there. A lot of people launch product before it’s ready. That’s not the way we did it. We worked with multiple bow and crossbow manufacturers for a long time proving that these materials work, proving that these materials are better than anything else out there. It wasn’t our marketing team trying to tell people that Alien Fiber was better. It was the engineers that were testing us. It was out on their units. They were seeing all the performance, identifying that there weren’t any problems at all long before we went public at the ATA Show with the launch.”Keeping a SecretThe Adees will readily acknowledge they don’t know much about marketing. To help with the launch, they worked with Providence Marketing on a pre-ATA strategy.“It was kind of fun,” Jeff admitted. “We tried hard to keep it a secret. Providence Marketing came up with a plan. We did some ads a few months back. Some of them didn’t even have the Alien name. Most of them didn’t have Headhunter’s name on them until right before the show. The industry noticed it. There were some phone calls, people asking, ‘What is this stuff?’ So that was fun. It ended up being a better-kept secret than we expected. We wanted to have a big shebang at the show, and we managed to accomplish that even though we’d already been using thousands of pounds of it in the industry for quite a while.”The pre-show marketing was a huge success.“We’re your typical non-marketing guys in that we think when you throw advertising dollars into ads, nobody pays any attention to it and it’s just money you’re throwing away,” Jeff said. “But after two days at the show, Brad and I were both surprised at how much people were paying attention. We had a ton of people who said, ‘Hey, we read about you in the trade magazines and saw your ad. What can you tell us about it?’ So we spent a lot of time at the show talking about Alien, about where it will work, where it won’t work. It was great.”26 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026
Making Alien Widely AvailableIn order to make Alien Fiber available to the industry as a whole, Headhunter enlisted the help of long-time industry partner BCY.“We have a great relationship with BCY,” Jeff said. “Roger and Ray take great care of us, and they’re one of the cornerstone companies in the industry. We certainly didn’t want to come at them from a position of being a competitor. We wanted a partnership, just like with all of our customers—we want to develop partnerships. So we went to BCY long before this launch and told them what we were doing. They knew why we were doing it. We’d been talking to them for years about the need for new products. They already have the relationships with all the string makers, the bow companies and even the consumers. They’ve got a great presence going around to the shoots and the shows. We didn’t want to get into the fiber business. The last thing we want is have to worry about supplying everyone. So it works well with us routing Alien material through BCY. They do all the order fulfillment. It was just a really nice fit to continue to keep our relationship with BCY strong.”Ensuring that other companies have access to Alien Fiber was important to Headhunter and its approach to the archery industry.“We didn’t want to say, ‘This is our proprietary stuff and you have to get it from us,’” Brad explained. “We believe Alien is better for the industry, and if it’s better for the industry, it’s better for all of us. Working with BCY ensures everyone can access it.”That includes competing string makers.“When we were at the ATA Show, a lot of the string makers were coming by and talking to us about it,” Jeff said. “It was confirmation to us that there was a need in the industry. This wasn’t just Headhunter thinking we need better material. We heard that from all the other string makers. They were excited. They were all given free samples so they can test it out. We asked them to give us feedback on anything they may pick up on. If we were more cutthroat, we could have made it a competitive advantage and hogged it all for ourselves. That’s not the MARCH 2026 INSIDE ARCHERY 27
way we operate. We want to lift the entire industry. If that means giving better product to the other string makers, okay, we’ll do that. It’s worked out well so far.”Major GrowthSince Headhunter began supplying strings to dealers a couple years ago, the company has seen a lot of growth. Jeff attributes much of that to the team’s ability to get strings out quickly.“Ninety-nine percent of our product ships within two days,” he said. “We’ll have a new dealer call us up to put an order in, and we’ll let them know their order will ship that day. They’re not used to that. But we have a hundred of that string ready. Because we make strings for basically everyone in the industry, it’s easy for us to run an extra hundred at the end of production to keep on the shelf. We probably have 50,000 strings in inventory for dealers right now. We put out 1.5 to 2 million strings a year, which allows us to sit on inventory. When dealers need strings, we can get them out right away. The longest lead time we’ve had in the last year has been five days.”A great deal of that growth has come simply from the company’s reputation for service and quality.“We don’t have a salesperson, but two years ago when we did the launch to the aftermarket, we brought in Providence to help us get the word out,” Jeff said. “We didn’t do any marketing. We hadn’t run ads. We barely updated our website every 10 years. We let the quality of the product and the quality of our customer service speak for themselves. That’s been our model, even with the dealers. We are already in virtually every dealer shop with the brand-new product hanging on their wall. We run ads in the two trade magazines because those go to the dealers. The dealers get to be fans of ours because we can get products out so quickly and it’s the right stuff. It goes on their bow. It fits perfect every time because it’s same as the OEM model that was originally on there. We’re not guessing at the components. We’re not guessing at any of the dimensions. We know what’s critical on the various designs because it was tested with the OEM engineers.“There’s no one-size string that fits on every bow. There’s no one raw material that works best. It all depends on the designs. And the only way you can figure out what works the best is testing. So we, in cooperation with the engineers, come up with a few different designs, different materials, maybe slightly different lengths. You send the strings to them, and they shoot them 25,000 times. They know what works best. They know one serving needs to be a different raw material than the others because it’s going through the cam this way and it’s getting additional wear. We know that one serving might be different than every other serving on that string, but no one else knows that. So the dealers quickly figure out they can put our string on and it’s going to perform very well. They know it’s going to fit and they can get on to the next problem facing them in their shops.”The Future of HeadhunterCurrently, Headhunter has about 45 people working in the company’s two locations in Meeker, Colorado, and Milton, 28 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026
