Inside Archery December 2023

www.insidearchery.com DECEMBER 2023 ®

4 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 24 34 38 50 48 36 54 52 INSIDE ARCHERY (Volume 26, #10) 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 DECEMBER 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 10 People Athens Outdoors Live Your Passion By Michaelean Pike Market Trends Gear Report Altra Arrows 166 Centrum Limited Shafts Gear Report SKB Cases iSeries Shaped Bow Case 2024 Early Release Bows By Patrick Meitin Gear Report UTRAVIEW UV Slider Sight Bow Report APA Archery Black Mamba Pro Gear Report Pine Ridge Archery Kwik Stand Tri-Pod Bow Support Hot Archery Accessories for 2024 By Kat Ainsworth Stevens 18 24 36 54 14 34

6 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 50 8 14 10 12 66 18 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 10 Inside the Industry Inside Track Show Season Enthusiasm Kinsey’s Business Blueprint Goal Setting Your ATA Insights What Makes You Click? Industry News The latest on news, events, and people in the archery industry ATA Action How the 2024 ATA Show Helps You “Be the Expert” Industry 5Q Five Questions with Paul Black from Odin’s Innovations 38 insidearchery.comOnline Exclusives Fresh content daily on social media! WebXtras: • Gear Reports: Altra Arrows 166 Centrum Limited Shafts, SKB Cases iSeries Shaped Bow Case, UTRAVIEW UV Slider Sight, and Pine Ridge Archery Kwik Stand Tri-Pod Bow Support. • Bow Report: APA Archery Black Mamba Pro. Inside Archery Digital Edition Now Inside Archery can be delivered to your door, viewed on your computer, AND on your smartphone or tablet insidearchery.com/digital Planning a 2024 Alaska Drop-Camp Bowhunt Setting Goals to Become a Better Shot on Big Game This Year Start Planning Now to Make Your Elk-Hunting Dreams Come True 54 50 48 52

INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 Show Season Enthusiasm he world has changed considerably since attending my first trade shows, way back before there was ATA and we traveled to SHOT to wade through all the gun stuff while seeking archery vendors. Way back then my attendance was fairly spotty, as it tended to interfere with January late archery Coues whitetail aspirations. As the industry gradually consumed me I lost my right to refuse. Initially I wasn’t particularly happy about this, inspired by hermit propensities compounded by sacrificing precious hunting time. Yet after just one ATA show something became apparent: those myriad face-to-face meetings made doing business so much smoother. Before digital, for instance, instead of requesting images to illustrate articles, you requested product to photograph yourself. These requests were frequently met by the common query, “Who are you again?” That was a different era, so in this age of digital and email, media links and websites, everything YouTube and Zoom and Skype, it is easy to wonder if face-to-face time is as significant as it once was. This became more pronounced during COVID, when shows were cancelled and we learned that, yes, life does go on without show season. The obvious question became, Do we really need to do this anymore? Candidly, as the Executive Editor of the leading archery trade magazine, I don’t actually see much of anything new while attending ATA. I do get to touch product for the first time, but by the time I arrive, there are few surprises—unlike olden times when each show aisle represented rousing potential. Realistically, though, this touching is essential. Touching, fiddling, adjusting, exploring that small detail you didn’t quite grasp from the press release…this is vital. This is why I truly love our hands-on Gear and Bow Reports. I’m not just reporting on products, I’m handling them, running them through the paces. All of that aside, there is just no replacing human interaction. And I’m not talking about some poor sales rep forced to repeat the same scripted demonstration yet again while pretending to actually care. My most fruitful ATA dialogues are talks about nothing more than life—hunting, mostly, but also spouses, kids, problems, triumphs, or future plans and aspirations. Discussions that occur over a couple drinks or a good meal. These are the meetings where you get to know people, to better understand what they are about. Many of these folks you will never have even the smallest amount of access to outside of that show setting. When you need something later, under short deadline or to fill a hole after someone has dropped the ball, it is those connections that make all the difference. It is the pure honesty, free of hucksterism, that helps you truly understand product and how a company functions. Archery is a people business, which means it is about relationships. So, yes, I’ll happily continue attending shows, despite the ghastly ignominies of modern airline travel, the crush of humanity—or upsetting my hunting schedule. Patrick Meitin, Executive Editor T INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE TRACK

DECEMBER 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM Inside Archery® is a publication of Apollo Creative Inc Printed in the USA. Publisher Apollo Creative Inc Executive Editor Patrick Meitin • [email protected] Associate Editor Michaelean Pike • [email protected] Copy Editor Kat Ainsworth Stevens Contributors Kat Ainsworth Stevens | Jack Borcherding Cassie Gasaway | Michaelean Pike | Kurt Smith Sales & Marketing Director Stephen Mack • [email protected] (814) 341-9313 Design & Production ER Graphics / Ed Rother • [email protected] Graphic Designer Tara Bondar Social Media Manager Jason Ashe Video Editor Marc Balistreri Account Manager Pam Ludlam • [email protected] Subscription Services & Change of Address: Inside Archery® Circulation Department Inside Archery, PO Box 986, Levittown, PA 19055-9998 Phone: (844) 862-9286 • Fax: (888) 965-9961 [email protected] Publication Office Inside Archery® / Apollo Creative Inc P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935 Phone: (719) 495-9999 • www.InsideArchery.com Inside Archery founded in 1998 by Bill and Sherry Krenz Inside Archery® Copyright © 2023 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 DECEMBER 2023 INSIDE THE INDUSTRY BUSINESS BLUEPRINT Goal Setting that is defined. A good place to start is to make our goal “grow sales.” The goal of growing sales is very broad and there are many ways to achieve sales growth. Making the goal too broad makes it hard to define how to achieve success. There are numerous ways to achieve sales growth, but with such a broad goal, you may not know where to start. Specific: “Grow crossbow sales.” Now that we know where we will get our sales growth from, we are on our way to success. Measurable ■ A Measurable goal is something that is able to be tangibly measured. You may have a goal to “be happy.” That is a great goal. How do you measure happiness? You will get many different answers to that question. Back to our example, by adding additional detail to our goal we can better measure our success. Measurable: “Grow crossbow sales by 10 percent.” Now we know the category we will focus on, and when we have achieved our goal. Achievable ■ An Achievable goal is something that is realistic. Your goal could be “grow crossbow sales by 800 percent.” That is fantastic, and congratulations to anyone who has that amount of success. For an established business, though, that level of success may be very hard to obtain. Having goals that may be unachievable are demotivating if you fall short of your goal. A goal should be tough and push you to be better, but actually within reach. Relevant ■ A Relevant goal is a goal that is related to your overall objective. If you are setting goals for your archery business, it may not be relevant s we wind down the year and hunting seasons begin to close, it’s a good time to reflect on the past years’ business and begin planning for the New Year. As a small business owner, it is easy to get caught up in the craziness of owning your own business and never take the time to properly plan for the year ahead. Goal setting is one of the best things you can do to chart the course of future business. Taking the time to set goals requires you to think about your business. This allows you to analyze what is important and keeps you moving forward in the right direction. Additionally, for employees, goals help produce buy-in and motivate your staff toward a common initiative. Involving managers or employees in goal setting has many positive effects on the culture of your business. It is important to create solid goals. In order to create goals that allow you to chart a course to success, many people create what is called S.M.A.R.T. goals. A S.M.A.R.T. goal means Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time bound. Non-Smart Goal: Have a better 2024. This goal can mean many things. If you ask 10 people what it would mean to have a better 2024, you will more than likely get 10 different answers. The explanations below will help us define this goal into one that your organization can get behind. Specific ■ A Specific goal is something A to set a company goal like “Win a state championship for the local high school football team.” Again, although that would be great, it is not a goal that will motivate your staff to work harder in your archery shop. The goal of growing your crossbow sales by 10 percent directly relates to success in your archery shop. Make sure your goals tie into the larger big picture objective. Time Bound ■ A Time Bound goal has a defined start and end date. Our sales goal is pretty good, but we can put the finishing touches on it by adding a start and end date. Our final goal is below. Final Goal: Grow crossbow sales by 10 percent in 2024. Our goal is now Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound. This allows everyone involved to clearly understand the objective and what it means to achieve success. The next step is creating implementation steps and strategies to work towards success. Every business should have three to five goals to focus on. If you have too many goals it can become overwhelming, you may find yourself making partial progress but failing to get to the finish line. Having a few well-put-together goals can really help your staff focus on what is important and what keeps your business moving forward. Go get your goals and best of luck in 2024! IA Kinsey’s is the leading distributor to the archery and outdoors industry. Carrying items from your favorite brands, in-stock and ready-to-ship, the well-established company offers domestic and international retailers a wide array of products and services. Kinsey’s also owns innovative consumer brands including Alpine Archery, BlackHeart, Fin-Finder, Elevation, and October Mountain Products. For more information, please visit KinseysInc.com Presented by

