Inside Archery Sept/Oct 2023

www.insidearchery.com SEPT / OCT 2023 ®

6 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 24 14 46 48 36 50 54 52 INSIDE ARCHERY (Volume 26, #8) 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 SEPT / OCT 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 8 People Lumenok from Burt Coyote Keeping an Eye on What Matters By Michaelean Pike Market Trends New & Notable Archery products with strong sales potential Gear Report Banks Outdoors: The Stump Sequoia Blind Gear Report October Mountain Products: Phoenix Fletching Jig Bow Report Bear Archery 2024 Persist Company Profile Phantom Bowstrings Gear Report Thorn Broadheads: OG Mechanical Broadhead High-Tech Gear That Elevates Bowhunting Success 50 By Patrick Meitin 48 38 36 24 54 46

8 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 50 10 20 12 18 66 22 38 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 | VOLUME 26 | NUMBER 8 Inside the Industry Inside Track Quality Employees Kinsey’s Business Blueprint Coming to Terms with Terms Your ATA Insights Back to School Industry News The latest on news, events, and people in the archery industry ATA Action The ATA Show Then & Now (We’re Looking at You 2024!) Does the ATA Show Still Deliver? By Keith Arnold Industry 5Q Five Questions with Jake Nelson from PRADCO/Summit Treestands 14 insidearchery.comOnline Exclusives Fresh content daily on social media! WebXtras: Gear Reports: Banks Outdoors The Stump Sequoia Blind, October Mountain Products Phoenix Fletching Jig, and Thorn Broadheads OG Mechanical Broadhead. Bow Report: Bear Archery 2024 Persist. 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 5 Ways to Ruin Your Whitetail Season 5 Essential Whitetail Bow Setup Details 5 Steps to Entering the Field Scent-Free 5 Surefire Stand Sites You Should Look For 38 52 14

INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 Quality Employees m always impressed by the ability of successful archery pro shops to attract and keep quality employees while other shops struggle with this seemingly basic challenge. As a customer or even just a casual observer, quality employees always stand out—individuals who are highly personable and make me feel welcomed, are invariably hugely helpful, and of course quite knowledgeable, make an impression. This obviously reflects well on your shop as well as you as an owner. It is no coincidence that people I view as great people also seem to attract great employees. After years of observation, I have noted some commonalities. This first starts with a thorough vetting during the hiring process and a concerted effort to comprehensibly train new employees. Some owners and managers seem downright allergic to the hiring process, grabbing the first warm body that walks through the door and expresses a willingness to work. When I worked in retail, there was also a sink-or-swim mentality, which resulted in disgruntled worker bees and a toxic work environment. Great employees obviously require a little more effort to foster. Secondly, great employees seem to result from an owner who is themselves a great person—invariably friendly and even-handed and always eager to solve customer’s problems. In short, someone you look forward to visiting. This makes for an enjoyable workplace where employees are happy to stick around. “I ain’t running a daisy farm!” owners seem to more frequently spawn sullen employees who see customers as an inconvenience. Thirdly, great employees seem to be treated more as family than mere staff. I cannot say with any degree of certainty what goes on behind the scenes, but I can say this becomes most pointed when something goes wrong or someone makes a mistake. I see good owners addressing inevitable problems with a fair and calm approach. Employees in this kind of atmosphere seem to be more upset to have disappointed than resentful for being reprimanded. Finally, employees of great shops appear to be compensated fairly, even paid a bit more than the going rate to keep them happy and reluctant to seek employment elsewhere. One close friend and shop owner told me he pays his employees well to buy his own freedom. He knows he can leave on a hunt without worry a resentful employee will sabotage his business, even subconsciously, out of spite. He is also fair in providing his key employees ample time to enjoy their own time away to pursue their own hunting success. In many instances, quality, longtime employees are given incentives to stay for the long haul. One friend who owns a hugely successful archery shop in Albuquerque, for instance, has brought a couple of his most loyal and longstanding employees in as limited partners, giving them a stake in the success of the shop. Again, this feeds into an owner’s freedom and ability to enjoy life more fully. How does your business and its employees stack up? Patrick Meitin, Executive Editor I’ INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE TRACK

SEPT / OCT 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 Keith Arnold | Cassie Gasaway Michaelean Pike | Kurt Smith Sales & Marketing Director Stephen Mack • [email protected] (814) 341-9313 Design & Production ER Graphics / Ed Rother • [email protected] Graphic Designer Tara Bondar Social Media Manager Jason Ashe Video Editor Marc Balistreri Account Manager Pam Ludlam • [email protected] Subscription Services & Change of Address: Inside Archery® Circulation Department Inside Archery, PO Box 986, Levittown, PA 19055-9998 Phone: (844) 862-9286 • Fax: (888) 965-9961 [email protected] Publication Office Inside Archery® / Apollo Creative Inc P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935 Phone: (719) 495-9999 • www.InsideArchery.com Inside Archery founded in 1998 by Bill and Sherry Krenz Inside Archery® Copyright © 2023 Apollo Crreative Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Inside Archery® is a registered U.S. trademark of Apollo Creative Inc. Opinions expressed in by-lined articles or columns are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, the magazine or its staff. Submission Guidelines: Apollo Creative Inc and Inside Archery® magazine assume no responsibility for unsolicited editorial, photography or art submissions. Contributors submitting articles, photos or art do so at their own risk. Material will not be returned without a selfaddressed envelope with sufficient postage. No contract, agreement, term or condition provided by any contributor shall be binding on Apollo Creative Inc unless it is signed and returned by the Editor. Archery, hunting and bowhunting are inherently dangerous activities. Improper use of hunting or archery equipment may cause serious injury or death. Always follow state and local hunting safety rules, and get required permits or licenses before hunting. Apollo Creative Inc uses reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-todate information in our publications; however, we do not make any warranties or representations as to accuracy or completeness. All information in this magazine is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Apollo Creative Inc is not responsible for researching and investigating the accuracy of the contents of stories or advertisements published in this magazine. Readers use the information in this magazine at their own risk. Apollo Creative Inc assumes no liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this magazine, or arising from use by any person of the information in this magazine.

