www.insidearchery.com AUGUST 2023 ®
4 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 22 24 34 36 12 50 46 48 52 54 INSIDE ARCHERY (Volume 26, #7) 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 AUGUST 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 7 People Power of Participation ■ Gina Fisher | Kanaka Archery ■ Tom Galley | Hornet Outdoors ■ Matt Bateman | Grim Reaper Broadheads ■ Kevin Casey | CenterPoint Archery/Ravin Crossbows ■ Deane Elliott | Inventive Outdoors ■ Ricky Brule | Vapor Trail Banks Outdoors Built on Family, Passion, and the American Dream By Michaelean Pike Market Trends New & Notable Archery products with strong sales potential Gear Report Scott Archery S2 Release The Buck Stops Here: 2023 Archery Targets By Colton Heward Gear Report Browning Trail Cameras Defender Pro Scout Max and Pro Scout Max Extreme Bow Report APA Archery Black Mamba 33 Pro Shop Essentials Outdoor Sports and Recreation Business Insurance Gear Report Hot Trails® Scented Hunting Candles Game Changing Blinds & Treestands By Todd DeCapua 46 18 34 24 54 36
6 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 50 8 14 10 66 16 18 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 7 Inside the Industry Inside Track For the Love of Bowhunting Kinsey’s Business Blueprint Navigating the Peak Archery Season with Kinsey’s Inc: A Guide for Archery Dealers ATA Action ATA Celebrates First Round of Bow Technician Certification Graduates Industry News The latest on news, events, and people in the archery industry ATA Action ATA and Explore St. Louis Announce “First Night’s On Us” Promotion at 2024 ATA Show Industry 5Q Five Questions with Kevin Sullivan from Sullivan Industries Inc./ Innerloc Broadheads 36 12 insidearchery.comOnline Exclusives Fresh content daily on social media! WebXtras: Gear Reports: Scott Archery S2 Release, Browning Trail Cameras Defender Pro Scout Max and Pro Scout Max Extreme, and Hot Trails® Scented Hunting Candles. Bow Report: APA Archery Black Mamba 33. 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 Decoying Rutting Pronghorns: Making it Fun Elk-Hunting Success During the Warm Opening Days of Season How to Blow Your Whitetail Season Before it Even Begins Top Five Best Bets for Scoring a Velvet-Antlered Whitetail 52 22
INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 For the Love of Bowhunting love of all things archery—and especially bowhunting—is no doubt what lead you to launch and foster your archery pro shop or manufacturing business. Operating a successful archery pro shop or related business certainly immerses you in all things archery and bowhunting, but ironically success often results in more time spent taking care of the needs of others than spent directly participating in the sport that defines you. Running a successful business in the times we live in has become specially demanding, as well as increasingly time consuming. There is also no doubt this reality rears its ugly head when dealing with employees. The employees you depend on to help your operation run smoothly, to take a little of the pressure off, likely entered this vocation due to their love of archery and especially bowhunting. So, understandably, with archery seasons kicking off across the country, your employees also want time off to get into the field. This can become a delicate balancing act. You want and need employees who are successful in the field, helping to provide real-world perspectives on what customers want and need, allowing them to offer sound equipment advice, and not the least of which, be viewed as people customers should want to seek advice from. This is your largest role as well—the experienced hand who offers sage advice on equipment setup, the proper tools for the job, and the gear that spawns success. You are likely viewed as an expert because you have enjoyed a higher-than-average degree of success in the field. But bowhunting is time consuming—which, come to think of it, is kind of the point. How do you balance time in the field accumulating a deep well of experience with the need to keep your operation running efficiently—not to mention avoiding complete burnout? And how do you balance your craving to refill the well with the needs of your most important employees to do the same? I have certainly witnessed shop owners bitterly disillusioned by a lack of field time in the heart of bowhunting seasons. I have also watched shops lose their best employees because a self-absorbed shop owner refused to concede his employees the smallest amount of time away from work. Some semblance of balance is obviously in order. Time away from the shop to decompress and allow a return to the trenches with a genuine smile on your face is vitally important—as it is for key employees. This is easier in whitetail country, where alternating mornings/evenings/weekends can be scheduled so all involved enjoy some stand time. This is more logistically complicated while operating in the West, with its time-consuming mountain hunts, especially given the relative infrequency of winning lottery tags in some states. I have no easy answers to offer, unfortunately, other than to say it should be a priority. Your sanity, and the financial health of your business, depend on it. Patrick Meitin, Executive Editor A INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE TRACK
AUGUST 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 Todd DeCapua | Cassie Gasaway Colton Heward | Michaelean Pike 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 AUGUST 2023 INSIDE THE INDUSTRY BUSINESS BLUEPRINT Navigating the Peak Archery Season with Kinsey’s Inc. A GUIDE FOR ARCHERY DEALERS you meet customer demand without any delays or hiccups. Avoid Out of Stocks with Extensive Inventory ■ In the world of retail, “out of stock” is a phrase that neither you nor your customers wish to encounter. Kinsey’s Inc. supports you by offering access to more than 600 popular brands with more than 31,000 items available. We are aware of the market’s pulse and keep track of the most in-demand, popular archery products. For example, as hunting season approaches, you’ll see a flood of people prepping last minute, stocking up on commodity items like broadheads, string wax, arrows, and other archery accessories. These consumables become essential and ensuring they are always in-stock is important. Likewise, last-minute customers also tend to seek quick repairs or service to their bows. Therefore, keeping an eye on servicerelated products, like strings, cables, string accessories like peep sights, kisser buttons, string silencers, and bow and crossbow parts, is paramount. This extensive inventory, coupled with our “In Today, Out Tomorrow” policy, guarantees that your store remains stocked with industry-leading brands that your customers need to be successful in the field. Your partnership with us means a seamless supply chain where the right products are always available at the right time. he archery season is an exciting time for both archery retailers and bowhunters, and with it comes the associated rush to archery shops across the U.S. With increased demand and foot traffic, archery retailers find themselves in the hustle to provide in-demand products while maintaining an efficient supply chain. This is where partnering with an archery distributor like Kinsey’s Inc. becomes crucial. At Kinsey’s Inc., we specialize in offering an unparallel service to archery dealers, especially during peak archery season, to make sure your customers never leave your store empty-handed. Let’s explore the three core benefits that make partnering with Kinsey’s a strategic choice for your business. 24/7 Online Ordering ■ As a devoted archery retailer, you are no stranger to the late-night order requests and the need for flexibility in your supply chain. We understand the unpredictable nature of the archery season rush and therefore offer a 24/7/365 online ordering system through our webstore. Never again will you be bound by conventional business hours or wait for a dealer sales representative to process your order request. Whether it’s midnight or the weekend, your orders can be placed at your convenience. This ensures your inventory is replenished at the right time, helping T In Today, Out Tomorrow ■ When the clock is ticking during peak archery season, even a small delay can cost significant business and lost time in the field bowhunting. That’s why our “In Today, Out Tomorrow” promise stands as a testament to our commitment to fast and efficient order processing. Whether you order through your dealer sales representative or our state-of-theart online webstore, your order will be processed with utmost speed. The items are picked, packed, and shipped with swift accuracy so that they reach your store without delay. This rapid response system ensures that you are always ahead of your competition, providing what your customers need when they need it. Partner With the Best ■ The peak archery season brings both opportunities and challenges. As a distributor dedicated to supporting archery dealers and retailers, Kinsey’s Inc. is here to transform those challenges into success stories. With our 24/7 online ordering system, commitment to processing and shipping orders with rapid efficiency, and extensive inventory of top brands and products, we stand as a beacon for those bowhunters and archery retailers who aim for excellence. When you partner with Kinsey’s Inc., you partner with the best. Your success is our target, and with our partnership we’ll never miss the mark this archery season. 