12 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 What Makes You Click? e continuously hear from ATA members about concerns over online sales having a negative impact on their retail business. That’s understandable, but gaining a better understanding of why customers shop online instead of in-store is the best way to form a strategy to handle this challenge. Taking a survey or doing market research is helpful, but let’s start by looking at your own buying habits. The odds are pretty good that you purchase products through e-commerce. So, what makes you click that “buy” button? Thinking critically about your own behaviors gives you insights into how customers think and more importantly, how you can earn more of their business. Availability ■ Many online purchases occur because you simply can’t find what you need in a store. Whether out of stock or not offered at your local retailer, your second option is doing an internet search to check availability. You can alleviate this problem for your customers by studying your POS reports. For example, know how long it will take to sell onhand inventory of a popular 350 spine arrow and when you’ll sell the most of them. That allows you to be proactive and have an order programmed for the right time. Having those arrows in stock, combined with your ability to fletch, cut, and install inserts when the customer needs them, allows you to capitalize on that sale and the customer gets what they need without waiting for an online order. INSIDE THE INDUSTRY YOUR ATA INSIGHTS W BY KURT SMITH, COURTESY OF THE ATA Price ■ While price is only one factor dictating purchases, it’s an important one. Most consumers do a fair amount of research before making a purchase of considerable size. Because of that, they know the going rate. Let’s say you need a new pair of winter boots. After days of reading reviews, you go to a store to pick them up—instant gratification! But what if you get to the store and the boots are $10 more than any website price? You’ll likely still buy the boots, as you’re already in the store. You can check fit and wear them that day, without worrying about returns. But what if the price is $50 more? That might make you think twice, and waiting a day or two for a shipment to arrive begins to hold appeal. Your customers go through the same decision-making process. Paying slightly more isn’t a big deal, especially if they enjoy the added perks of buying in person. Pay attention to every customer who points out a lower price online so you can strive to remain competitive. If you determine some products include online selling prices that are too low to make a profit, maybe you should drop that item and look for a replacement. Convenience ■ The most important factor that makes e-commerce a force is people can get what they need without taking time out of their day. It’s the advantage of online selling that simply can’t be overlooked. Being in a service-oriented industry levels the playing field. Think about buying tires. You do some research and check prices on websites. But after considering having the tires delivered, taking them to a tire shop, and figuring out how much mounting, balancing and disposal of old tires will cost, you decide to buy local because of all the additional hassle. It’s the same with archery equipment. Customers want convenience, but they also recognize when they receive trusted service from a local pro shop. If you provide excellent service and a seamless transaction, you’ll still have the upper hand in securing their support. Most customers prefer supporting local archery business when it provides ample product selection, fair prices and top-notch services. Competing for that support with e-commerce doesn’t come easily, but it can be successfully done by focusing on why customers turn to online purchases and how you can better meet those needs. To learn more, check out the “Inventory Tactics to Maximize Profits” course on ATA’s Learning Center. If pricing is more of a concern, check out “Business Operations Excellence” and the presentation on “Paths to Profitability.” Do your services stand out and bring customers seeking your help? If not, consider enrolling bow technicians in the ATA’s Bow Technician Certification program to brush up on skills and obtain credentials that show customers you are invested in offering the best possible services. As always, you can reach me at [email protected] with questions or for business advice. IA

14 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 James (Jim) Easton has passed away at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends. He was 88 years old. As a young man in the 1950s, Jim worked in his father’s archery shop by day and studied engineering at UCLA by night. Eventually, after five years at Douglas Aircraft where he worked INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS on the DC-8 jetliner, Mr. Easton returned to the family business to help make the Easton company the world’s foremost innovator of sporting goods, such as ice hockey sticks, baseball bats, and arrow shafts used at the Olympic Games and worldwide. Jim Easton’s deep involvement in the sport of archery is particularly Continued on Page 16 credited with that sport being designated as a core Olympic Games event today. Mr. Easton had seen the products he developed transform every sport into which he delved. Even after becoming president of the international governing body for archery, and a member of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Easton’s passion for excellence drove him to spend hours per week on his company’s shop floor, improving processes and rubbing elbows daily with his large staff of engineers. As president of the World Archery Federation for 16 years (1988 to 2004), Mr. Easton innovated new competition formats making archery a television-friendly sport, one of the most-watched during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Mr. Easton was elected to the International Olympic Committee in 1994. As IOC Vice-President, and as an executive board member, Mr. Easton worked hard to support the Olympic Games, having previously served as Archery Commissioner, Olympic Village Mayor, and Technology Commissioner for the highly successful 1984 Olympic Games. Mr. Easton was a board member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and served on the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Games. Mr. Easton was born in Los Angeles on July 26, 1935, son of archery BIGshot Archery Acquires Delta McKenzie Targets BIGshot Archery, LLC, has announced the acquisition of Delta McKenzie Targets—a globally recognized leader in competition-grade 3D and backyard archery targets. This merger creates the world’s largest, most innovative target line with added production capacity. BIGshot Archery is well-known as a leading supplier of innovative archery targets for all types of shooting up to and including crossbows. Delta McKenzie, a division of Easton, is best known for its broad and realistic line of 3D targets that are used in the ASA competition circuit and preferred by archery clubs everywhere. Acquiring the new company, with its world-class production facility strategically located in Iowa, will add significant production capacity to BIGshot’s fast growing and economical RealWild 3D targets, Titan foam targets, and the venerable Iron Man crossbow target line. “We want to thank the Easton and the Delta McKenzie team for their phenomenal job in developing the world’s most iconic 3D brand and for investing in the equipment needed to power the most automated target production facility in the industry,” said Al Perelli, BIGshot Archery president. “Going forward, products will be manufactured and inventoried at two state-of-the-art factories providing enhanced production and delivery capability.” Aaron Lucky, Easton president, said, “Combining BIGshot’s innovative approach to product and marketing with the manufacturing expertise of Delta McKenzie will be powerful. We know that the industry will benefit greatly for their singular focus on developing advancements in target products and manufacturing processes going forward.” “We also want to thank the Easton team for supporting the transition process and to Tony Howells, of Everlast Capital, who provided the expertise needed to facilitate the merger of two great target brands,” Perelli said. Targets will continue to be sold and marketed under the BIGshot and Delta McKenzie brand names and BIGshot will continue to be represented by MWS Associates while Delta McKenzie will continue to be represented by Summit Outdoor Sales. Through the merger transition, customers may continue to contact both companies directly through their existing phone numbers and email. | FOR MORE ON BIGSHOT TARGETS GO TO BIGSHOTTARGETS.COM. James (Jim) Easton Passes at 88

Í Largest and Most Prestigious Archery Buy Group Í Most Cost-Effective Buy Group Í Deepest Discounts for Retailers Í Easy-to-use Ordering Portal to View and Manage Sales Anywhere, Anytime Í Combined Buying Power through the Archery and Outdoor Alliance Í Partnerships with Over 250 Brands Join Us! naba-archery.com (903) 675-2233 • [email protected] Profit Margins of 60+ Points The National Archery Buyers Association (NABA) is a non-profit association of archery and bowhunting retailers that brings together a buying group of quality archery dealers with industry manufacturers to achieve the best wholesale pricing! We Have Buying Power!

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS innovators Doug and Mary Easton. Doug Easton had built a business making highly crafted, custom archery gear, popular at the time with Hollywood luminaries such as Errol Flynn. Some of Jim Easton’s earliest memories involved helping his parents and younger brother build wooden aviation map cases for WWII Allied pilots. Throughout high school, Mr. Easton was a competitive archer, taking a podium at a U.S. Nationals in the 1950s. After his return to the family business in the early 1960s, he collaborated with his younger brother, world-renowned architect Robert (Bob) Easton, to create the first aluminum ski poles. He also developed a critical part of NASA’s lunar instrumentation for the Apollo manned lunar program. Mr. Easton moved the company beyond archery into baseball and softball equipment, ice and field hockey equipment, tennis racquets, golf equipment, bicycles, and many other pursuits. But archery was always his dearest passion and pursuit. To that end, he was credited with the earliest development of carbon fiber for archery bows and arrows. He met his wife, Phyllis, while creating technical literature to advance the sport of archery. Together they created numerous books and videos documenting the history of the sport in the Olympic Games and oversaw philanthropic work benefiting UCLA and other institutions around the world. In later years, two substantial sports development foundations—created with proceeds from his archery and team sports businesses—fulfilled Mr. Easton’s interests in philanthropy. In particular, Mr. Easton built numerous world-class archery centers for the advancement and teaching of the sport throughout the United States and helped create a world level archery training center in Lausanne, Switzerland, near the IOC headquarters. Jim Easton was awarded the UCLA Medal in 2014, and made substantial contributions to UCLA, and Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Research Center, Intermountain Hospital Trauma Center, Primary Children’s Hospital and The National Ability Center. His family-owned archery companies, Hoyt Archery and Easton Technical Products, employ more than 400 workers in Utah and Indiana. Mr. Easton is survived by his wife of 29 years, Phyllis, son Greg, daughter Lynn, and three grandchildren. The family will celebrate Jim’s life at a private memorial observance. IA Continued from Page 14

18 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 How the 2024 ATA Show Helps You “Be the Expert” INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATION archerytrade.org one time with product engineers and company CEOs to ask questions and inspect products; and learn from industry experts on business, marketing, coaching, and archery tech. Your presence and participation at the ATA Show gives you the advantage over customers and nonmember competitors who aren’t privy to the information and experiences available at the ATA Show. Register today at ATAshow.com and expect to receive the following benefits when attending the ATA Show in person come January. Industry-Wide Overview ■ The ATA Show gathers around 500 exhibitors and thousands of buyers. Being present allows you to collect information about industry trends and hot topics to help you make smart business decisions. You can get a bird’s-eye view of everything on the market and network with peers from across the country to get unique ideas and perspectives while supporting the archery industry. Specific Product Knowledge ■ Attending the Show is the only way to see, touch, inspect, and evaluate thousands of archery and bowhunting products firsthand under one roof. Plus, an ATA Show badge grants you exclusive access to product engineers and brand leaders who can answer questions and share insider information about new products unavailable anywhere else. Discover what’s new at the ATA’s New Product Launch Showcase, a special display of products launched at the Show. Visit archerytrade.org/new-product-launch to learn more. Special Show-Only Deals & Pricing ■ Once you find new products released at the Show, get deals on them while you are there. Buyers can redeem the ATA Super Deal Pass and coupons in the Big Buck Tags book to save thousands of dollars at the Show. The Super Deal Pass is new for 2024. Every retailer account will receive one Super Deal Pass with a minimum value of $150 to redeem with participating exhibitors offering a special or “super” deal. And, based on member feedback from the post-Show, the ATA also brought back the Big Buck Tags coupon book (one per retailer account). The coupon book offers exclusive deals from manufacturers that are redeemable only at the ATA Show. Business Education■Partake in one or all of the ATA’s educational offerings at the A ttending the ATA Show allows you to advance your skills and product knowledge beyond that of your customers and non-member competitors. Have you ever been schooled or corrected by one of your customers? Not only is it embarrassing to “know less” than a customer, it can also hurt your reputation and credibility. Fortunately, as an ATA member you can access the ATA Show—and your customers can’t. Thanks to the internet, some customers think they know everything. But no matter how many websites and reviews they read, they can’t get the same level of knowledge and expertise as you can because they can’t attend the ATA Show (St. Louis, January 11-13, 2024). Establish yourself as a true industry expert. Avoid awkward situations and ensure you know more than your customers. Attending the ATA Show gives you the advantage with the opportunity to get firsthand experience with hundreds of products on the market; be among the first to see new products launched for the year; spend one-onBY CASSIE GASAWAY Continued on Page 20 UNITING THE INDUSTRY Attend the ATA Show to gain an edge on your competitors and customers. PHOTO © ATA. Be among the first in the industry to see, touch and inspect new products. PHOTO © ATA.

INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 ATA Show to become a more knowledgeable, well-rounded archery professional: • Archery Instructor Certifications: Earn your Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 archery instructor certification at the 2024 Show. The cost is minimal. ATA pays for the space, equipment, and instructors, saving you hundreds of dollars. Enroll now at archerytrade.org/trade-show/ retail-certification. • ATA’s Archery Industry Masterclass: Get in-depth information on business, coaching, marketing, and archery tech presented by industry experts in a Masterclass session. All Masterclass sessions are free if you attend in person and are held on January 12 and 13. Get the details at archerytrade.org/ masterclass. • ATA’s Bow Technician Certification Program: Expand your knowledge as an archery professional and enroll to become an ATAcertified bow technician. Participants must complete the online portion of the class to take the in-person practical assessment at the 2024 Show. Space is limited. Sign up today at archerytrade.org/ bow-technician-certification. • Coffee Talks: Participate in interactive discussions all three days of the Show to gather archery industry-specific intel that will help you improve your operation. See the schedule at archerytrade.org/coffee-talks. Free Events, Food, Goodies & More ■ Take advantage of free events like the ATA’s Industry Celebration, presented by Mossy Oak, the Badlands Film Festival and Outtech Innovations. Most evening events have free food, drinks, and entertainment. To see the full schedule of events, visit ATAshow.com. Attendees will also receive a free Goody Bag and one free ATA Show T-shirt per retail member account. These events and freebies provide memorable experiences and fun take-home souvenirs for attendees. Register Now for the 2024 ATA Show ■ Join the celebration of archery in St. Louis to see and test new products, network and meet company leaders face to face, get Show special pricing and discounts, and support the archery industry. Register today at ATAshow.com or through your ATA member dashboard to secure your spot at the largest archery-only trade show in the world. If you need help registering or you have questions regarding the show, please contact Sarah Haala, ATA’s Trade Show coordinator, at (507) 233-8131 or [email protected]. IA Continued from Page 18 INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION The ATA Show allows you to connect with friends and gather industry insight you can’t get anywhere else. PHOTO © ATA. Get tips and advice from your peers and discover business best practices by taking advantage of educational opportunities. PHOTO © ATA.

In-Person Shows Drive Business In-Person Shows Drive Business In-Person Shows Drive Business The NABA Show (and trade shows in general) went through uncertain times during the peak of the pandemic. There were many who were insisting that such gatherings were not only unnecessary during COVID, but that they were not necessary at all in this era of modern communication and options such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Everything, they further pointed out, is being seen and is available on the internet. In addition, some would say anything you need to learn could be accomplished by watching a YouTube video or searching Google. For instance, they don’t have shows like “HELP, I Wrecked My House” on HGTV because YouTube videos are completely effective. Having the ability to shoot the newest, latest and greatest bows this season also can’t be done from your shop if you didn’t get a visit from the sales rep. Thankfully, those days seem to be behind us and people have come to realize there is still no substitute for that face-to-face interaction and the ability to gain hands-on access of the hundreds of new products being marketed at shows. The only opportunity to meet with the upper management of a manufacturer and learn about the newest technologies can only be enjoyed by attending in-person shows. Such interaction makes you a more competent salesperson when a consumer comes into your pro shop, helps you better understand their needs and to more thoroughly highlight features and benefits that best serve specific customers’ needs. Just look at how hunting technology has changed over the past 15 to 20 years. In a business that is all about relationships, archery has always been like a family reunion, including those after-hours and meet-and-greet events hosted by various organizations, including the ability to network with new vendors. You don’t get any of that by viewing products on the internet. Plus, you don’t have the ability to chat with other retailers who saw a really good deal or the latest widget at the show. The other challenge in today’s market is that retailers are often pressured to purchase newly-released products well before show season begins, which could mean investment capital is unavailable for newly-discovered product released at the show, or the ability to take advantage of show specials being offered only by showing up in person. It could be easy to argue that the excitement of the old days are gone. Or are they? If you have been too busy to check your email during the hunting season, be sure to check out the $150 savings for one night of your hotel stay in the ATA Show Block, and the $150 savings from manufacturers through Super Deals Pass. Also, for the first time in the organization’s history, during the 2024 NABA Western Show, there will be drawings for two hunts. You must be present to win. The NABA Western Show will be held January 29 through 31 at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada—giving members the opportunity to hobnob and save through some of the best deals in the industry. Learn more by contacting Kelly Kelly, Executive Director, at [email protected] or (903) 675-2233. Brought to You by National Archery Buyers Association (NABA)

24 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 I f there is one thing that jumps out at you after speaking with Jim and Tracie Klossner, it’s that their passion for archery infuses everything they do. It’s in their obsession with engineering advanced products with superior fit and finish. It’s in their commitment to delivering top-notch customer service. It’s in their simplified, dealer-friendly programs, the culture they’ve established for their employees and their dedication to helping other archers, whether they’re Athens shooters or not. For Jim and Tracie, “Live Your Passion” is not just the tagline they chose for their bow company, Athens Archery. It’s the blueprint with which they’ve grown their business. Finding the Right Fit Jim and Tracie didn’t plan on running an archery manufacturing business, although the couple did want to own their own business. “We were working with a broker,” Tracie explained. “We had looked at a wide variety of companies. Strangely enough, a friend in the archery industry who knew we were actively looking to buy a company told us he knew of a company for sale.” That company was Athens Archery. It was a natural fit given the couple’s experience. Not only is Jim an avid target shooter and bowhunter, but he also had previous experience in the archery industry. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Jim has a background in both mechanical engineering and computer science. His work experience, coupled with his education, ensured he had the right mix of skills to run Athens Archery. As for Tracie, she is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, with 25 years’ experience as a Strategic Commodity Manager. She worked for a wide range of companies—everything from large defense contractors to very small businesses. Jim had introduced her to archery, though she had trouble imagining herself as the owner of an archery company. “I’ll be honest with you, I kept thinking, ‘We’re not going to buy an archery company,’” Tracie said. “But we flew out and met with the owners. Within a matter of months, it was done.” That was 2018. At the time, Athens—which was founded in 2009—was a small but growing bow company. “It really had a small but strong following,” Tracie said. “The people who shot Athens really loved their bows.” Although Athens produced great bows, Jim and Tracie felt there was opportunity to grow the company. Within months of the purchase, they moved Athens from its original location in Rochester, Indiana, to its current location in Rochester, New York. Innovation and Growth The Klossners began evaluating what worked and what could be improved. “Athens definitely made a high-quality product,” Tracie said. “When people picked up the bows and shot them, they didn’t put them down. As a company however, we quickly realized it really needed sales growth, it needed energy, it needed marketing. We also quickly realized that we didn’t want to change all the things that made an Athens, an Athens. We needed to invest in all new engineering. That’s really an area where Jim and his team shine. I think we’re at a point now with all the leaps and bounds we’ve made, that the company is equal to or has surpassed some in the market in the arena of technology.” “There had not been much as far as fresh technology with the brand, so we immediately set out to create that, bringing it back up to the standard of the industry and beyond,” Jim explained. “Our first major move was to start with a modular cam system. From there we moved to rotating mods, and then to where we are today with our latest release. We’re one of the first companies to come out with a one-inch-wide shorter limb in a past-parallel design on our LimbLock pocket system. The limbs have a wider stance, distinctly improving the balance and feel of the bow. It’s just been constant innovation.” BY MICHAELEAN PIKE Athens Outdoors: Live Your Passion

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26 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 That said, there was plenty that the Klossners didn’t change. “We retained the smoothness, the solid back wall and the grip that people loved,” Jim said. “There were a lot of people who raved about those qualities. We also kept the high-quality machining. Those qualities I feel are what makes an Athens, an Athens, and are critical to our lineup. To further complement this, we decided to Kolorfuse so that the finish was also of the highest quality.” “It was and still is an incredibly smooth bow,” Tracie added. “As for the machine and decoration work, we are told almost daily that our fit and finish is the best in the industry. Athens had really good machining work, but we have taken that to the next level. We hear that all the time from dealers: ‘Nobody makes a betterlooking, quality product than you do.’” Since the Klossners purchased it, Athens has experienced double-digit growth every single year, thanks in large part to its exceptional line of products. “Our Vista family of bows was probably the most popular we’ve ever produced,” Jim said. “It was an incredibly smooth bow. It was also a really big step in the progression of Athens, with the rotating module system, the pocket-locking system and the draw-stop system giving it from 70% to 90% letoff. It brought us up to par and ahead of many manufacturers that might still be using modules or draw-length specific cams. That was probably our biggest step forward.” Athens also offers target bows, like the Peak 38. “On the 2023 Peak 38, we implemented level-riser technology,” Tracie said. “Machined right into our riser are two bubble levels so a dealer or a consumer can easily set up their rest perfectly and fine-tune their second and third axis.” “It’s an innovative way to adjust for second and third axis while guaranteeing that your riser is leveled on both axis,” Jim explained. “This system guarantees perpendicularity with the riser.” But it’s not just the new technologies that have attracted attention. The look of the bows has also gotten a serious upgrade. “We developed our own camo patterns over the last few years,” Tracie said. “For example, one year we launched a pattern called Old Glory, which I wanted not only as a nod to my status as a US veteran, but also pride for the flag. Old Glory was incredibly popular. Model year 2023, we launched a camo called Conifer Grey, which is absolutely top of its class. We offer other companies’ camo patterns—many of them— but Conifer Grey is the most popular we’ve ever offered. We’ve been repeatedly asked to offer it in clothing. Conifer Grey—along with two other Athens exclusive patterns, Autumn Blaze and Spring Fever—is now licensed on some accessories.” Part of the appeal of Conifer Grey is its versatility. “We embedded four of our most popular solid colors into it,” Tracie said. “What we sell the most of are solid-colored risers with camo limbs. Because Conifer Grey is so versatile, you’ve got four different solid