12 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDE THE INDUSTRY BUSINESS BLUEPRINT Coming to Terms with Terms Further, a current promo from Kinsey’s allows new dealers who are approved to receive Net 60 terms on all orders through the end of this year. Your shop can be fully stocked during this busy season, while having the luxury of paying after you’ve rigged all your customers bows. Here comes the reality. In 99 percent of cases, great term programs are only offered to those who have proven they are reliable in paying back their bills. This is why it is extremely important to make sure your bills are paid on time. Small business owners usually do not have the luxury of having a dedicated accounting department. This means the owner is in charge of many things, first and foremost running the business, but also maintenance, accounting, HR, and other necessary tasks. Sometimes, paying bills just falls lower on the priority roster. It sounds minor, but if paying your bills a few days or weeks late causes your business to sacrifice your credit history, then your business has suffered a loss. It is important for owners to think of their business credit as important as their personal credit. redit is king. In today’s world, much of what we do is bought with borrowed funds. Every time you swipe your credit card you are using short-term borrowed funds. This is also known as using credit. If you buy inventory on a Net 30 program, you are using credit. Many people know about personal credit and how it can negatively affect your ability to buy a house or a car should you have poor credit history. Often, small business owners will forget the same logic applies to their company as well. The power of good credit can significantly increase your business’s cash flow. Alternatively, having bad credit can cause you to miss out on opportunities to grow your business and take advantage of great deals. A prime example of this is the Kinsey’s Dealer Show. At the 2023 show, qualified dealers received Net August 1 dating on all ASAP shipments. This means a dealer could have bought $10,000-plus in inventory in February and not pay a single cent until August 1, 2023. This allows dealers to possibly sell the inventory, rebuy, and sell again, before even paying the first bill. Wouldn’t it be great to make money before you even spend money? This is even more beneficial for seasonal businesses like archery. Cash can be tight during off-season months. Having the ability to keep your store fully stocked but being able to pay for the goods later is extremely powerful. C Once terms are granted due to your good credit history, it still needs to be managed correctly to ensure your good history remains intact. It can be tempting to “load up” when you don’t have to worry about paying until a later date, but you can easily get in trouble this way. Inventory bought on terms can sneak up on people and they forget about the balance due. Money gets spent elsewhere, then when the bill is finally due, the money produced from the sale of terms inventory is already gone. As much as purchasing on terms can help a business, it can also hurt a business if managed poorly. If you have no history due to making all purchases via cash or COD, then it is not too late. Start small, get a credit card, or open a few vendor accounts using Net 30 terms. Get comfortable and build your credit over time. Keep an eye on your credit, make sure you take advantage of opportunities to lock in great deals, but at the same time make sure to keep a good balance and not to overextend yourself. Businesses that learn how to balance this often find the most success. 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

14 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 MARKET TRENDS NEW & NOTABLE Pine Ridge Archery Rail Mount P ine Ridge Archery’s Rail Mount for the company’s popular Kwik Stand bow support allows easy adaptability to modern crossbows that hold a forward Picatinny rail. This allows setting a crossbow on the ground without getting limbs or cams into dirt or vegetation, while also serving as a steadying rest across a stump, log or hard-side blind window shelf. The lightweight frame and simple adjustments makes it easy to adapt to nearly any crossbow. The USA-made design includes high density nylon construction, which also helps eliminate shot vibration. The mounting bolt keeps the rail mount snug and secure on any Pic rail, and can also be adapted to the popular AR-platform rifle. Customers save money by purchasing a package deal, including a black Kwik Stand and new Rail Mount (MSRP $35), while the mount is compatible with existing Kwik Stands. Learn more at pineridgearchery.com. Trophy Ridge SWFT T rophy Ridge’s new-for-2024 SWFT mover bow sight comes in Single Pin, Duo, and Trio configurations and merges classic craftsmanship with modern innovation to provide exceptional precision. They include tool-less micro click adjustments allowing precision arrow placement from 20 to 100 yards. An adaptable click-adjust light keeps pins bright (where legal). The sight is constructed from milled magnesium and aluminum to make it lightweight yet stout. The Duo provides the same 20- to 100-yard capabilities but with instant 20- and 30-yard reaction to sudden shot opportunities, the Trio offering the same qualities at 20, 30 and 40 yards while offering still more options through the mover head and side adjustment wheel. The Single Pin, Duo, and Trio SWFT allow customers to pick their poison to suit the conditions they hunt under. Learn more at trophyridge.com. Morrell Yellow Jacket Kinetic X T he Yellow Jacket Kinetic X Field Point Bag Archery Target by Morrell is a further refinement of the 2022 Yellow Jacket Kinetic 1.0 and reliably stops arrows and bolts sent at up to 500 fps. The Kinetic X is also one of the most affordable (MSRP $109.99) 500 fps targets on the market today. It includes Morrell’s unique floating center and allows shooters to utilize all four sides of the 16-by-16-by-16-inch cube bag target. It is hand stuffed with Morrell’s premium Yellow Jacket Kinetic material and weighs 51 pounds, so is self-standing, even when shot with the most powerful crossbows. Outsert use is discouraged, as the tough outer shell can result in difficult arrow/bolt extraction. The four sides each provide a unique target face, the entire target is highly weather resistant for longer life, and it holds an E-Z tote carrying handles for improved portability. Learn more at morrelltargets.com. Thorn Broadheads “The Crown of Thorns” T horn Broadheads’ “The Crown of Thorns” is a fixed blade design providing true field-tip accuracy. This is made possible through a four-stack set of helical configured blades, with cutting diameters increasing from tip to base. The first blade set cuts 5/8-inch wide, the second ¾-inch, the forth 7/8-inch and the final 1-inch wide, for a grand total of 3.25 inches of cutting surfaces. This obviously creates a nasty, blood-spilling wound channel. The Crown’s ferrule is milled from stout 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum holding a threaded titanium tip. The blades are .040-inch thick and cut from 420 stainless steel. Each Crown three-pack also includes a set of replacement blades and a Tip Tool. Thorn offers these heads in 100- and 125-grain options. The Crown is not legal in all states, so check local wording regarding barbed broadheads. Learn more at thornbroadheads.com. Banks Outdoors Feedbank Timber T he Feedbank Timber deer feeder from Banks Outdoors makes implementing a solid feeding program easier than ever. The rugged, roto-molded Feedbank Timber is an easy-to-fill ground feeder offered in 250- and 500-pound capacities. The battery- and electronic-free design dispenses feed onto the ground automatically, using gravity to provide the feed animals crave. It is designed to flow freely until it is completely emptied. With its watertight latching lid, round shape, and bark pattern, the Feedbank Timber blends seamlessly into wooded surroundings. Customers will find the Feedbank Timber easy to move around their hunting properties and focus feeding efforts wherever they are needed. The gravity-fed approach is compatible with not only standard shelled corn, but also protein pellets and feed mixes that often clog conventional spin feeders . Learn more at banksoutdoors.com. GAS Bowstrings High Octane Blackout G AS Bowstrings’ High Octane Blackout strings are the company’s first in-stock, readyto-ship line of bowstrings to help feed any dealer’s busy season. High Octane Blackout strings are perfect for archers needing a fresh bowstring/buss cable set quickly, or for those customers who do not require custom or flashy string colors to make them happy. Blackout strings are available for more than 150 popular bow models and are handmade from top-quality BCY 452x material. They include black strings, cables, and speed nocks. Hugely dependable Powergrip center serving comes standard on all GAS Bowstrings, and the company’s exclusive TTS (Total Tensioning System) results in superior string performance by eliminating peep rotation, serving separation or irritating elongation. Each string set is also backed by GAS Bowstrings’ one-year warranty, with a retail price of just $140. Learn more at gasbowstrings.com.

SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 15 Mountain View Products Altra Mountain View Products’ innovative Altra arrow quivers are designed for serious bowhunting, weighing just 8.6 ounces in the Atra 1-piece and 9.6 ounces in the Altra 2-piece. They are engineered to securely hold arrows while also proving highly streamlined and adjustable. Customers can create the perfect bow balance and fit, while keeping the works tight to the bow to minimize torque. Both models include a five-arrow capacity, and are compatible with standard or micro-diameter shafts, and hoods accommodate a wide variety of broadheads without dulling blades. The Altra-1 provides 1.5 inches of horizontal and up to 9.5 inches of vertical adjustments, while the Altra-2 allows 10 inches of vertical adjustment. Multiple adapters are included for mounting on nearly any bow brand. They are offered in Textured Black, Stormy Gray, Flat Dark Earth, and Green Beret (OD Green). Learn more at mountainviewproducts.com. Maple Leaf Press 2023 World Archery World Series I ntroduced for 2023, World Archery chose a triangular 3-spot target for the 2023 World Archery World Series. Maple Leaf is the only licensed provider of official targets. These faces are available in two versions: inner 10-ring only for compound shooters and regular 10-ring only for recurve shooters. They include the colorful and traditional yellow- (center), red- and blue-ring (outer) theme and are printed on the highest quality stock for durability and weather resistance. The extra 10-ring was removed from compound targets to make it easier for TV viewing audiences to understand what is being used as the scoring ring for the respective type of shooter. Maple Leaf Press has added the two World Archery World Series faces to their regular line of targets so customers can experience the same conditions as World Archery shoots. Call (616) 846-8844 or contact [email protected]. Carter Enterprises Whisper 2 C arter’s Whisper 2 hand-held release offers exceptional ergonomics and extreme silence. Carter bills this model as the quietest handheld release ever created, facilitated by four strategically placed rubber sound dampeners to silence the sear mechanisms. Carter’s Magnetic Adjustment System produces an ultra-crisp, creep-free trigger break, accomplished without the need for a travel adjustment screw, which makes trigger tension customization fast and inherently simple. The system works by adding or removing trigger magnets to create the desired feel. The 100 percent hardened 440 stainless steel internal parts offer unsurpassed durability. The reverse open jaw offers quick D-loop engagement, and opens away from the face to eliminate string/loop contact. After cut-away a magnet automatically resets the hook. This release extends the draw length about ½ an inch. Learn more at carterenterprises.com. HHA Sports Custom Sight Options HHA Sports has become renowned for producing some of the most advanced mover sights in the business. Adding to the company’s impressive lineup, HHA is now offering HHA Custom services. HHA will be offering a handful of their latest sight models in various Cerakote finish color options, and with different yardage-dial color options. For instance, customers can choose a tan, olive, sand, bronze or gunmetal sight, instead of the standard black anodized color scheme. Initial offerings will include dovetail models compatible with Mathews Bridge-Lock technology, as well as front picatinny mounted options compatible with the latest Hoyt and PSE compound models. HHA will also offer different colored yardage wheels, in hues such as white, pink, orange, and lime, just as examples, for these sights, as well as colored wheels to customize Tetra MAX or King Pin sights. Learn more at hhasports.com. Vapor Trail Archery Gen Integr8X V apor Trail’s Gen Integr8X (GI8X) Limb Driver Arrow Rest was released for 2023, and includes a lower profile to accommodate Mathews’ LowPro Detachable Quiver. This is an Integrate Mounting System rest compatible with many of today’s top bow brands. This system alleviates past fitting issues while proving lighter and more compact than previous models. The U.S.-made GI8X weighs just 4.1 ounces and includes advanced features such as micro-adjustable windage and elevation and the option of top or bottom limb activation. The full capture rubber over-molded carbon cage acts as an anti-vibration accessory, and is available in 14 interchangeable colors. The free-floating launcher arm supports arrows for up to 70 percent of the shot cycle to boost accuracy. The rest comes with Vapor Trail’s own SHAG Pad, a limb positioning pad, and activation cord. Learn more at vaportrailarchery.com. Mathews Title 38 T he 2024 Title 38 from Mathews is equipped with all-new TechBridge-Lock Carbon Target Bars, the TechSwitchWeight Cam and Match bowstrings to yield exceptional competition accuracy. It includes serious upgrades to the riser design, limbs, cams, bars and new strings and cables to make it the most stable, most repeatable, and most accurate bow Mathews has released to date. The 38-inch bow includes a forgiving 7-inch brace height and an IBO speed rating of up to 330 fps. The TechSwitchWeight Cam delivers maximum efficiency in an ultrasmooth draw cycle. New Bridge-Lock Carbon Target Bars redefine stability and rigidity while featuring a smaller lateral footprint and skeletonized frame weighing 36 percent less. Finally, the TechAnchor Weight System provides optimizes balance and moves the center of gravity below the grip. Learn more at mathewsinc.com.

16 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 MARKET TRENDS NEW & NOTABLE Elevation HUNT Harrier 1600 Daypack T he Harrier 1600 Daypack by Elevation HUNT is a new option from the company, offering customers a modular solution to fit every whitetail hunting need, whether still-hunting the big woods, or sitting in a treestand. The 1,600 cubic-inch payload daypack and large interior pocket feature Elevation’s MOLLE standard MGS, allowing users to easily fasten any standard webbing-compatible accessory. The pack includes the company’s All Terrain Base to keep moisture out, an adjustable yoke system and seven adjustment points to create a comfortable fit, 20 accessory pockets to keep gear organized, a hang handle for stand storage, a padded ergonomic air mesh back panel to allow sweat to dry, removeable accessory belt, and two accessory cinch straps. The daypack is hydration compatible and the all-weather construction keeps contents dry. It comes in Ambush Green. Learn more at elevationequipped.com. Wasp Archery SharpShooter 200 Grain Wasp Archery has added the SharpShooter 200 Grain to that popular series, which also includes 100- and 150-grain options. These are true cut-on-contact designs made for the toughest game, or for getting the most from low-KE bowhunting traditional (150- and 200-grain versions), or youth and woman rigs (100 grain). The SharpShooter 200 provides a serious F.O.C. boost for those bowhunting dangerous game or looking for improved performance from traditional gear. The SharpShooter 200 includes right-hand single-bevel cutting edges, the first in the Wasp lineup. The SharpShooter 200 includes a robust, one-piece main blade and two cross-cutting bleeder blades, locked securely in the high-tech ferrule. The blades can be resharpened, though replacements are offered. The compact design and single-bevel design ensure straight flight and deep penetration on the largest game. Learn more at wasparchery.com Ultraview Archery UV Button T he UV Button from Ultraview is a hand-held release offering lowmaintenance, smooth triggering and reliability. The UV Button is ergonomically pleasing for comfortable and consistent shooting. The UV Button includes a wide range of travel and tension micro-adjustments without changing springs, springed D-loop retainment, a wrist strap loop, an ergonomic contoured knob, rubber bumper silencing system and durable Cerakote finish. ULTRAGLIDE technology provides a self-lubricating internal bushing system sans metal-on-metal contact. The springed retainment system allows clipping the release to a D-loop and keeping it ready for action while hunting. The release is offered in Smoke Gray aluminum (3.1 ounces) or Matte Black stainless steel (5.6 ounces) options, and two and four finger versions are coming very soon. Learn more at ultraviewarchery.com. Custom Bow Equipment Trek Pro 2V T he CBE Trek 2V Pro mover sight includes a compact vertical pin design holding two fiber optic aiming points on a fixed gap, plus new dual yardage indicators, for ultimate versatility. A CBE 41mm lens or sunshade can be added, and the sliding rheostat cover allows adjusting the brightness of the 12 inches of fiber optic backing each pin. It also comes with a rheostat light. The machined aluminum scope housings hold interchangeable peep alignment rings, with green, red, yellow, and gray options provided. Adaptors for Picatinny or Bridge-Lock systems are available, and the sight comes with a choice of 0.010- or 0.019-inch fiber pins and right- or left-hand orientation. The sight weighs just 9.472 ounces. Other features include hybrid elevation adjustment, laser-engraved yardage scales, yardage dead stop, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd axis adjustments, and a lock-down knob. Learn more at custombowequipment.com. Headhunter Bow Strings Headhunter Bow Strings has been making top-quality cables and strings for bows and crossbows for more than 25 years, and has been growing steadily, with facilities in Colorado and Wisconsin. The company has produced more than 12 million bow strings, designing, engineering and producing strings and cables for OEM’s that build bows and crossbows. When you buy a set of Headhunter Strings, you don’t need to worry about making extra purchases to make sure a bow is set up correctly. When you purchase a set of replacement strings from Headhunter, they always include the needed nocks, grubs, and tubes to complete the job. This puts more money in the dealer’s pocket, and saves time searching for all the needed items to get a bow set up properly the first time. Learn more at headhunterbowstrings.com. BCY Mercury 2 Bowstring B CY has been producing the industry’s latest, cutting-edge bowstring and buss cable material for more than 32 years, making it the brand many professional bowstring makers turn to. BCY strives to combine the latest fiber technologies to make the strings and cables we shoot stronger, more reliable, more abrasion resistant and less prone to stretch while shooting today’s faster, harder-hitting crossbows and compounds. The latest introduction is BCY Mercury 2 Bowstring. Mercury 2 Bowstring includes a larger diameter than the original and hugely-versatile Mercury material, bringing it up to speed for use for bowstrings and cables used on today’s high-energy bows and crossbows. It is made from high-strength Dyneema, which ensures low creep, remarkable strength, and exceptional abrasion resistance. Learn more at bcyinc.com.