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 AUGUST 2023 MARKET TRENDS NEW & NOTABLE SKB Cases iSeries 4214-5 Medium Parallel Limb Bow Case T he iSeries 4214-5 Medium Parallel Limb Bow Case by SKB Cases is made for customers who need the ultimate in equipment protection. The case accommodates parallel limb bows up to 40 inches long while providing separate quiver, arrow, and accessory box compartments (sold separately, 3i-0702-1B). Injection molded, gasket-sealed MIL-Standard construction makes it waterproof submersible and dust tight, resistant to corrosion, UV damage and impact safe. Standard features include molded-in hinge, padlock loops, patented trigger release latches, snap-down rubber over-molded cushion grip handle and automatic ambient pressure equalization valve. The waterjet cut foam arrow system holds up to a dozen arrows, and the built-in in-line skate style wheels make navigating busy airports easy. The USA-made case comes with a lifetime warranty and $1,500 content damage coverage. Learn more at skbcases.com. Antler King Honey Hole D eer hunters are now able to create their own honey hole with Antler King’s proven Honey Hole food plot seed. This top-selling seed blend is simple to plant, grows fast, and is irresistible to deer. It includes a brassica mixture featuring multiple varieties of rape and turnips, so Honey Hole makes the perfect fall and winter food plot. The plants turn sweet after the first frost, creating an extremely palatable, highly digestible energy source for deer when they need it most. Honey Hole is treated with Antler King’s Ultra Coat Orange to produce higher germination rates and increased forage yield. It is easy to establish and can thrive with little or no tilling. For best results, plant in late summer or early fall. Honey Hole is offered in 3-pound bags, which covers ½ acre and retails for $24.99, or a 40-pound bag, which retails for $199.99. Learn more at antlerking.com. Mountain View Products Altra New Altra quivers from Mountain View Products, LLC are premium designs offered in 8.6-ounce Altra 1-peice and 9.6-ounce Altra 2-piece options. They are bowhunting inspired, including features to streamline the hunt. They are extremely lightweight and offer maximum adjustment to help customers customize fit and feel while minimizing torque. Each securely holds five standard or micro-diameter arrows. The Altra-1 mounts to the top mounting hole of the bow riser, keeping the sight and rest areas free of clutter. It offers 1.5 inches of horizontal and up to 9.5 inches of vertical adjustments. The Altra-2 mounts to the top and bottom mounting riser holes, allowing 10 inches of vertical adjustment. Both hoods accommodate a wide variety of broadhead types without dulling, and include multiple mounting adapters to fit most popular riser brands. Look for them in Textured Black, Stormy Gray, Flat Dark Earth, and Green Beret (OD Green). Learn more at mountainviewproducts.com. BowJax Ultra 1 String Silencers B owJax’s Ultra 1 String Silencers offer a fast, easy way to hush any bow or crossbow model. These long-lasting string silencers include a slit down the side of each silencer set, so they slip over bowstrings and buss cables nearly instantly. They are then anchored using quick and simple mini zip ties, which makes them easy to place exactly where they are needed without a bow press. The wrap-around design will not alter peep rotation like silencers slipped between string strands often will, which also makes them easy to move or adjust as needed. They offer one of the fastest yet secure string silencer options on the market today. The soft but tough rubber material sucks vibrations from strings and cables while also lasting through many seasons. Ultra 1 String Silencers are offered in black, green, red, or brown to match most modern bow setups. . Learn more at bowjax.com. Thorn Broadheads The Crown “ T he Crown of Thorns” by Thorn Broadheads is a fixed blade broadhead unlike any other. The Crown includes four helically stacked blades, starting at the top with a 5/8-inch-wide set, followed by ¾-inch and 7/8-inch, and culminating in a 1-inch-wide blade at the bottom. This stacked blade arrangement provides shooters with 3.25 inches of total cutting surfaces to create devastating wound channels that open wide and spill more blood. The Crown is grounded in a top-grade 7075 aircraft aluminum ferrule and lead by a threaded solid titanium tip. The .040-inch-thick, 420 stainless steel blades are replaceable. Each package comes with three Crown broadheads, a set of replacement blades and a Tip Tool. They are available in 100- and 125-grain models. Check local hunting laws, as some states may consider it a barbed head. Learn more at thornbroadheads.com. Victory Archery RIP-SS T he RIP-SS is the latest addition to Victory’s carbon/stainless steel hybrid arrow lineup. The RIP-SS is a windcutting, bone-crushing .204-inch diameter shaft combining 90-degree 3K carbon weave with woven layers of stainless-steel mesh fused to create one rugged hunting arrow. It is lighter and faster than previous Xtorsion or VAP-SS options, without sacrificing durability and while providing higher F.O.C. to boost penetration potential. This creates an ideal combination of flat-shooting speed and deep-driving penetration suited to most North American big game. They are available in +/- .001-inch straightness tolerance Elite, .003-inch straightness Gamer and .006-inch straightness Sport options, and deflection ratings of .250-, .300-, .350- or .400-inch. All are equipped with rugged SHOK SS inserts and quality IP nocks. Learn more at victoryarchery.com.
14 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 ATA Celebrates First Round of Bow Technician Certification Graduates INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATION archerytrade.org skills as a bow technician. It’s good to know what I’m doing is accurate and legit.” McFadden found a renewed sense of confidence through the ATA’s Bow Technician Certification course. He also learned new skills and is expanding the services he offers customers, including things like third axis adjustment of a bow sight. The Bow Technician Certification course is ideal for bow technicians of all skill levels and years of experience. No matter how long you’ve been a bow technician, having the certification validates your skills, adds credibility to your shop, reassures customers you know what you’re doing, and differentiates your business from competitors. Each graduate receives a bow technician certificate and in-store signage, among other assets, to show they’ve mastered bow technician skills. With dozens of ATA members waiting their turn to take the in-person practical, the ATA scheduled the next two assessment opportunities. ATA staff was in Raleigh, North Carolina, on September 17-18 and will be in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on October 18-19 to test your skills. Contact Kurt Smith, ATA’s director of industry relations, at [email protected] to register and secure your spot. The ATA congratulates the first seven ATA Certified Bow Technicians and invites others to sign up for the ATA Bow Technician Certification course. The certification is a members-only benefit so you must be a member to enroll. To register or learn more about the certification, visit archerytrade.org/ bow-technician-certification. If you want to become a member, just go to archerytrade.org/membership/ IA T he ATA held its first in-person Bow Technician Certification practical assessment on June 14-15 in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, with seven participants gaining their certification. Kurt Smith, ATA’s director of industry relations, tested the students alongside Steve VanZile, director at the George Chapman School of Archery, and acknowledged the accomplishment for all those involved. “This is an incredible milestone and achievement for the ATA and our first few certified bow technicians,” Smith said. “We’ve gotten great feedback from members that this course helped them expand their knowledge and feel more confident in their skills. The practical assessment gives us the opportunity to see the technicians applying the skills in a real-world setting. Better yet, an industry certification tells customers the technician is both qualified and capable of providing exceptional service.” Among the graduates was Casey McFadden, owner of RxArchery in Ohio. He found value in the course and feels more comfortable working on customers’ bows. “I’ve been running the shop for two years and I don’t have someone checking my work,” he said. “Passing the course validates my BY CASSIE GASAWAY UNITING THE INDUSTRY Elevate your bow technician skills and enroll in the ATA’s Bow Technician Certification course today. PHOTO © ATA.
