www.insidearchery.com MAY 2023 ®
4 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 24 26 12 36 38 48 40 52 54 50 56 64 INSIDE ARCHERY (Volume 26, #4) 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 MAY 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 4 People Power of Participation ■ David Merrill | Bow Spider ■ Patrick Meitin | Inside Archery ■ Jordan Cofta | The Outdoor Group ■ Jeff Neiball | NDesigns ■ Chad Baily | Bear Archery ■ Marty Cecil | B3 Archery Killer Food Plots Building on a Legacy By Michaelean Pike Market Trends New & Notable Archery products with strong sales potential Gear Report Pine Ridge Big Gripper Arrow Puller Gear Report CBE Defy Micro Arrow Rest Sight & Rests Customers Want in 2023 By Jack Borcherding Gear Report Morrell Yellow Jacket Kinetic X 500 FPS Gear Report TargetTack Bow Report Elite Archery 2023 Era Gear Report Maverick Hunting XL Blind Competition Target Shooting Gear Competitive gear available to professional archers this year By Josh Honeycutt Gear Report Victory Archery RIP Series 26 36 56 40 48 54
6 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 64 8 14 10 66 16 22 18 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 4 24 Inside the Industry Inside Track Introduce Kids to Archery Kinsey’s Business Blueprint Hosting a Community Event Your ATA Insights Spotting Trends By Kurt Smith / ATA Industry News The latest on news, events, and people in the archery industry Inside Retailing Coyote Creek Archery ATA Action 3.7 Million Bowhunters in America By Cassie Gasaway / ATA Industry 5Q Five Questions with James and Barbara McGovern from Rinehart Targets. 40 50 52 insidearchery.comOnline Exclusives Fresh content daily on social media! WebXtras: Gear Reports: Pine Ridge Big Gripper Arrow Puller, CBE Defy Micro Arrow Rest, Morrell Yellow Jacket Kinetic X 500 FPS, TargetTack, Maverick Hunting XL Blind, and Victory Archery RIP Series. Bow Reports: Elite Archery 2023 Era. 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 PART 1 Getting the Range Honing eyeball range-judging skills PART 2 Advanced Ranging Get the most out of your laser rangefinder PART 3 Extending Range Extend your maximum effective range PART 4 Long Range Gear Best equipment for longer yardage WebXtras Special Series • Taking Archery to the Next Level
INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 Introduce Kids to Archery hough just seven years old at the time, I remember the first time I released an arrow as vividly as selling my first magazine article or my wedding day. It was a seminal moment that irrevocably changed my life trajectory. Shooting a bow in that dusty YMCA basement made a permanent impression that would not fade. I immediately set out to save enough money to buy my own archery set— and convince my non-hunting parents I could be trusted to wield it safely. I shot that cheap fiberglass recurve until my fingers literally developed blisters, and then I shot it some more. By year’s end I’d shot my first bowhunting trophy, a cottontail rabbit. Given three more years, I tagged my first archery deer, a desert mule deer buck. My life was forever changed. Many early friends joined me in chasing rabbits or bowfishing carp with our cheap bows and arrows. A few even bowhunted the scanty desert mule deer residing in the parched desert hills of Eastern New Mexico—with varying results. Very few stuck with it into adulthood, finding other inane things to occupy their time, like golf or obsessive lawncare. Throughout life I traveled widely, always on a shoestring and on my own terms, tagging first most of the common North American big game species: various deer subspecies, Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain elk, pronghorn, black bears, javelina and such. Eventually I graduated to caribou from several tribes, mountain goats and moose and brown bears, which in turn prepared me for African plains game and Cape buffalo. Bowhunting and archery have been very good to me and have made life more than a little interesting. For that reason alone, I am adamant about sharing my passions with others. Introducing a youngster to archery and watching that initial spark of primal awakening brings back fond memories, allows me to relive my own youth and all the wonderful moments I have enjoyed through archery. I have given away more bows than I can recall, spent an embarrassing amount of time on eBay seeking that just-right kids bow to reward a deserving shooter who has been bitten hard by the archery bug. I have complicated many weekends, herding gaggles of enthusiastic pee-wee and youth archers around local 3D courses. Watching the pure joy that accompanies winning a 3D metal or trophy, or simply centering the 10-ring on a challenging target, makes it all worthwhile. This is our future, and the future of archery. I am convinced archery helps to produce better adjusted kids, and by extension more productive teens and young adults. A passion for archery provides important life lessons such as patience, setting goals and striving for something better. Introduce a kid to archery, give an interested youngster an old bow, take them shooting—and support organizations such as USA Archery, National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD), Scholastic 3D Archery (S3DA), and others. Help make the world a better place. Patrick Meitin, Executive Editor T INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE TRACK
MAY 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 Jack Borcherding | Cassie Gasaway Josh Honeycutt | 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 MAY 2023 INSIDE THE INDUSTRY BUSINESS BLUEPRINT Target New Customers How Hosting a Community Event Can Grow Your Archery Business your event. At the end of the day, you want both kids and adults walking away from your event with a favorable experience with archery. If your event is for all ages, you need to have activities for both kids and adults. The main goal for the kids’ activities should be having fun. For example, you could set up a 3D target or a wall of balloons for the kids to shoot. Even if their parents aren’t archers they should walk away with a positive memory and experience with archery. As for the adults, it’s always good to have activities that involve friendly competition with prizes and giveaways. I mean, who doesn’t like winning stuff? Also, don’t worry about providing a ton of activities. If you can, pull off a fun and exciting event with two or three awesome activities. That’s better than a decent event with multiple poorly managed activities. Support Local ■ The third thing you need to consider when hosting your event is providing a space for other local businesses, groups, and organizations to participate. For example, you could invite a local restaurant or food truck to be your food vendor for the event. You could also invite local archery clubs, sportsman or conservation groups to provide education and s an archery shop it’s natural to attract archers, bowhunters, and outdoor enthusiasts into your shop. However, how do you get those individuals who are just interested or curious about archery to check out your store? One tried-andtrue method is to hold a community event. In doing so you not only get to serve your existing customer base, but you get an opportunity to get your local community involved in archery, even if they aren’t archers. We will discuss three important aspects you need to consider before hosting a community event. Space and Timing ■ The first thing you need to consider is the space and timing of the event. Do you have enough space inside your store? If not, you may need to consider hosting the event outside of your store. In conjunction with the physical space of the event, you should consider the timing of the event. If you can get people out to your store during the slower months and before the lead up to archery season, that would be ideal. In doing so, you will help drive foot traffic and potential sales during the off season. Goal of the Event ■ The second factor to consider is the overarching goal of A information on their clubs and organizations. Ultimately, you want to find other local businesses, groups, or organizations whose customer bases are similar to yours so you can both help cross-promote and market your event for a true win-win for all parties involved. Creating local partnerships and collaborations will help your business in the long run, too. It is important to continue providing great products and services to your existing customer base, but it’s also necessary to think of creative ways to grow the sport of archery. By hosting a local community event you’ll not only serve existing customers, but you will be providing an opportunity for both and young and old archery curious. If you consider the space, timing, goal of the event, and getting local community involvement, you will create a memorable event with attendees looking forward to next year’s get-together. 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 MAY 2023 MARKET TRENDS NEW & NOTABLE GAS Bowstrings Freakshow F reakshow Strings by GAS Bowstrings feature BCY 452X construction and include no dye and a minimal amount of string wax for unsurpassed consistency. The ultra-low wax material creates a compact string bundle to eliminate creep—made to Jesse Broadwater’s specifications. GAS’s exclusive Total Tensioning System eliminates peep rotation, serving separation, and elongation. A higher strand count adds stability and strength, and they sport an exclusive Freakshow Thermal System for added string stability. They are available in natural color with clear serving and Freakshow black shrink tube covering the speed buttons. Powergrip comes standard on all sets and they are covered under GAS’s 1 Year Warranty against peep rotation, serving separation, and elongation. Each set includes a Quality Control check card and lengths of BCY D-Braid and BCY #24 loop material. Learn more at gasbowstrings.com. HHA Sports Tetra RYZ 2 Pin Dovetail HHA’s Tetra RYZ 2 Pin Dovetail is perfect for bowhunting or 3D. The RYZ is a multi-pin sight on a single-pin platform, and includes 2.1 inches of smooth travel and the longest sight tapes HHA has yet offered. Reasonable pin spacing allows quickly adjusting for range without letting down. Sight-in is also easy: shoot at 20 and 60 yards with the top pin to automatically set the 2nd pin and needle. Tetra RYZ series dovetails are compatible with Mathews Bridgelock technology. Each sight includes an Infinite Adjust Plate allowing for independent elevation and 2nd axis adjustments, and additional windage on inline sight mounting options. RYZ sights are available with 4-5- or 4-7-inch dovetails. The mechanical rheostat controls pin brightness and two needle indicators align perfectly with the two vertical pins. Micro adjustments make sight-in a snap. Pins are offered in .019- or .010-inch. Learn more at hhasports.com. Antler King Honey Hole Honey Hole is Antler King’s top-selling food plot seed, because it is simple to plant, grows fast, and is irresistible to white-tailed deer and other game animals. This is a hardy brassica mixture featuring multiple varieties of rape and turnips, meaning Honey Hole is the perfect plot option for fall and winter. As temperatures drop and the first frost appears, Honey Hole’s plants grow sweeter, creating an extremely palatable and attractive, highly digestible energy source for deer when they need it most. Honey Hole is treated with Antler King’s Ultra Coat Orange for higher germination rates and increased forage yield. It is easily established with minimal work, as it can thrive with little or no tilling. For best results, plant in late summer or early fall to be ready for hunting season. Honey Hole is available in a 3-pound bag, which covers ½ acre and retails for $24.99, or a 40-pound bag, which retails for $199.99. Learn more at antlerking.com. SKB Cases iSeries REV2 Parallel Limb Bow Case When bowhunters want the ultimate in bow protection, they look to SKB Cases. SKB’s Series REV2 Plush Large Parallel Limb Bow Case accommodates bows up to 41.25 inches long and 16 inches wide, and includes lid storage for an arrow quiver, arrows and two accessory boxes (sold separately, 3i-0702-1B). The plush-lined interior provides added protection from scratches and dings should equipment shift during transport. SKB iSeries injection molded mil-standard construction is waterproof, the polypropylene copolymer resin ultra stout and resistant to corrosion (UV, solvent, fungus) and impact damage. The case is gasket-sealed to be dust tight and submersible. Standard SKB features include a molded-in hinge, padlock loops, patented trigger release latches, snap-down rubber overmolded cushion grip handles, automatic ambient pressure equalization valve and in-line roller wheels. Learn more at skbcases.com. Lowdown Viewer T he improved Lowdown Viewer with newly refined features makes viewing trail camera images and videos while in the field fast and easy. The Lowdown Viewer includes two full-sized SD card ports, one for captured images and videos, and a second for saving images and video for later viewing. The slots are compatible with SD cards up to 128GB each. The large 9-inch screen and new Scroll Bar feature allows moving through the captured images/video on a SD card with a swipe of a finger, allowing users to run through thousands of images quickly. The new Snap Shot feature allows pausing video clips and saving a single frame to the save card, as well as enlarging photos and saving them to the save card. The system also allows formatting SD cards while in the field. A new Navigator Help System instructional video is now built right into the Viewer, which makes getting started easier than ever. Learn more at lowdownviewer.com. Thorn Broadheads Thorn XV T horn Broadheads’ newest mechanical design is the Thorn XV, which offers the company’s renowned lethal terminal performance combined with a more affordable retail price tag. This deployableblade design is led by a conical aluminum tip and includes exposed blade spurs for ensured blade engagement following impact. This is a radically different approach than Thorn’s original Rip-Tip hidden-blade design models, advanced design features which also come with higher MSRPs. The Thorn XV’s hardened aluminum tip and ferrule are milled from high-grade 7075 aluminum, and the two 440 stainless steel blades open to 2 inches wide after deployment to create wide blood trails. The XV has been tested as reliable at velocities up to 750 fps, making it an ideal choice for today’s fastest crossbow models, and even air-bows. The Thorn XV is available in 100- and 125-grain models. Learn more at thornbroadheads.com.