Wisconsin. The Adees believe their team plays a huge role in the company’s success.“Our employees are absolutely the reason we’ve done so well,” Jeff said. “I can’t make strings. I have sausage fingers. I can barely type. It’s all our employees. We have the best employees and the best string makers in the world. We try to take very good care of our employees because obviously they have to build all those strings exactly the same, exactly right, every single time. So our employees are the most important people in the building for sure. Brad, Brian and I try to remove obstacles, help them to be as efficient as they can and solve any problems they have. That’s the job the three of us do.“Carrie Cookson answers the phone and works a lot with the dealers when these orders are coming in. She’s helping to fulfill the orders. She’s a critical cog in taking care of all of our customers as well.”I asked Jeff and Brad what we could expect from them in the future.“More gray hair,” Jeff joked.“Less hair, period,” Brad added.Jokes aside, the Headhunter team takes what they do very seriously.“I think we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to come up with some better raw materials, some better string material that will help out the entire industry,” Jeff said. “I think you’ll see us continue to grow with the dealers because we work awfully hard at getting them perfect product every single time, as quickly as possible. We are not consumer focused. If I get a consumer that calls me to buy strings, one of the first questions I ask them is, ‘Do you have a dealer in your neighborhood? If you do, go there and ask for Headhunter strings. I’ll send you a free hat, you get a great deal and you get the string put on right.’ We’re all about supporting the dealers. We’re focused on building partnerships with the dealers and taking as good care of them as we have with the bow and crossbow manufacturers.”“We still have some ideas,” Brad said. “There are still products we’re working on that aren’t ready for launch. There’s still room for some better products in certain applications. We want to solve problems in the industry, and that means there might be a couple new products coming out. But nothing’s going to happen until it’s well proven and we’ve got 100 percent confidence that it is better material.“Leaders lead. We consider ourselves industry leaders, and we’re going to keep leading the industry to a better place.” IAMARCH 2026 INSIDE ARCHERY 29
30MARKET TRENDS BOW REPORTINSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026APA Archery bows have long held practical features,like the built-in Riser Fang, which provides a convenient way to hang the bow from a tree limb.The new Exoskeleton Grip found on the Black Mamba Pro 6 makes this bow lighter and better balanced than Black Mamba models that came before.APA’s optional Pro Connect Stabilizer Control (S.C.S.) System allows adding up to three stabilizers to create the perfect balance and further dampen shot vibrations.arly on APA Archery made headlines by generating some of the fastest arrow velocities in the industry.Though APA bows have long included exclusive, practical, hunt-enhancing features, that was what archers largely fixated on. APA bows are still some of the fastest around, but more recently the company has also begun to emphasize bowhunter independence through functional features that help quicken setup, tuning efficiency and in-field maintenance. More recently still, a lot of effort went into making APA bows more streamlined and better balanced. The radical draw cycles of the past have been largely tamed, without sacrificing those impressive arrow speeds APA made its name on. APA accomplishes this with the last true dual-cam system in the industry. APA has learned to efficiently harness the high-performance cam system, introducing several user-friendly tuning systems to keep these bows shooting their best. The 2026 Black Mamba is a culmination of everything APA has built to this point. And the maneuverable 31 3/8-inch axle-toaxle 2026 Black Mamba Pro 6 is a further refinement of that series, while continuing to provide serious bowhunters everything they love about the APA brand. The Black Mamba Pro 6 is designed for passionate bowhunters who seek premium performance in the field. With the addition of APA’s renowned Stability Control System (SCS), it blends the precision of a target bow with hunting versatility. This model incorporates all of APA’s Pro Connect options, offers toolless tuning capabilities, and technologies that make it particularly well-suited for dedicated bowhunters. Incredibly lightweight at less than four pounds, the Black Mamba Pro 6 delivers formidable energy and power. Stronger, Quieter, More Convenient ■ A redesigned riser resulted in a stronger, quieter bow. The riser was refined to increase rigidity, stability and overall strength, creating a more stable launch platform that shoots conspicuously quieter. The Black Mamba Pro 6 riser includes a new Exoskeleton Grip hollowed from the flats and edges, cuts out of the reverse carry handle and fluted edges. The effect is increased rigidity, less overall mass and stellar inhand balance. The Exoskeleton Grip also includes an integrated finger groove to promote more consistent hand placement and improved accuracy.The Black Mamba Pro 6 features a host of Pro-Connect Technology features allowing streamlined and balanced sight, stabilizer