18 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 Back to School rab your backpack and put on that fresh new outfit … it’s back-to-school time! I know, I know. For most of us, back to school hasn’t been part of our lives for several decades. And in this industry, Autumn isn’t the beginning of the year. You are probably in the thick of it right now, or maybe even wrapping up your busiest months of the year. Archery businesses, especially retailers, should keep in mind that this back-to-school season will have a direct or indirect effect on the lives of many customers. To follow are a few things you will want to keep an eye on over the coming weeks to best serve customers and keep the cash register ringing. Slammed Schedules ■ Back to school usually means the calendar is jampacked almost every day of the week. From homework to after-school activities and sports, there isn’t much free time to be found. So how does this affect an archery shop? Your customers may have very limited time when they can come in. Convenience is key. Consider adding additional store hours, especially later in the day and during the weekend, to increase the likelihood of being open when customers have free time. Better yet, think about how you can add an option to buy online and pick up in store. If your point-of-sale system is not set up to integrate with e-commerce, you can even allow customers to call in and make a purchase over the phone for pickup. It may seem insignificant, but if a customer knows they can drop INSIDE THE INDUSTRY YOUR ATA INSIGHTS G BY KURT SMITH, COURTESY OF THE ATA by and quickly pick up a purchase on the way to another activity, that may be the difference between buying from you or buying online. Time for Review ■ Getting back to school means students are getting their brains back in learning mode. Teachers spend a few weeks reviewing old content before starting anything new. Just the same, many bowhunters haven’t spent their summers practicing and going over their equipment. This time of the year is usually “review” time for many customers. That means tweaking form, adjusting sights, and maybe fixing some broken equipment from last season. It can prove frustrating when all this hits the door at the last minute but remember that these last-minute fixes are where you can become the hero. Be patient with customers and make them feel valued, even if you think they should have come to see you months ago. Remember that most people view archery and bowhunting as hobbies, so keep it fun! New & Exciting Gear ■ You are about to start seeing new bows and gear hit the scene, and like it or not, it is likely the first place you will get information is on social media. Don’t sit back and wait for customers to start asking questions about new products. Jump in and be part of the conversation. Always try to get as much information as you can directly from your suppliers, but don’t be afraid to be the student and study up on the information that comes through their social media channels as well. Start a conversation on your own social media pages about new gear that is in the pipeline and ask customers what they are hoping to see. Even if you don’t have the complete details of new products, you will be making your customers associate your business with the latest and greatest archery gear. As a bonus, you get to see what customers want and can use that information to make more informed buying decisions. To sum it all up, know that fall likely brings change for your customers and it’s your job to stay ahead of the curve. Offer convenience whenever possible, be understanding and supportive of those who are just getting back into archery after some time off, and don’t be afraid to get in on the conversation about new products hitting the market. Back-to-school season can be a fresh start for your customers as they get into new routines and get back to enjoying archery. Embrace the change and find ways to make archery and bowhunting fun, and you’ll create repeat customers for years to come. And don’t forget, if you are looking to get into the back-to-school spirit and brush up on your knowledge and skills, your ATA is here all year round. We’ve got downloadable resources for members like the Quarterly Business Tracker Survey and on-demand learning on archery tech and business operations through the MyATA Learning Center. As always, I encourage you to reach out with any thoughts or questions at [email protected]. IA

20 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 ATA Show Registration Outpacing Last Year Retailer registration continues to increase for the 2024 ATA Show, with numbers outpacing this time last year. The industry’s largest celebration of archery and bowhunting will take place in St. Louis January 11 through 13. More than 400 different brands have already registered to showcase their products and meet with customers, which is also outpacing last year’s numbers, making the ATA Show the best place to see the latest innovations and access special Show deals. “After a 21 percent increase in attendance last year, we are excited to see our registration numbers continue to climb,” said Jeff Poole, ATA president and CEO. “The face-to-face business environment continues to be an invaluable part of this industry and the ATA Show is one place that brings more archery buyers and sellers together than any other event.” All ATA-member retailers who register for the Show and book their room in the ATA hotel block will receive a $150 credit on their bill thanks to the ATA’s “First Night’s on Us” promotion in partnership with Explore St. Louis. The ATA has also secured reduced parking rates ranging from 10 to 30 percent off for all hotel guests staying at one of the hotels in the official ATA block. The Big Buck Tag coupon books are returning this year, offering exclusive deals from manufacturers and thousands of dollars in savings dealers can only get by being there. All attendees at the Show will also receive a goodie bag that includes quality products and samples. ATA’s Industry Celebration, presented by Mossy Oak, will be expanded and invigorated with a buffet dinner, new industry awards and more. The networking event of the year allows INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS Show-goers to unwind with friends after a big first day and enjoy food, drinks and live entertainment. Retailers can take advantage of a variety of educational opportunities at the Show to enhance their business, including becoming an ATA Certified Bow technician. The Masterclass series is now free for those who attend the Show and includes industry experts speaking on business, coaching, marketing and bow technician tips specific to retailers. Level 1, 2 and 3 archery coach certifications are also available at a special price just for attendees. The ATA Show is the one opportunity each year for those in the archery industry to come together face to face. It is the best place for retailers to gain expertise on all the latest products hitting the market, with information directly from the manufacturers and the ability to test the items in person. The floor plan continues to fill with exhibitors and is updated in real-time. Find out who’s already made plans to showcase their products on the ATA website. For registration questions, please contact Sarah Haala, Trade Show coordinator, at [email protected] or call (507) 233-8130. Not a member? Join or renew to attend the 2024 Show. | GO TO ARCHERYTRADE.ORG/MEMBERSHIP/ FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR REACH OUT TO KIM WATSON, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP, AT KIMWATSON@ARCHERYTRADE. ORG OR CALL (507) 233-8133. USA Archery Receives USOPC Rings of Gold Program Award USA Archery is the proud recipient of the prestigious Rings of Gold Program Award, which was presented at the 2023 Olympic & Paralympic Assembly held in Los Angeles. Introduced in 1996, the Rings of Gold awards are given annually to an individual or a program that is dedicated to helping children develop their Olympic or Paralympic dreams and reach their highest athletic and personal potential. The Rings of Gold Program Award honors those programs committed to nurturing and developing the Olympic and Paralympic dreams and goals of children—teaching America’s youth valuable life skills—in addition to making a positive impact in their community. USA Archery received the Rings of Gold Program Award for Explore Archery, which was launched in 2014. Its aim was to serve as a foundation for the development of communitybased archery programs nationwide, and to grow a new generation of archers, and Olympic, Paralympic and world championship hopefuls at the grassroots level. “We are thrilled to honor Explore Archery with the 2023 Rings of Gold Award,” said Sarah Hirshland, USOPC CEO. “Over the years, USA Archery’s program has introduced thousands across the U.S. to the sport of archery, teaching children and people of all ages and abilities Olympic and Paralympic values. We thank USA Archery for continuing to inspire Olympic and Paralympic dreams through its programming.” Explore Archery is an innovative education program which introduces archery to beginners of all ages and abilities. The program includes lowcost, turnkey programming options that offer a comprehensive Instructor’s Guide, including a full curriculum packed with classroom activities, and award and games components. The program’s unique skill-based achievement awards allow archers to earn awards through active participation in individual and team-building activities. It also provides resources

SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM to help instructors understand how to adapt existing programs to include archers of all abilities and provide education and instruction on assistive devices and other simple adaptations to make the sport inclusive of all. As the program has grown, it has expanded to offer equipment and training grants to organizations in an effort to reach more diverse communities. Through growing partnerships with more than 350 local recreation and parks departments, multisport organizations and archery clubs, more than 35,000 archers have been introduced to the sport through Explore Archery. “USA Archery is honored to receive the Rings of Gold program award for the Explore Archery program,” said Mary Emmons, Chief of Sport Performance & Operations for USA Archery. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication and passion of USA Archery staff, countless instructors and partners who have made this program a resounding success. | FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EXPLORE ARCHERY PROGRAM, CONTACT USA ARCHERY AT [email protected]. NDA Partners With Wisconsin DNR to Grow Hunting, Trapping, and Shooting Efforts The National Deer Association (NDA) is excited to announce its partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The NDA joins the ranks of Pheasants Forever, Raised At Full Draw, and Pass It On—Outdoor Mentors in partnering with the Wisconsin DNR. The aim of this partnership is to recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) participants into hunting, trapping, and shooting sports across Wisconsin. This mission will be supported by the addition of a new, jointly funded position by the NDA and the Wisconsin DNR. “We are looking forward to this partnership with the Wisconsin DNR,” said NDA Director of Hunting, Hank Forester. “Their values of environmental protection and enhancement, as well as their dedication to increasing the number of hunters, align perfectly with the NDA mission” The Wisconsin DNR is focused on upholding and maintaining the fish, wildlife, forest, parks, air, and water resources of its communities. “These partnerships help us develop an appreciation for the outdoors and support wildlife conservation efforts among the public while also promoting these activities to future generations,” said Bob Nack, DNR Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Team Supervisor. “Each of these organizations brings experience and specific areas of interest that will provide diverse outdoor learning experiences for Wisconsinites of all experience levels.” These efforts will focus on teaching people how to get started in each of these activities, supporting and engaging people already involved and encouraging individuals with prior experience who may not be currently active in these activities to get involved again. The National Deer Association is the leading non-profit deer conservation group and works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Formed by combining the strengths of two long-serving, successful organizations, the National Deer Association has a combined 40 years of action that has changed deer management for the betterment of hunting and protected North America’s most vital and admired game species for future generations. | FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NDA VISIT DEERASSOCIATION.COM. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WISCONSIN DNR PLEASE SEE DNR.WISCONSIN.GOV. IA

22 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 The ATA Show Then & Now (We’re Looking at You, 2024!) INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATION archerytrade.org in St. Louis—to be held January 11 through 13—has to offer and stroll down memory lane with Brian Bychowski, president of Pine Ridge Archery and Du-Bro Products, exhibiting in Booth 1905 at the 2024 Show. To register for the 2024 ATA Show, visit archerytrade.org/trade-show/ registration. Then and Now ■ Bychowski attended his first ATA Show in 2002 under the Archery Manufacturers Organization name. He said a few things have changed, but “ATA has done a great job of keeping [the ATA Show] what it was compared to back in the day.” In other words, the ATA Show will, as always, focus on facilitating connections, strengthening business, and growing the archery and bowhunting industry. The ATA Show is a members-only event that attracts retailers, manufacturers, distributors, archery coaches, outdoor media, industry representatives and conservation organization staff to chat about all things archery. Show conversations kickstart improvement and recruitment ideas, and open the door to relationships, partnerships, and business opportunities. Bychowski said the current ATA Show is more diverse and all-encompassing than it was. The dynamic event now has: • New Products : Exhibitors launched more than 200 new products at the 2023 Show, giving attendees a oncea-year opportunity to see, touch and examine products and talk to product engineers. ATA members can expect similar new product releases at the upcoming event. • Promotions : Show-goers have multiple ways to save and score, including the ATA’s “First Night’s on Us” promotion, where each retail account will receive a $150 credit on their bill for the first night of their hotel stay, if they book in the ATA hotel block. The 2024 Show will also bring back beloved favorites like the goody bag and Big Buck Tag coupon book. The ATA will announce more promotions in the coming weeks. T he ATA Show is constantly evolving. Discover what the 2024 ATA Show has to offer. Twenty-six years after the first ATA Show in 1997, the ATA Show is still a business-to-business event focused on commerce and growth. It is also the industry’s largest celebration of archery and bowhunting, gathering thousands of men and women from different ethnicities and geographic locations to connect with peers, see new products, conduct business, and share trade insights. It’s the family reunion of the archery industry. Discover everything the 2024 Show BY CASSIE GASAWAY UNITING THE INDUSTRY Don’t wait! Register now for the 2024 ATA Show in St. Louis, Jan. 11-13. PHOTO © ATA.

SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 23 • Post-Show Events : Attendees can enjoy free drinks, food and entertainment after the Show floor closes at events like the ATA’s Industry Celebrations, presented by Mossy Oak and Outtech Innovations. • Certification Courses : Earn your Bow Technician Certification through the ATA or take an archery instructor certification course at the Show. • Awards : ATA recognizes new products, industry icons and those growing the industry through education and recruiting through its Best in Show awards program. • Educational Opportunities : ATA members can attend Coffee Talks and the Archery Industry Masterclass to gather information on business, marketing, coaching and more. • Staff Support : ATA staff are available to talk through ATA-member resources, like the ATA’s Quarterly Retail Business Tracker Survey. Bychowski said these improvements benefit ATA members who take advantage of them. Timeless, Unmatched Business Opportunities ■ Bychowski loves the ATA Show most for its social aspect and opportunities, which are unmatched and everexpanding, and said the ATA Show has the best buying atmosphere. “It’s a heavy order-writing Show for us, of all the shows we attend,” he said. “We joke that many of our deals are done off the Show floor at restaurants, hotels, and bars. That’s somewhat a lie because we meet people at the booth and give them a pitch but run into them afterward and start chatting.” Whether ATA members do business at the Show or after it in connection with the Show, attending the ATA Show will always be more productive and constructive than conducting business by phone or email. “Some retailers come to us wanting to order wrenches and that’s it, but while they’re (at our booth), they’re physically touching samples and listening to our sales reps mention complementary products,” he said. “They walk away with an order of 15 SKUs that they needed but would’ve overlooked in a product catalog. Retailers can look at you from across the table and know if you’re genuine or throwing BS. You can’t get any of that from a phone call.” Attend & See ■ Register now for the 2024 ATA Show and plan your trip to St. Louis. Just go to archerytrade.org/trade-show/ registration “Everyone needs to be there in St. Louis,” Bychowski said. “We have to go for the greater good of the industry. We have to meet face to face and support each other to keep the network and industry strong. You’ll get deals, better shipping, product discounts and exposure to new items. That and the face time you get with peers and the relationships you build at the Show are invaluable.” Questions? Please contact Sarah Haala, ATA’s Trade Show coordinator at [email protected]. IA The ATA Show allows members to test new products and network with other industry members. PHOTO © BRIAN BYCHOWSKI The Show has been an invaluable part of the industry for decades. PHOTO © BRIAN BYCHOWSKI

24 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 S ince childhood, Curt Price, president of the Burt Coyote Company, has been obsessed with—as Ted Nugent put it— “the mystical flight of the arrow.” “There’s just something about watching an arrow fly through the air,” Curt said. “It almost hypnotizes you.” Of course, there’s more to watching the flight of an arrow than simple enjoyment. Being able to track the path of an arrow and know exactly where an animal has been hit following release is critical to a successful—and humane—hunt. It also makes recovering arrows less time consuming. In business, as in life, it’s easy to become distracted by the things that don’t really matter. I think we all know new business owners who spent valuable time and money chasing fleeting trends or stroking their own egos only to wind up bankrupt. Companies that last do so because they look beyond the current moment, keeping an eye on the big stuff: quality, service, and culture. BY MICHAELEAN PIKE Burt Coyote Company Keeping an Eye on What Matters

SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 25

26 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 I thought about that quite a bit during my interview with Curt. He’s about as plainspoken as they come, and he is refreshingly forthright. Twenty-five years ago, he and his brother, Eric, invented the Lumenok, a lighted arrow nock designed to help archers better see their arrow in flight. Just as they know how important it is to know where your arrow hits, they also know how important it is to focus on what really matters when it comes to running a company. That laser focus on the big stuff, combined with a willingness to work hard, continue to innovate and do the right thing for their customers, has helped Curt and Eric build a brand that has stood the test of time. Getting Out of the House Curt and Eric’s interest in archery began early in life. “We were introduced through our dad,” Curt said. “It was probably mostly because we were driving our mother crazy. She wanted us kids out of the house. So, we all started shooting archery when we were young. “Our whole family shot bows. We belonged to Hawk Creek Archery Club, with an indoor range and an outdoor range. We worked at the ranges. We made our own arrows. You’d come home, you’d shoot archery. I did an archery project for my English teacher once. I took my bow to school and set a target up. I shot three bull’s-eyes in a row while I was talking and explaining archery. I got an A on that one.”

27 SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM In addition to his passion for archery itself, Curt loved the outdoors. “I remember going duck hunting with my dad,” he said. “I always loved being outside. I couldn’t wait to get out into the country when I grew up. That’s where I live now. We have a 100-acre farm with about 40 acres of water on it. But it’s always been important to us. And I always thought it was because Mom didn’t want us in the house. That’s who we are. We’re just simple people who love going outside.” A Crucial Miss After graduating high school, Curt got a job working for Rohn Towers, eventually training to become an electrician. Meanwhile, Eric became a welder before joining Caterpillar and becoming a machine repairman. And then in 1998, while he was bowhunting, Curt missed a deer. “I was rattling a buck,” he explained. “I knew my setup was really good, but he caught me when I was drawing back. He ducked the arrow, but at first I couldn’t tell if I’d hit him or not. It all happened so fast, and my heart was pumping. I went looking for the arrow, and it took me an hour to find it. By that time, I was pissed.” Frustrated, Curt began his 30-mile drive home. He spent the drive thinking about the potential for a lighted arrow nock. And he knew exactly who he wanted to discuss the idea with: his brother. “I knew Eric was home, so I decided to swing by and talk to him about it,” Curt said. “My original idea was liquid. Chemicals. I was trying to stay away from batteries. But Eric suggested we head over to Radio Shack. By the next weekend, we had lighted nocks and were shooting with them. The next week, I killed a deer with one. They worked.” The brothers continued to work on their nocks until they had a version

28 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 they felt they could sell. “The nock we first brought to market was our Prototype 13. No moving parts,” Curt recalled. “It was the thirteenth prototype we made. It lit up when it went in the arrow all the way. We tried to think of a way to turn it on and off—turning it on when it was shot out of the bow and turning it off when you got the arrow. With Prototype 13, the battery was attached to the end of the nock. I had pieces of phone wire in there. The first nocks had black shrink tube on the ends of them. We just housed all that stuff in there and then put shrink tube over it. “Later, we turned the battery around and remade the nock. The major drawback with our nock when we first started was that the contacts were rough on the arrow. But now the contacts don’t do anything to the arrow. It’s more of a pad. We learned. We’ve come so far from what we were when we first started.” Curt and Eric weren’t the only ones involved with trying to solve the problem of tracking arrow flight. “Our nock wasn’t the first lighted nock on the market,” Curt said. “There was another nock that came out before it—the Tailfire. The Tailfire was about three inches long. I hadn’t seen one before I invented the Lumenok. When I invented our nock, I said something about it to a guy in a paint shop and he told me he’d seen one the previous year. He brought it out and just gave it to me. On the Tailfire, the battery caused the nock to light up. The battery had to fly back and forth in the nock. And you had to use silicone caulk to caulk it into your arrow. It weighed 80 grains. Ours hardly weighs anything. It adds 15 grains to the weight of the arrow.” Building a Company Although Curt was able to kill a deer with one of his lighted nocks almost immediately, the brothers would spend years further developing and refining their idea. They had jobs and families to support, and so they worked on their nocks on the side. When it came to naming their company, Curt had an idea. “When I was in high school, I ran track,” he said. “At one conference track meet, I won the 100 and the 200 and I placed in the high jump. I scored all the points for my team. When the local newspaper wrote about the meet, they wrote that Burt Price scored all these points. They misspelled my name. The rest of the name came from my best friend. I’d always wanted to make fishing lures, and one day we were fishing together. He was using one of my lures. He caught this bass, and he just yelled out, ‘Burt Coyote Fishing Lures.’ “The first ten years I was working, I made custom lures for people in my basement. I called them Burt Coyote Lures. So, when we started the business, we decided on that. It was either that or something like Two Brothers Manufacturing. We thought Burt Coyote Company sounded better.” While Curt and Eric knew they had something in their lighted nocks, those

SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 29 around them weren’t so sure. “I had my friends over once and I had some lighted arrow nocks on the table,” Curt recalled. “I was explaining to them what I was doing, and they didn’t see a living in it.” At first, the Prices didn’t make a living from their nocks. In fact, their new business took more money than it made for them. “The business was hungry for a long time,” Curt said. “I was doing things on the side, just trying to make money so I could feed the monster. We didn’t take money out of it for a while.” Curt was still working full-time as an electrician in addition to his side work. “I had a great boss,” he said. “While I was nursing the business along, he let me call my answering machine at home and get messages. He was cool about it.” That proved to be especially helpful once Burt Coyote decided to run a commercial on The Outdoor Channel. “It was tough at first trying to get people to use the nocks, but once people started using them on TV, it was amazing,” he explained. “One day I told

30 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 my boss I was going to stay home. I’d bought our first commercial on The Outdoor Channel. I almost had an anxiety attack that day. Then I saw our commercial on TV, and as soon as it was over, the phone started ringing. It was amazing. It was all because of that TV show. People could see that video of the nock going through animals. Our nocks are bright as hell. People always accused us of hunting at night, but we didn’t. You want to use nocks that are bright enough to see in the daytime. That’s what we make. We make nocks you can see in the daytime.” Burt Coyote grew as more and more bowhunters realized what lighted nocks could do for them. In 2002, the company exhibited at its first ATA Show. It also filed for a patent on the Lumenok. “We were the fifth lighted nock patent,” Curt said. “A couple of them were never built. The other two were the Tailfire and Tracer Nocks.” In 2004, after a big sale to Cabela’s and Gander Mountain, Curt decided he was ready to quit his job and run Burt Coyote full-time. He hired a couple employees and continued working in his basement until, as he explained, his wife made him move shop. At that point, he purchased a former laundromat and turned it into a factory. “I actually bought the laundromat from my father-in-law,” he said. “We had two shifts running in there. Then Eric hit 27 years at Caterpillar and quit to build our first automated machines in 2006. That was when we built our new building. We still use the laundromat. We keep our CNC machines in there. The new building is more of a warehouse. It has our offices in the front and a mezzanine where our employees work.” Overcoming Obstacles Getting people to try lighted nocks was only part of the challenge for the Burt Coyote Company. Curt and Eric also

31 SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM had to deal with resistance from state legislatures and organizations like the Pope & Young Club. “We were at the forefront of getting that fixed,” Curt said of the state laws banning the use of lighted nocks for bowhunting. “The first state where we got the law overturned was Alaska. Kansas came a little later. There was actually a TV show that got in trouble in Kansas. They were using lighted nocks and the game wardens came. But now Idaho is the last state to fall.” The problem, he explained, is that many Western states use Pope & Young Club regulations when writing their archery laws, and for a long time lighted nocks were not accepted by Pope & Young. “Pope & Young said you could not have any battery-operated devices on your bow, and if your arrow was on your bow, it was on your bow,” he said. “It was that way for a long time. We got it changed. They finally understood it was more of a thing to help find an animal. That’s one of the important things when you’re hunting. Pope & Young finally saw that. We’ve been a corporate sponsor for P&Y for years now.”

32 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 The Lumenok & More For Curt and Eric, offering a quality product is critical. The company won’t sell a product they don’t believe in, which is why there isn’t an all-in-one Lumenok. Instead, Burt Coyote offers Lumenoks designed to fit a wide range of arrows and arrow sizes, as well as vertical and horizontal bows. “Currently, our best seller is the GTC,” Curt said. “That’s the Gold Tip Crescent. We sell a lot of them in our bolts. When we first started making crossbow nocks, we made 12 different sizes. There were all these different diameters. Now a lot of them are going with the .300. It’s an awesome nock. “Our biggest seller used to be the S-size nocks. Now the X-nock has really taken off. So many different arrow makers are selling that size arrow—the .204. People like smaller-diameter arrows. “We don’t make a G-nock. They’re dangerous. .166-diameter nocks are neither bright nor durable enough to carry the Lumenok name. We make an adapter to go on a super small-diameter arrow to put an H-nock in. They’re sturdier.” Lumenoks are also available in a variety of colors. We also offer a Build a Bolt page on our website [lumenok.com]. This is for people who need a custom bolt cut to length. Customers can pick fletching type, nock style and color.

SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM “Reds, greens, and oranges are the brightest nocks,” Curt said. “My son is color blind, so he doesn’t see red. He sees the light from the red, but green is bright as hell to him. When people are color blind, a lot of times green will be brighter to them than red.” In addition, Burt Coyote offers the Arrow Puller Extinguisher, which, as the name implies, both aids in arrow pulling and in extinguishing lighted nocks. “It has an hourglass design,” Curt explained. “It fits nicely in your hand, and it snaps on your arrow so it’s always there with you. It’s used to turn off the crossbow nocks. It’s mainly for crossbow nocks, but it will work on other nocks, too. It’s pretty cool.” Because Curt and Eric also enjoy golf, they developed the Putting Stroke Teacher. “We had high hopes for it, but it’s tough to break out in the golf industry,” Curt said. “We had a couple pro players win tournaments using it. But it’s a different animal completely. Golfers don’t want to brag about what helped them because one or two strokes make such a difference. We had 120 pros using it at one time on the tour. Zach Johnson won the British Open after using it for two weeks. “It did help take a couple strokes off our games, though. We’re better putters now.” A Focus on Service Providing a quality product is one important component of running a successful manufacturing business. Providing great customer service is another. “It’s not all roses,” Curt said. “We just try to make sure somebody’s here to answer the phone and try to talk people through their troubles. We try to make their lighted arrow nock experiences the best it can be from our side. Sometimes it takes a little bit. All arrows are not the same. They can be the same size, but they’re really not. They have different things inside of them to where nocks don’t go in. With certain arrows, you may need a little beeswax and a hair dryer to get the nock in. Use that, and the nock will just slide in like it’s made for the arrow. My brother and I bought a bunch of arrows and dissected them. We wanted to work those problems out so when someone calls, we have an answer for them.” Eric and Curt have found that many of

the company’s service calls involve arrow coverings. “I had a guy call me once,” Curt recalled. “He’d bought 12 nocks, and none of them worked. I know that 12 nocks aren’t bad. When the nocks leave here, they’re all tested. You may have a battery issue with a nock every so often, but with the Lumenok, there’s no switch. When the nock moves forward and touches the back of an arrow, it lights up. When you move it back, it shuts off. There’s nothing else to do to it. But sometimes if the arrow is painted, the nock won’t make contact. And some arrows aren’t conductive because they’re not made out of carbon.” Looking Ahead Today, Curt is president of Burt Coyote, while Eric is the head of engineering. A number of other employees ensure the company runs smoothly. Jim Crane handles sales. Carmen Williams is the office manager and, according to Curt, “pretty much runs the place.” Melissa Swindler is the company’s secretary. Melissa is also Curt’s daughter, and many in the industry may remember her as one of the Lumenok Girls. Melissa and another woman helped promote Lumenoks at the ATA Show for several years. “Now we have three new Lumenok Girls,” Curt said. “My granddaughters. They’re nine, six, and five.” Burt Coyote plans to continue to expand its product line. “We’re going to come out with some pretty cool nocks in the next few months,” Curt said. “We’re going to come out with some special things. We’re working on it right now.” The company is also heavily involved in giving back. In addition to its sponsorship of Pope & Young Club, Burt Coyote supports St. Jude’s. “A portion of the sales from our pink nocks goes to St. Jude’s,” Curt said. “Last year, our local St. Jude fundraiser brought in $128,000. Being a part of that is pretty cool.” But after 25 years, Curt and Eric are mostly grateful for having the chance to build a successful company in their hometown and in the industry they love. “We just always wanted to be in the archery industry,” Curt said. “We wanted to do this for a living, and we have. “I think things are simpler than people think. People think they can’t do something. Anyone can do anything. Just put your freakin’ mind to it. We are living proof.” IA