14 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 Spotting Trends very time I walk into an archery shop I learn something. Sometimes I learn about new archery equipment, sometimes I learn about the employees, and sometimes I learn about what the business does to continue to succeed. Through many years and many visits, I’ve started to see certain trends among businesses that are thriving and growing. While each business is unique, there are commonalities that allow them to build and maintain a customer base. Before we discuss what is the same, we should identify factors that many of these archery businesses do not share. For starters, I’ve seen excellent archery businesses operating in all types of locations, from major metropolitan areas to backcountry roads through farmland. The product lines you will find in their stores or on their production lines are also quite different. There is no “magic bullet” product category or brand that guarantees success. Lastly, the number of employees is all over the map. I have seen great businesses operate with one or two employees, and others do great things with a team of 50. Why point out these differences? No matter where you find yourself as you read this article, know that you should be setting your own goals—and no matter your circumstance you can reach them. So, what trends have I spotted among successful archery businesses? Participation ■ Most successful retail archery businesses I’ve encountered include some element of archery shooting at their facility. This might include a 20-yard indoor range, TechnoHunt, 3D range, or outdoor range. Regardless, people are coming to the shop not only seeking products and services, but also to participate in the sport. Not only does this develop an archery community but it INSIDE THE INDUSTRY YOUR ATA INSIGHTS E BY KURT SMITH, COURTESY OF THE ATA opens the door for more sales as people are having fun, fine-tuning setups, or maybe even breaking some arrows. The power of participation doesn’t stop with retail, though. Many archery manufacturers can refine products and build a following of loyal customers because their own employees get out in the woods or on the range to use the products they create. Beyond making for better marketing, it makes for better products as the people who design and create learn how to improve from real-world experience. Applied Knowledge ■ Memorizing bow speeds and spouting off opinions on the best broadhead is generally useless in your customers’ eyes. Everyone who works in an archery business probably knows a lot about products and has some personal opinions of what is best and what is the “right way” to do things. That doesn’t mean much if you aren’t able to turn it into a solution for the problem your customer is facing. The best archery businesses employ people who are knowledgeable but also have the skills to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios to get the right gear into the hands of every customer by asking the right questions and genuinely listening. This doesn’t always result in the highest ticket at the register, but it does create satisfied customers who will continue to support your store or your brand. More & Before ■ Successful archery businesses are owned and operated by effective leaders. I once heard leadership expert John C. Maxwell state that effective leaders “see more and see before.” In other words, a good leader sees more of what is happening in and around their organization, but also makes it a priority to look ahead for the next opportunity. Both facets of this statement have proved true in my experiences. Effective archery business leaders simply know more about their business operations than their less successful counterparts. Usually this boils down to a robust pointof-sale system in the retail environment or an inventory and sales management system for manufacturers. In either case, these leaders make it a habit to study the numbers so they can pivot quickly with new sales or buying strategies. This leads to the next point of “seeing before.” Effective leaders look at trends to get a better idea of what the future might hold. Recognizing the importance of these trends, the ATA has created new member benefits like the Quarterly Retail Business Tracker Survey and is helping compile bowhunting participation data in each state to provide archery business leaders with easier access to key industry trends. Every business is different, but putting an emphasis on participation and applying knowledge to better serve customers under the direction of an effective leader is a proven recipe for success. Do you recognize some room for improvement in one of these areas for your business? The ATA exists to inspire growth within the archery and bowhunting industry, and we are eager to provide members with valuable benefits. Whether it is using one of our Archery Range Guides to get more people shooting in your store, enrolling in the Archery Industry Masterclass to improve selling skills, or getting access to industry data to aid in your planning, we are here to help. To access your ATA member benefits, log in to your MyATA Member Dashboard at archerytrade.org. IA
16 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 Team GAS Bowstrings Claims Several Podium Spots at the Western Classic Trail Shoot Rain and unfavorable weather challenged GAS Bowstrings shooters during the recent Western Classic Trail Shoot & NFAA Marked 3D Championships. Although the conditions weren’t optimal, that didn’t stop archers from podium finishes and high scores. Taking 1st place for the second time in a row, Paige Pearce battled the elements to shoot a score one point below her record-breaking score from last year. Also in the women’s championship class, Danelle Wentzel-Lutz and her teammate were able to come together for a tight 2nd-place finish. In the men’s freestyle championship division, Gaius Carter, Kyle Douglas, and Jesse Broadwater were all tied in 2nd place with 1,536 points. In their tiebreaker shoot-off, Gaius came out on top, placing 2nd, followed by Kyle in 3rd and Jesse in 4th. In addition, Kyle and his teammate were able to secure a 2nd-place finish in team rounds and the GAS Bowstrings duo of Louis Price and Jonathon Scott clinched a 3rd-place finish. Mark Rubio took the gold in the senior men’s championship class. This is Mark’s second national championship title, with the first being the Vegas Shoot earlier this year. Only two points behind was Rob Morgan, who finished out the weekend in 2nd place. Rob and his teammate were able to take 2nd in teams as well. Congratulations to these archers and to all the GAS Bowstrings archers who made podium finishes this past weekend. We would be nothing without the support and success of our amazing GAS Team. Thank you for continuing to shoot GAS Bowstrings and we are excited at what the rest of the year will hold. GAS Bowstrings is a family-owned and -operated company, located in Clay City, Kentucky. The GAS team is comprised of experienced string builders and profesINSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS sionals. We are committed to delivering the best bowstrings made while providing industry-leading customer service. | FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (606) 612-5156 OR VISIT GASBOWSTRINGS.COM. NASP & S3DA Raise Money For St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Passion for archery and helping others are attributes shared by National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and Scholastic 3D Archery (S3DA). Two of the most popular youth archery organizations teamed up recently to help the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. NASP and S3DA hosted a joint fundraiser during April and give program participants the opportunity to help others by donating. NASP and S3DA are extremely excited to share that $6,544 was raised for the children of St. Jude! NASP President Dr. Tommy Floyd said, “We are excited to have partnered with S3DA. Both programs are filled with people who love archery and love helping others. The concept of harnessing the passion of the archery energy in both organizations was a no-brainer for us. We both loved the idea of emphasizing the value of helping others while our participants pursue excellence on the range.” S3DA Executive Director Holly Helton added, “A passion for helping youth is what led to the creation of the S3DA program. With this passion in mind, we have a longstanding commitment to consciously promoting youth-centered activities, even those outside the normal realm of target archery. We are very pleased to be able to partner with NASP to harness the power of giving for such a worthy cause.” There was no cost for entering the virtual tournament event, and donations via the tournament website were encouraged. The top fundraising schools or teams from both programs will be recognized for their efforts, and several NASP and S3DA sponsors, such as Morrell Targets, Easton Technical Products, and Delta McKenzie Targets, have gotten on board to offer prizes for the top donating schools or teams. Dr. Tommy Floyd continued by saying, “As pleased as we are about this year, we are already excited about next year. We will discuss internally how to make this into something much bigger in the future. NASP and S3DA want to challenge all youth shooting sports organizations to join us and make the St. Jude Children’s Hospital spring fundraiser an annual event. We think this joint effort proves what we already knew: our people are not only passionate about archery, but they really enjoy helping others who are going through difficult times. We understand the positive power of the shooting sports to help others!” The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) promotes international-style target archery as part of in-school curriculum, to improve educational performance and participation in the shooting sports among students in grades 4 through 12. The mission of the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Program is to foster, educate, and guide youth in the areas of indoor target, 3D, and outdoor target archery as well as safe, ethical bowhunting practices. The goal of the S3DA program is to provide archery, conservation, and bowhunting opportunities for young people in after-school settings as well as with archery-affiliated clubs and businesses in the community. | TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NASP, VISIT NASPSCHOOLS.ORG. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT S3DA, VISIT S3DA.NET. Pope & Young Announces Second Round of Hall of Fame Inductees Pope & Young’s Hall of Fame, newly created during the 32nd Biennial Convention, inducted its first five members. At