and shoulder sling mounting. Pro-Connect sight mounting provides three sets of sight taps recessed deep into the sight window, with tracks cut into the riser’s front and rear edges to accommodate the sight bar. This allows securing the mounting block of a dovetail sight into the center of the riser for improved weight distribution and streamlined matEBY PATRICK MEITINing. The system accommodated my HHA Sports sight seamlessly, though required shims to utilize my thinner UltraView mounting block. Pro-Connect Stabilizer mounts consist of integrated sockets with rotating and locking titanium barrels allowing stabilizers to be added and removed quickly. Out of the box, the test Black Mamba Pro 6 held a short rubber dampener installed in the Pro-Connect Stabilizer mount directly above the lower limb pocket, another ProConnect stabilizer tap located in the standard position. APA’s exclusive Pro-Connect Sling includes push-button QD-style sling studs that plug into sockets milled directly into the riser, which allow mounting and removing the APA shoulder sling nearly instantly.The Black Mamba Pro 6 still holds APA’s trademark riser-stiffening and balancing reversed Carry Handle, top-mounted Riser Fang integrated hanging hook and incorporated Tool Center. The latter includes a built-in carbide knife sharpener, broadhead wrench, nock indexing tool and secured Cam Lock pin that facilitates swapping bowstrings or buss cables in the field or establishing center-shot during initial setup. The sight window holds milled-in Nocking Point Alignment Zone hash marks, plus the Direct Mount Wrist Sling allows securing a rope or braided wrist sling without stabilizer involvement. A top riser tap accepts an optional Camera Mount for self-filming hunts. An optional Integrated Bow Winch is also available—a silent, compact wind-up pull-up rope system that can be installed into the bow’s lower riser cutout and containing 26 feet of rope.APA Archery Black Mamba Pro 6
MARCH 2026 31 INSIDE ARCHERYArrow SpeedAPA Archery Black Mamba Pro 6 set at 70.0 pounds at 30 inches. 29-inch Arrows/ Shaft Finished Kinetic Arrow 100-Grain Tips gpi Arrow Wt. Energy Speed––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CX Triad 300 10.9 564 grains 102.1 ft. lbs. 285.1 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easton 5mm FMJ 300 12.0 550 grains 101.1 ft. lbs. 287.0 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Bloodsport Evidence 300 11.7 518 grains 100.3 ft. lbs. 295.3 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory VAP-SS 300 9.9 473 grains 99.3 ft. lbs. 307.5 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Altra Centrum 166 300 10.5 468 grains 100.4 ft. lbs. 310.8 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easton 4mm Axis LR 300 9.4 457 grains 98.2 ft. lbs. 311.2 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– GT Pierce Platinum 300 9.1 451 grains 98.8 ft. lbs. 312.6 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CX Photon SD 300 8.9 433 grains 98.2 ft. lbs. 319.6 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory VAP 300 8.7 424 grains 97.1 ft. lbs. 321.2 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– GT Black Label Quantum 8.3 404 grains 98.2 ft lbs. 330.9 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Black Eagle Carnivore 350 7.5 363 grains 94.6 ft. lbs. 341.2 fps––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory RIP XV 300 7.0 355 grains 95.7 ft. lbs. 346.7 fps–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (866) 353-7378 OR VISIT APAARCHERY.COMSpecifications––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Axle-to-Axle Length31 3/8 inches ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Brace Height 6 1/16 inches (static),7 3/8 inches (dynamic) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Mass Weight3.9 pounds ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Let-Off80 percent ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Available Draw Lengths24 to 30 inches,in ½-inch increments ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Available Draw Weights40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 pounds ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Available FinishesSandstone, Matte Black,OD Green, Oxford Brown,Covert Black, Dessolve Bare,SKRE Summit, Sage and Lava.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––DexterityLeft- and right-hand ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––MSRP$1,692across their entire length to maximize energy transfer. Another practical APA touch is the Torque Free Limb Anchor system, providing a small tab to tie drop-away rest activation cords to for streamlined and balanced connections.Combined, these features make the 2026 Black Mamba Pro 6 more efficient, flatter shooting and harder-hitting. The rigid riser design and high dynamic brace height (increasing from 6 1/16 to 7 3/8 inches after hitting full draw) make the Black Mamba Pro 6 less demanding of the shooter and more forgiving during the shot, automatically translating into greater accuracy—especially under pressure. Hunt Ready ■ The refined pro riser and pastparallel limb design enhances shot stealth. APA also includes a LimbSaver string stop, Broadband limb dampeners on each limb, and a mini dampener between the lower limb and Stability Control System (SCS). The combined effect is pure stealth.APA calls the Black Mamba Pro 6 one of their quietest and fastest bows to date including a brace height of more than 6 inches. I call it a self-contained, freedomdealing instrument of silent death. IABalance & Function ■ As tested, the Black Mamba Pro 6 included APA’s optional new and innovative Pro Connect Stability Control System (S.C.S.). This is a unique, light weight lower stabilizer mounting system that allows mounting up to three quickdetach stabilizers beneath the lower limb, while also providing side-to-side and downward angle adjustments that lock securely. The system offers remarkable balance, stability and vibration dampening.The Black Mamba Pro 6, as hinted, is equipped with toolless tuning technology. These features simplify fine tuning for perfect arrow flight, without a bow press or even an Allen wrench required. This means shooters can tune—or re-tune—their bow in the field in case of an emergency, without a pro-shop visit.The X2 dual cam system at 