DECEMBER 2023 27 INSIDEARCHERY.COM colors that you can choose for a riser (or limbs). It is drop-dead gorgeous. Designing our own patterns or camos the last few years has been incredibly rewarding and very well received.” Ensuring the bows look as good as they perform is something Tracie insists on, while Jim jokes that, if it was left to him, “I take the Henry Ford approach—you could have any color you want as long as it’s black.” But the available color and pattern options at Athens Archery are yet another thing that sets the company apart. “In 2023, we offered a total of 18 different colors,” Tracie said. “There’s something for everybody, and you can mix and match for no additional upcharge. We take it a step further to ensure there are solid colors that coordinate with whatever camo patterns are being offered that year.” An Exciting Release Athens Archery has come a long way since the Klossners purchased the company in 2018. Even so, the couple is especially excited about its new 2024 lineup. “We always listen to our customer base,” Jim said. “We try to deliver what they want, while keeping in mind what makes it easier for a dealer to set up and sell bows. So this year we came out with our own moveable cam system, the AccuTune Cam™ technology. This system does not require any kind of spacers, clips or a press, making it incredibly easy and quick to tune your bow. “It allows a dealer or customer to take a bow out of the box and, within a few shots, have it tuned to their arrow, their rest and their natural grip position. Within minutes you can have your centershot set, paper or walkback tuning done, and be out on the range or in the field, all without a press. It’s a simple Allen key adjustment.” This patented-pending technology took multiple years to perfect. “We put a lot of thought and energy into it,” Jim said. “One of the things we

28 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 strive for is to remove every bit of complexity or anything that could possibly go wrong. We want to make it as easy to use as possible. You will find this same theme in every product that we produce.” For 2024, Athens is introducing a brand-new line of bows—the Axxis series—as well as the Vail 38 target bow. “These bows are redesigned from the ground up,” Jim said. “They’re 17% stiffer than previous models. They not only have the new Accu-Tune Cam technology, but they actually have an upgraded module system on them compared to previous years. Our goal was to make it a simpler and more user-friendly system. They have a whole new profiled limb, as well as our new pocket system, the Limb-Lok 2.0 that takes our locking system a step further. It basically almost guarantees parallelism between the limbs. It’s a more stable, repeatable and consistent bow.” In addition, the company will expand the use of its new molded grip within its lineup. “We got rave reviews about our new grip,” Jim said. “That’s the main user interface to a compound bow. People touch their bow’s grip and it has to be comfortable and, more importantly, consistent. One of the things we kept from the original Athens bows was that grip that everybody absolutely loved. But some of the feedback we got was people would prefer something that was not direct on the riser. It tends to be cold in the winter, and while extremely consistent, that’s not the best feeling. People liked the fact that it was repeatable. They liked the way it felt. They told us not to get rid of that consistency, yet still provide some insulating qualities. That’s a tall ask, especially with our narrow profile grip, but we did it last year and launched it on the 2023 Elevate. People loved it!” For 2024, that grip will be standard on all Athens bows except for the new Vail 38. And while Athens isn’t coming out with a new camo pattern of its own for 2024—though fans will be happy to hear that Conifer Grey will remain in the lineup—the company has added two new camo company partners to give its customers more options. “The first new partner is TrueTimber,” Tracie said. “It’s probably the best-selling camo company worldwide. The second one is SKRE, a quickly growing camo and clothing company. We’ve worked with some smaller camo companies in the past because we want to offer choices that other companies aren’t. In the spirit of working with some of the upand-coming camo companies, we decided to partner with SKRE. We’re genuinely excited to be working with both of them.” To say that Jim and Tracie—and the entire Athens team—is excited about the 2024 lineup is an understatement. “It takes us about a year to develop the next year’s products,” Tracie said. “And by the time the products are ready, everybody here is very excited to launch. We put a lot of work into it. We’re excited every year. But this year the excitement level among the entire staff is unlike any other year. We know what we have coming out for 2024 models, and it is next-level excitement.” Apex Manufacturing Shortly after acquiring Athens Archery, Jim and Tracie decided to offer manufacturing, decoration, and light assembly services through a separate company, and Apex Manufacturing was born. “We wanted full control over the decoration services for Athens,” said Tracie. “At first, we relied on others and sometimes had to reject product. That’s time and money wasted. When you own the company and have your own staff, you train them the way you want things done. Now it runs seamlessly.” The couple credits their team for ensuring their products look good. “We have employees that are experts at what they do,” Tracie said. “I know it sounds easy, but there’s an art to it. We have a team behind us that is just wonderful.” “In previous experience I learned that decorating a product that a consumer looks closely at is far different than industrial coatings put on to protect a product from the elements,” Jim added. “It’s a different skillset and requires an eye on quality as well as understanding how the customer uses the product.” Although Apex Manufacturing does the manufacturing, decoration and assembly work for Athens, it also provides those services to other companies. “We made the decision that we wanted to be able to offer those services to others in the outdoor industry,” Tracie said. “We wanted our specialty to be other manufacturers so we had that volume and repeat business, and we wanted to focus on the outdoor industry. We’ve got a nice group of clients, but we are always looking to grow and have been flexible enough to quickly expand capacity to service additional companies.” Mountain View Products More recently, the couple decided to start a third company under the Athens Outdoors LLC umbrella: Mountain View Products. With Apex Manufacturing established, it made sense to expand on additional high-quality products. Mountain View Products turned out to be the perfect fit to add to the Athens Outdoors portfolio. “We were looking to grow into other areas of the

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30 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 outdoor arena by offering high-quality accessories,” Jim explained. The focus for Mountain View Products would be accessories that fit with most major manufacturers’ products. “We started with our X-Out limb dampener, which comes standard with Athens bows. These dampeners were designed to work with a variety of bows and crossbows. They really help to cancel vibration and noise. Then we moved into quivers, designing and developing the Altra-1 and Altra-2. We’ve had incredible success based on how close they fit to the riser and how light they are. Dealers really appreciate having additional options to offer customers.” “The Altra comes in both a one- and a two-piece quiver,” Tracie said. “I tell dealers, ‘When the tightest-fitting quiver matters.’ That sums it up.” “One of the great things about Mountain View is we offer four colors that are universally complementary to any of the other bow manufacturers or camo companies, so it doesn’t matter who you wear or what you shoot,” Tracie said. “There’s a quiver that’s going to work from a color perspective. What we really try to emphasize is that Mountain View Products is a standalone company and works with most major bow brands. You can be a Mountain View dealer and not be an Athens Archery dealer. Maybe a dealer likes their existing lineup, but they can bring Mountain View Products in because it’s going to work with whoever you’ve got hanging on your wall. That makes it a pretty easy sell for any dealer.” For 2024, the couple is focused on growing Mountain View Products and expects to launch new products to continue to expand their portfolio.

DECEMBER 2023 31 INSIDEARCHERY.COM Friendly Customer Service The Klossners pride themselves on taking care of their dealers and consumers. And for them, that means designing products and programs that make it easy for dealers to stock and sell their bows and accessories. “We do whatever it takes to make our products more dealer-friendly,” Jim said. “We want to make it easier for a dealer to get the bow, set it up, and get it out the door for their customer. Dealers are the backbone of our company, and making their jobs easier is a priority for us.” “I speak to dealers every day,” Tracie said. “Jim and I have bent over backwards to have the easiest dealer program in the industry. Period. I cannot tell you how often I hear dealers say, ‘Wow. That’s your dealer program? It’s that simple?’ Yes, it is. And that is by design. Dealers are the backbone of all of our brands, and to support them, we ensure that we have the simplest dealer program anybody will offer. We’re proud of that. I always joke that you don’t need a PhD to figure out the pricing.” If Athens customers find themselves needing support, help is just a quick phone call away. “Just as we made a conscious choice to simplify our dealer program, we made a conscious choice to offer the best customer service,” Tracie said. “And we will be the friendliest on the phone. All of our staff is given guidance on how to speak to a customer or how to speak to a dealer. We will bend over backwards to make a customer happy. We ship our parts out same or next business day. And if it’s not going to ship out next day for whatever reason, we tell the dealer why and when they will get it to make it as transparent as possible for a dealer so they can let their customer know. We strive to treat our dealers and customers the way that we would want to be treated. “It boils down to service and support. A customer or a dealer is welcome to call here at any time if they have a question. I think we shine there. No—I know we shine there.” When the Klossners purchased Athens, the company offered a lifetime fully transferrable warranty. The couple made the decision not to change that. “One of the things people were worried about when we purchased the company is the lifetime fully transferrable warranty,” Tracie said. “Some companies will offer a lifetime warranty, but for the first owner only. Our philosophy is, you either believe in your product or you don’t. With that in mind, we kept that program in place.” The company even offers the Save Your Hunt program, under which archers who have an equipment failure while on a paid hunt in the Lower 48 can contact Athens for a loaner bow—even if they’re not an Athens shooter. It all goes back to the couple’s passion for archery itself. “That’s just archers helping archers,” Tracie explained. “If we don’t all start taking