National Bowhunter Education Foundation Offers On-going National Archery In The Schools Program Support National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) continues to sponsor the National Archery In The Schools Program (NASP®) as a way to introduce young archers to bowhunting. NBEF is a 2023 sponsor of the 1st Place High School Team Scholarship INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS at the NASP® National Tournament in Louisville. The NBEF contributed a total of $12,000 toward scholarships. NBEF also donated two Genesis bows proudly adorned with the NBEF logo to the winning school for use in future archery instruction. By exhibiting at the NASP Eastern Nationals, NBEF shares information about its safety and success-focused bowhunter education classes and informational materials with the thousands of NASP® participants, their coaches and families. “These NASP® events and scholarship sponsorships are a wonderful way for us to engage with young archery enthusiasts and invite them to learn about bowhunting,” explained Marilyn Bentz, NBEF Executive Director. “For many it’s a natural extension of their interest in archery and conservation. NBEF solidly supports the NASP® organization and will continue to help move the program forward.” NASP®’s mission is to promote instruction in international-style target archery as part of in-school cur-
AUGUST 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM riculum and to improve educational performance and participation in the shooting sports among students in grades 4 through 12. “We’re very grateful to have NBEF’s past and current support,” said NASP® President Tommy Floyd. “Our organizations are working together and share a passion to get more young people into the shooting sports and into the outdoor lifestyle.” NBEF helps bowhunters learn to be safe, successful and stewards of the sport. NBEF offers bowhunting instructional items, books, videos, 3-D models, apparel and more at nbef.org. National Bowhunter Education Foundation offers instructional content and tools for bowhunter education classes in the U.S. Helping bowhunters become safe and successful hunters and stewards of the sport are important NBEF missions. The NBEF provides bowhunter certification standards and class content that states and certain circumstances require in order to bowhunt. NBEF provides instructor training and certification. NBEF oversees the International Bowhunter Education Program and works with the International Hunter Education Association and state agencies to coordinate a unified program. Europe and other countries accept the NBEF (IBEP) certification and conduct IBEP classes. NBEF also oversees the International Crossbow Education Program and works with state agencies responsible for crossbow education to develop comprehensive online crossbow safety courses that teach students important laws and regulations, game identification, and safe, responsible handling of crossbow equipment. NBEF is a 501(c)3 corporation that isn’t a membership-based organization. Taxdeductible donations to support this non-profit are welcome. | PLEASE VISIT NASPSCHOOLS.ORG FOR EVENT DETAILS. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NBEF GO TO NBEF.ORG. Victory Archery Partners with Major League Bowhunter Victory Archery is happy to announce the company has partnered with Major League Bowhunter. Hosted by Matt Duff and Chipper Jones, Major League Bowhunter chronicles seasons of deer hunting successes and failures. As the pros learn from each experience to become better bowhunters, they rely on The Carbon Arrow Experts™ for dependable performance when pursuing trophy whitetails. “As longtime fans of these incredible athletes and bowhunters, we’re thrilled to work with Major League Bowhunter,” says Jayson Bentcik, National Sales Manager at Victory Archery. “Matt and Chipper share our values and dedication to bowhunting and we can’t wait to see where this partnership takes us.” Victory Archery is a team of archers, aerospace engineers, hunters, and target shooters who hold the highest standards in their disciplines. This has allowed for the melding of technology and innovation creating cutting edge hunting and target shooting arrows. Victory’s parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, is one of the largest manufacturers of carbon fiber in the world with manufacturing and research facilities distributed across the United States. This vertical integration gives Victory engineers direct access to the highest-grade carbon fiber technology available and gives hunters as well as target archers access to the most high-performance arrows ever produced. With precision engineering and infrastructure from one of the world’s largest carbon manufacturers behind Victory, it’s no wonder they are globally recognized as The Carbon Arrow Experts. | EXPLORE THE PRODUCT LINE AND TECHNOLOGY AT VICTORYARCHERY.COM. IA
18 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 “First Night’s On Us” at 2024 ATA Show INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATION archerytrade.org Come join the who’s who of archery professionals, see and touch the latest gear, and find special Show pricing at the industry’s largest celebration of archery and bowhunting and get a night’s stay thanks to the ATA and Explore St. Louis. We can’t wait to see you! About the 2024 Show ATA Show Registration n Registration for the 2024 ATA Show opened August 1. There are many reasons to attend— head to the “Why Attend” page on the ATAshow.com site to see the top 10 list. ATA Show Floor Plan n The 2024 ATA Show floor is quickly filling with exhibitors. Take a peek at the hundreds of manufacturers that have already secured their spot by visiting the floor plan on ATAshow.com. Parking n Hotels in the ATA block will offer reduced parking rates ranging from 10 to 30 percent off for all ATA hotel guests staying at one of the contract hotels. ATA’s Hotel Block n Hotels in the ATA block are guaranteed to have the lowest rates. The official housing block opens August 1. Beware of scammers! The only provider of the official ATA housing block is Orchid Events. Any other communications you receive regarding ATA Show hotels are scams. St. Louis Info n Start planning your trip! Visit explorestlouis.com/archerytrade-association to find information on St. Louis restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and attractions. The city is ready to host a successful ATA Show while also providing a safe and enjoyable experience. If you have any questions, please contact Beth Berkheimer, ATA’s Trade Show director, at (507) 233-8141 or [email protected]. IA T he ATA and Explore St. Louis have partnered to cover the cost of one hotel night for each ATA-member retailer attending the 2024 ATA Show in St. Louis, January 11-13. All registered ATA-member retailers who book their rooms through the official housing provider will receive a $150 credit on their bill for the first night of their hotel stay thanks to ATA’s “First Night’s on Us” hotel promotion. You stay and we pay $150 toward the first night! Hotel reservations opened the same day as ATA Show registration on August 1 and the promotional credit will automatically apply to your first night’s stay. The ATA Hotel Block includes seven hotels. Five of the seven hotels in the ATA block are located directly across from America’s Center, with two of the others providing free shuttle service. Hotels in the ATA block are guaranteed to have the lowest rates. To learn more about the hotel properties and the promotion details, please visit ATAShow.com. BY CASSIE GASAWAY St.Louis skyline. PHOTO © EXPLORE ST. LOUIS UNITING THE INDUSTRY
Every year people in the archery industry spend hours talking among themselves about the state of the industry. In late spring and early summer there is always worry about slow sales, leading some to forecast a down year. By midsummer, the hand wringing often slows as shops begin to see sales pick up. Then, like clockwork, bowhunting seasons begin and drive the fall sales that carry most retailers through to the end of the year. To many retailers, the archery business is a seasonal roller coaster where the long slow preseason is followed by the fast ride through the peak season, ending at a never certain financial endpoint. Such is life in the archery industry. This time of year, many archery retailers are asking themselves, “How do I protect my business and my family in a market that is tough to forecast?” For starters, retailers have to deal with the costs of doing business that are fixed by the local economy. When it comes to stocking their shops for bowhunters and archers, independent retailers have historically had to pay the most for products, leaving them with low, often unsustainable, margins. Thankfully, there is an answer to every retailer’s worries: Join the National Archery Buyers Association. The NABA is built to protect retailers’ businesses and ensure they and their family have a secure, livable wage at the end of each year. NABA members enjoy the best margins in the industry (sometimes 50 percent or more), longer terms, free freight options, and exclusive products. The strength in numbers of NABA allows each member retailer to enjoy a competitive advantage over the box stores as well as the internet sales outlets. In essence, NABA provides financial security for its members if they take advantage of the buying leverage offered by NABA vendors. More than anything else, membership in NABA changes the nature of the conversations an individual retailer has about the archery industry, especially at this time of year. The anxiety about not just overall sales but about net revenue to sustain their business is dramatically reduced for NABA Members allowing them to focus on sales strategies. Retailers secure in their financial position have the luxury of taking advantage of new trends as well as taking a few risks on new and innovative products. Probably the most valuable feature of membership in NABA is access to the information exchanges that go on among and between this exclusive set of archery retailers. Conversations that start at the annual ATA Trade Show, continue at the NABA Show in Vegas, and then occur intermittently throughout the rest of the year and provide critical input used by NABA members to drive their annual success. So, the next time you listen to the concerns of a fellow retailer about whether or not they’ve made the right buying decisions, ask if they’ve mitigated their risks with a membership in the NABA. Let them know how good it feels to know that whatever their final sales, they’ve secured the margins that will give them a satisfactory wage as well as sustain their business. At the end of the day, NABA retailers are like their bowhunting customers—confident, calm, and sure that they have done all that’s necessary for a successful season. Learn more by contacting Kelly Kelly, Executive Director, at [email protected] or (903) 675-2233. NABA: The Key to a Successful Season NABA: The Key to a Successful Season NABA: The Key to a Successful Season Brought to You by National Archery Buyers Association (NABA) By utilizing the power of NABA as a buying group, I gain additional margins on inventory and this allows me to set the tone for the next year. I also like the benefits of using the portal to program my needs throughout the year based on current inventory levels and sales trends. Ours is a very seasonal business so it is critical to get this part right and NABA is a great tool to maximize profits and buy inventory at the right time and price. —Tony Romaguera, Alvarado Archery “ “
22 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 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. Tom Galley • Colorado Rocky Mountain Elk Co-Owner, Hornet Outdoors Bow ■ Elite Archery Ritual 30 Arrow ■ Victory Archery Broadhead ■ G5 Outdoors Release ■ T.R.U. Ball Sight ■ Black Gold Rest ■ Hamskea Kevin Casey • Quebec Black Bear Archery Product Manager, CenterPoint Archery/Ravin Crossbows Crossbow ■ CenterPoint Wrath 430 Bolt ■ CenterPoint with Lighted Nock Broadhead ■ Ravin Steel Mechanical
AUGUST 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 23 Ricky Brule • Idaho Turkey Creative Director, Vapor Trail, Inc. Bow ■ Mathews V3 31 Arrow ■ Easton Injexion Broadhead ■ Magnus Black Rest ■ Vapor Trail GI8X Hornet Ser-Razor Sight ■ HHA Sports Tetra Lite Release ■ Scott Archery Silverhorn Quiver ■ TightSpot Gina Fisher • South Africa Cape Buffalo Co-Owner, Kanaka Archery Bow ■ Mathews VXR Arrow ■ Kanaka Archery Broadhead ■ Kanaka Archery Sight ■ Trophy Taker Black Death 525 grain Rest ■ Trophy Taker Release ■ TruFire Smoke Smackdown Matt Bateman • Utah Mule Deer National Sales Manager, Grim Reaper Broadheads Bow ■ Hoyt RX7 Arrow ■ Gold Tip Airstrike Broadhead ■ Grim Reaper Pro Sight ■ Black Gold Pro Release ■ Spot-Hogg Wise Guy Rest ■ Ripcord Drive Cage Deane Elliott • Ohio Whitetail Owner, Inventive Outdoors Crossbow ■ Excalibur Crossbow Bolt ■ Excalibur Quill Broadhead ■ New Archery Products Spitfire Other ■ Inventive Outdoors Gutcheck Indicators Wrap
24 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 B anks Outdoors prides itself on producing quality products designed to help hunters develop their dream hunting property and, most importantly, to be able to better experience the outdoors with their families. It’s not hard for the company to design these products because the people behind the brand live the lifestyle themselves. For nearly 30 years, Banks Outdoors has showcased the magic that happens when you combine a close-knit family, a genuine love for the outdoors and the opportunities this country offers to those willing to work hard. Built on Family, Passion, and the American Dream