70 pounds and 30-inch draw is smoother than any APA bow I’ve shot previously, though I still found the let-off valley a touch challenging at the cam system’s longest draw-length setting. APA’s XS Tune Modules allow draw lengths from 24 to 30 inches, in half inch increments, and the rock solid rotating draw stops can be set to find the feel that best suits the shooter.Toolless Cam Lock Technology, Micro Tune buss cable management and Shift Tune Technology allow bringing the dual cams into perfect synchrony. The simple Micro Tune system includes rollers controlled by two knurled knobs. To unlock the system the red knob is loosened, tuning buss-cable tension (and cam synchronization) via the black knob. Clockwise turns advance the bottom cam, counter-clockwise turns retarding the bottom. APA’s self-adjusting APA Archery’s integral Tool Center includes a carbide knife sharpener, broadhead wrench, nock indexer, and a pin allowing users to change bow strings in the field or establish center shot during setup.WebXtra ■ To take a closer look at the APA Archery Black Mamba Pro 6 in action, go to insidearchery.com.Variable Yoke Technology further aids in eliminating cam lean and limb torque.APA’s highly efficient Twin Flex Limbs are the slimmest in the industry, the name referring to these limb’s ability to flex
MARKET TRENDS PRO SHOP ESSENTIALS32of solution is wasted during each process, but a single bottle of C-YA can be used to de-bond dozens of arrows.In a pro shop retail setting, this equates to more time spent with customers or taking care of business—or lower labor costs—and less time tediously scraping away and cleaning fletchings, vinyl wraps and tenacious adhesive residue. And as the old saying goes, time is money. C-YA saves you time and money. This makes C-YA a smarter, cleaner way to prep arrows for re-fletching. C-YA evaporates slowly, so provides long shelf life. That said, C-YA is flammable (not as volatile as, say, acetone, but flammable), so should be stored accordingly.So in quick review: C-YA breaks down common archery adhesives with minimal effort, allowing vanes and wraps to peel away cleanly after soaking, and adhesive residues to wipe away cleanly. C-YA reduces labor time, whether in high-volume pro shops or at home, easily offsetting the $49.99 (16-ounce bottle) investment. And, the reusable and lowevaporation formula minimizes waste, making it highly cost effective. Pine Ridge’s goal was to create a solution to help avoid the frustration of arrow maintenance and re-fletching. Whether processing dozens of arrows daily, or periodically repairing personal arrows, C-YA Debonder Solution ensures consistent, quality results with minimal mess. C-YA Debonder Solution is available to authorized Pine Ridge Archery dealers. Learn more by visiting pineridgearchery.com. For dealer inquiries please email [email protected]. IAI’ll confess to a couple quirks pertaining to arrows. First, I enjoy shooting pretty arrows, complete with colorful wraps and fletching colors of my choice. Send me a dozen factoryfletched arrows and I’ll immediately strip them and make them my own. Second, after a set of arrows accomplish their mission—usually a successful string of bow kills—I’ll strip them all and begin the process again. This means I strip an inordinate number of arrows every year. Particularly when vinyl wraps are involved, this can become messy, frustrating business. Pine Ridge Archery now offers an easy solution for obsessive arrow builders like myself—or a busy pro shop owner tasked with re-fletching customers’ old arrows. New C-YA Debonder Solution offers a fast and mess-free way to remove stubborn vanes and wraps. I saw C-YA at the ATA Trade Show in January and knew I’d discovered something worthwhile. To remove stubborn fletchings and wraps just soak (after removing the nock) for 40 to 60 minutes and everything, even sticky adhesive residue, easily wipes away. C-YA turns even powerful cyanoacrylate/super glues to jelly, without harming the arrow shaft. Clean with water, return the nock, and arrow builders enjoy a much cleaner bonding surface than those produced after extensive scraping. After I was done soaking and prepping a handful of arrows for re-fletching, I poked a paper towel into a funnel and returned the C-YA solution to the bottle it arrived in, which includes a screw top for safe storage. Unavoidably, some small amount Pine Ridge ArcheryC-YA Debonder Solution
34 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026By Patrick Meitin
MARCH 2026 INSIDE ARCHERY 35In the archery world nothing creates quite as much excitement, or store traffic, as the newest batch of flagship bow models showcasing the latest technologies and clever features. Each new year introduces a fresh set of incremental increases in total shooting enjoyment. The newest bows are infinitely easier to fine tune—typically without the need for a bow press—quieter, more forgiving, and sometimes even faster. Owning a bow more than five years old is now leaving a lot of performance and accuracy potential on the table, leading to regular upgrades your customers are anxious to shell out for. So come along as we explore the hottest bows released for the 2026 season—the models your customers will be asking for by name this year.BEAR ARCHERY ■ The Redeem from Bear Archery is the company’s flagship model for 2026. This is a compact 30-inch axle-to-axle bow holding useful technologies designed for bowhunting efficiency and pure shooting enjoyment. The fact that it generates IBO arrow speeds of up to 340 fps and weighs less than previous models comes as a bonus. The 6.25-inch brace height offers a good balance of speed and forgiveness and the riser cut-outs are strategically placed for in-hand stability. It is fueled by the new EKO2 Cam, which proves smooth drawing while providing a solid rear wall. It also allows setup for draw lengths from 25 to 30 inches and let-off options of 80 or 85 percent. The Redeem can be ordered with draw length spans of 45 to 60 pounds or 55 to 70 pounds.The riser includes the latest accessory mounting systems, including a front Picatinny rail for sights and rear dovetail for IMS-style arrow rests. It also holds an integrated wrist sling slot and set screw, which allows removing a stabilizer without upsetting wrist-sling adThe top bow models that will set the stage for 2026.