32 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 care of each other and taking care of this community, we’re not going to have this community. If you’re shooting a Brand X and you have a failure, and you’re on a paid hunt, we will absolutely help you out. That’s just being good to our community.” Incredible Growth One of the areas the Klossners chose to focus on after acquiring Athens Archery was marketing. “There is definitely an opportunity for additional marketing to get the word out on how great the Athens Outdoors brand is,” Tracie said. “We closed the gap rapidly. Inside Archery has actually been a big piece of that. Every year, we have increased our presence with Inside Archery. We’ve also partnered with multiple TV and internet media outlets. Then there’s social media. Athens Archery and Mountain View Products interact every single day on both Facebook and Instagram. All those things contribute to that double-digit growth.” While the company plans to continue to invest in marketing efforts to increase brand awareness and demand, they also view the company’s products themselves as part of that effort. “Some of that growth is purely organic,” Tracie said. “When you get one dealer, it’s awfully easy to pick up the next dealer an hour away because consumers are walking in the door asking for Athens.” “We’ve found that every bow that walks out the door turns into two bow sales,” Jim added. “They place that bow on the wall, and then they’re talking to their buddy and will say, ‘Hey, check this bow out.’ And then their buddy buys one. It’s easy to achieve rapid growth that way.” Looking Ahead Part of what makes Athens Outdoors so successful is the people behind it. “Clede Spooner is our Director of Marketing,” Tracie said. “He’s been with us since day one. Alex Lowe, our Ambassador Coordinator, has been with us from the beginning, too. Jack Coad has been with us almost as long. He’s our Events Coordinator, and attends many of the shoots where people get to try out our bows. He brings Mountain View Products now as well. Kyle Kowalke is our lead bow technician and Athens Production Supervisor. His experience ensures that when a dealer pulls a product out of a box it’s ready to go. Customers and dealers can ask him any technical questions they have. Hans Walthert has been with us since the beginning. He heads up our engineering department and works closely with Jim. Brant Gross is our Production Supervisor at Apex. He’s been with us almost from the beginning. Each of our leads are only a part of our overall team.” Obviously, most of the Athens team leads have been with company for years. There’s a reason for that. “I think our employees genuinely enjoy working here,” Tracie said. “We have virtually zero turnover. This is a great environment. The people who work for us are really passionate about what we do. They’re involved in the industry, and I think that makes a difference. We take the opening day of archery season as a holiday here at Athens. Our employees are involved in the sport as well, so what kind of archery company would we be if we didn’t give them opening day of archery season off?” When I asked the Klossners what we could expect to see from Athens Outdoors in the future, the answer was, simply, more. More innovation, more technology, more marketing efforts, more products designed with both the dealer and end user in mind. “We are going to continue to make our bows even easier for dealers,” Jim said. “You can expect to see continued technology improvements across the board. We’ve got more ideas than time in the day.” “I think you’re going to see more continued marketing,” Tracie added. “Whether it’s attending more shoots, larger shoots, more trade shows, working with other publications or more social media platforms. We’re going to grow our marketing efforts, which in turn drives our presence in the marketplace, which makes it easier for dealers to sell bows.” Dealers are definitely getting that message. “We’re seeing continued growth in our dealer base,” Jim said. “Even now when dealers are waiting to see what’s new for 2024, we’re still signing new dealers almost daily. Our dealer base continues to grow worldwide.” “We’re expanding like crazy,” Tracie agreed. Through it all, Athens Outdoors LLC remains a woman- and veteran-owned business, run by two people with a passion for all things archery. And they are confident that their products will continue to win people over. “You can pick up a Brand X bow and you can pick up an Athens, and you’re just as likely if not more likely to like the Athens better,” Tracie said. Jim added, “Once people try out all of our products, be it Athens Archery or Mountain View Products, the sale just comes naturally.” IA

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34 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT T BY PATRICK MEITIN Altra Arrows 166 Centrum Limited Shafts WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. 166 includes ultra-thin .166-inch internal dimensions, 246 standard .246-inch internal specs, with the 23 and 27 Centrum models large-diameter line cutters designed to boost target scores. Centrum 166 Limited arrows were tested here, with a hunting shaft designed to provide deep penetration and excellent wind-bucking qualities. Those .003-inch straightness specs are established with state-of-the-art measuring equipment that verifies shaft and component straightness. All Centrum shafts are weight matched to within +/- 1 grain per dozen. These arrows feature a proprietary blend of high modulus carbon fiber and No Spine Technology that means despite nock orientation, Altra Arrows provide easy tuning and exceptional consistency. The overall result is labeled The Pinnacle of Precision & Performance by Altra Arrows. Centrum 166 Limited shafts, like 166 Premier with .001-inch straightness specs, are offered in .250, .300, .350, and .400 spine ratings. These are thickwalled shafts offering penetration- and strength-boosting 11.8 (.250), 10.5 (.300), 9.4 (.350), and 8.5 (.400) grain per inch he Outdoor Group has come to represent a one-stop shop for busy archery dealers, offering cutting edge Elite Archery Bows, Custom Bow Equipment (CBE) accessories, and Scott Archery releases—plus Slick Trick and Solid broadheads, Dual Game Calls, Winners Choice Bowstrings, and Clutch Outdoors gear. To that list is now added Altra Arrows. Altra Arrows were built on a foundation of utmost accuracy comprised of high-grade carbon, top-grade components, and space-age manufacturing processes that create arrows that wring the most from any bow setup. There are four Centrum series with eight total options. Included are Centrum 166, 246, 23, and 27, each in Limited or Premier. Limited indicates +/- .003-inch straightness tolerances, Premier +/- .001-inch specs. Centrum (gpi) mass. With specs like these, the Centrum 166 series is the shaft hunters can depend on for long-range accuracy with minimal wind drift on the toughest shots and maximum penetration on the toughest big game. Altra 166 Arrows come with a precision machined A.R.C.O.S. (Altra Reinforced Concentric Outsert System) system ensuring perfect alignment while also protecting the front of the shaft from splintering following the most punishing bone impacts on game—or rocks, following a miss. The insert/outsert system is not ideal for tight bag targets; foam targets are recommended. The two piece system includes an insert pin with knurled end to ensure tight seating during assembly and more reliable adhesion, and a front O-ring to promote precision alignment. The overthe-shaft A.R.C.O.S. body includes an hourglass profile for improved aerodynamics and penetration. The body fit the shaft precisely, free of wobble even without the insert stem in place. Centrum 166 and 246 arrows can be ordered in six packs factory fletched with one grey and two white Q2i RAPT-X vanes, or raw 12-packs with all components included. Centrum 23 and 27 arrows are sold raw in 12 packs without components. Altra Arrows are positioned to compete with the best in the business, offering precision and durability serious archers and bowhunters demand. Learn more by visiting altraarrows.com. IA

ATA Booth #3615

36 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT A BY PATRICK MEITIN SKB Cases iSeries Shaped Bow Case WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. ing 55-gallon fuel barrels inside bush planes, and lashed to the floats of De Haviland Beavers. When my equipment rests inside an SKB Case, these incidents worry me very little. SKB manufactures cases you can safely use as a trampoline, their standard vacuummolded polypropylene impervious to abuse and chemicals. SKB Cases are 100 percent waterproof, made to rigid MIL-SPEC standards, and even include pressure relief valves to equalize internal pressure while flying. SKB’s iSeries Shaped Bow Case (3i4318-PL) is a bit different—it's the company’s first injection molded shaped bow case. This makes it less costly (MAP $289.99) and lighter (18 pounds, empty) compared to SKB vacuummolded designs, yet it sacrifices little in way of rugged protection while still retaining the waterproof, MIL-SPEC construction of the company’s original designs. The iSeries Shaped Bow Case will accept just about any bow on the market today, providing 17-inch wide and 41-inch-long dimensions. The interior holds four hookand-loop straps to secure bows against shifting during rough flights or transport—two each for the limb sets, two for the riser. A recess in the case floor provides stors someone who has hunted in locations as far-flung as Alaska, Mexico, Nunavut, Russia, and Zimbabwe, I’ve long appreciated a rock-solid bow case—one protecting my equipment absolutely without shedding latches, hinges, or handles while also meeting baggage weight restrictions. My 30-plus years of globetrotting bowhunting included a huge variety of cases good and dismal, shaping my unequivocal preferences. I can safely say that SKB bow cases sit at the very top of the list of my favorites. My cased bows have been intentionally stomped and kicked by antihunting baggage handlers, run over by luggage carts, piled beneath sloshage for a dozen arrows, without rubbing on bowstrings or bow finish. The lid holds two stout hook-and-loop straps designed to secure a fully loaded detachable quiver, which means arrows and broadheads are ready for instant action upon arrival. Two elastic-topped net storage pouches are designed to hold molded accessory boxes (sold separately, item 3i-0702-1) or gear such as releases, boxed broadheads or loose stabilizers. The Shaped Bow Case will be offered in Black, OD Green, Desert Tan, and as a Coyote Brown Pro Series model available only through authorized SKB retailers. You saw it here first, but this completely new bow case will be debuting at the upcoming ATA Show in St. Louis, and SHOT Show in Las Vegas, where you can see them up close. They will be available for order and shipping by mid-January. The iSeries Shaped Bow Case gives discerning customers who are otherwise on a tight budget the ability to purchase one of SKB’s nail-tough bow designs at a third to half the cost of the company’s top-tier vacuum-molded designs. As a veteran of outdoor retail, I witnessed plenty of hard-core bowhunters who nonetheless had to pinch and save to fulfill their hunting dreams. This is the case for them. For more information, please go to skbcases.com. IA