MAY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM the recent 33rd Biennial Convention, Pope & Young inducted seven more highly deserving members into the Hall of Fame. Each of this year’s inductees have played a major role in the promotion and preservation of bowhunting, and Pope & Young is proud to induct them into this prestigious group. This year’s Biennial’s Hall of Fame inductees include: C. Randall Byers • Randy joined the Pope & Young club in 1971 and began serving on the Board of Directors in November 1983, serving continuously until his death. Randy became the club’s President in April 2002 until his passing that same year in August. He computerized the entire records program while the records office was in his home in Moscow, Idaho. Randy was also influential in combining the records and secretary offices and having them moved to Chatfield, Minnesota. Kevin Hisey • Kevin joined Pope & Young in 1985 and became an official measurer in 1988, where he served as a Panel Judge for 11 Biennium events. He served as the Executive Secretary for 15 years, his tenure in that role being the longest in the club’s history. He started working for the club in 1982, and his involvement with Pope & Young has spanned 34 years of dedicated service. Larry Streiff • Larry joined Pope & Young in 1973 and in 2021 he was awarded the Lifetime Emeritus Senior Membership. Larry served on his first panel in 1979 in Salt Lake City and has served on 23 consecutive panels since. In 1993 Larry was elected to the Board as Director, and before he completed a full term he was appointed Records Chairman and filled that position for six years. He worked hard to write the typical and nontypical chapters of the first Pope & Young measuring manual, and much of the general measuring section. Larry still serves very faithfully in helping the office staff anytime they ask for his assistance. G. Fred Asbell • Fred first joined Pope & Young in 1966 and his first term on the Board of Directors began in 1978. He served as Director for six years until 1984, and then was elected to club President from 1984 to 2002. Fred was the leader of Pope & Young for 18 years, the longest serving President in the history of the club. To members of Pope & Young he was more than a director, a member, or President. Fred was not only a legendary bowhunter, but also a dedicated leader and friend. He saw to it that ethical behavior and fair chase practices remained the backbone of the organization. Glenn Hisey • Glenn joined Pope & Young in 1975 and became a Lifetime Senior Member in 2016. Glenn became an official measurer in 1981 and has been on nearly every panel since 1981, as well as eight Boone & Crockett panels. It goes without saying, Glenn is one of the elite measurers within the system, having trained more than 700 official Pope & Young measurers. He was also a major player in the writing and development of the Measurer’s Manual. Glenn has held and served in many capacities inside the club, including serving as the Executive Secretary for 11 years, first Vice President, Director of Records, and Records Chairman. Marvin & Judy Clyncke • Marv joined Pope & Young in 1969, with Judy following in 1981 (Judy was the seventh female bowhunter to be accepted as a Regular Member in 1999). Marv and Judy have both been active participants in Pope & Young auctions. Marv has donated several beautiful scrimshaw pieces for the auction and various other awards. Both have helped with the auctions in one capacity or another. Marv has even demonstrated his prowess as an auctioneer on several occasions. Marv donated more than 100 bows and arrows to the Pope & Young Museum. They have actively mentored young and old alike during their bowhunting careers. They have often given bows and arrows to young people to get them interested in bowhunting and the outdoors. Both Marv and Judy have received “Lifetime Achievement Awards” from the Colorado Bowhunters Association. | TO LEARN MORE OR TO JOIN TODAY GO TO POPE-YOUNG.ORG. IA
INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE RETAILING INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 18 New Hampshire Shop Thrives By Making Strategic Annual Buying Decisions you utilize the better prices offered there, it really helps increase your profit margin. Also, you need to save enough in product to pay for the trip and then some for the trip to be worthwhile. So, taking advantage of show pricing is key. Regarding what we bring into the shop, that is mostly driven by things we like, current trends, and customer requests. We often ask customers prior to the show what new products they would like to see in the shop. Inside Archery: How often do you bring new brands into your shop because you were impressed by what you saw at ATA and other shows, or based on repeated customer requests? his retail space in the hopes of expanding his firearms department. Thayer and Morris instead formulated a plan to use this new space as the temporary home of Coyote Creek Archery. For several months, while that addition was being completed, Morris sold and serviced bows from his “at-home” shop. Coyote Creek Archery officially opened December 24, 2018. The business witnessed two crazy, busy years in the smaller location while the partners built the new facility and range they are currently housed in. Coyote Creek Archery has become one of the premier archery locations in the East. The past three years have proven a whirlwind, with business booming and the partners growing and training their staff to be some of the best in the industry. They have recently expanded their offerings on both the retail and service sides and have plans to maximize the use of their range facility by adding additional programs and events. Inside Archery: What primary considerations are involved in making smart firstquarter buying decisions for your shop? Morris: We really pay attention to show specials at either ARRO or the ATA show. If ■ Headquarters: Rochester, NH ■ Owners: David Thayer and Josh Morris ■ Years in Business: 5 years ■ Square footage: 11,000 (total), 4,000 (store floor), 7,000 (shooting lanes). ■ Staffing: Full-time: 5. Part-time: 3. ■ Bow Lines: Hoyt, Prime, Mathews, Bowtech ■ Arrow Lines: Easton ■ Crossbow Lines: TenPoint, Ravin, Wicked Ridge, Excalibur ■ Inside Numbers: Estimated annual revenues: $1.6 million. Percentage (estimate) of store’s revenue generated by bowhunting: 95%; by ta get and recreational archery: 5%. ■ Store History: For many years Josh Morris worked at a successful archery shop in the Rochester, New Hampshire, area. It was initially believed Morris would purchase that business when the owner decided to retire, but fortunately, that deal was not brokered. Morris eventually partnered with David Thayer, who owns Coyote Creek Outfitters, a hugely successful hunting and fishing retail business. Thayer had recently begun an addition to Store Profile Coyote Creek Archery Coyote Creek Archery co-owner and manager Josh Morris has been involved with the business since 2018, and worked in archery retail for many years before that. Coyote Creek Archery is headquartered in Rochester, New Hampshire, and operates out of 11,000 square feet; 7,000 square feet of that dedicated to shooting lanes. Retailing Q & A
MAY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 19 Morris: We try to bring in a few new products each year. We decide what new products to bring in based mainly on things we like and customer requests. Although occasionally we’ll see something new at the show that we feel would be a good fit for our shop. Inside Archery: Can you provide some examples of new products you were skeptical about when first introduced, but that ended up being solid sellers? Do you believe certain product categories are safer bets than others? Morris: I brought in youth recurve and longbow sets by Western Recreation that when they arrived turned out to be way smaller than I’d envisioned. But they ended up selling really well. I think the safest categories are anything that the archer must have, which also include technology that isn’t changing rapidly—stabilizers, sights, releases, and the like. Inside Archery: Do you do most of your annual buying up front, or do you play off firstquarter buying to supplement stock or plan second- through fourth-quarter buying? Morris: We do most of our annual buying up front. We will look at sales reports from the prior year, see what we sold, what we still have in stock, and estimate how many more we will need for the next year. Then we will look at the terms. If we get fall dating, we will usually take all the product up front. If we get NET 30 or NET 60, we will typically spread it out across an ASAP, 4/1 and 7/1 ship dates. I try to get most of our stock in by our busy season, which is August and September. I think it is important to spread out the bills while still getting that show pricing at the same time. Inside Archery: How important have you found “show specials” to be to your shop’s bottom line? Do you attend, say, the ATA Show specifically to get better deals extended to show attendees? Morris: Show specials are very important. If you can get 8 percent off this and 5 percent off another product, and 12 percent off that, it will add up to quite a bit at the end of the year. I always use the analogy of going to the convenience store every day. You only spend $5 here and $9 there, but at the end of the month you see you’ve spent $800 and don’t know how that happened…it all adds up. I will also say as far as the show goes, it’s a great place to go to create relationships with some of these manufacturers, who may end up extending better pricing at some point because of the personal relationship you’ve developed. I know there have been a few instances that if I hadn’t been at the show in person, I wouldn’t have gotten the prices I ended up getting. We are a small, tight knit community and personal relationships are huge! Inside Archery: How do you go about moving old product out the door to make room for incoming New Year’s merchandise? Morris: I think we probably move old product like everyone else. If we really want it gone, we’ll discount it or place the product in the store where people will see it—impulsebuy areas—or post it on social media. Or, it may be a product like a sight or stabilizer where you can maybe setup a package bow and include that product in the package. We also have posted some products online for sale, when allowed by the manufacturer. Inside Archery: Do you find it most benCoyote Creek Archery has worked diligently to train some of the best employees in the Northeast, giving the shop a reputation for unsurpassed customer service. Coyote Creek Archery carries four leading bow brands, and four crossbow brands, in addition to a huge selection of accessories and other popular archery gear. eficial to take advantage of vendor payment terms and/or payment deferments, use credit for periodic product purchases, or simply keep cash available to spend as need for new product stocking? Morris: Definitely, take advantage of vendor terms. That is the No. 1 thing we do as far as payment goes. Use their money for that 30-90 days, instead of yours. Inside Archery: What new product trends are you observing that you believe have major potential for the coming sales year? How will the region you are operating in dictate how well these products sell? Morris: Where we are expanding this year is in the saddle area. That trend certainly has some momentum behind it, as it has for the last few years. The difference now is a lot of these companies are selling to dealers, instead of being direct to consumer— something that drives me nuts as a dealer! But since they are selling to dealers we are going to take advantage of that. One thing I noticed at the ATA Show this year was how many companies are making saddles and the variety of options offered to customers. This year we will be carrying Tethrd and Trophyline. Obviously, this is regional; a shop in a state where there are few trees probably won’t do well with saddles, just like here in New Hampshire we won’t do well with elk calls. Know your region and know what the people want—it’s probably the same thing you want.
INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE RETAILING WebXtra ■ For additional information about the featured retailer please go to insidearchery.com. Inside Archery: Any other bits of advice you can offer dealers or department managers for making savvy annual buying decisions? Morris: While smart buying decisions are important for any shop, another thing that is equally important for an archery-only shop is your customer service, archery knowlat the highest level they can. They want to feel welcome, or part of the family, so give them that experience. IA Coyote Creek Archery's 7,000 square foot target range allows them to host a variety of shooting events, which helps drive store traffic and boost profits. Coyote Creek Archery has developed a strong reputation for providing the best bow-tech skills in the entire region. edge, and bow-tuning skills. That is really what brings people through your doors. People are passionate about archery and want to go to a shop and have a good time or experience—it’s exciting! They are looking at new equipment, talking about their last archery season or getting their bow to shoot
Since 1995, the National Archery Buyers Association’s (NABA) goal has been to increase profit margins by giving archery pro shops group power to compete with large retail outlets. It has grown into a 300-member US and Canadian buying group and continues to grow while striving for a minimum 40 percent profit above manufacturers’ Minimum Advertised Price (MAP). Members of NABA secure margins normally unattainable by independent shops, increasing profits while competing with big box outlets by gaining purchasing power and volume pricing, without buying large quantities of product from each manufacturer. Longer terms, free freight options, and gaining profit margins of 50-plus points can also result. NABA buys at an approximate minimum net 13 percent discount over other retailers. NABA strives to help archery retailers grow, remain profitable, and make a living wage. NABA and Nations Best Sports (NBS) formed the Archery & Outdoor Alliance (AOA) to continue providing exceptional value for retailers, collectively increasing volume and buying power with manufacturers at profit margins often as high as an additional 20 points on top of deals already secured during show season. The AOA works with long-term manufacturing members to create special makeup units or exclusive products available only to collective members. NABA created an ordering portal in partnership with OrgMyRange, allowing stores to place/ program orders easily throughout the year and monitor shipping dates. Orders can be placed by a retailer, manufacturer, or sales representative, allowing special and close-outs offers throughout the year. NABA members can monitor orders from a single web-based program, placing orders, viewing inventory and tracking previous sales—even while sitting in a treestand or hunting blind. Also, NABA works closely with the top-rated and archery-shop exclusive ePro program—also designed by OrgMyRange. This gamechanging program allows archery shops and ranges to track day-today business transactions, so retail members can spend more time focusing on customers. More than a point-of-sale system, the program also allows managing ranges, tracking purchases, and communicating with customers. NABA not only provides rock-bottom show pricing on products outside your primary selection but allows engaging with manufacturers in a relaxed setting. The opportunity to compare tactics and trends with other retailers across the country, while creating higher margins across your entire product line, also comes through membership. Your shop will also be able to gain knowledge from like-minded members. NABA is a non-profit organization serving as an archery advocate for all members, instead of profits going to its staff as a buy group business. The retailer keeps all profits, not the organization, which is what NABA was founded on. NABA membership requirements and annual dues represent a huge benefit to your shop. Members must have maintained a store front for two years minimum, have established business hours for at least five days a week, and have had good credit for five years. Members are required to attend annual shows (either the Las Vegas NABA Western Show held prior to the National Field Archery Association (NFAA) Vegas Shoot or the Archery Trade Association (ATA) Show). Members can attend the show benefiting them most or attend both if the three-day ATA Show doesn’t allow enough time to place or program annual orders. Retail Membership Dues of $500 are due July 1st annually, with a $100 initiation fee. If a retailer already belongs to another buy group and wants to try NABA, their dues are $300 for one year. Joining NABA provides access to the largest, most prestigious nonprofit volunteer archery organization around, an organization with little to no overhead so they pass on the savings to members. NABA is a low-cost investment that benefits your shop in today’s challenging business climate. When inflation and overhead costs are high, joining a buy group makes a fiscally responsible choice. Manufacturers value their NABA partnership so much that they provide our retailers, the independent, mom and pop shops, with margins only available to NABA retailers. Learn more by contacting Kelly Kelly, Executive Director, at [email protected] or (903) 675-2233. Strength in Numbers Strength in Numbers Strength in Numbers Brought to You by National Archery Buyers Association (NABA)
22 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 2021-2022 State-by-State Hunting Data 3.7 Million Bowhunters in America BY CASSIE GASAWAY INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATION archerytrade.org In addition, the ATA compiled information from state wildlife agencies, the 2023 NDA Deer Report, the 2022 NWTF Spring Hunt Guide and other sources to provide a comprehensive outlook at individual state hunting participation numbers and harvest data. States use the information to track trends and set management policies, individuals use it to plan their hunts, and ATA members can use it to help them make smart decisions regarding product and class offerings. Reliable, consistent data is challenging to obtain because each state collects different information and has rules regarding who needs to purchase licenses and which ones they must carry to hunt legally. Surveys and collection agencies also have caveats on how questions are worded or interpreted. It also takes time to compile the information after collection, which dates the data quickly. For these reasons, people must carefully review the data when making comparisons and marketing plans. The article “ATA Works Toward Sharing Credible Hunting Participation Data” explains the inconsistencies and complications surrounding data collection. Regardless, ATA members can rest assured the bowhunting participation number listed for each state is the most reliable info to date. Taken together, the data reveals a big picture of nationwide constituents using archery equipment. If you’re looking for up-to-date, timely data, use the Data Dashboard (asafishing.org/data-dashboard), created through a partnership with the ATA, American Sportfishing Association, state fish and wildlife agencies and others. The dashboard updates frequently and displays year-to-date information, but more than 20 states have the software to participate. Let’s review state-by-state harvest statistics from the 2021-22 season. Some numbers were rounded to the nearest hundred. For the full article and information on all 50 states, please visit the ArcheryTrade.org website and search for “State by State Data.” Arizona ■ Antlered deer harvest was 14,312 and the antlerless harvest was 104, for a total of 14,416. The state estimated 4555 turkey hunters harvested 884 birds for a 19 percent average hunt success rate. Hunters also harvested 114 bighorn sheep, 309 black bears, and T he ATA has a complete set of bowhunter numbers per state and compiled 2021- 22 season data from several sources to provide a comprehensive look at individual state hunting participation numbers and harvest data. The ATA worked to determine an accurate number of licensed bowhunting participants in America and is happy to report the nation had 3.7 million bowhunters in the 2021-22 season. This is the first time ATA or any other entity has gathered a complete set of state bowhunter estimates. As a benefit to ATA members, the ATA put the data set into an easy to read, single-page spreadsheet available through the Resource Library. UNITING THE INDUSTRY The ATA has a complete set of bowhunter numbers per state and compiled 2021-22 season data from several sources to provide a comprehensive look at individual state hunting participation numbers and harvest data. PHOTO © bowhunters united
MAY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 23 8,022 elk, 1,710 of which were harvested using archery equipment. Colorado ■ One of the states with the lowest percentage of people who hunt with a bow or crossbow. The total deer harvest number exceeded 40,500, with 31,160 being bucks. More than 215,305 elk hunters took to the woods and harvested 35,230 elk statewide; 19,981 were bulls. Archery-specific elk harvests totaled 5957. Hunters also harvested about 5,200 turkeys in the state. Idaho ■ Idaho has approximately 33,997 bowhunters. An estimated 54,223 whitetailed deer hunters took more than 21,418 deer. Of the total deer harvest, only 6 percent were killed using a bow or crossbow, the country’s lowest percentage of archery-harvested deer per state. Just more than 89,000 elk hunters killed 20,396 elk in 2021 for a 22.9 percent success rate. The state also had 79,825 mule deer hunters, who took 26,086 mule deer — 21,802 antlered and 4,284 antlerless. Nevada ■ Of all 50 states, Nevada averaged the fewest deer hunters per square mile (0.1), but 25 percent of its deer hunters, about 3,121 of 12,624 total, used a bow or crossbow. The state surveyed turkey hunters after the spring season and found 63 birds were killed out of the 162 issued tags, but only 116 people hunted. Hunters also took 2,243 antelope, 14 black bears, 393 bighorn sheep, 1,909 elk and 6,151 mule deer. Ohio ■ About 350,749 people hunt in Ohio. The state has 230,596 deer hunters and the nation’s highest percentage of bow and crossbow hunters at 75 percent, or 172,947. Forty-eight percent of Ohio’s deer harvest was taken with a bow or crossbow. Hunters in the Buckeye State harvested 14,546 turkeys. Pennsylvania ■ With 646,000, Pennsylvania has the second-highest number of deer hunters in the nation and topped the charts for the most deer hunters per square mile (14.4). More than 331,000 hunters used a bow or crossbow, and archery kills accounted for 35 percent of the state’s total deer harvest, which was 376,810 (including 145,320 antlered bucks). Pennsylvania turkey hunters tagged more than 28,087 birds. Washington ■ Of the 98,239 deer hunters in Washington, 15 percent, or 14,262, use a bow or crossbow to hunt deer. The state reported hunters killed 22,881 deer (3,157 of which were harvested with archery equipment), 4,318 elk (1,258 with archery equipment), 1,686 bears, and 10,152 turkeys. For questions regarding general harvest data and participation numbers, please contact ATA’s Dan Forster at [email protected]. IA
24 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 PEOPLE Power Participation Theof Archery Industry Members Participating in the Sport SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO: Visit insidearchery.com/pop or mail a color image with your name, address, where the animal was taken, and archery gear used—both manufacturer and model— to Inside Archery Power of Participation, P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935. Marty Cecil • Kentucky Turkey Production Manager, B3 Archery Bow ■ Mathews Phase4 29 Arrow ■ Easton A/C/C Broadhead ■ B3 Archery Meg 100 Release ■ B3 Archery Versa Sight ■ B3 Archery Rize Hunter Rest ■ Hamskea Other ■ GAS Bowstrings Chad Baily • Michigan Whitetail Regional Sales Manager, Bear Archery Bow ■ Bear Execute 32 Sight ■ Trophy Ridge Arrow ■ Victory Archery Digital React Broadhead ■ SIK Broadheads Release ■ Fletcher Rest ■ Trophy Ridge Drop Slide Archery Fletch Hook
MAY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 25 David Merrill (and son Hunter) • Idaho Turkey CEO, Bow Spider Bow ■ Bowtech Revolt Arrow ■ Gold Tip Broadhead ■ Viper Archery Spectre Rest ■ QAD Sight ■ Black Gold Release ■ Tru-Fire Quiver ■ TightSpot Other ■ Bow Spider Jeff Neiball • Tennessee Buffalo Fish Owner, NDesigns Bow ■ Oneida Osprey Arrow ■ Muzzy Rest ■ Quick Draw Bowfishing Broadhead ■ Muzzy Patrick Meitin • Idaho Turkey Executive Editor/Co-Owner, Inside Archery Bow ■ PSE Archery Mach 34 Arrow ■ Victory Archery RIP TKO Rest ■ QAD Integrate Sight ■ TRUGLO Carbon Hybrid Release ■ Scott Archery Talon Blind ■ Buck Bourbon Broadhead ■ Ramcat Rackhouse 300+ Diamondback Hybrid Jordan Cofta • Mexico Coues Whitetail Territory Manager, The Outdoor Group Bow ■ Elite Archery Era Arrow ■ Easton Axis Broadhead ■ Slick Trick Torch Sight ■ CBE Trek Pro 1 Pin Rest ■ Scott Archery Apex Medium HOSTED HUNT
26 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 KILLER FOOD PLOTS Buildingon aLegacy By Michaelean Pike
MAY 2023 27 INSIDEARCHERY.COM About midway through our interview, Killer Food Plots owner Rich Chrzan, speaking of company founder Nick Percy, said, “He is always looking for improvements, better ways to do things, things that are better for the animals’ health and the soil.” That sentence struck me. Not just because, as anyone who’s met Nick Percy can tell you, it’s a very accurate statement, but because in that sentence, Chrzan spoke of Percy in the present tense. At first I made a mental note to change the quote in the article to the past tense, reflecting the archery industry’s loss when Nick Percy died far too young. But the more I thought about it, the more accurate it seemed to stick with the present tense. Because while Percy may be gone, the company that he started is still here, still striving to find better ways of doing things, still working to provide seed blends and fertilizers that improve animal and soil health. Nick Percy’s legacy is very much alive. Chrzan is working hard to make sure it stays that way. A Family Affair Chrzan wasn’t so much introduced to the outdoors as born into it. Growing up, hunting and fishing were simply what his family did. “Hunting has always been a family thing,” he explained. “When I was five or six years old, my parents bought me a BB gun and a bow and arrows. My dad made sure we were doing everything safely. He taught me the fundamentals—walking through the woods quietly, tracking deer. My mom taught me that you can sit in a stand way longer than anyone else as long as you have a pocket full of the right candy. She was known for that. She’d be the first one out and she’d be the last one back. I think she still outsits me some days.” As soon as he was legally able to, Chrzan began bowhunting. “That’s what my dad and I did,” he said. “We went bowhunting every chance we could. That continued even when I was out of the house. We’d spend a lot of time together.” That love of hunting and the outdoors was something Chrzan passed on to his two daughters, Sydnee and Richelle. “They’ve hunted as many years as they could,” he said. “They’re my hunting buddies for Opening Day. That’s a CEO Rich Chrzan runs Killer Food Plots with the full support of his family. While Rich installs food plots and gets a crash course in managing a business, his wife handles the bills and his daughters help ensure orders are sent on time. From left to right: Sydnee, Elleena, Rich, and Richelle Chrzan.