36 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026justments. Tuning is simplified through Bear’s new QPC-Quad Pocket Control. This system adjusts limb-butt tension to dial out cam timing or nock travel issues with micro-adjustable limb-pocket rockers. The Redeem is hunting silent via its vibration-dampening string stop, in-riser and limb dampeners and rubber combination speed nocks/string silencers. A pull-up rope attachment loop is integrated into the top limb pocket. Look for it in Emerge 2.0, Mossy Oak Bottomland, Olive and Stone finishes, and left- or right-hand options. Visitbeararchery.com for more details.BOWTECH ■ The flagship option at Bowtech for 2026 is the Alliance 33—introduced at the most recent ATA Trade Show. This is a smooth-shooting hunting machine engineered to also provide exceptional stability and in-hand balance, while propelling arrows to IBO speeds of up to 334 fps via a 6 1/16-inch brace height. Redesigned riser geometry results in 4.25-pound out-of-thebox mass, while the newly refined axle assembly optimizes cam placement on the limbs to ensure maximum efficiency and energy transfer for hardhitting impacts on game. The newest version of Bowtech’s DeadLock Cam System offers even greater precision, including double-locking adjustments made through more generously-sized locking and tuning screws and finer adjustment capabilities. All adjustment marks are easily read and laser-etched for faster, more confident work. The Alliance 33 holds IMS/Integrate-style dovetail arrow rest mounting, and GripLock technology allows customizing grip angle to preferences. The riser also holds two stabilizer mounts to allowing finding that perfect balance for more confident shot placement. The cam system includes rotating mods to accommodate draw lengths from 27 to 32 inches, and FlipDisc technology allows setting the bow up for Comfort or Performance modes—both with an 80 percent let-off. They can be ordered with peak draw weights of 60, 65, 70 and 75 pounds and a wide selection of camouflage and solid color finishes. Visitbowtecharchery.com for more details. MARTIN OUTDOORS ■ Martin’s exciting new flagship for 2026 builds on the renowned Firecat platform. The new Lithium X includes an all-new licensed Perfect-Tune Adjustable Limb Pocket System that includes tension screws at each limb butt allowing making tension adjustments to each limb and easily correcting any tuning imperfections, cam lean or cam timing to produce perfect arrow flight. The newly-refined 2026 Firecat Cam System gives shooters an even smoother draw cycle while also enhancing arrow velocity. Draw lengths of 26.5 to 30.5 inches are accommodated in a single bow to meet the needs of most customers. The rear-bridged riser design adds stiffness and stability for 2026 Flagship BowsBEARREDEEMBOWTECHALLIANCE33MARTINLITHIUM XOBSESSIONULTRAMAG NT
MARCH 2026 INSIDE ARCHERY 37more accurate shots, while a new roller cable management system helps eliminate lateral riser torque at full draw to further accentuate in-hand stability and aiming steadiness. The Lithium X includes 32-inch axle-to-axle dimensions and weighs just 4.2 pounds. Combine all these elements and the Lithium X is capable of IBO arrow speeds of up to 348 fps. The Lithium X offers bowhunters a lightweight package providing speed without a harsh draw cycle, while also producing exceptional shot control. Look for them with peak draw weights of 50 to 70 pounds. Martin Outdoors offers the widest selection of finish options in the business, with 57 camouflage and solid riser/limb colors and multiple string options. Visit martinarchery.comfor more details. OBSESSION BOWS ■ For 2026, Obsession built the UltraMag NT to hit a sweet spot in the balance between a compact, hunt-ready package, forgiving brace height and a clean, efficient arrow launch. The UltraMag NT measures 33 1/8 inches between the axles (+/- ¼-inch) and weighs a feathery 3.68 pounds—pretty impressive for a noncarbon-riser bow. The UltraMag NThits IBO arrow speeds of up to 348 fpswith a 6 ¼-inch brace height (+/- ¼-inch).The 80-percent let-off FLITE Cam allows setting up a single bow with draw lengths of 26 to 31 inches, eliminating SKU confusion while serving the majority of your customers. Peak draw weights of 40 to 70 pounds are available. A new licensed limb-tensioning/tuning system allows making precise adjustments to correct cam lean and other small tuning flaws. Fifty-seven riser and limb finish options, including classic and newer camouflage patterns and solid colors, nine string-color options and black, red or orange anodized cam hues are available to suit any tastes. For all its features and raw performance, the UltraMag NT is priced competitively. Visit obsessionbows.comfor more details.PRIME ARCHERY ■ Prime’s 2026 flagship is comprised of the all-new Divide series, which allows choosing from eight different configurations to preferences. These options are made up of base Divide 31, 33, 35 and 37 bows (those numbers corelating to axle-to-axle specs), each with a choice of 6- or 7-inch brace heights. The Divide riser includes refined Advanced Structures Technology (AST) based on last year’s FORM riser construction. This combination of aluminum parts and high-strength carbon tubing—each placed to provide maximum benefits—creates a riser that is super rigid and stout, extremely consistent and ultra lightweight. The result is a bow that is a ½-pound lighter and 47.5 percent stiffer. This riser also includes Prime’s Center Grip geometry to promote faster target acquisition, steadier holds, better in-hand balance and more consistency. PRIMEDIVIDEMATHEWSARC 30APABLACKMAMBAPRO 6ELITEVAROS