38 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 Nothing in archery creates more buzz and brings curious customers into your shop like a new crop of bow models. Some of those customers are perfectly happy with the bow they are currently shooting, but they still arrive to take a gander. Others are curious to see how bow companies could possibly top last year’s technologies, while still others are anxious to upgrade to the latest features and designs promising even the smallest gains in tuning ease, quiet shooting, shootability and performance. New bows drive shop traffic. We are sure to see more additions to the 2024 bow lineup during the opening day of the St. Louis ATA Show, but to follow are the early-release bow models that are creating the big buzz right now and bringing curious customers into bow shops across the country. Hunting Bows MATHEWS ■ Mathews’ 2024 Lift Series—in 29.5 and 33 versions—includes a new riser design that makes it much lighter and better balanced than even last year’s Phase4 series. The Lift 29.5 weighs less than 4 pounds. The revised Dual Bridge riser is hugely skeletonized and includes mounting options for Integrate or sidemount arrow rests, as well as Bridge-Lock stabilizers and sights. The lower extended Nano 740 damper pulls vibrations from the riser on multiple axis and lends

DECEMBER 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 39

40 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 the Lift exceptional balance. The riser is an inch longer than last year’s Phase4 29 model and holds shorter Resistance Phase Dampening (RPD) limbs including new top-mounted axle system to maximize the working surface area. The Lift is remarkably quiet and vibration free, and still includes Mathews’ angled Center Pivot Roller Guard that shifts the buss-cable tension point to the center of the bow for improved cam dynamics. Also included are a carbon-mounted string stop, newly refined milled aluminum limb pockets compatible with Mathews’ Silent Connect System. Also new, the Lift accommodates the company’s new Shot Sense grip, with technology designed to perfect shooting form. The refined 80 or 85 percent let-off SwitchWeight X, or SWX Cam, provides the power, offering a smooth draw cycle and solid rear wall while generating IBO arrow speeds of up to 340 fps. This cam provides draw weights ranging from 55 to 80 pounds and draw lengths from 24.5 to 30 inches on the Lift 29.5 and up to 31.5 inches on the Lift 33 while maximizing performance at every setting. Look for it in nine solid and camo finishes, and new Fade-to-Black series finishes. Learn more by visiting mathewsinc.com. BEAR ARCHERY ■ The Persist, Bear Archery’s 2024 flagship bow, holds a multitude of bowhunter-friendly features that make it quieter and more hunting efficient. The Persist is equipped with through-the-riser orbital dampeners beneath each limb pocket, KillerWave limb silencers, a string-stop system set on carbon and including additional dampening technology, and the all-new silent arrow shelf to eliminate arow clicks. It includes effective long-riser/short-parallel-limb geometry and rugged milled-aluminum limb pockets. The riser includes Integrate and side-mount rest options, a Picatinny sight rail, and a riser-embedded bubble level for faster, easier 2nd axis setup. An integrated wrist sling with set screw streamlines that connection and allows removing the stabilizer for storage or travel without dislodging the sling. An integrated top hanging loop made from stiff rope covered with Bear-logoed heatshrink provides a convenient attachment point for a treestand haul rope. The proven EKO Cam offers draw length settings from 25 to 30 inches in ¼-inch increments, and let-off options of 75, 80, 85 or 90 percent in a single bow, while maintaining top performance at every setting. The EKO is a self-synchronizing, threetrack system with helix center take-up that shifts load weight to the middle of the axle to reduce torque, cam lean, and stress on the limbs, axle and the sealed bearings. The slim synthetic grip and 2 ¾-inch-wide split Gordan limbs eliminate torque and provide consistent stability, combined with Bear’s Swing-Arm Cable Management system that helps remove lateral riser torque. The 31-inch Persist includes a 6.5-inch brace height. Learn more by visiting beararchery.com. HOYT ■ Hoyt led the carbon compound bow revolution and continues to lead the pack with the 2024 Carbon RX-8 Series, including the 30-inch RX-8 and 34.688-inch RX-8 Ultra. Hoyt carbon bows are notoriously warm to the touch, super-stout, lightweight and quiet. Hoyt has also announced shorter lead times for 2024. The shorter RX-8 includes an IBO speed rating of 342 fps to the RX-8 Ultra’s 332 fps. And while the 6 1/8-inch braced RX-8 weighs 4 pounds, the 7 1/16-inch braced RX-8 Ultra hits the scales at 4.4 pounds. Three mods sets allow 25- to 26-inch, 26.25- to 28-inch and 28.25- to 30-inch draw lengths in the RX-8, or 27- to 28-inch, 28.25- to 30- and 30.25- to 32-inch in the RX-8 Ultra, to maintain top performance at every setting. Draw weight spans of 40-50, 50-60, 55-65, 60-70 and 70-80 pounds are served. Hoyt’s HBX Xact Cam allows draw length adjustments in ¼-inch increments and provides a buttery-smooth draw cycle. Options include X-hard and hard wall options, and 75, 80, or 85 percent let-off. The riser includes an integrated kickstand to keep this bow out of the dirt and protect strings from wear, and the VitalPoint Grip has been deemed the most comfortable Hoyt grip to date. It’s made from Versaflex material to offer the ultimate comfort in all condiMathews Lift Bear Persist Hoyt Carbon RX-8

DECEMBER 2023 41 INSIDEARCHERY.COM tions and is designed to create the optimal angle to deliver consistent hand placement and easier accuracy. New WireWRX Bow Strings are designed as a part to these bows and hold Holeshot V2 Silencers that reduce string vibration by 25 percent. RX-8 bows become even stealthier when accessorized with Hoyt In-Line accessories, which also provide streamlined integration. On the aluminum-riser side, don’t forget to check out the 2024 Alpha X 30 and 33. Learn more by visiting hoyt.com. ELITE ARCHERY ■ The Ethos is one of Elite’s two top bows for 2024 (alongside the Kairos), a sweet-shooting, high-performance hunting bow achieving arrow speeds of up to 340 fps through a forgiving 6.75-inch brace height. The 33-inch Ethos includes wide adjustability and the ability to customize for any setup a customer prefers. It features Elite’s proven and comfortable grip, S.E.T. Technology and the efficient SP Cam Elite Ethos Athens Axxis Prime RVX Seeries

42 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 with 3rd generation V3 Performance mods that allow precise ¼-inch draw length adjustments between 25.5 and 31 inches, variable let-off anywhere inside 70 to 90 percent via a sliding stop, and a rear wall adjustable from soft to hard. The perfectly synchronized SP Cam optimizes efficiencies while providing a pleasant draw cycle. The Ethos ships with Performance Mods, though Smooth and 75 percent Mods can also be ordered. S.E.T. (Simplified. Exact. Tuning.) allows faster more precise tuning to eliminate arrow kicks and bobbles by adjusting tension on individual limbs at the limb pocket, without involving a bow press. Limbs have been set wider than past models and the dualcaged riser has been further refined to provide a rock-steady shooting platform that promotes faster target acquisition and more confident aiming. Silence and a vibration-free shooting experience are introduced through Delta VRT and VibeX & Vibration Reduction Technology (VRT) dampeners, while the Precision Grip offers repeatable hand placement by including a narrower throat and wider base. Options include 40-, 50-, 60-, 65-, 70-, and 75-pound peak draw weights, and left- or right-hand models. Learn more by visiting elitearchery.com. ATHENS ARCHERY ■ The 2024 Axxis series from Athens includes 31, 33, and 35 options, all including new patent-pending Accu-Tune Cam Technology. This allows precise lateral Allen-wrench cam adjustments without a bow press. The RT-X Rotating Cam Gen 3 comes with 70 to 90 percent let-off capabilities and draw lengths can be made without a bow press. The 31- inch, 4.4-pound Axxis 31 includes a 7-inch brace height and pushes arrows up to 335 fps. The new cam system allows draw length adjustments from 25 to 31 inches in ½-inch increments, while peak draw weights from 40 to 80 pounds can be ordered (including 65-pound peak options). The lighter Limb-Lok 2.0 pocket system creates more stability through additional alignment features of the 1-inch split limbs for maximum stability and performance. The riser holds a low profile molded grip, Picatinny sight mounting rail and Integrate rest mounting dovetail. The TCS Tunable Cable System Roller Guard reduces torque, and silence is enhanced by Mountain View Products X-Out Limb Dampeners. Fifteen durable Kolorfusion finish options are offered, including new Athens Conifer Grey, TrueTimber Strata, SKRE Solace, Mallard, Hummingbird, and Green Winged Teal. Other Axxis series bows share these features, but with differing spec options. The Axxis 33 includes a 33-inch axle-toaxle length, 7-inch brace height and weighs 4.4 pounds. It produces IBO arrow speeds of up to 330 fps. Draw length options span 25.5 to 31.5 inches. The Axxis 35 measures 35 inches between the axles, includes a 7-inch brace and weighs 4.7 pounds. It accommodates draw lengths between 26 and 32 inches and includes arrow speed ratings up to 325 fps. Learn more by visiting athensarchery.com. PRIME ARCHERY ■ Prime Archery by G5 Outdoors introduced the all-new RVX series for 2024, including the RVX 32, 34, and 36 with corresponding axle-to-axle specs. Prime engineers call this the company’s most tunable and accurate bow to date, including super-level nock travel, efficiency, and an incredibly smooth draw cycle. Quik Tune technology allows the cam to be shifted left or right in a precise, straight forward manner without removing the axles. Let-off is adjustable from 75 to 85 percent and drawlength settings are conducted in ¼-inch increments. The Prime RVX features a center grip riser including Swerve Technology, which helps control riser torque, makes aiming more automatic and lends the series exceptional in-hand stability. Prime’s NASA-formulated Aero-Gel Nano-Grip protects hands from cold risers in winter weather. Picatinny sight and Integrate rest mounting are now incorporated, these mounting options machined directly into the RVX riser. Recon Grey, Morel, Ridge Rock, Black, Asio Camo, SoloHntr Camo, Firstlite Specter, Sitka Subalpine, Kings XK7, Ridge Rock Bowtech CORE SR PSE Nock 30 ES APA Black Mamba Pro