28 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 big deal for our family. We’re all up at five in the morning. Both my parents come over, even though my dad no longer hunts. I make breakfast, and we all brag about who’s going to shoot what. Of course, usually nobody shoots anything that day. But it’s still fun. It’s like deer camp. We have the whole family deer camp thing.” Even Chrzan’s wife, Elleena, enjoys Opening Day, despite not being a hunter. “She’s gone out with me a handful of times back in the day, but she’s not a patient person,” Chrzan said. “Years ago we were sitting in a blind, and I heard a twig snap. I was all excited thinking there was something coming up behind me. Well, she was sitting next to me on the ground, and she’d picked up a stick and decided to bust it into many little pieces. She decided that hunting isn’t her thing. Still she always takes Opening Day off of work. People show up throughout the day and we have a bunch of food. We all eat, tell stories and share pictures of our deer, or the deer they brought with them. It’s a big family and friend event thing. She’s very involved with hunting. She just doesn’t partake in the hunting itself.” An Important Friendship After graduating from high school, Chrzan got a job at a heat-treating facility, working his way up to maintenance manager. It was there that he met Nick Percy. The two began fishing together as Percy wasn’t a bowhunter. Yet. “Nick always blamed me for getting him into bowhunting,” Chrzan recalled. Like Chrzan, Percy was passionate about the outdoors. He was especially interested in improving the health of deer through what they ate. “He started experimenting and playing with seeds,” Chrzan explained. “He raised high fence deer for 11 years, which made him really in tune with what the deer needed for digestion, what was palatable to them, what was attractive to them, what made them sick.” That interest in deer nutrition led Percy to begin installing food plots, a service he offered to other people. “At first, he was installing food plots using other people’s seed,” Chrzan said. “But while he was doing that, he realized he could just use his own seed. He was smart enough and he was learning what works and what doesn’t.” Percy was not a biologist. In fact, he was an engineer. But he was tireless in his pursuit of knowledge. “He was very passionate,” Chrzan said. “He developed relationships over the years with a lot of knowledgeable people. He asked a lot of questions, and with the answers he got, he would ask more questions. He took all that knowledge and kept developing and growing. Eventually he had eleven different seed blends and his own fertilizers, and then Aqua Shield, the pond treatment. “The company was founded on Nick’s energy and his drive to do what needed to be done to be successful. His passion was second to none. That got the attention of people, and it helped him grow to where we are now.” A New Start While Percy grew his food plot business, Chrzan still worked at the heat-treating facility. Though they remained friends, they didn’t have the same time to spend together. “Life got in the way,” Chrzan said. “Kids, jobs, that sort of thing. Nick wanted me to come work for him. But it just didn’t work out at the time. I had kids in school and was traveling with them, and it just wasn’t going to work. “But then around the COVID era, my company laid me off. Nick saw that as an opportunity. My wife said she was super tired of me hating my job. Nick capitalized on that, and I never went back to my job. I started doing food plots.” Chrzan took over much of the installation duties, freeing Percy up to spend more time doing customer service and
MAY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 29 Hunting has always been a family affair for the Chrzans. Rich Chrzan has been using Killer Food Plots products on his land for a decade, and he and his family reap the rewards in larger, healthier deer.
30 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 sales. They made a good team, and the future of Killer Food Plots looked brighter than ever. Dark Days In October 2021 tragedy struck. Chrzan lost not just his employer but also a close friend. Even today, more than a year after Percy’s death, Chrzan still has a hard time talking about him. In the days following Percy’s death, it became clear that, in addition to grieving friends and family, he’d left behind a lot of unknowns. “When Nick passed, nobody knew what was going on,” Chrzan recalled. “His will was old. I helped manage the lawn and garden store he’d acquired, and I took on the task of managing Killer Food Plots. The businesses needed to make money for his family. The other employees and I got together and decided to keep the businesses open until the decisions were made.” The lawn and garden store was located too far from Chrzan’s home to manage it long-term, but Killer Food Plots was a different story. Chrzan knew the business could be moved, so he approached the family about the possibility of acquiring it. “Nick and I were like brothers,” he said. “I just wanted to see his legacy continue.” Percy’s family wanted the same thing. After the legal issues were taken care of,
MAY 2023 31 INSIDEARCHERY.COM Percy’s daughter and ex-wife approached Chrzan with a proposal. “They said they didn’t want anyone else to own it,” he recalled. It was, he said, an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. “Having the full support of my family—my mom, my dad, my daughters, my wife and the Killer Food Plots family, which is a huge extended family that includes pro staff, friends and Nick’s family—took a little bit of the scariness out of it. Everybody was super supportive, and I knew I had a big structure behind me. In August 2022, my wife and I signed the papers. It’s a lot of learning. My wife’s been reading a lot of business books. We’re making a good go of it. We just need to make sure people know we’re still here with the same great products, the same passion, the same drive. We’re just moving forward under different ownership.” A Killer Lineup While Chrzan is working hard to learn everything there is to know about running a business, he’s fortunate to have a fantastic lineup of established products. At the time of our interview, he had some very exciting news to share: Production of the company’s Groganix 4-4- 4 and 7-0-5 fertilizers, which had been disrupted during the acquisition, will restart by the time of this publication. “Our fertilizer is OMRI rated,” he explained. “That stands for Organic Materials Review Institute. The Groganix 4-4-4 and Groganix 7-0-5 are naturalbased fertilizers. It means they can be used for organic production or processing. The fertilizer is waterway safe. It’s pet friendly. It’s kid friendly. It’s a great product for food plots, and it’s even better for turf. It’s not synthetic, so it’s not going to burn the paws of your dog. If your kid falls down on it, it’s not going to hurt your child. If you spread it and it gets into a waterway, it’s waterway safe. “Unlike synthetic fertilizers, our fertilizer actually improves the soil. Synthetic fertilizers actually go and they bind up the nutrients with salt. Salt in the soil is not good. Our fertilizer does not do that. It goes into the soil and breaks down those
32 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023
MAY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 33 salts. If you are a dog owner, your lawn will show it. Dog urine has a lot of urea in it and will kill your yard. This fertiliz - er will actually pull that out of your soil, amend that soil in those bad areas and will grow grass again. It’s pretty impres - sive. I spread it on my dad’s yard, and the only thing he complained about was how much more he had to mow.” Chrzan explained how hunters can use Groganix to help develop more du - rable food plots. “It builds the soil,” he said. “Quickacting, natural nutrients activate the good bacteria in your soil that’s nor - mally dormant. Those bacteria grab all the available nutrients and then offloads all those nutrients into the roots of your plants. Every time that happens, your roots get deeper and deeper, which is making your plants more drought-toler - ant. That’s really big for food plots.” Another unique and effective product from Killer Food Plots is Aqua Shield. “Aqua Shield is a phenomenal prod - uct,” Chrzan said. “If you have a pond, leaves, twigs and even decaying small critters and animals collect in the bot - tom of that pond. And that provides a habitat for midge flies, mosquito larvae, any kind of insect where the larvae stay in the water. Aqua Shield will attack that mucky bottom. It’s designed to address the root cause. It actually attacks the anaerobic bacteria, oxygen suckers that consume the valuable dissolved oxygen in the pond, taking it from the fish and other aquatic species. The muck also causes algae blooms during the hottest months of the year, further reducing the dissolved oxygen level of the pond. “Aqua Shield is designed to address these issues by energizing and putting the healthy aerobic bacteria to task, lo - cating and consuming the anaerobic bacteria as they dive into and break up the muck. As it’s eating all that, the aero - bic bacteria, along with proprietary en - zymes, break up the other bacteria, the heavy metals and toxins in the water that cause digestive issues in the gut of the whitetails. So it helps the pond be - come healthier by replacing all those negative bacteria with positive bacteria and reintroduces all that dissolved oxy - gen back into the pond. Then the aerobic bacteria start gobbling up the muck. “I’ve got people that have used it and in two weeks they were ecstatic about how clean their pond was. It’s safe. You can swim in it. Your dogs can swim in it. It’s not harmful. We use it in cow ponds be - cause cow ponds are really gross. When it’s hot, cows will stand in these four- to six-foot ponds all day. A cow will produce 70 pounds of manure a day, so nothing wants to use that pond after that. Aqua Shield will clear those ponds up so ani - mals will actually start drinking out of them again. “Aqua Shield does not require any - thing else to be used with it. And it’s very inexpensive. I’ve got friends who have explained to me what was being done in their ponds, and then I explain to them what I could do in their ponds for the cost, and they were floored. It wasn’t just hundreds of dollars less. It was substan - tial amounts of money less.” Of course, Killer Food Plots offers a range of seed blends so hunters can ben - efit from Nick Percy’s intensive research on deer nutrition. “Our seed blends were made for the palatability of the deer,” Chrzan ex - plained. “Deer are lazy in their digestive system. Nick would say you could throw $20 at a deer and it would poop out $18 of it. It was very inefficient. He researched different kind of plants, the leaves they produced, whether they were palatable to the deer or not, and he found the ones that were. So the deer can chew on these and will actually absorb it. Our clover leaves are thinner so it doesn’t take as much energy for the deer to absorb the nutrients available in the plant. Now they’re taking in $20, but they’re only pooping out $5. They’re actually taking those nutrients into their body, which makes a healthier deer. And that makes a healthier herd. “Nick made sure that he was getting as much nutrients as he possibly could in those plants for the deer. That was his big deal. Our chicory is really good for post season. A good protein, it’s a good body builder for the animals. When