AUGUST 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 25 BY MICHAELEAN PIKE The American Dream “My parents started their business when they were very young,” Mitch Banks, vice president of sales and marketing, said. “They basically used their last dollar to start it up.” His father, Bob Banks, was a tool and die machinist who went from making products for other people to developing his own products. “He became an innovator himself,” Mitch explained. “We watched him evolve into making his own product lines, which let us see what America allows for opportunity. He’s probably created 200 to 300 products over his career, in several different industries.” In 1994, Bob and two other individuals realized there was an unfilled need in the outdoor market. At the time, Bob performed injection and rotational molding, and he saw a way to blend
26 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 his manufacturing expertise with his love of the outdoors. “Rotational molding creates a very strong composite product,” Mitch said. “It wasn’t being used very much in the outdoors at that time, but it lends itself really well to it. So my dad and his partners saw an opportunity to create a sled for the ice fisherman and outdoorsman. They roto-molded it so it could withstand what Mother Nature had to throw at it. Later they added an ATV utility trailer to the line-up. Those products were what led them to create Banks Outdoors.” Five years later, Bob bought out his partners. While all the manufacturing was already being conducted in the company’s Cannon Falls, Minnesota, facility, some of the other functions, such as marketing, were not. Bob brought everything in-house. A Family Business For the Banks family, the outdoors has always been a shared passion. “Our father introduced us to hunting and fishing at a very young age,” Mitch said. “It’s always been a passion of our family. From the moment, my brothers and I harvested our first deer or caught our first fish, we were hooked. We always spent time outdoors, whether it was fishing out on a lake, or from a creek in our backyard, or hunting out in the wilderness. “As kids, we loved the sheer excitement of it all. But as adults, we find we treasure the solitude. We can get out there and see things happening in their purest form, just being out there in the peace of the wild. With the busy lives we lead now, it’s nice to be able to step away from cell phones and technology for a bit.” The three brothers grew up watching their parents run their business. All three went on to college. Mitch majored in economics with a minor in marketing, then joined his parents at Banks Outdoors and their other business, Strike Tool, taking over the marketing side of things. “We had nobody in place for that,” he said. “The need was there and I was fortunate enough to be able to jump right in and get after that side of the business.” Michael majored in business management, a field that served him well when he became vice president of employee management at Banks Outdoors. This was a role Bob once had to foster himself but was able to hand off to Michael as he evolved into the business. Dan, the youngest of the three sons, followed closer to his father’s educational path. Dan studied the art of tool and die making, with a splash of fabrication mixed in, which allowed him to easily take over the role of managing the machine shop and mold creation. This was the foundation of the company—according to Dan, “this is where the magic happens.” For Bob, it was fitting to have onne of his sons continue running that division. As the company grew, Bob and his wife Marlene worked hard to create an atmosphere that fostered teamwork and collaboration. Marlene, the vice president, “is the glue that keep all of us boys in check and focused,” Mitch said. “We all have our roles, but in a family business we all help each other out when we see the need is there. It’s a total team atmosphere here, and that is why we all take part in working trade shows, designing products and helping with facility management.” That unique mix of experience, personalities and skills has been a major strength of Banks Outdoors.
A passion for hunting and the outdoors is firmly instilled in the Banks family. It started with Bob and Marlene Banks (above), was passed on to sons Dan (top photo) and Mitch (middle photo), and continues through the latest generation (bottom photo). AUGUST 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 27
28 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 “My parents ensure that we’re all able to provide our perspectives,” Mitch said. “We have different generational and individual perspectives on things. We often say, ‘We throw a lot of things at the wall to see what sticks.’ That’s an important part of our business. We review a lot of ideas. It’s a quality that has really allowed Banks Outdoors to thrive.” Although there are challenges that come with spending so much time with family, the Banks Outdoors team is careful to ensure their family relationships aren’t negatively impacted by working together. “We’re all very passionate, and it is very personal,” Mitch said. “When everything is said and done, you have to take it home with you. There are things outside the business that are affected by some of the decisions made within the business. That’s a balancing act that’s difficult at times, but at the end of the day we’ve all taken the stance that what is done in business should not affect our personal relationships. It’s worked out well. We’ve got our different angles, and we’ve got to allow all those ideas to be presented and be respectful of each other. That’s how our parents raised us. We’ve been a close-knit family working in this business for years, and it seems to have worked out.” Expanding Into Blinds By 2004, the market for the company’s sleds and trailers was not as robust as it had been, and Banks Outdoors was looking for additional products it could offer. “After work one day, my father and I were talking,” Mitch said. “We knew we had to get something else going in our outdoor line. Bob opened up a few magazines and saw these Texas-style blinds. We thought blinds would lend well to the roto-molding process. No one was rotomolding them at the time, and no one was really addressing archery. And these blinds weren’t really built for the North Country.” Although they weren’t blind hunters at the time, they saw the potential. “Our operation here is all injection and rotational molding,” Mitch explained. “We try to create products for the outdoors industry using the manufacturing capabilities we have. With roto-molding, we can create a seamless and extremely strong blind. A lot of the blinds used in Texas weren’t necessarily ready for northern climates. We created a roto-molded blind that was built to address that need. “We also designed the blind for archers. We wanted to make sure the blind was tall enough that you could actually hold a bow in your hand and draw back while standing up. We added elongated windows to help with the angle of your shot. All the blinds we knew of at that point had horizontally cut windows, just large enough to get your gun and scope out of. Those made it virtually impossible to shoot a bow from. From our very first design, we went with a verticalstyle window. It allows archers to make the shots they need to make. Our round design gives the blind a more natural
AUGUST 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 29 feel with a better field of vision and strength.” Having designed a high-quality product, the next biggest challenge was introducing the blind to the industry. “The need was there, but it had never been addressed,” Mitch said. “I remember going to our first ATA Show. I had people come up to us and ask why we were even there. ‘This isn’t for bowhunting,’ they said. And we would say, ‘Step inside. Yes, you can bow hunt from it.’ Once they saw it and were able to get inside of it, they could see what we were talking about very quickly. We just had to get people confident in shooting from them. We’d go to 3D shoots and have them set up on ranges so consumers could actually physically do it. Once they found they could shoot out of it and we had enough people doing it on television, it really caught on.” When they first came up with the idea to create a hunting blind, the hope was that it might pay for a few hunts for the Banks brothers. Obviously, the blind business has far surpassed that modest expectation. “Blinds are now 70 percent of our business,” Mitch said. “They’ve taken a stronghold in the industry.” As for the industry as a whole, things have changed quite a bit there as well. “Now when we go to the ATA Show, there are
30 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 20 to 30 booths with blinds,” Mitch said. But blinds from Banks Outdoors still stand out. Mitch believes there are two major reasons for that. “First is our durability. By far,” he said. “Because our blinds are roto-molded, they’re incredibly strong. There are other blinds that are made of other materials. There are many different versions of polymers out there. We use a polyethylene material with UV inhibitors built into it. It’s a virgin material. It’s not recycled. We use the best of the best for our products. That means our durability is second to none. We really pride ourselves on that. “The other thing is our attention to detail. We’re hunters. We hunt out of these blinds, so we pay close attention to the specifics—the way things need to work in order to be successful in the field.” Innovation and Growth Being active in the outdoors means the Banks Outdoors team knows what hunters and outdoorsmen truly need. That’s allowed the company to create other purposeful products. “I like to think of us as being real world innovators,” Mitch said. “We get out there and do it. We’re experiencing the outdoors just as our consumers are. And when we develop products that meet our needs, we want to share those with the world. That’s what we do.” The company’s best sellers remain its blinds, particularly the larger blinds. “The hunting world itself is really getting family oriented,” Mitch said. “It seems that bigger is better these days.” Banks Outdoors also offers high-quality feeders made with the company’s rotomolding process for a seamless product. “The feeders are strong sellers for us as well,” Mitch said. In addition, the company also developed the Wild Water Watering System eight years ago. “It’s definitely getting a lot of traction,”
AUGUST 2023 31 INSIDEARCHERY.COM Mitch said. “We’re seeing a lot of dry climates where water supplementation is necessary. With the Wild Water system, you can put a concealed water tank on your property that feeds water out into a trough. It allows you to create a watering station for your wildlife. “Four years ago we took it to another level with a mineral supplement that could be added to the water. So the deer can not only be getting water, but also the minerals they need.” Supporting Retailers Mitch believes a large part of his job involves ensuring the success of the company’s dealers. “When we came out with the blinds, one thing I learned very quickly is a larger ticketed item like that has logistical hurdles from factory to dealer but also from dealer to consumer,” Mitch explained. “So our marketing strategy really revolved around supporting our dealers. Whether big box or smaller single-location retailers, we have programs designed for them all to compete on an even playing field.” In addition, Banks Outdoors works hard to drive consumers into the retail shops through a solid marketing campaign. “Our marketing has changed over time,” he said. “We used to have to take the blinds around on trailers to show people what we had, but most retailers are familiar with blinds now. Now it’s more a matter of maintaining the buzz around them and speaking to the advantage they provide the hunter. But whether it’s ads, commercials, or social media, our marketing strategy still revolves around our core value of creating a program for everybody to be able to make money.” Supporting its retailers is incredibly important to Banks Outdoors. “Our dealer network is like family,” Mitch said. “They’re all part of the brand,
32 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 they have bought into it and have been successful with it, and I want them to continue to do that. Our ears are also always open. The one thing I’ve learned through my time in the business is if you’re not listening, you’re dying. I want the people to know we’ve got their backs and we’re in it together.” Strong Customer Service To that end, Banks Outdoors prioritizes customer service. “We strive to provide nothing but topnotch service,” Mitch said. “We stand behind our product with a lifetime warranty on the core products. If someone calls us with an issue, we’ll find a way to fix it or we’ll get a replacement to them. We have a staff here that is on hand five days a week and ready to serve all their needs. Our customer service staff has been here awhile so they’re very experienced in it. If there’s something they can’t take care of, it doesn’t take long for them to get a consumer or retailer to one of us owners so we can speak to them about what they’re experiencing. We’re all about standing behind our product. That’s why we put our name on it. “We take a lot of pride in that. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure our consumers get everything they paid for.” The Future of Banks Outdoors Today, Bob Banks is the president of Banks Outdoors, while his wife Marlene is the vice president. Mitch serves as vice president of sales and marketing, Michael serves as vice president of employee management and as sales specialist, while Dan is the vice president of design and mold fabrication.