DECEMBER 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 43 Scar, Morel Scar, Hammered Grey, Hammered Penny, Prism, Deep Red, Midnight Blue, GFade SubAlpine, and GFade Kings XK7 finishes are available. The RVX 32 provides 340 fps IBO speeds, a 6.25-inch brace height, weighs 4.4 pounds and allows draw weights from 26 to 30 inches. The RVX 34 includes a 342 fps IBO speed rating, 6.25-inch brace, weighs 4.5 pounds, while allowing draw lengths from 26.5 to 30.5 inches. Finally, the RVX 36 provides 332 fps IBO arrow speeds, a forgiving 6.75-inch brace height, weighs 4.6 pounds and allows draw lengths from 27.5 to 31.5 inches. All of these models are offered with peak draw weights from 40 to 80 pounds. Learn more by visiting g5prime.com. APA ARCHERY ■ The 2024 Black Mamba Pro offers the blazing speed and hardhitting energy delivery customers have come to expect from APA. It also provides trademark APA features like their handy Carry Handle, Riser Fang, Tool Center, Cam Lock Technology (which doubles as a center-shot gauge), Nocking Point Alignment Zone and Direct Mount Sling that create more convenience and independence. APA’s ultra-thin Twin Flex Limbs with Torque Free Limb Anchor drop-away activation cord tie-off points, highly adjustable dual-cam system with XS Tune Modules and rotating draw stops, and Micro Tune system are still in place. Rubberized Soft Touch Armour finish, a carbon-mounted string stop and LimbSaver Broadband limb silencers still provide hunting stealth. This bow is also compatible with APA’s Integrated Bow Winch, released last year. What sets the 2024 Black Mamba Pro apart are three new Pro-Connect Technology features. Pro-Connect Sight Mounting provides deeply recessed mounting taps and front and rear dovetail bar tracks to move popular dovetail sights and bulky mounting blocks into the middle of the riser for a more streamlined fit and superior, true center riser balance. Two Pro-Connect Stabilizer mounts—one just above the lower limb pocket and another in the standard position—include quick-detach threaded barrels allowing a partial turn of the stabilizer for instant removal while casing the bow. Finally, APA incorporated a ProConnect Sling, including QD-style sling swivels and milled detent-ring plug-ins. The 3.9-pound bow measures 31 ½ inches between the axles and generates IBO arrow speeds of up to 360 fps. Learn more by visiting apaarchery.com. PSE ARCHERY ■ Leveraging off the success of last year’s remarkable Mach 34, PSE engineers have devised the more compact Mach 30 DS for 2024. This model takes the lightweight, warm-to-thetouch, and ultra-rigid carbon monocoque riser construction of the Mach 34 and makes it more maneuverable and lightweight. The Mach 30 DS, unsurprisingly, measures 30 inches between the axles and weighs a touch more than

44 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 3.5 pounds. PSE also provides customers with another version of essentially the same bow but with a ES cam system, the Nock 30 ES. The Nock 30 ES, inspired by John Dudley and Nock-On TV, includes PSE’s EZ.220 tuning system for faster, no-bow-press tuning, accommodates draw lengths from 27 to 31 inches, and produces arrow speed ratings of up to 342 fps. Other features include a 6-inch brace height, 80 to 90 percent let-off and 50- to 80-pound peak draw weights. Learn more by visiting psearchery.com. BOWTECH ■ Bowtech’s 2024 CORE SR is packed with useful features and excellent performance. Through-the-riser, CenterMass Technology precisely aligns the sight to optimize stability and streamline the connection. The DeadLock Technology cam/axle system offers one of the quickest and simplest ways to achieve clean arrow flight and downrange accuracy, while the TimeLock cam system allows for quick draw-stop adjustments via an Allen wrench, and with no bow press required. Everything is tied together with proven DualLock limb pockets, while GripLock includes a top-hinged grip design that allows custom positioning for grip angle to fine-tune feel and draw-length. The CORE SR is Bowtech’s 2024 speed bow, pushing arrows to 344 fps through a 6-inch brace height. It uses Bowtech’s Synchronized Binary Cam System with Flip Disc Technology and rotating mods. Silence and vibration control are provided by the torque-squelching FLX Guard and Orbit Dampeners. The CORE SR weighs 4.5 pounds and measures a steady 33 inches between the axles. A single bow will accommodate draw lengths from 25 to 30 inches, and they can be ordered with peak draw weights of 50, 60 or 70 pounds. Learn more by visiting bowtecharchery.com. DARTON ARCHERY ■ The new Sequel 33 by Darton was based on last year’s Sequel 31, offering a longer, more forgiving version of that smooth, comfortable, performance-driven model. The all-new pre-stressed forged 7075 T6-6511 aluminum riser is ultra-stout, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing and super quiet. Darton’s new BBS Dual Sync Cams with rotating modules were engineered for smooth draw cycles and more comfortable shooting, especially in cold weather. They are milled from 7075 grade aluminum and set on ¼-inch axles with 5/8-inch sealed bearings to be precise and extra reliable. Draw lengths from 26 to 31.5 inches and let-off from 80 to 87 percent are possible in a single bow. BCY 452X Natural Bowstring are part of the package. The new .870-inchwide limbs and pocket system create exceptional stability, speed and a vibration-free shooting experience. Actual arrow speeds of 335 fps are stated for this 33 1/16-inch, 4.65-pound bow. Other features include Integrate rest mounting, Darton’s proven grip angle, a roller guard buss cable management system, and a new torque-killing buss cable yolk system. Everything is manufactured and assembled to precision tolerances to Mathews Prima Athens Vail 38 Hoyt Stratos Mathews TITLE Series Darton Sequel 33

DECEMBER 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 45 boost accuracy. Left- and right-hand versions are available in 50-, 60- and 70-pound peak draw weighs. Learn more by visiting dartonarchery.com. Target Bows MATHEWS ■ The 2024 Mathews TITLE series, including 36 and 38 models, was engineered to uncompromising standards to provide unsurpassed target accuracy. TITLE bows are equipped with all-new Bridge-Lock Carbon Targets Bars, SwitchWeight Cams and MATCH Bowstrings, resulting in the most accurate competition system yet from Mathews. Mathews invested years of research, plus collaboration with some of the world’s best shooters to assemble a remarkable array of innovations to the riser design, limbs, cams, bars and new strings and cables. The 4.49-pound TITLE 36 includes an axle-to-axle spec of 36 inches, 6.5-inch brace height and 333 fps IBO speed rating. They are available in peak draw weights of 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 pounds, draw lengths of 25 through 30.5 inches and with 70, 75, or 80 percent let-off. The 4.56-pound TITLE 38 measures 38 inches between the axles and includes a 7-inch brace height which provides a 330 fps IBO speed rating. The same peak draw weights and let-off ratings apply, with draw lengths from 26 to 31.5 inches offered. SwitchWeight with Perimeter Weight Technology are programmed to deliver maximum efficiency and an ultra-smooth Bear Legend XR Elite Allure

draw cycle with a solid, locked-in rear wall. The Anchor Weight System optimizes the TITLE’s center of gravity by shifting bow weight below the grip. This includes 8 ounces of solid brass, and the system is removable/adjustable to find that perfect feel. MATCH bowstrings are built on proprietary equipment to perform better and last longer. Learn more by visiting mathewsinc.com. HOYT ■ Hoyt’s 2024 Stratos series include 36 (36 ½ inches axle to axle, 4.5 pounds, 7 3/8-inch brace height HBT/7-inch SVX cams) and 40 (40 5/8 inches, 4.9 pounds, 7 1/16 inches HBT/7-inch SVX cams) models offered with two different cam systems. All-new HBT Cams include more adjustment options than any other Hoyt system before, allowing draw length settings in ¼-inch increments, 65, 70, or 75 percent let-off and a firm or soft rear wall all in one bow. Four module options produce draw lengths from 24.25 to 31 inches in the Stratos 36, and 25.25 to 33 inches in the Stratos 40. High-performance SVX cams hold interchangeable modules for increased efficiencies and arrow speeds up to 332 fps while also providing a hard wall. In the 36 draw lengths from 23.5 to 31 inches are accommodated, and 24.5 to 32 inches in the 40. Draw weight ranges of 30-40, 40-50, 45-55, 50-60, 55-65, and 60-70 pounds are offered. The Stratos’ updated riser geometry optimizes the center of gravity, and Hoyt’s proven modular grip system is incorporated. The new Hoyt Shoot-Thru TEC risers are ultra-stiff and consistent and include a more forgiving design including neutral geometry that shifts center-of-gravity over the shooter’s hand to accentuate stability. Integrate rest mounting is standard and five Cerakote and two powder coat finishes are available. Hoyt’s patented Modular Grip System allows selecting a grip 0, +4 or +8 degree angle and standard or +1/8- inch height to fine-tune draw length to preferences. Shooters can expect arrow speeds from 318 to 332 fps. Learn more by visiting hoyt.com. ATHENS ARCHERY ■ Athens’ Vail 38 for 2024 was engineered to produce top performance and target accuracy. Like the 2024 Axxis series, the Vail 38 includes Athens’ new Accu-Tune Cam Technology to give target shooters precision lateral tuning abilities that produce higher scores. A bow press is not needed to conduct adjustments. The 38-inch Vail 38 weighs 4.7 pounds and is capable of sending arrows up to 325 fps despite its highly-forgiving 7.5-inch brace height. The Veil 38’s RT-X3 Rotating Cam Gen 3 allows draw length adjustments from 28 to 34 inches and setting up for 70 to 90 percent let-off through the large-surface draw stop and firmer rear-wall feel. Draw weight options of 40, 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 pounds are offered. Other features include rock solid Limb-