34 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 they’re all worn down because they’ve been run - ning around the woods like crazy teenagers, that helps them build back. Winter comes after that hard time of running through the woods, and they need that body mass in order to make it through that hard winter. Our seed blends are put together for the health of the deer 365 days a year. You can build the healthy bucks, and does that you want in your area. When a buck struggles without a good food source or without vegetation that’s palatable to him, he’ll spend all spring and summer building his body back for that next rut and that next coming winter. So his horns will lack that production. If that deer can stay healthy going into the post rut, then come spring he can put those nutrients toward his horns. “That nutrition is important for fawn pro - duction, as well. If it does have a food source that’s palatable, that they digest and absorb, that’s healthier for the fawns. They’re not as stressed out come fawning season. If a doe is su - per stressed out or super weak from the winter, she’ll abort the fawns. Nobody wants that, so it’s important that they have that food source.” Chrzan has been using Killer Food Plots seed blends and fertilizers in his own food plots for ten years—even before he started working with the company—and he has seen the results. “We’ve managed to shoot a lot of nice deer,” he said. “Fifteen years ago, we were averaging 120-pound to 150-pound deer. I think the small - est deer we shot recently was 176 pounds, and the biggest was 205 pounds. The health of the deer and the overall size of the deer has improved quite a bit over the last ten years. So not only do we sell our product, we live by it. We believe in it. I won’t put anything else in the ground.” Family Run Chrzan continues to offer food plot installation, as well as some timber management. “If somebody wants an area cleared out in the woods, I will arrange a meeting with a timber company and get that done,” he said. “Whether it’s a select cut, clear cut or they just want a few acres cleared out in the middle of the woods.” That means Chrzan spends much of his days during the planting season in the field, doing the hard work that will help his customers reap huge benefits later. Although those long hours out of the office mean he may not be able to re - turn a phone call or email as quickly as some might expect in our hyper-connected world, he
MAY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 35 still prioritizes customer service. “Customer service is very important to me,” he said. “I do my best to return every phone call, every message, every email. I’m on a tractor for ten to twelve hours a day during the summer, so my response time is usually delayed. But if for some reason something gets dropped and I don’t respond to something within forty-eight hours, I really stress to people to please reach back out to me. I’m only human. I try not to drop the ball, but when you’re juggling so much, every now and then one does slip by me. I just ask people to be patient while we learn and grow.” Luckily, Chrzan does have some help. His fam - ily has stepped up in a big way to help him. “The business is very much a family business,” he said. “My wife handles the bills. My father, who’s 70 years old, has put in some pretty long days for me, running a tractor or helping me as - semble blinds. My daughters help me whenever they can. When I’m on the road doing installs, they make sure the orders are filled. When we took over this business in August last year, we moved everything to our house. We’re shipping stuff out of our basement and I’m working on equipment out in my barn.” A Lasting Legacy It’s been a busy few months for Chrzan and his family. He hopes that, as the company grows, he can bring on more employees. “We’re going to keep growing,” he said. “Even - tually I’d like to take on some employees. My goal is to be bigger, do better and be able to service more people. And I’d like to start looking at our product lineup, improving products that we have or establishing whole new products. There are a few different ideas I’ve already been tossing around.” For now, though, Chrzan is focused on main - taining the quality Percy established, servicing his customers and making sure people know Killer Food Plots is still going strong. “We have the same great products,” he said. “We’re offering the same services. Everything is operational. Our focus is to keep Nick’s passion and Nick’s dream alive. He put his heart and soul into this. We just want to make sure that every - one realizes it’s the same company. Different owners, but our focus and goals are the same.” Yes, Nick Percy’s legacy is very much alive. Rich Chrzan and his family continue to build on that, looking for opportunities to improve, and creat - ing a legacy of their own. IA
36 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT I BY PATRICK MEITIN Pine Ridge Archery Big Gripper Arrow Puller WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. and I frequently suffered from “tennis elbow” after a day’s shooting and working burned-in arrows from high-density foam targets. And crossbows—forget about it. Pulling deeply embedded bolts alone dissolved all appeal for me. All those issues are now in the past tense since discovering Pine Ridge Archery’s Big Gripper Arrow Puller. The Big Gripper is molded from a tacky but tough rubber material that provides a firm grip on any arrow type, even those coated with slippery “ice” coatings designed to enhance penetration and quiet the draw cycle. Picture a 4-inch cylinder of rubber, cut lengthwise three-quarters through to create a hinge, and given an arrow channel. Three flutes inside the fold, and four finger groves on the exterior surfaces provide more gripping power. The Big Gripper is also flared at each end for better purchase. Wrap the Big Gripper around an embedded arrow or bolt shaft, squeeze lightly and pull. The tacky interior surfaces, approximately 1-inch diameter of gripping surface, finger grooves and flared ends make pulling the most stubborn arrows a snap. It even makes grabbing the short, exposed nock end of a pile-driven crossbow bolt possible. Whether enjoying basic shooting prachave an exceptionally long draw length, and having shot a bow since I was just a youngster have traditionally shot higher-thanaverage draw weight. My standard September elk rig will generate close to 100 foot-pounds of kinetic energy, while my typical whitetail treestand outfit is generally pushing 90- plus foot-pounds. This kind of energy delivery often made 3D tournaments less than enjoyable. I often joked that I usually got more of a workout from pulling arrows than I did pulling bowstrings. My palms developed blisters tice or conducting one of Inside Archery’s thorough Bow Reports, I no longer shoot a bow without a Big Gripper Arrow Puller handy. In addition, the Big Gripper serves to effortlessly retighten three different diameter field points. Three holes found along the “hinge” of the Big Gripper measure about .39-, .30, and .18-inches in diameter, allowing inserting everything from fat crossbow to skinny micro-diameter points and introducing effortless gripping via the interior flutes—a handy tool on the 3D range or target line. The Big Gripper also makes the ideal tool for effortlessly extinguishing most lighted nock brands and models. The Big Gripper includes a molded-in top loop and comes with an aluminum mini carabiner that can be clipped onto a belt loop (my usual approach), targetshooting hip quiver D-loop, or binocular harness while shooting 3D. And since this is a Pine Ridge Archery product, the Big Gripper can be purchased in a multitude of snazzy colors, including subdued black, or bright red, orange, or lime green to accessorize most bows or target hip quivers. Pine Ridge Archery products are made in the USA and backed by some of the best family-owned customer service in the business. Take a look at pineridgearchery.com to learn more. IA
38 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT I BY PATRICK MEITIN Custom Bow Equipment Defy Micro Arrow Rest WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. The Defy Micro offers a perfect combination of complete arrow containment and drop-away action. That arrow control is simply convenient, whether sitting on a whitetail stand or stalking bugling elk in grabbing brush. The deep launcher with overhead containment bar allows no-look draw cycles, confident your arrow is where it’s supposed to be. Combine this with automatic, buss cable activated dropaway action providing forgiving accuracy, and it is really difficult to justify a lesser rest design. The Defy Micro was designed for simplicity, streamlined fit, and reliability. Nock and center an arrow, thumb the launcher until it locks and forget about it. The Gravity Lock internal mechanism holds the arrow at ready, dropping away only when the bow is fired. Drawing, followed by a slow let-down will not disengage the launcher. After release, the BounceBack Prevention System prevents any inadvertent arrow contact, ensuring excellent accuracy combined with a conspicuous decrease in residual vibration and shot noise. Fine tuning the Defy Micro was straightforward and simple, especially recently received Elite Archery’s 2023 Era carbon-riser bow for the Bow Report in this very issue and was thrilled to see Custom Bow Equipment’s (CBE) new Defy Micro Rest installed. It’s always nice when I don’t have to scrounge an arrow rest to conduct a Bow Report, but until now I had only seen this rest via press releases. A decided gearhead, I’m always anxious to get my grubby hands on new products. The CBE Defy Micro Rest includes a familiar look in today’s arrow rest marketplace but offers those CBE extra touches that have long set the company apart. After extensive shooting in preparation for an upcoming spring bear hunt, the Defy Micro did not disappoint. given the rest’s micro movements, accomplished by loosening the lock bolts and spinning the small adjustment knobs with a fingertip. My only difficulty was locating a short-shank Allen wrench that would allow reaching beneath the Era’s cable management system to loosen/tighten the top windage lock-down bolt, as the rest arrived already installed and I did not receive the included 9/64-inch wrench. Access was pretty tight. The included cable clamp made anchoring the activation cord a snap and allowed quick and precise adjustments. The laser engraved windage and elevation marks made it easy to micro adjust to the sweet spot. Particularly reassuring is knowing the entire rest is machined from high-grade aluminum, even the launcher (I have broken plastic launchers of similar design before). The Defy Micro offered a tight and sleek fit to the Era, and has now been subject to several hundred shots without complaints. The launcher clicks into place precisely and runs on ball bearings for smooth operation. The rest also comes with a rubber shelf pad, dual mounting bolts, and silencing adhesive-backed launcher felt. Best of all, as a new southpaw, the Defy is offered in both rightand left-hand options. Check it out by visiting custombowequipment.com. IA
40 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 W hile a challenging economy may coax some customers to hang on to their bows one more season, accessory upgrades are usually more financially palatable and just as beneficial to improved shooting as the latest compound bow bells and whistles. Nowhere is this more evident than with an upgraded bow sight or the latest arrow rest technology. The hottest sights and rests for 2023 have features every serious archer and bowhunter can appreciate. From new mounting systems to integrated mounting brackets, 2023 is all about making all the accessories on a customer’s bow more streamlined and synchronized. It doesn’t matter if your customer is a laid-back recreational shooter, diehard bowhunter, or tournament shooter, it is a great time to be an archer. So, in no particular order, it’s time to dive into the hottest bow accessories for 2023. Hot Bow Sights HHA SPORTS n A true crossover sight for the two-season bowhunter/3D shooter, HHA Sports’ Tetra RYZ is everything a hunter needs from a multi-pin sight built into a singlepin design. With the longest sight tapes HHA has ever built and tight pin spacing, the Tetra RYZ gives shooters quick adjustment options without the need to let down. Sighting is made easier with a special needle after sighting in the 20- and 60-yard pins. All Tetra RYZs are available with 4-5- or 4-7-inch dovetails, these extensions are also compatible with Mathew’s Bridge Lock Technology risers. This sight makes accurate shots up to 150 yards possible, depending on bow setup. They are available with .019- or .010-inch pin diameters and a color choice on the second pin, in both rightand left-hand options. To learn more, go to hhasports.com. Sights&Rests Customers Want in 2023 BY JACK BORCHERDING