AUGUST 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 33 There is also some interest from the next generation. Jonathan Banks, Michael’s son, currently interns at the company, working within the solid works and 3d printing department and taking part in tool building and design. Tessa, Mitch’s daughter, interns in marketing and photography department. Both Jonathan and Tessa also attend college. In addition to the Banks family, the company has more than 50 employees in its Cannon Falls facility, where it manufactures 60 different products. “We have several different family dynamics within the facility,” Mitch explained. “Barb, Bob’s sister, is our lead in-house accountant, and we have several fatherson, mother-daughter, and siblings on staff. Besides Bob and Marlene, we also have another husband and wife working together within the plant. So to say family is a big part of Banks Outdoors is an understatement.” When asked what the future holds for the company, Mitch said he expects there will be more innovation in each of the company’s three product lines: blinds, feeders, and Wild Water. “As I said before, we’re always throwing things at the wall to see what sticks,” he said. “There will always be evolution within the main product lines.” But Mitch emphasized that future innovation will never come at the expense of quality and purpose. “There isn’t one thing we’ve created that we wouldn’t use ourselves,” he said. “With our name being on everything we make, we definitely want to make sure we’re putting our best foot forward and providing the best possible product out there.” IA
34 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT T BY PATRICK MEITIN Scott Archery S2 Release WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. cut-away precision really standing out. At first glance you might believe the S2 includes dual string-loop hooks. In fact, you are looking at the S2’s Double Sear Design. The front hook engages the string loop in standard fashion. The rear “hook” actually serves as the cocking lever in the S2’s Dual Sear Locking Technology. There is a quiet snick when this lever is clicked toward the release head, locking the loop hook and cocking the trigger mechanism. The feel this cocking feature gives the S2 trigger brings to mind the precision and crispness of a fine handheld/thumb-activated target release, but in a compact release head held on a more popular waist-strap design. The ingenious design does this by separating string/D-loop tension from the trigger, which creates a more consistent and crisper cut-away that directly enhances accuracy. The forward string hook helps eliminate torque and boosts accuracy through 100 percent string and loop clearance. Two different trigger options— straight and back-swept—can be anchored in one of two positions, allowing about 1/8-inch of front-to-rear latitude. hrough 23 years of guiding bowhunters and many more attending 3D shoots and visiting hunting camps, I could not help but notice how many serious bowhunters shoot Scott Archery releases. Scott has long provided cutting-edge designs, and features that have become standard within the entire industry. Now under The Outdoor Group umbrella, Scott Archery started 2023 with three new release models, including the Select, Apex Core, and the S2 under discussion here. These new release models, and the S2 in particular, are all about allowing customers to create a custom shooting fit and feel. The S2 is different at a glance—the features that provide a new level of Micro-adjust trigger tension allows a full pound of latitude, adjustments to trigger travel also provided. This allows setting up the S2 to break exactly when wanted. Travel is manipulated through the set screw located behind the trigger, clockwise to decrease travel, counter clockwise to increase. Trigger tension is fine tuned through the twin screws opposite the trigger—clock-wise to increase tension, counter to decrease. The S2 is equipped with Scott’s proven NCS (Nylon Connector Strap). This includes a ½-inch-wide nylon webbing connector, held in a secure clamp anchored by two #4-40 hex-head bolts to provide an endless array of length options, while also eliminating further torque. Scott designers added an improved, premium grey leather buckle wrist strap. It was made wider and with thicker leather to improve comfort during the draw cycle and especially at full draw, seven buckle positions ensuring an agreeable fit to any size wrist. Being someone who generally prefers the precision of a hand-held/ thumb-activated release but recognizes the practicality of the wrist-strap/ index-trigger design, I’d call the S2 a perfect melding of both approaches. It provides the precision of a hand-held with the instant reaction of a wriststrap/index-finger design. Go to scottarchery.com to learn more and see the company’s full release lineup. 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 Join Us! naba-archery.com (903) 675-2233 • [email protected] Profit Margins of 60+ Points The National Archery Buyers Association (NABA) is a non-profit association of archery and bowhunting retailers that brings together a buying group of quality archery dealers with industry manufacturers to achieve the best wholesale pricing! We Have Buying Power!
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38 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 Whether your customer is a recreational shooter, diehard bowhunter, or competes on the national stage, there are a multitude of targets that will fit their individual needs. Archery targets have continued to improve with each passing year and this year is no different. Several manufacturers launched valuable new targets to the market while others continue to rely on the proven favorites of archery enthusiasts. Below is a snapshot of some of the best archery targets on the market for 2023. Bang-Up Bags BIGshot Targets The Ballistic 450X bag from BIGshot Targets is specifically engineered to stop arrows and bolts from modern crossbow and high-performance compounds. BIGshot incorporated a heavyduty, dual core fill inside the Ballistic 450X for increased stopping power combined with easy arrow removal. The Ballistic 450X also features an internal stand design as well as additional weight to maintain stability no matter the terrain you place your target on. Come rain or shine, the Ballistic 450X has your customers covered with a UV resistance and rain barrier built into the bag—all for a retail price of less than $100. To find more information visit bigshottargets.com. Morrell Targets Morrell Targets recently launched their Yellow Jacket Kinetic X bag that is guaranteed to stop arrows blazing down range at speeds up to 500 fps. The Yellow Jacket Kinetic X is a versatile, four-sided target that features more than 50 shooting spots of various sizes and colors for archers to settle their pin into. Like most bag targets, the Kinetic X polypropylene bag cover is designed strictly for field tip use. The Yellow Jacket Kinetic X is heavy, with a weight of 51 pounds, but features E-Z tote carry handles to easily move the target when needed—all with an MSRP south of $110. To find more information visit morrelltargets.com. Rinehart Targets Rinehart’s Rhino Bag is an affordable option ($79.99 to $99.99 MSRP) backed by one of the most respected names in the archery target market. The Rhino Bag features Rinehart’s exclusive Dual Layered Power Band Technology, providing archers impressive stopping power and easy arrow removal with both vertical bows and crossbows. The polypropylene shell is dually purposed to combat weather and fend off unwanted UV rays to keep these targets looking new after seasons of abuse. Rhino Bags can be purchased in two configurations, including 22- and 26-inch options. To find more information visit rinehart3d.com. Power Stop Targets The Hybrid 24 target looks and feels like a bag target but is filled with American Excelsior’s exclusive Bonded Core Technology to provide structure and longevity to the target. The dense fill allows the target to stop arrows and bolts from both compound bows and crossbows. Shooters can also shoot both sides of the Hybrid 24, as it holds screen printed graphics on both faces. The Hybrid 24 is intended for field tip use only. To find more information visit americanexcelsior.com. Delta McKenzie As the name suggests, Delta McKenzie’s Speedbag 20 is designed to handle the wear and tear from the fastest crossbows on the market with a max rating of 525 fps and do so in a package retailing for less than $50. The Speedbag 20 utilizes a high-density, shot blocking fill to extend the life of the target as well as maximize stopping power. Multi-spot graphics on both sides of the Speedbag 20 give shooters a variety of targets to shoot that differ in both size and color. The Speedbag 20 is specifically made for crossbow use but doubles as an ultra- Power Stop Hybrid 24 Rinehart Rhino Bag Morrell Yellow Jacket Kinetic X BIGshot Ballistic 450X
durable target for your customers’ favorite vertical bows. To find more information visit dmtargets.com. Hurricane Bag Targets The Cat 5 Bag Target from Hurricane retails for less than $70 but was specifically designed to withstand repeated abuse from modern compound bows and crossbows with an impressive claim of stopping arrows and bolts sent at up to 650 fps. Thanks to an internal frame, the Cat 5 is a self-standing target when placed on the ground but also features grommets for hanging from a target stand. The Cat 5 also features all-weather construction with dualsided shooting capabilities and offset high-visibility graphics to preserve the life of the bag. Another neat feature the Cat 5 offers is the integrated sightin grid allowing precision adjustments to be made when sighting in your bow or crossbow. To find more information visit feradyne.com. American Whitetail Targets The 18-inch Dead Reckoning target offers consumers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, boasting the claim as “the toughest field point archery target ever designed.” Comprised of hydraulically compressed ballistic material, Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20 Hurricane Cat 5 Bag Target American Whitetail 18-inch Dead Reckoning