Continued on Page 40The Core Cam operates on draw-lengthspecific mods to ensure maximum efficiency and smooth draw cycles at every draw length—the adjustable draw stop allowing let-off setup from 65 to 83 percent to preferences. Performance mods are available to enhance arrow speeds. Streamlined Picatinny sight, IMS/Integrate rest and Prime’s integrated SherpaLite Quiver mounting systems are included. The Divide series can also be set up with a new Trilite Bow Stand mount, with two or three leg options. The Divide’s eight options are as follows: the Divide 31 (335 fps IBO in 6-inch; 331 fps with 7-inch brace) weighs 4 pounds and accommodates draw length spans of 25.5 to 29.5 (6-inch) and 26.5 to 30.5 inches (7-inch). The Divide 33 (339 fps 6-inch; 331 7-inch) weighs 4.1 pounds and accommodates draw length spans from 26 to 30 or 27 to 31 inches (6- and 7-inch, respectively). The Divide 35 (338 or 330 fps, 6- and 7-inch brace) weighs 4.2 pounds and accommodates draw-length spans of 26.5 to 30.5 or 27.5 to 31.5 inches. Lastly, the Divide 37 (337 or 329 fps) weighs 4.3 pounds and accommodates drawlength spans of 27 to 31 or 28 to 32 inches. Choose from nine limb colors and 11 riser colors, including all-new Terra. Visitg5prime.com for more details.MATHEWS, INC. ■ Mathews’ 2026 ARC 30 and ARC 34 represent the company’s 2026 flagship series. In typical Mathews fashion, the ARC series has moved bow technology forward, improving stability and efficiency while slightly reducing weight. Specs for the ARC 30 include a 6-inch brace height and 348 fps IBO arrow speeds. The newly-refined SWX-2 Cam, which includes Parameter Weight Technology, allows 80 or 85 percent let-off settings and a draw-length span of 25 to 30.5 inches. The overall design is even more recoil free, without sacrificing arrow speed. An optional SWX-Z Mod (compatible with 2024 and later Mathews bow models) provides a smoother draw in exchange for a modest speed sacrifice. The ARC 34 has an IBO speed rating of 343 fps via a 6.5-inch brace height. Draw length spans 26.5 to 32 inches, otherwise mirroring ARC 30 capabilities. ARC bows utilize a redesigned limb assembly to optimize the equilibrium point and enhance parallel limb path for enhanced efficiency and reduced shot vibration. A new reinforced riser increases strength and stability without weight gains and a new limb cup design further reduces mass. Improved integration of Mathews Bridge-Lock V-Bar and Bridge-Lock 7-degree Angled Stabilizers are now a part of the new design. SCS connection points are now integrated into the riser. Tuning is made easier through micro-adjust Limb Shift Technology (LST) tuning and ARC7 Limb Technology is more efficient and stouter. The BOND Grip System remains. Order them in 13 finishes, including new Kodiak Brown 2026 Flagship Bows
40 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 202650-, 60-, 70- or 80-pound (adjustable in 10-pound increments) are available, and the draw length range is 24 to 30 inches, with an 80 percent let-off. APA’s patented features still apply, including the company’s Integrated Carry Handle, Riser Fang, Tool Center, TorqueFree Limb Anchor and optional Integrated Bow Winch. An etched Nock Point Alignment Zone and micro-adjustable Center Shot Indicator add to its easysetup qualities. APA’s Pro Connect Technology allows sleekly adding a shoulder strap, sight and stabilizer while maximizing bow balance and a streamlined profile. Visit apaarchery.com formore details.ELITE ARCHERY ■ Elite Archery’s flagship choices boil down to whether your customer wants an aluminumor carbon-riser bow. Elite Archery’s 4.55-pound Varos is the aluminum-riser flagship for 2026, which maintains the company’s focus on shootability, comfort and consistency. The Varos is capable of 338 fps IBO arrow speeds, blending 32-inch axle-to-axle specs with a forgiving 6 5/8-inch brace height. SP2 Cams with VX Mods and tool-free, precision-tune Micro Splitters prove forgiving, smooth and easily tuned, added to Elite’s proven S.E.T. Technology. Delta VRT technology and a lower stabilizer bushing keep shots hushed and reduce felt hand shock. Draw lengths from 25.5 to 31 are possible (in precise ¼-inch increments). Look for the Varos in 20 finish options and both right- and lefthand options. More appealing, Elite has maintained 2025 pricing, meaning the Varos is priced $300 to $400 below most bow models with comparable features.For the customer seeking a carbonriser bow, the Carbon Axys is their 2026 flagship. The 32 ½-inch Carbon Axys is an ultra-lightweight but forgiving bow providing top-tier accuracy. The Carbon Axys also offers the new Micro Splitter system and Kodiak Brown fade-to-Black. Visitmathewsinc.com for more details. APA ARCHERY ■ APA continues to refine its flagship Black Mamba Pro. For 2026 that is the Black Mamba Pro 6, which was refined to provide a high-performance hunting package (357 fps IBO) with the precision and stability of a target bow. The Black Mamba Pro 6 is still ultra lightweight (3.9 pounds), but doesn’t sacrifice strength or stability. It is also quieter. A new Exoskeleton Grip increases rigidity, reduces weight and optimizes balance, and also provides an integrated fingerreference groove for enhanced comfort and shooting consistency. Toolless Cam Lock Technology, Micro Tune cam timing and Shift Tune Technology make it a snap to tune this model, even while in the field. The Black Mamba Pro 6 includes 31 3/8-inch axle-to-axle specs. Forgiveness is built in via a 6 1/16-inch brace height at rest and 7 3/8-inch dynamic brace height at full draw. Peak draw weights of 40-, Continued from Page 38Continued on Page 422026 Flagship BowsELITEAXYSHOYTRX-10PSESICARIOCARBONXPEDITIONNEXLITE
42 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026for press-free cam timing adjustments, S.E.T. Technology and efficient SP2 Cam System with VX Performance Mods mirroring specs offered by the Varos. Delta VRT is also part. The Carbon Axys hits the scales at 4.3 pounds and sports R.A.C. System Picatinny sight mounting. A forgiving 6 ¾-inch brace height produces 338 fps IBO arrow speeds. Visit elitearchery.comfor more details. HOYT ■ Hoyt’s flagship lineup also includes both aluminum- and carbon-riser options, but the 2026 Carbon REDWRX lineup is really difficult to ignore—including the RX-10, RX-10 Ultra, RX-10 Ultra LD (Long Draw) and RX-10 SD (Short Draw). Hoyt carbon bows are warmer to the touch in cold weather and include a strength-to-weight ratio unmatched in the industry. Just one of the major upgrades for the New Year includes a patent-pending XTS Tuning System, which promotes simpler, more precise tuning without a bow press. XTS technology allows not only correcting left and right tears during paper tuning, but high and low tears as well. This all sounds complicated, but Hoyt invested the engineering up front to make tuning simpler on the back end. All are powered by a new HBX Gen 4 Cam, touted as being smoother and easier to shoot than previous systems, while handling draw lengths from 25 to 30 inches in ¼-inch increments. Hoyt says this cam is so smooth a 70-pound bow will feel closer to 60 pounds, as well as providing customizable let-off options. The primary flagship, Hoyt’s Carbon RX-10, measures 30 ½ inches between the axles, includes a 