DECEMBER 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM Lok 2.0 limb pocket system, which provides additional alignment features to balance limb load and in a lighter package. One-inch split limbs, a low profile molded grip, Picatinny sight and Integrate rest mounting options, Athens’ TCS Tunable Cable System Roller Guard and Mountain View Products X-Out Limb Dampeners are also incorporated. Level Riser Technology embeds levels directly into the riser to make establishing 2nd and 3rd axis faster and easier while installing sights, without introducing the variables inherent to other level mounting systems. Left- and righthand options are available, and Veil 38 bows should be shipping by the time this issue drops. Learn more by visiting athensarchery.com. Youth & Women's Bows MATHEWS ■ Mathews’ Prima was created especially for women bowhunters, weighing a feathery 3.93 pounds and including a tidy 30-inch axle-to-axle spec and 5 ½-inch brace height. The Prima is powered by Mathews’ proven Crosscentric Cam, which provides a silky-smooth draw cycle and consistent accuracy, while delivering best-inclass performance, hitting up to 321 fps at a 27.5-inch draw length. This version handles draw lengths from 21.5 to 27.5 inches and provides an 80 percent letoff. The patent-pending CenterGuard cable containment system equalizes buss cable tension to maximize cam timing and ensures ample vane clearance. Hunting silence and vibrationfree shooting is aided by the extended Nano 740 lower dampener, which also improves balance. The Engage Grip promotes consistent hand placement to reduce torque and improve shooting consistency. Most of Mathews’ standard finish options are offered, plus peak draw weights of 40, 50, and 60 pounds. See mathewsinc.com to learn more. BEAR ARCHERY ■ With a massive 14 to 70-pound draw weight and 18- to 31- inch draw length adjustability, the Bear Archery Legend XR makes the perfect bow for growing archers or those on a budget but seeking respectable performance. This is the latest addition of the Legend lineup, offering 32-inch axleto-axle specs and a smooth-drawing hybrid cam compound bow delivering impressive 320 fps performance (at highest draw weight and longest draw length). The XR Cam includes an 85 percent let-off combined with a 6 ¼-inch brace height to provide forgiveness and comfort while shooting. Best of all, the Legend XR retails for just $459.99. Look for it in Fred Bear Camo, Mossy Oak Bottomland, Olive, Throwback Green, Stone and Veil Whitetail finishes, and left- or right-handed versions. This bow is also offered in a fully-equipped Ready To Hunt (RTH) version. See beararchery.com to learn more. ELITE ARCHERY ■ The 2024 Allure by Elite was designed for serious women bowhunters, providing remarkable performance in this bow class (23 to 28.5 inches draw lengths). The 31-inch, 4-pound Allure includes Elite flagship features, such as Elite’s Precision Grip and S.E.T. Technology. The efficient SPX Cam is set up with V3 smooth mods while providing draw weights and lengths to fit smaller-framed shooters and generating quick arrow speeds through a 6.25- inch brace height. The SPX Cam with V3 modules makes it easy to create an exact holding weight, ¼-inch draw length increments and back wall preference desired. Gen-3 Versa Smooth mods allow setting up let-off within 70 to 90 percent, with Performance and 75 percent mods also available. S.E.T. Technology allows dialing out tuning imperfections at the limb pockets, and the wider limb stance provides incredible stability. New Delta VRT and VibeX & Vibration Reduction Technology (VRT) soak up riser vibrations and quiets every shot, while Elite’s Precision Grip fits like a glove. Look for it in 40-, 50-, and 60-pound peak draw weights and left- or righthand models. See elitearchery.com to learn more. IA

48 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT L BY PATRICK MEITIN UTRAVIEW UV Slider Sight WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. What initially struck me was the UV Slider’s incredible ergonomics and feathery mass. Upon further investigation I discovered advanced features carefully engineered to make end users’ lives easier. The UV Slider is a sleeker, smoother mover sight including patented technologies that provide precision and intuitive operation. DualDial ergonomics are at its heart, including concentric dial geometry with zero backlash and optimized gear ratio for fast, effortless yardage settings through a single turn of the dial. DualDial technology allows locking/unlocking both elevation and windage controls with easy-to-reach locking levers. TripleMark creates a unified pin/indicator pairing for each aiming point, also making every pin a floating pin for precision shot placement. The colored indicator pins are ultra-fine and ride close to the yardage tape for increased precision. QuickBreak technology allows for effortless sight and scope breakdown from the vertical rail, making cleaning away moisture or dust easy. The UV Slider holds ULTRAVIEW’s optimized UV3XLTM Slider Edition scope assembly, which includes an integrated/ removable light cartridge providing variable pin brightness. This patented UV Cartridge system allows effortless pinike many archery companies, the fellows at ULTRAVIEW were not really looking to get into business so much as seeking solutions to reoccurring problems with their target-scope illumination systems. This resulted in their truly innovative light-kit system, and more recently an incredible refinement of the moversight approach. Three generations in, ULTRAVIEW introduces the UV Slider— designed to create the ultimate bowhunting sight. Unpacking the UV Slider revealed an aesthetically pleasing product, but also spare parts for every aspect of the sight’s makeup, including spare batteries and a bubble level. The UV Slider also comes with UV3XL SETM 140-yard sight tapes, compact padded case, spare White Viz Ring, no-light cap, and preinstalled batteries. count and pin-size modifications—without adjusting sight marks—and various pin brightness and pin and bubble-level lighting combinations. The lighting system is controlled with three top buttons and is 100 percent waterproof. Twin Sight Tapes create highly visible yardage marks on both sides of the sight. The UV Slider emerges from the box with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd axis pre-aligned, the latter two micro adjustable and including tactile, spring-assisted feedback for faster setup. ULTRAVIEW’s AntiBacklash mover system is silky smooth and moves to the desired mark precisely and positively, guaranteeing precision, smooth operation, and reliability. The sight includes a Bridge-Lock compatible extension bar, or a side-mount block can be chosen for conventional attachment. A Picatinny-mount version is also offered. Each mounting option has been specially designed to offer optimal center-of-gravity and in-line balance to promote stability and minimize vibrations. Depending on which option is chosen, weight is from 12.3 to 12.5 ounces. This is an incredible sight including impressive engineering and user logic—so much so, I tagged one of my better Idaho whitetails after it had been installed just two weeks. That was a tense spot-and-stalk affair in cascading rain, but the UV Slider was up to the task in every way. IA

50 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2023 MARKET TRENDS BOW REPORT APA’s ultra-quick two-cam system is easily tuned through the Micro-Tune System. This roller-equipped cable management system allows adjusting tension on buss cables to bring cams into synchronization. The Black Mamba Pro includes Pro-Connect Sight Mounting, which moves the mounting block and bar of popular dovetail sights into the center of the riser for improved balance. APA’s trademark Tool Center provides a carbide knife sharpener, broadhead wrench, nocking indexing tool and Cam Lock pin, built right into the riser. PA Archery bows stand out through several trademark features designed to create more efficient and independent archers. Shooting several APA models to date has also revealed some of the fastest arrow velocities in the industry. The company achieves this with the only remaining twocam system made, an infinitely adjustable design that solves the inherent difficulties that approach once posed. Trademark features include their Carry Handle, a riser bridge set to the outside of the grip to stiffen the riser, improve balance, and provide a handy carry point. The top Riser Fang offers an integrated hook allowing hanging the bow from any handy limb. And of course, there is APA’s Tool Center, incorporated into the riser below the grip, providing a convenient carbide knife sharpener, broadhead wrench, nock indexing tool, and Cam Lock pin held in place with a wing-head screw. Holes through the front edge of the cams allow for partially drawing the bow, inserting the Cam Lock pin, and letting down so it wedges against the limb to remove tension from the bowstring and buss cables for easy string replacement or accessory instillation. This pin also includes a center-shot mark, plugging the pin into an arrow shelf orifice allowing quick rest adjustments and setup. Additionally, the sight window includes Nocking Point Alignment Zone hash marks that extend through the Carry Handle to further aid in rest setup and adjustments. It’s all about that built-in independence referred to earlier. APA’s Direct Mount Wrist Sling is now being imitated by others, but APA was the first to introduce this nifty feature. A cut-out behind and below the grip accepts a rope or braided wrist sling, anchored to the desired position with a set screw. The system is streamlined and allows removing the stabilizer for travel or storage without upsetting the sling. APA provides a top riser tap to accept an optional Camera Mount to allow self-filming the hunt, there is a handpositioning reference groove, and MultiPosition Balancer (MPB) plug-in points with set screws are provided. I can safely say APA’s Twin Flex Limbs are the narrowest in the industry, and include engineering allowing them to flex through their entire length for maximum efficiency and energy transfer. The Torque Free Limb Anchor system provides tabs to accept drop-away rest activation cords, making tie-off more streamlined and balanced. Black Mamba bows maintain an impressive degree of hunting stealth through an ultra-stiff riser and parallel limbs, but the riser is also treated to a rubberized Soft Touch Armour finish, introducing enhanced vibration dampening and providing a nonslip grip. A carbon-mounted string stop and LimbSaver Broadband limb silencers are standard equipment. Those aforementioned MPB modules can A BY PATRICK MEITIN be added to multiple positions on all Black Mamba bows to personalize balance and provide additional dampening qualities. More APA Genius ■ In addition to these unique APA traits, the company introduced three additional ingenious features to create more convenience and streamlining within the 2024 Black Mamba Pro Series. The Black Mamba Pro is equipped with Pro-Connect Technology, three exclusive new features helping further streamline and balance this advanced bow. I first noticed the dual Pro-Connect Stabilizer mounts. These include integrated round slots accepting floating barrels that create a quick-detach system. The barrels can be locked from the sides with hex-head screws to act as standard taps or left freefloating to create a quick detach option. The test bow arrived with a stubby rubber dampener installed in the ProConnect Stabilizer mount directly above the lower limb pocket, another QD attachment point located in the standard position. This allows finding an ideal mix-and-match stabilizer balance. I next noticed the Pro-Connect sight mounting feature. This consists of three sets of sight taps recessed deep into the sight window with tracks cut into the riser’s front and rear edges. This allows securing the chunky mounting block of popular dovetail sights (like the HHA Sport Tertra added) closer to the center of the riser, the recessed tracks allowing the extension bar to feed through the bolted mounting block. This shifts the entire sight, particularly the side-mount block, closer to the true center of the bow riser for a sleeker and more balanced connection. APA also introduced an exclusive ProAPA Archery Black Mamba Pro