40 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 the Dead Reckoning target will stop crossbow bolts at speeds of up to 600 fps, while still allowing easy arrow removal. The Dead Reckoning target face features a 70,000 Shot SynScreen designed to open and close with each arrow impact to prevent holes forming in the target. American Whitetail Targets also guarantees a full three-year warranty against pass-throughs. MSRP is $139.95. To find more information visit archerytargets.com. Block Stoppers BIGshot Targets Practice with purpose with BIGshot’s new Pro Hunter 16 target. The Pro Hunter 16 features BIGshot’s new Elasto-Flex foam, which was specifically engineered to self-heal whether customers are shooting broadheads or field tips. Sighting in bows or crossbow is a process that develops as time goes on. The Pro Hunter 16 recognizes this progression and features five different target faces designed for each phase of practice. Dimensions for the Pro Hunter 16 are 16-by-16-by-13.5 inches, with a retail price of $129.99. To find more information visit bigshottargets.com. Morrell Targets Morrell’s six-sided High Roller target was intuitively designed to replicate a dice, offering shooters 21 unique bullseyes to aim for. With an overall weight of 10 pounds, and 13-by-13-by-13-inch dimensions, the High Roller target is also one of the most portable targets on the market. Morrell’s High Roller Foam lies at the core of the target’s design, offering shooters a weatherproof target as well as self-healing capabilities following arrow removal. The High Roller target (MSRP $129.99) features faderesistant paint, an E-Z tote carrying handle, and is designed to stop arrows tipped with both field tips and broadheads from your favorite vertical bow or crossbow. To find more information visit morrelltargets.com. Rinehart Targets The 18-1 target from Rinehart is a timeproven best seller that continues to be one of the company’s most popular products year after year. And with good reason. The 18-1 target offers shooters 18 individual target zones marked with vivid neon-green markings. Like many of their other targets, Rinehart’s 18-1 is comprised of their proven self-healing foam, designed to handle shot after shot while maintaining the target’s integrity. Another benefit of the 18-1 target is its portability, thanks to its lightweight and easy-to-carry handle. All the features of the 18-1 combine to make it “the longest lasting target available” while maintaining a reasonable MSRP of $199.99. To find more information visit rinehart3d.com. Power Stop Targets Power Stop Target’s Range 19 block target is made from high-density, layered polyethylene foam, and is designed to stop both field tips and broadheads. The Range 19 features screen printed target faces on two sides, one standard spot target, and on another an entertaining battleship-style game. At 14 pounds, the Range 19 is easily portable to use at home or while on the go. Power Stop Targets also offers a Range 16 model that is slightly smaller in height than the Range 19. To find more information visit americanexcelsior.com. Delta McKenzie The BIG 8 target from Delta McKenzie is the latest release in the company’s Premium Backyard Series of targets. The asymmetric hexagon shape of the BIG 8 is both eye-catching and practical, providing shooters eight shooting faces to choose from at a variety of angles. The BIG 8 is also comprised of a new premium competition-grade self-healing foam that makes for easy arrow removal as well as lasting up to eight times longer than conventional layered targets—while including an Power Stop Range 19 MSRP of $169.99 to $245.99. Depending RineHart 18–1 Morrell High Roller BIGshot Pro Hunter 16
on your intended use, the BIG 8 target comes in both 16-inch and 20-inch configurations. Both are rated for vertical bow and crossbow use, as well as proving field tip and broadhead compatible. To find more information visit dmtargets.com. BLOCK Targets BLOCK Target’s new Infinity target opens a new level of stopping power and target life for archery enthusiasts. The Infinity builds upon BLOCK’s PolyFusion Technology and incorporates a high-density layered foam core encased in exterior foam walls to maximize stopping power and durability. This exclusive technology allows the Infinity target to use friction rather than force to stop arrows and bolts traveling up to 500 fps. Like other BLOCK products, the Infinity target features six different shooting faces with offset aim points to extend the life of the target. The Infinity is rated for both field tip and broadhead use and retails for $219.99 to $249.99, depending on the size chosen. To find more information visit feradyne.com. Kirsch Outdoors While not a new product, the Cube target from Kirsch Outdoors continues to be one of their top sellers for all types Delta McKenzie BIG 8 BLOCK Infinity Kirsch Outdoors Cube
42 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 of bows. The Cube features the same self-healing foam that is used in the Kirsch Leitold 3D line, optimizing target life and simplifying arrow removal. Archery shooters can also choose to shoot any of the six sides of the Cube, all of which display neon aiming points, similar to a dice. Kirsch makes the Cube target in both 10- and 16-inch configurations, with retail prices of $129.99 to $299.99. To find more information visit kirschoutdoors.com. American Whitetail Targets The Eclipse SQ target is specifically designed to meet NASP specs, offering shooters an extremely durable target and easy arrow removal while maintaining a lightweight configuration. The freestanding, square target features an 80cm face and the ability to repack the interior material when needed. Luckily, that won’t happen often, given this target’s three-year guarantee that no arrow will pass through the target. The Woven SynScreen is designed to take the beating of thousands of arrows with little wear while still maintaining its color integrity. The Eclipse SQ retails for $359.99 and is an ideal target for school programs. To find more information visit archerytargets.com. 3D Realism BIGshot Targets There are few things that can prepare bowhunters more thoroughly to execute a precise shot in the moment of truth than practicing through the off-season shooting a realistic, 3D target. BIGshot’s Real Wild 3D Big Buck Deer target emulates a mature Midwest whitetail with vital rings to gauge your arrows point of impact. The Big Buck Deer target is made with BIGshot’s EZ Pull foam to make arrow retrieval a breeze while also maintaining the integrity of the target. Whether your customer is a crossbow or compound shooter, the Big Buck Deer target is made to withstand hundreds of arrows tipped with either field tips or broadheads, and at a reasonable $449.99 MSRP. To find more information visit bigshottargets.com. Morrell Targets New for 2023, the Transformer Buck 3D target from Morrell offers archery enthusiasts a fun and practical 3D target option. The Transformer Buck is made from Morrell’s High Roller Foam formula to optimize target life and make for easy arrow removal. When space is limited, the main body of the Transformer Buck can be disassembled from the lower half and rear section of the target. Doing so makes for a great target option around camp that still emulates the vitals of a buck and universal score rings. The Transformer Buck is made to take on everything from high-speed crossbows shooting up to 500 fps all the way down to low poundage youth bows. It is also both field point and broadhead compatible, and retails for only $289.99. To find more information visit morrelltargets.com. Rinehart Targets The 1/3 Scale Elk target from Rinehart gives hunters the unique opportunity to practice for the elk hunt of their dreams in their own backyard. Rinehart anatomically reduced a simulated 600-pound bull elk down to 1/3 of its size for this nifty, and practical, target. The reduced size simulates what a 90-yard shot in the field would look like from 30-yards away. For die-hard Rinehart fans, the 1/3 Scale Elk target is made from their Solid Signature Series Foam and also features a replaceable foam insert. The 1/3 Scale Elk target is compatible for the use of both vertical bows and crossbows. To find more information visit rinehart3d.com. Delta McKenzie Delta McKenzie’s Big Daddy Buck 3D target is a realistic and durable target designed to prep both hunters and competitive shooters for their time in the field. The Big Daddy Buck replicates a 250-plus pound whitetail and features realistic vital rings as well as universal American Whitetail Eclipse SQ Rinehart 1/3 Scale Elk Morrell Transformer Buck BIGshot Real Wild 3D Big Buck Deer
score rings. Delta McKenzie’s Duraflex foam allows easy arrow removal and is made to withstand the use and abuse of both field tips and broadheads. The hefty Big Daddy Buck also utilizes Delta McKenzie’s proprietary Antler Assembly Socket System to ensure your target’s antlers are always aligned and secure, in addition to including an affordable $362.99 retail price tag. To find more information visit dmtargets.com. GlenDel The GlenDel name will always be synonymous with the GlenDel Buck target, but new for 2023, GlenDel announced an exciting new 3D offering with the launch of their Half Scale Elk 3D target. The new target represents a proportionally half-scaled bull elk that would weigh approximately 300 pounds and stand 38-inches at the shoulder. The Half Scale Elk target also sports a large, and removable, six-point rack. Like the revered GlenDel Buck, the Half Scale Elk utilizes GlenDel’s ultra-durable, self-healing polyfoam and incorporates their four-sided core system insert. The Half Scale Elk target, retailing for just $349.99, is made to withstand years of abuse from both field tips and broadheads. To find more information visit feradyne.com. Kirsch Outdoors Bird Spider & Snapping Turtle 3D Targets GlenDel Half Scale Elk 3D Target Delta McKenzie Big Daddy Buck 3D Target
Kirsch Outdoors Kirsch Outdoors recently released their Bird Spider and Snapping Turtle 3D targets as a welcomed addition to their Just-For-Fun target category. Both targets are made from 100 percent premium self-healing foam designed to stop arrows cold while also allowing easy arrow extraction. Kirsch also bonds the paint to the foam to preserve the target’s color for years. Additionally, the paint is UV resistant to fend off the beating rays of the unforgiving sun. Both targets would make a fun addition to your community 3D course or a customer’s personal archery range. MSRP is $569.00 for the snapping turtle and $879.00 for the Bird Spider. To find more information visit kirschoutdoors.com. Paper Faces Maple Leaf Press Maple Leaf Press continues to lead the way in paper targets, offering a wide variety of options for hunters and recreational shooters, as well as providing official targets for the biggest archery competitions in the world. TargetTack™ LLC Securing paper or vinyl targets to archery backstops has long involved large nails or steel pins, which pose the potential of damaging expensive arrows. TargetTack offers a safer, and more economical, solution. TargetTacks are molded from tough polymer material, which makes them affordable. They are endlessly reusable and won’t damage arrows even when hit directly. The flat heads positively secure paper and vinyl target faces in place, whether using solid or layered foam, layered cardboard or excelsior/straw backstops, or even stuffed bag targets. Look for them in 1- or 3-inch versions, the shorter TargetTacks best suited to bag targets, the longer to foam or natural butt materials. A slight twisting motion of the tri-edged, serrated TargetTack easily penetrates the toughest faces or helps tighten their grip after repeated target changes. TargetTacks are impervious to harsh weather and can be purchased in four packs, 1- and 3-inch Combo Packs, or in bulk for range or club use. The looped heads are perfect for hanging wind flags or novelty-shoot balloons. Learn more by visiting TargetTackLLC.com.