MAY 2023 41 INSIDEARCHERY.COM CUSTOM BOW EQUIPMENT (CBE) n As one of the most technologically advanced sights on the mar - ket today, CBE’s Trek Pro is designed to handle all distances and any hunting situation imaginable. The Trek Pro saves sight-in time by requiring shoot - ers to sight in only 30- and 60-yard pins to ensure all others are reliably zeroed. Four mounting po - sitions and a 1.75-inch pin housing make this a bowhunting ideal. The Trek Pro has micro-adjust windage and elevation, and includes a top pin dead stop and Rapid Drive Technology for quick adjust - ments. If this proves too slow for a fluid encounter with game, there are two floating pins and multiple indicator pointers. Select from .019- or .010-inch fiber optic diameters, 1-, 2-, or 3-pin options, and right- and left-hand options. If the 12 inches of fi - ber optic pin backing isn’t bright enough, flip on the new Sliding Rheostat light. A 41mm lens can also be added for optimal clarity. To learn more, go to custombowequipment.com TROPHY RIDGE n This high-tech sight burst onto the scene in 2022 and is still leading the way in 2023. The Trophy Ridge Digital React sight has everything you’d want in a hunting sight, including a few fea - tures that make it one of the most innovative sights on the market today. Trophy Ridge’s React Tech - nology allows archers to sight in bows faster than ever. By sighting in two different distances, all other pins are automatically set. Having React Technology takes this sight to the next level by using a digital yardage read-out, allowing shooters to dial yard - age down to the half yard. Micro adjust wind - age and elevation adjustments make sighting in a snap. It is available in right- or left-hand options with .019- or .010-inch pin sizes. To learn more, go to trophyridge.com. SPOT HOGG n Spot Hogg’s field-proven Fast Eddie is an advanced mover sight, the new - est version now compatible with the latest Picatinny rail mounting systems and released as the Fast Eddie PM. The new PM (Pic-Mount) is available in Fast Eddie and Fast Eddie XL base plat - form options. The Pic mount bar makes mount - ing easier than ever, helps improve the balance of compatible bows, and requires no mounting block, making it lighter than previous versions. The entire sight is machined from 6061 aluminum and is then finished with a nail-tough fade, chip, and scratchresistant Type II anodized hard coat. Overall, the sight is ready for any rough-and-tumble hunt with - out worry of failure. The Fast Eddie PM can be or - dered with the choice of several of Spot Hogg’s sight
42 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 housings, and features 2nd and 3rd axis leveling, a quick and easy yardage dial, horizontal micro-adjustment, and multiple pin configurations. To learn more, go to spot-hogg.com. AXCEL ARCHERY n AXCEL Archery’s Landslyde Plus Carbon Pro Slider Sight with Ranger Double Pin includes all the features demanded by top tournament archers but is geared for bowhunting. A feature that all hunters will love is the Rapid Adjust Knob and Quick Release that slides the sight up and down along precision-made, whisper-quiet gear teeth. Being able to make a range adjustment quickly and quietly while maintaining focus on a trophy animal is important. The sight also includes two individually adjustable sight pointers that can be used for quick referencing or with a single pin sight, with a second aiming point available. The durable Landslyde Plus Carbon Pro comes with eight double-sided metal sight tapes providing 16 scales. The metal tapes won’t peel off in the snow or rain. There are 40 scale options to accommodate any bow/arrow combination. These are but the highlights. Best of all, the sight is made in the USA. To learn more, go to axcelsights.com. REDLINE BOWHUNTING n Detailed adjustments and a sleek design are the best way to describe the Redline Bowhunting RL-1 Carbon Sight. Available in either 1- or 3-pin configurations, this sight is deadly. The RL-1 features a complete carbon mounting bracket to reduce weight when bolted to any bow. The sight is a slider/dial style sight with a toolless wheel that allows for easy adjustments in the field. To learn more, go to redlinebowhunting.com. BLACK GOLD n Bowhunting setups are getting more technical, and the Black Gold Pro HD Hunter is made to feed that trend. The Pro HD Hunter is specifically designed to integrate with the Hoyt InLine system, or any other bows featuring a Picatinny sight mount, like Athens’ flagship models. This helps reduce weight and bring the sight closer to the riser’s center, enhancing bow balance and inSights&Rests HHA Sports Tetra RYZ CBE Trek Pro Trophy Ridge Digital React Spot Hogg Fast Eddie AXCEL Landslyde Plus Carbon Pro Slider Redline RL-1 Carbon Black Gold Pro HD Hunter Viper Venom Pro XL Apex Gear AEGIS IQ Bowsights IQ Micro Rocky Mountain Horizon .30-06 Outdoors Aluma
hand feel. A specially designed pin throat allows for less target blackout, and the Photochromatic protective cover containing the spooled extended fiber optic adapts pin brightness to any lighting conditions. Black Gold provides 54 sight tapes, coupled with a Dial of Death, to make dialing to any conceivable range a cinch. To learn more, go to blackgoldsights.com. VIPER ARCHERY n Longer sight! Longer range! The Viper Archery Venom Pro XL has an overall length of more than 15 inches, making this one of the longest sight radius on the market. Featuring fully micro-tunable windage and elevation adjustments, this sight is available in 4- or 5-pin options holding either .010-, .015- or .019-inch diameter fiber optic aiming points and extended backing. The sight is milled from durable 6061 T6 aluminum and set up to accept a rheostat light. To learn more, go to viperarcheryproducts.com. APEX GEAR n Apex Gear is known for making a bow sight for every need and budget. A great example of a sight owning awesome features but also offered at a great price is the AEGIS Sight. The AEGIS Sight is available with a single .019-inch vertical pin or four .019-inch horizontal pin configuration. The helical elevation gear wheel allows clean and smooth movements, plus two yardage pointers and dual stops give the bowhunter four automatic yardage options for quick reaction to quickly developing shot opportunities. This is everything a bowhunter needs in a mover sight, without a high price tag. To learn more, go to apex-gear.com IQ BOWSIGHTS n Thinner pins and Retina Lock Technology are only some of the game changing features found in IQ Bowsights’ IQ Micro. The IQ Micro features five pins that are 50 percent thinner than previous models. The thinner pins and a new containment system for the .019-inch diameter fiber optic help make longer shots more precise. These pins, coupled with patented IQ Retina Lock, take long-range shooting to a new level. The sight includes all aluminum construction to stand up to harsh use in the field. The IQ Micro sight features toolfree micro-adjust windage and elevation, with an angled mounting bar offering multiple quiver attachment points. The smaller pins also allow for enhanced pin Buck Rub Gear Carbon Fixation Burris Oracle 2 Rangefinding Bow Sight
Sights&Rests INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 adjustment with reduced pin gap to accommodate today’s faster bows. The IQ Micro is available in right- and left-hand models. To learn more, go to feradyne.com/iq-micro. ROCKY MOUNTAIN n The Rocky Mountain Horizon series consists of several models, with the Horizon 1 or 3 Pin driver at the top of the list. The Horizon Driver mounting bracket and sight housing is constructed from aluminum for durability and reliability. This sight comes with a 1-pin or 3-pin head, both sporting forward-facing sight tapes for customizable witness marks. Being completely toolless and having smaller pins helps fine tune for the longest ranges. Four mounting positions and a 1.75-inch pin housing make this a delight for the bowhunter, allowing them to reach out further and shoot tighter groups. To learn more, go to feradyne.com/rocky-mountain/. .30-06 OUTDOORS n The Aluma 6-Pin sight is milled from aluminum and is as durable as a sight can be. The bright orange sight head makes sight acquisition nearly automatic when faced with that moment of truth. As the name states, this .30-06 sight holds six pins. The top five pins are .019-inch in diameter, the bottom drop pin .010-inch. The drop pin adds extra yardage to any setup, while the thin .010-inch aiming point does not obscure targets at longer yardages. Sometimes the simplest features can have the greatest impacts. The Aluma 6-Pin is available in right- and left-hand models and comes with a bubble level and sight light. To learn more, go to 30-06outdoors.com. BUCK RUB GEAR n Buck Rub Gear’s Carbon Fixation represents a sight with a multitude of features but a retail price any archer can afford. The Carbon Fixation is a two-pin sight with top fixed and bottom slider, making it versatile and free of confusion. The two pins make it easy for the bowhunter to acquire the target at short distances, say a buck appearing suddenly beneath a treestand. The slider also makes pinpoint shot placement at longer ranges possible. Constructed from carbon, the sight has a soft touch feel that eliminates glare and dampens vibrations, providing a finished weight of just 6.4 ounces. The slider witness marks make dialing in any yardage quick and easy. There is 3 feet of fiber optic backing each Mathews UltraRest Integrate MX Trophy Ridge V-Max Integrate Vapor Trail Gen Integrate 8X CBE Defy Micro QAD UltraRest Integrate R2
MAY 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM pin for excellent low-light performance. To learn more, go to buckrubgear.com. BURRIS n The Oracle 2 Rangefinding Bow Sight by Burris was redesigned to be better and lighter after listening to feedback from dealers and customers regarding the original Oracle. New refinements include improved Auto-Brightness Detection and Manual Brightness Control (lower levels), easier setup via new micro-adjustments, more effective waterproofing of the electronics and more accurate arrow drop calculations. The Oracle 2 means no more guessing yardage, fumbling with handheld rangefinders, dialing sights or gapping pins at “tweaner” ranges. The electronic Oracle 2 makes getting on game and confidently making a precise shot easier. Not legal in all states. Learn more, go to burrisoptics.com. Exceptional Arrow Rests QAD n QAD’s UltraRest Integrate R2 Arrow Rest is their newest release and includes the company’s seamless Integrate Mounting System found on many new bow models. The rest weighs only 1.9 ounces and is super compact. It can also be mounted to conventional bows using a QAD mounting bracket. The R2 Integrate costs a little less than former MX series rests because it does not include micro adjustments, but still provides the popular features of other UltraRest models. The rest is easy to install and adjust, GripSlide Technology holding the rest in place after adjustment screws are loosened until finger pressure is applied. The cable clamp also requires no bow press during installation. The deeply forked launcher locks up to hold the arrow in place while waiting, stalking, or drawing, and drops only when an arrow is launched, remaining engaged during a slow let-down. Lock Down Technology guarantees no bounceback and arrow contact after triggering. The rest holds integrated dampeners and it is rated to more than 400 fps. To learn more, go to qadinc.com. CUSTOM BOW EQUIPMENT (CBE) n The CBE Defy Micro arrow rest is designed to be easy to set up and use and includes Trophy Taker X-Treme Pro Lock Up .30-06 Outdoors Pin Point Hamskea Epsilon Buck Rub Gear Magne Drop Raven Claw