6 1/8-inch brace height, weighs 4.1 pounds and includes an IBO speed rating of 342 fps. Order them with 40- to 80-pound peak draw weighs. Visit hoyt.com for more details. PSE ARCHERY ■ PSE Archery’s most talked-about flagship of 2026 is indisputably the Sicario Carbon. Part of this involves the fact the Sicario Carbon is the fastest bow PSE has produced to date—and they have offered some vary fast bows in the past. For all its speed, the Sicario is also being touted as a forgiving and very controllable bow, despite its low 5 ¼-inch brace height. Just how fast? PSE has given the Sicario a 357 fps IBO speed rating. The Sicario was obviously engineered for serious—and I might add experienced—bowhunters demanding maximum arrow velocities. They get this, but without sacrificing a smooth shooting experience, complete control and hunting stealth. The 33-inch Sicario is based on PSE’s revolutionary Dead Frequency Carbon monocoque riser, which is known for being exceptionally quiet, vibration free and incredibly strong. This also gives the Sicario a dead-inthe-hand feel after release, despite all that raw performance. This also creates an easy-toting 3.9-pound finished weight. The powertrain is supplied by an all-new FDS Cam System, which provides a crisp, silky draw and solid back wall with a 24.5- to 30-inch draw length span. The FDS Cams ride on oversized 5/8-inch bearings and are positioned using PSE’s proven Full Draw Stability system to help steady every shot. Let-off adjustments of 70, 75, 80 or 85 percent are provided to find a desired full-draw feel, and peak draw weights of 50, 60, 70 and 80 pounds are offered. Visit pse-archery.com for more details.XPEDITION ARCHERY ■ Xpedition’s NexLite series—NexLite 30 and 33—are everything a flagship bow should be—innovative, performance driven and easy on the eyes. NexLite bows include space-age Maglite risers, a new super magnesium material providing an unprecedented strength-to-weight ratio—30 percent stronger than aluminum and even stronger than carbon. It also provides 20 times more vibration control than commercial-grade carbon and 3 times more vibration dampening than 6061 aluminum. NexLite bows include an integrated Xlok Grip designed to fit any hand while ensuring repeatable, torque free placement. Xlok system parts and accessories, including a new pocket, eliminates tolerance stacking and limb shifting—including a limb bolt sleeve that eliminates pocket shifting. M-Lok Accessory attachment slots are also included. The patent-pending Xlok tuning system provides removeable spacers to accommodate three cam locations, without involving a bow press. An optimized roller guard minimizes friction and cable wear while reducing riser torque. Xpedition’s NXB Cam system is smooth, including three module sizes, ¼-inch draw length adjustments without a bow press, draw dampener and an 85-percent let-off with 10 percent adjustment. Components are attached using the Picatinny sight and IMS/Integrate-style dovetail rest mounts. Further vibration and noise control are provided by quad mini dampeners and three stabilizer mounting locations.The 3.6-pound NexLite 30 includes a 6.375-inch brace height to produce 336 fps IBO arrow speeds and weighs 3.6 pounds. Draw lengths from 24 to 30 inches are accommodated. The NexLite 33 includes the same brace height and produces IBO arrow speeds of 330 fps. It weighs 3.75 pounds and can be set up for draw lengths from 24.5 to 31 inches. They are offered in Armor Black, Sniper Grey, Flat Dark Earth, OD Green and Mossy Oak Bottomland Cerakote finishes. Peak draw weights of 50 to 80 pounds can be ordered. Visit xpeditionarchery.com for more details.Affordable “Flagships” DIAMOND ARCHERY ■ Diamond Archery may not come to mind when discussing flagship bows, but you undoubtedly have customers who would argue that point. The new Radian is ideal for archer’s looking for a rock-solid starter bow, or especially those of small stature. The Diamond Radian give archers quality in the flagship realm combined with the ability to fit just about anyone, with room to grow. The Radian measures a compact 28 inches between the axles, weighs around 3 pounds and includes Continued from Page 40Continued on Page 442026 Flagship Bows
44 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026a 6-inch brace height. Advanced features include a caged aluminum riser, aluminum cams and stable and accurate limbs. It includes an easily-adjustable draw-weight range of 10 to 55 pounds, while accommodating draw lengths from 16.5 to 29.5 inches. It arrives set up with quality accessories (Furnace fourarrow quiver, three-pin sight and full capture arrow rest) and is capable of sending arrows at 305 fps. The sub-$400 price tag will make it appealing to many archers. Visit diamondarchery.com for more details. MISSION ARCHERY ■ The Range by Mission Archery delivers impressive 325 fps arrow speeds via its MB Switchweight Cam, at a great price just a penny short of $700. The MB Switchweight Cam allows setup for draw lengths measuring from 22 to 30 inches without a bow press. Buyers can choose draw weight sets of 30-50 or 50-70 pounds. The refined cam system produces a silky-smooth draw, that when combined with a generous 7-inch brace height make it ideal for cold treestandhunting. The maneuverable 31-inch axle-to-axle package packs plenty of accuracy-enhancing stability. The aggressively machined aluminum riser keeps carry weight to 4.06 pounds, and holds a slim ergonomic grip compatible with Mission’s Side Plates for further customization. It is available with Black, Earth and Mossy Oak Bottomland finishes. It can also be purchased with a Bowhunter Pro Kit to be ready to hunt. Visit missionarchery.com for more details. IAContinued from Page 422026 Flagship BowsDIAMONDRADIANMISSIONRANGE
46MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORTINSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026I’BY PATRICK MEITINLVL-HEDBow-Tuning Levelssights and higher performance bows demanding a finer degree of tuning to produce perfect arrow flight. Most of the bow-leveling tools I’ve utilized over the years have worked well, but did include a learning curve to reap their full potential. The patentpending LVL-HED Sight Level Tool has solved that problem to make bow tuning that much easier, without sacrificing precision. There are breakthroughs in every field so straightforward and simple that one glance has you asking, “Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?” One look at the LVL-HED while attending the recent ATA Trade Show and I knew this was such a product. The two-piece LVL-HED Sight Level Tool is a true bow-tuning breakthrough. They couldn’t be simpler, including high-quality bubble levels mounted on threaded sticks. One level screws into the standard front stabilizer tap to level the bow forward and back. The second level screws into a side/sight-window arrow-rest tap to level the bow side to side. They require just seconds to install, but then allow leveling any bow on all axis while ve done a few stints in archery pro shops in my time, but these days I find myself frequently setting up bows from scratch for my own use and while conducting Bow Reports for this magazine.I remember a time when setting up and tuning a bow involved a lot of eye-balling and what would be considered pretty primitive tools by today’s standards. Modern bows and the high-tech accessories they hold demand much more precision—and a new set of tools. Today 360-degree bow vices, laser center-shot guides and various levels have been introduced to keep pace with three-axis held in a bow vise. They are compatible with the universal taps every single bow brand and model made holds. The quality bubble levels are contained in high-quality 6065 aluminum housings, with milled threads extending to screw into their respective taps, providing precision and rugged dependability. This means unless you somehow loose them, the LVL-HED Sight Level Tool will be getting the job done for years to come. The LVL-HED Sight Level Tool makes quick work of setting up sophisticated bow sights’ 1st, 2nd and 3rd-axis settings—getting bow-sight apertures/pins square to the bow riser, square to the shooter’s eye and sight-mounted bubble levels true to the riser to eliminate left-right deviations while shooting across uneven ground or struggling with an inconsistent grip. No more clunky carpenter’s squares or trial-and-error setup. LVL-HED Sight Level Tool levels allow using standard stabilizer/rest taps engineers have gone to great lengths to make ISO/IEC 17025, Six-SIGMA Blackbelt, dead-nuts true to a bow’s riser center axis. They are 90 percent lighter than other bow levels on the market, weighing less than 125 grains. Typical bow levels snap onto the bowstring or arrow, the LVL-HED the first system to screw into the bow riser itself. The LVL-HED Sight Level Tool is a time saver for any bow technician. To learn more visit LVLHED.com. IAWebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com.
48 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 20262026ATASHOW WEEKA VISUAL REVIEW OF THE BIGGEST WEEK IN ARCHERY2024 marks the first time the annual ATA Show was held in St. Louis, Missouri, and despite the apprehensions of many, the location and Show itself proved a resounding success. The Archery Trade Association (ATA) managed to introduce renewed excitement to the 2024 event, eliminating “dealer-only” day, hosting a free dinner, introducing the first ATA Industry Icon award (received by PSE Archery’s founder Pete Shepley), allowing manufacturers to host free-beer happy hours at their booths for the first time in years, as well as other well-received events and amenities.While our nation’s current economic downturn and harsh winter weather kept many ATA members at home this year, manufacturers who did attend the Show reported taking steady orders, while attending dealers provided favorable reviews overall. The annual ATA Show was definitely the place to be in January, with a plethora of spanking new-products introduced, some new names in the archery industry appearing, and the innovation that makes attending any Show a big event continuing apace of previous years. The big ATA Show is still the place to see new product first, take advantage of Show discounts and meet face-to-face with old friends, manufacturers and archery/bowhunting celebrities.
clockwise from top left: ■ The Adee brothers Brad, left, and Jeff were on hand at the 2026 ATA Trade Show to officially launch Alien Fiber technology. Alien Majic and Mystic center and end serving promises to enhance bow performance, and will be distributed through BCY. ■ Robie Pruitt from Antler King gets a quick workout in while holding up the company’s new-for-2026, longer-lasting Kitchen Sink XL Block. It allows providing deer nutrition without frequent visits. ■ BIGshot Archery owner Al Perelli takes a break from a very busy ATA Show to enjoy the company’s interactive Video Wall. The system provides nearly countless wildlife and target scenarios. ■ Jonathan Lene, left, Bear Archery’s president, and Neil Byce, Operations Manager at the Gainesville, Florida, manufacturing facility, pose with the company’s newest compound and traditional bow offerings. ■ Olympic archery medalist Casey Kaufhold stopped by the ATA Show floor before competing in the Rushmore Rumble archery tournament that was held during show week. ■ T.R.U. Ball sales and marketing head Brandon Reyes shows off some of the snazzy finish options of the newlyunveiled Blade Fusion Pro Flex CK handheld release.MARCH 2026 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 49
clockwise from top left: ■ Arsenal has helped redefine what tree-saddle hunting is all about, their lineup expanding annually to now include saddles, foot platforms, climbing systems, hoist systems and packs. ■ Obsession Bows’ Dennis Lewis poses with two of the company’s most popular models: The Bone, left, and Mag Lite 360. Both are quick and super lightweight. ■ TenPoint Crossbow Technologies’ Phil Bednar shows off the company’s new TX Ultra 26.5 high-performance crossbow. TenPoint continues to make the fastest crossbows in the industry. ■ Old friend Steve Greenwood, general manager of Victory Archery, had two new arrows to talk about at the 2026 ATA Show—the low-profile and lightweight VLR and “tweaner” diameter Rival series. ■ Hawke Optics has become popular through a combination of fair prices and quality product. Hawke Marketing Manager Cameron Derr holds the new Frontier series binoculars. ■ Hot-Shot’s David White was rightly proud of his new Ignition handheld release. It was completely redesigned to be quieter, crisper and more versatile. ■ Joey’s Bowstrings was on hand at the 2026 ATA Show to help dealers fulfill their bowstring needs. Barry Burnett, left, shows the colors available, owner Joey Hershberger showing the company’s new Omega Pro Series bowstrings.2026 ATA SHOW50 INSIDE ARCHERY MARCH 2026