AUGUST 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM New for 2023, Maple Leaf Press released two new target face versions for the Archery World Series. The new target face for compound shooters features only the inner 10-ring while the recurve target face features only the regular 10-ring. Both targets were designed to make it easier for the TV viewing audience to understand what is being used for the 10-ring to the respective shooter. To find more information visit mapleleafpress.com. .30-06 Outdoors Master Series Whitetail Targets from .30-06 Outdoors provides hunters a realistic paper target, each printed with a lifelike hunting scene, at an affordable price. What sets the Master Series Whitetail targets apart from their competition is the backside vital view. Simply shoot the target where you would take the shot in a hunting scenario, pull your arrow, and then flip the target over to see the vitals view of where your arrow impacted. Five targets, each displaying a different buck in a wide variety of realistic hunting angles, come in each pack. Targets are a generous 18-by-25 inches and retail for just $13.95. To find more information visit 30-06outdoors.com. NiceTargets NiceTargets takes standard paper targets to the next level, constructing them from highly durable, weather-resistant plastic. Shooters have many options to choose from when sorting through the variety of targets that NiceTargets offers, but some of their most popular targets are the game-themed series. The game-themed series consists of four different target faces to include Deck of Cards, Shootin’ Pool, Dart Board, and Huntin’ Camp. While not your traditional archery targets, their game-themed series bring a fun and friendly competitive aspect to the game of archery that we love so much. For $3.00 per target, customers can choose between four 22-by-22-inch faces. To find more information visit nicetargets.com. IA Nice Targets Dart Board & Huntin’ Camp Maple Leaf Press Archery World Series .30-06 Outdoors Master Series Whitetail Targets
46 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT F BY PATRICK MEITIN Browning Trail Cameras Defender Pro Scout Max & Pro Scout Max Extreme WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. ger speeds and 0.35-second recovery time. Images can be GPS tagged. Both cameras include 100-foot detection range and 120-foot flash reach via IR RADIANT 6 Night Illumination Technology invisible to animals. More importantly, both cameras can be activated on either AT&T or Verizon nationwide 4G LTE networks, according to which provides the best coverage in a particular area. SIM cards for both carriers are preinstalled, so there is no fuss there. The most obvious difference between the two models is the Defender Pro Scout Max includes 20MP photo resolution and 1600x900 HD+ Smart IR video with sound, while the Defender Pro Scout Max Extreme provides 22MP image resolution and Full HD 1080P Smart IR video with sound—both adjustable from 5 seconds to 2 minutes in length. Also, the former, while including a built-in chipset for Verizon and AT&T and preinstalled SIM cards for each, requires the user to manually choose a carrier. The Defender Pro Scout Max Extreme, on the other hand, includes Dual Carrier Technology with Browning’s new Auto-Detect feature that ield experience has proven Browning Trail to be feature rich and highly reliable, even after years in the field and assaults by pesky black bears. More recently Browning Trail Cameras has entered the cellular arena, and in typical fashion has introduced some fine examples of this useful technology. The Defender Pro Scout Max and Defender Pro Scout Max Extreme are cellular trail cameras designed to run for up to a year on eight AA batteries—a real plus for a unit visited in person only sporadically. Both include high resolution sensors paired with ¼-second trigidentifies the best signal and chooses a carrier automatically—though customers can also choose a preferred carrier. The Pro Scout Max uploads standard or HD images, while the Pro Scout Max Extreme will upload HD images and video clips. The two cameras’ adjustable IR flash can be set to “Power Save,” “Fast Motion,” or “Long Range,” while Illuma-Smart Technology automatically adjusts the IR flash within these settings to produce perfect nighttime images. SD card management options are provided, meaning should a card fill up, the cameras will record over the oldest data to avoid missing the most recent action. Cameras can be programmed to capture up to eight multi-shot or rapidfire images, with a programmable activation delay of 1 second to 60 minutes. The time stamp displays time, date, temperature, moon phase, and camera ID, and both cameras are compatible with memory cards up to 512GB SDXC. They feature a 12-volt external power jack and a standard ¼x20 tripod tap. Uploaded images and/or videos can be received via email or text messages through a tablet or smartphone on a scheduled or immediate basis. The Browning Mobile App allows the creation of organizing folders. Month-tomonth plans are available including no contracts, and cameras can be activated only as needed. Learn more by visiting browningtrailcameras.com. IA
48 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 MARKET TRENDS BOW REPORT APA’s riser-integrated Tool Center includes a broadhead wrench, nock indexing tool, carbine knife sharpener and holds the Cam Lock rod. APA Archery’s Micro Tune Cable Guide system allows making quick and secure adjustments to cam timing. The Black Mamba 33 is powered by APA’s M1 dual cam system, which includes a Rotating Draw Stop (RDS) and easy-Tune Mods. allowing users to replace bowstrings/ buss cables quickly and easily in the field, or install accessories or conduct tuning without a bow press. The riser-integrated Tool Center includes a provision to conveniently store the Cam Lock pin, a carbide sharpener to keep knives or broadheads honed, a broadhead wrench, and nock indexing tool. The Cam Lock pin also holds a Center Shot Indicator mark, allowing plugging the pin into a precision riser hole and aligning the arrow/rest launcher with the provided hash mark to establish center shot. APA also engraves a Nock Point Alignment Zone into each riser, providing another tuning time saver, plus a machined groove to provide instant indexing for proper hand positioning. The signature Reverse Carry Handle provides easy in-field toting, while also shifting weight forward and stiffening the riser for reduced hand shock on release. Finally, APA’s Riser Fang allows hanging the company’s bows on any handy branch or limb, eliminating the need for a separate bow hook. The Black Mamba riser also accommodates APA’s new Bow Winch, which can be attached on the side of the bow, in a stabilizer or inside a riser cutout, so it is always on hand. This makes the Bow Winch available to pull the bow into the tree, while saving space and acting as stabilizing weight for improved bow balance. These are features that mark any APA bow at a glance, but also serve real-world functions. The Black Mamba has led the way in sales for APA Archery for several years now, with the lineup expanding annually. The latest is the Black Mamba 33, which I find most appealing in the lineup due to an ideal balance of performance (345 fps IBO), easy handling (33 3/8 inches between the axles) and forgiving shooting characteristics (6 7/8-inch brace height)—especialy now, having conducted a good number of APA Archery Bow Reports for Inside Archery, I’ve come to expect great things from the brand. If APA bows are anything, they are fast— some of the fastest in the industry. This is largely a result of being the only dualcam bows remaining, while also including design features that remedy past tuning/synchronization woes once inherent to the two-cam approach. But APA Archery is about more than raw performance. Markedly, APA Archery bows are conspicuously light. In many cases, APA bows prove noticeably lighter than even carbon-riser compound designs. At 3.8 pounds, this is certainly true of the Black Mamba 33 under discussion here. APA has also strived to make their customers as independent as possible, an attitude likely forged by the company’s Far North origins, where bow shops are far and few between. The Black Mamba 33, like other APA bows, includes the Cam Lock feature, B BY PATRICK MEITIN ly for a guy like me who stands 6-foot, 5-inches tall and wields a longer draw length. While a real screamer, I found the Black Mamba 29 a bit touchy for my long draw length, for instance. The 33 offers easy shootability, without sacrificing APA’s renowned performance. The Black Mamba 33 is also packed with the company’s latest technologies. Part of what allows shooters to tame the powerful dual-cam system and keep the Black Mamba 33 shooting straight is APA’s patented Micro Tune Cable Guide. This allows fine tuning the tension on each cam, in turn tuning for perfect cam synchronization. There is a knurled lock knob, and adjustment knob, each effortlessly finger manipulated. Use the adjustment knob to advance or retard buss-cable tension, thus cam timing, and then simply lock the settings in place. It is simple, fast, and straightforward, and requires no tools or bow press. APA’s Rotating Draw Stop, or RDS, allows shooters to dial a rock-solid rear wall at any draw length or draw weight, while ensuring the highest level of performance at any preferred setting. This helps to enhance the ultra-efficient M1 Cam and Easy-Tune modules, allowing shooters to customize the feel they are looking for. APA’s Variable Yoke Technology also eases tuning demands, allowing buss cable yokes to automatically center themselves and keep limb-tip tension perfectly balanced—another accuracy enhancer. Further enhancing performance are APA’s Twin Flex Limbs. These are supernarrow solid limbs that not only store energy in the solid portions of the limbs like traditional designs, but well into the forked sections to distribute the working APA Archery Black Mamba 33