46 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 important features every archer welcomes while shooting under pressure. The Gravity Lock internal mechanism helps keep the arrow fully contained while drawing or during a slow letdown, but drops when an arrow is released. After release the Bounce Back Prevention system ensures the rotating launcher doesn’t bounce back to make contact and upset an arrow’s flight. Micro windage and elevation adjustments with highly visible hash marks make sighting in much easier. The 100 percent machined aluminum parts are durable and made to last. To learn more, go to custombowequipment.com. VAPOR TRAIL ARCHERY n Vapor Trail Archery is now accepting orders for the new Gen Integrate 8X limb-driven, dropaway arrow rest. Quantities are limited, but the company is working overtime to meet the high demand. The Gen Integrate 8X employs the sleek Integrate is proudly made in the USA. To learn more, go to vaportrailarchery.com. TROPHY RIDGE n Trophy Ridge’s Whisker Biscuit arrow rest has been an archery staple for decades, but recently received upgrades to make it more accurate and trouble free. The V-Max was introduced in 2021 and provided new upgrades to the Whisker Biscuit design. Largest among these, the V-Max has fewer contact points than the original Whisker Biscuit design for improved accuracy. For 2023 the Trophy Ridge VMax series includes a model designed to work in conjunction with streamlined Integrate Mounting System. To learn more, go to trophyridge.com. MATHEWS n Any dealer understands that Quality Archery Designs’ (QAD) UltraRest Integrate MX is a top rest for 2023. The trusted accuracy of QAD rests is now compatible with Mathews bows Mounting System and weighs only 4.1 ounces, making it the most compact arrow rest Vapor Trail has offered to date. The limb-driven design incorporates buttery smooth micro-adjustable windage and elevation, locked down with large hex head bolts. Micro adjustments include no clicks, allowing hitting the gaps between clicks for true micro adjustment. The full capture carbon cage with side load gate accommodates all arrow sizes and is rubber over molded (14 interchangeable colors) for silence. Vapor Trail’s proprietary vibration-dampening material is also evident. A removable side pulley arm allows using top or bottom limb activation. The free-floating launcher supports arrows during 70 percent of the shot cycle for superior arrow guidance, the launcher also featuring an integrated Arm Stop Block and silencing surfaces. A silencing, arrow-centering shag pad is also provided. Set up and tuning are fast and simple, and the rest EZ V Bow Sight “World’s First Bowhunting Sight” Company Seeking I.P. (patent) Licensee / Acquisition “This is a rare and profitable turn-key entrepreneurship & investment opportunity, with zero competition & minimal financial risk.” SERIOUS INQUIRIES CONTACT: KC Lasco | [email protected] | (406) 404-9162 or Aaron Lasco | [email protected] | (406) 451-1840 INCENTIVES ➢ High Manufacturer & Dealer Profit Margins ➢ Turn-key Production & Assembly Process ➢ Machining Equipment & Inventory Included ➢ One of a kind 100% USA Made & Built ➢ Exponential Growth/ Product Expansion & Advertising Financial Growth: Recommendations & Projections Included PROBLEMS SOLVED ➢ No rangefinder required! Shoot using patented Stadiametric Distance Ranging V-Technology or shoot as a traditional pin sight. It’s your choice! ➢ Crippling Target Panic Resolved ➢ Unprecedented Shot Accuracy ➢ Restores Clear Shot for Aging Eyes ➢ Patented V-Inserts & Glow Rings Maximize Low Light Shot Conditions ➢ Captures, Stores & Releases Natural Light – Glow in the Dark Effect - ➢ Maximizes Ground Blind Visibility ➢ & so much more visit www.ezvsight.com PRODUCT OVERVIEW The EZ V Bow Sight is a mathematically-perfect, distance-ranging compound bow sight built on a stadiametric rangefinding system. This patented distance-ranging V-Technology perfectly and mathematically ranges distance for all regulated hunted game species. NO MORE GUESSING. NO MORE RANGEFINDER. Sights&Rests
MAY 2023 47 INSIDEARCHERY.COM featuring the Integrate dovetail mounting system. This system continues to bridge the gap and make Mathews bows even more compatible with attached accessories. One of the things users appreciate is the MX’s micro extreme click adjustments. These help fine-tune arrow flight vertically and horizontally, and give Mathews shooters one of the highest levels of tunability within any rest on the market. To learn more, go to mathewsinc.com. TROPHY TAKER n The Trophy Taker XTreme Pro Lock Up Arrow rest is a full capture drop-away rest that takes arrow control to the next level. It is easy to set up and tune, and even easier to make adjustments on the fly. The rest can be locked in the upright position until the shot. The rest is cable-driven and the arrow remains fully contained before and during the shot cycle for foolproof use in the field. To learn more, go to trophytaker.com. .30-06 OUTDOORS n The Pin Point Arrow Rest from .30-06 Outdoors is a full capture/fall-away design that is easy to set up, tune, and use. It is constructed from 100 percent aluminum to be lightweight, stout and compact. The rest is anchored via standard riser rest taps, making setup straight forward. The rest includes highly visible hash marks to make setting center shot and conducting tuning simple yet precise. The Pin Point rest includes a cable attachment clamp, meaning it doesn’t require pressing the bow during installation. To learn more, go to 30-06outdoors.com HAMSKEA ARCHERY n One of the most popular new additions to the arrow rest arena is the feature-rich Epsilon by Hamskea Archery. The Epsilon was designed to make finding center shot easier. This is done via the company’s C.O.R. Mounting technology. This rest can be configured to be activated by a top or bottom limb, or the downward buss cable. The Epsilon holds arrows in place when the launcher is in the downward position, and it includes a V-shaped fall-away arm to ensure the arrow flies true through the center shot every shot. When extra tuning is necessary, use the Denten micro-tune feature to adjust windage and elevation. This is only a quick rundown of the many features built into this rest. To learn more, go to hamskea.com. BUCK RUB GEAR n When looking at Buck Rub Gear’s Magne Drop Raven Claw arrow rest you’ll notice it has a different look, but rest assured it is purpose built for bowhunting. The Magne Drop Raven Claw has specially designed capture claws that hold the arrow in place when the bow is at rest, but during the draw cycle they release the arrow for clean flight. The bowstring cut-away integrated magnets ensure the rest functions flawlessly and reliably, without the possibility of worn springs. It can be set up for rightor left-handed shooters. To learn more, go to buckrubarchery.com. IA
48 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT I BY PATRICK MEITIN Morrell Targets Yellow Jacket Kinetic X 500 FPS WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. started shooting more hyper-fast compound bows, my targets upgraded in response. But during that same period, crossbows had made yet another performance leap. Even my best compound targets were found somewhat lacking for stopping crossbolts traveling upwards of 450 fps. Morrell Targets has responded to that new reality, one of the latest answers to the crossbow energy conundrum, their new Yellow Jacket Kinetic X 500 FPS. As the name implies, the Kinetic X is designed to stop heavy crossbow bolts launched at velocities of up to 500 fps—like Ravin and TenPoint Crossbows’ latest flagship models. Stopping a 400-grain crossbolt hitting with 180- plus foot pounds of kinetic energy requires some serious stopping power. The company accomplishes this with a patented floating center core and strategic layers of advanced materials. Due to this design, the Kinetic X is not recommended for bolts or arrows holding outserts, which snag on the poly outer shell during extraction. The most remarkable part of this program is the Kinetic X stops these ultra-fast and heavyhitting bolts while also providing nearly effortless bolt extraction. The Kinetic X is a 16-by-16-by-16- didn’t really shoot crossbows that often until recently, first after extensive shoulder surgery maybe six years ago, and more recently after a major injury to my left hand involving seven surgeries, lots of metal pins, and seemingly endless rehab. I turned to crossbows during those periods in order to hunt at all. What I quickly discovered was that not a single target I owned, used mostly to catch relatively slow traditional arrows before shoulder surgery, proved up to the task of stopping high performance crossbow bolts. By the time I was dealing with my hand injury I had inch square bag target that weighs 51 pounds. The 16-inch base and not insignificant mass makes the Kinetic X extremely stable and self-standing. It can be placed anywhere and will not tip over when shot with even the most radical crossbows and heaviest bolts. The Yellow Jacket Kinetic X has a rugged polypropylene cover and is completely weather resistant, so it can be left in the backyard or on the range without ill effects. The target is equipped with E-Z Tote carrying handles, so despite its heft it's easy to move around or load into a vehicle to carry to hunting camp. The square bag target offers four shooting sides, shooting not recommended into the top or bottom of the target. These four faces offer more than 50 aiming points, which also helps spread wear around and prolongs the practical life of the target. The Kinetic X is an exceptional target at an affordable price, with an MSRP of just $109.99. Morrell makes an archery target for every need, including economy to advanced bag targets, High Roller Foam or other foam butts, commercial range cubes, realistic 3D targets, poly Target faces, and more. Check them out at morrelltargets.com. IA
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 Í Profit Margins of 60 Points+ During Show Season 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! Join Us! naba-archery.com (903) 675-2233 • [email protected] We Have...
50 INSIDE ARCHERY MAY 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT S BY PATRICK MEITIN TargetTack™ llc WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. arrows we shoot, as arrows must be safely captured after every shot to ensure they are not damaged. Adding a printed target to this butt is a big part of the fun, allowing us to keep score, track progress, or practice for bowhunting by engraining proper shot placement. Securing paper or vinyl targets to backstops has generally involved large nails or wire pins—both of which, at one time or another, have inflicted damage to my expensive arrows. New TargetTacks offer a safer, more reliable way to anchor printed targets to any conceivable archery target. Molded polymer TargetTacks are an affordable, infinitely reusable, ultra-secure, and most importantly, arrow-friendly option for securing paper or vinyl targets to archery backstops. TargetTacks are compatible with any common archery target material, including layered or molded foam, traditional straw or excelsior butts, and even stuffed bag targets. TargetTack are offered in two lengths, 1- and 3-inch, the former best suited to bag targets with tough polymer faces and inserted with a twisting motion, the latter ideal for all other materials, as well as looser bag targets. TargetTacks are easy and straight forward to use. Simply poke them through each corner of the target face and ease them into the backstop material. The tapered, three-edged and serrated pin etting arrows into flight is what archery is all about. The very act of releasing an arrow offers deep relaxation and respite from the stresses of everyday life. But regular shooting is also vitally important to sharpening shooting skills to become more proficient, sighting in, and tuning bows to create that enjoyment. In the big picture target butts are as integral to archery as the bows and easily penetrates even highdensity foam, while the flat-backed heads hold targets securely, even in a breeze or while being pounded by highperformance compounds or crossbows. Should the anchoring holes become loose after repeated target changes, a quarter-turn twist retightens the TargetTack’s hold on the backstop material. The tough polymer construction can withstand the harsh weather of outdoor ranges, and should an archer accidently impact one of the TargetTack heads it will not damage the point, insert or arrow, making for a safer option. TargetTack’s ergonomic design can be deployed by anyone, including youth shooters and women with fashionable fingernails. For home and backyard use, TargetTacks are offered in 1- or 3-inch four packs or a Variety 8 Pack containing four each of the 1- and 3-inch options (sold in individual or bundle packs for retail sale). Perhaps of more interest to pro shops with shooting ranges, TargetTacks can also be purchased in bulk, in standard orange or custom colors (with a minimum of 1,000). Leaving a bucket of TargetTacks on the target range allows customers to grab what they need while hanging targets. The looped heads also allow hanging outdoor wind flags or novelty targets such as balloons. TargetTack is veteran run, family owned and made in the USA. Check them out by visiting TargetTackLLC.com. IA