AUGUST 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 49 Arrow Speed APA Archery Black Mamba 33 set at 70.0 pounds at 30 inches. 29-inch Arrows/ Shaft Finished Kinetic Arrow 100-Grain Tips gpi Arrow Wt. Energy Speed ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CX Triad 300 10.9 564 grains 96.8 ft. lbs. 278.0 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easton T64 DF 7.9 tapered 528 grains 96.1 ft. lbs. 286.3 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Bloodsport Evidence 300 11.7 518 grains 97.5 ft. lbs. 291.1 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Arrow Tech MT 12.2 508 grains 99.5 ft. lbs. 297.0 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory VAP-SS 300 9.9 473 grains 97.8 ft. lbs. 305.1 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CX Max RED SD 350 9.4 465 grains 98.8 ft. lbs. 309.3 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Black Eagle Spartan 340 9.9 453 grains 99.9 ft. lbs. 315.1 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory VAP 300 8.7 424 grains 97.0 ft. lbs. 321.0 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easton Hexx 330 7.9 386 grains 95.4 ft. lbs. 333.6 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Black Eagle Carnivore 350 7.5 363 grains 93.8 ft. lbs. 341.1 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory RIP XV 300 7.0 355 grains 93.6 ft. lbs. 344.6 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Liberty Archery 320 5.9 292 grains 89.1 ft. lbs. 370.6 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Arrows shot from a Spot-Hogg Hooter Shooter and velocity established using Caldwell Shooting Supplies’ Chronograph G2. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (866) 353-7378, OR VISIT APAARCHERY.COM Specifications –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Axle-to-Axle Length 33.375 inches –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Brace Height 6.875 inches –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mass Weight 3.8 pounds –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Let-Off 80 percent –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Available Draw Lengths 26 to 32 inches –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Peak Draw Weights 50, 60, and 70 pounds; 80 and 90 pounds on special order –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Available Finishes Desolve Wing, Mate Black, Sandstone, Kuiu Verde 2.0, Rust, Slate Grey, Chocolate, OD Grren, Covert Black, and Desolve Bare. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– MSRP $1,268 ancing features, including APA’s Stability Control System, or SCS. This system allows adding top/bottom and/or left/right disc weights to the riser to create a Goldilocks feel in the hand while at full draw. APA’s Weight Distribution System also allows strategic weight placement to create maximum stability. Finally, APA’s patented Multiposition Balancer, or MPB, is attached to the cable slide to create an ideal front/rear and side-to-side balance requiring less hand torque to coax a bow to sit up straight in the hand. APA risers include a rubberized Soft Touch Armor, which is warmer to the touch and quiet when contacted with an arrow or release. Multiple sight positioning taps are provided and the 5/16x24 stabilizer tap is stainless steel. Three separate rear stabilizer mounting options are provided and the slender grip offers a torque-free interface. Additional silencing features are found in LimbSaver Broadband limb silencers and a LimbSaver string stop. The Black Mamba 33, like other APA Archery bows, is one designed by hard-core bowhunters for independently minded bowhunters who demand the most from their equipment, whether hunting whitetails on the Back 40 or trekking deep into wilderness for elk, sheep, or mountain goats. IA load across two separate working areas and enable them to store additional energy. The slim profile increases performance, shaves physical weight, makes for quieter shooting, and provides a silky-smooth draw cycle. APA is always thinking of the small stuff that makes archers’ lives easier. A notable example of this is found in the Twin Flex Limbs. The new Torque-Free Limb Anchor provides a convenient tie-off point for the activation cord of today’s limb-driven drop-away arrow rests, while also eliminating side limb torque that can erode accuracy. APA even provides a convenient tap to attach a POV video camera (Camera Mount Kit sold separately) for self-filming hunts—just another convenience brought to customers by APA. The Black Mamba 33 offers several balThe Cam Lock pin found in the Tool Center also includes a hash mark that when plugged into the riser provides instant center shot reference. The Black Mamba 33 riser includes APA’s trademark Fang for easy hanging, dual sight taps and feathery mass. WebXtra ■ To take a closer look at the new APA Archery Black Mamba 33 in action, go to insidearchery.com.
50 INSIDE ARCHERY AUGUST 2023 MARKET TRENDS PRO SHOP ESSENTIALS BY PATRICK MEITIN OSR Insurance strategically crafted to offer property, professional liability, general liability, umbrella, and cyber liability protection against lawsuits both frivolous and genuine. OSR’s dedicated team of professionals will help you with all your insurance needs in this specialty market, including but not limited to coverage for shooting instructors, shooting ranges, shops, clubs and leases, special events, manufacturing, guiding services, lodges and preserves, cyber liability, gunsmithing, archery ranges, and much more. Coverage includes property up to $40,000,000 per location, general liability up to $1,000,000 per occurrence or $2,000,000 per aggregate, and umbrella coverage up to $5,000,000. OSR insurance offers affordable peace of mind, and allows you to breathe a little easier knowing a single mistake, or a freakish accident initiated by another on your property or while using your product or services, will not cause an undue financial burden for you, your business or its employees. One less thing, as they say, so you can concentrate on making your business more profitable, more innovative and better streamlined to serve the needs of all of your customers and their needs. To learn more please have your insurance agent contact OSR at firearmsins.com. IA Safeguard Your Business with Outdoor Sports and Recreation Insurance L et’s face it; we live in an increasingly litigous society where personal responsibility takes a back seat to “sticking it to the man” in some misguided idea of wealth redistribution. In this atmosphere we see juries award insane amounts of money to plaintiffs for minor inconveniences, such as spilling hot coffee in their laps, as the attitude seems to follow that the large company from which that coffee was purchased can afford the hit. The fact that coffee-spilling case was overturned on appeal is beside the point. As an owner of an archery shop, range, outdoor service industry, or manufacturing facility, even the cost of litigation is more than what most businesses can readily absorb. The daily news is filled with seemingly preposterous stories that nonetheless carry very serious implications for business owners caught up in a nightmarish scenario thrust upon them by an upside-down society. And the outdoor industry is filled with potential pitfalls ripe for the unscrupulous seeking a big payday at your expense. You no doubt strive mightily to maintain a safe atmosphere in your place of business, carefully monitoring activities, liberally posting legal notices, even asking guests and customers to sign liability wavers drafted by expensive lawyers. Despite these precautions reality is that you are always but one unfortunate episode away from financial ruin and the end of your business dreams. Outdoor Sports and Recreation Insurance protects your business from such potentially ruinous scenarios, providing insurance coverage and solutions for many outdoor-related business ventures and products. OSR’s mission is to help their agents and their clients by offering underwriting solutions, while also providing a team of deeply experienced staff to help them succeed, so you sleep sound at night knowing a single incident will not jeopardize the welfare of your family, business or its employees. The OSR product line provides a comprehensive array of insurance options