36 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT P BY PATRICK MEITIN Banks Outdoors The Stump Sequoia Blind WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. experience by keeping Mother nature sealed outside, while enjoying the ability to easily share the hunting experience with family and friends. A quality hard-side design also helps seal human scent inside, where it will not reach the delicate noses of the game we hunt. Banks Outdoors was at the cutting edge of this trend, designing and manufacturing high quality hard-side blinds well before such options became fashionable. This head start on the marketplace means Banks has also had the jump on refining the design, including features that provide real-world utility and ultimate comfort. The Stump Sequoia, released for 2023, is Banks Outdoors’ newest, and largest, blind option. This is a blind with a 90-inch diameter interior—translating into 44-plus square feet of space—that provides plenty of room to stretch your legs, share the hunt with four-plus companions, or maneuver for the shot. Shooting opportunities are enhanced via eight silent-hinge, tinted and framed windows, providing 360-degree viewing and field of fire and are compatible with firearms, crossbows or compounds—even traditional bows due to an 80-inch ceiling height. The blind urchasing or leasing exclusive private ground for whitetail hunting has become the norm in so many places today. Large among the reasons hunters are willing to incur such expenses is the ability to better manage these properties for trophy quality, including land-management approaches such as selective cutting, installing water sources, planting food plots, and offering antler-building mineral without the outside influences inherent to public lands, or even private lands with unchecked access. A big part of this trend has also involved the ability to deploy sturdy hardsided blinds without worry of vandalism by the public. Hunting from such hides provides an infinitely more enjoyable is accessed through a 26-by-54-inch hinged door, which includes a secure three-point latching system. Seamless polyethylene construction is built to last a lifetime, but also ensures nasty weather—cold, heat, wind or precipitation—insects and rodents are kept outside. The windows also seal thoroughly. The domed roof ensures rain or accumulating snow is shed efficiently, and the exterior bark pattern creates nonglare surfaces. Customers can purchase the Stump Sequoia as a base model, or as an accessoryrich Pro Hunter. A Sequoia Scout ground blind version, and Sequioa Ice fishing shelter are also available. The blind includes two vents to allow ample air flow with carbon filters offered to purify escaping scent. Two bow-hanger attachment points are provided for bowhunters. A steel base allows the blind to be easily elevated with wooden 4x4s or steel legs, and the four-layered floor includes steel, composite, a wooden sub floor, and a foam mat for silence. Available options include sound proof wall insulation, a black-out curtain kit, and locking door handle. These rotomolded blinds are American made in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and include a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Find more details on all of Banks Outdoors blinds, as well as their feeders and watering stations by visiting banksoutdoors.com. IA

38 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 Does The ATA Show Still Deliver? By keith arnold I’ve been very fortunate to have chased my dream, having worked in the archery industry for the past 30 years. I’ve spent time in retail, distribution, manufacturing, and the past two years as an ATA board member. I’ve had hundreds of conversations with retailers and manufacturers. One topic that has come up numerous times in recent years from both retailers and manufacturers is, “Are you going to the ATA Show this year?” or, “Do you think the ATA Show still makes sense?” I believe it’s good to question the status quo, as change is the only constant in life and business.

39 COVID took us all from “business life support tactics” to trying to manage the unprecedented growth that hit the second half of 2020 and continued strong into 2022. The COVID years were good for many archery retailers, manufacturers, and archery and bowhunting in general. Retailers could sell whatever they could get, and manufacturers enjoyed record increases along with record backorders. And now, 2024 is on the horizon. Does the ATA Show still make sense for me as a retailer or for me as a manufacturer? If you know me, I’m candid—and I’ll tell you that I think it does still make sense. I’ll start with retailers. New Product Knowledge In my 30 years in the industry, I’ve always been driven to know what is new, and what matters. I haven’t missed an ATA Show, and if you want to know what is new and relevant for the coming year, you must be there. As a buyer for Kinsey’s, I found countless new up-andcoming items or late-launch items from existing manufacturers that I never January 11–13, 2024 • America’s Center

40 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 would have known about (in time) had I not attended the Show. The fact is, regardless of how large and meaningful a retailer you are, not all brands have sales reps, and not all sales reps call on all accounts. There is a good reason why all the major distributors send an army of buyers to the ATA Show, and that is information gathering. If you want to be considered an expert in the archery field, you need to know what’s going on, and it is impossible to have complete knowledge without attending the ATA Show. Relationships The ATA Show is a critical time for you to grow your relationships with your manufacturers. Whether it is shipping inaccuracies, late deliveries, or product quality, the ATA Show is where you have access to decision makers, and where you can corner the people required to get problems solved. Sure, you can call in to a company, but most of the time you won’t truly have the ear of the decision makers, especially with larger manufacturers. As a buyer, I always tried to have a key person at each company that I could lean on. The ATA Show is the time when you can solidify these relationships with a tenured individual within a company, or maybe even one of the product engineers. When manufacturers attend, they typically bring their best and brightest. Industry Buzz Yes, this is a real thing. The single mostasked question among fellow showgoers to one another is: “What have you seen this year that is hot?” I can’t tell you how many times this type of information has served me well over the years, as a retailer, distributor, and now as a manufacturer. Manufacturers—Does it still make sense for you to attend the ATA Show? I have been asked this quite a few times and I think it’s a great question. COVID created unprecedented demand. Let’s face it, there was no ATA Show in 2021, and for most manufacturers, that was the best year they have ever had. Some manufacturers spend more than $200,000 attending the show, and what is not to love about record sales combined with a huge reduction in expenses? But that was then, and this is Networking The ATA Show gathers hundreds of industry members and archery insiders in one place. It’s a chance to connect with peers to build personal and professional relationships.

41 SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM now. The days of selling whatever you could produce are in our rearview mirror, and manufacturers are back to the battle for market share. influence This is a common reason for both retailers and manufacturers, but the “whys” are different. Retailers now have a choice as to what they want to sell. There are no product shortages, and most manufacturers are shipping on time. The ATA Show is your time to influence the buyers. Sure, you have sales reps and sure, most of your “heavy hitter” buyers are at the buy group shows, but the ATA Show is your only real time to interact and influence buyer decisions by getting them excited about your product. Nobody has excitement for your product like you do. Buy Group Accounts If you have attended these shows, you know quite well how limited your interaction is with the buyers. They are there to write orders. You might have a buyer drop off an order at your booth, or it may be a courier from the company who turns the order in. Regardless, by the time you get the Buy Group order, their decision is made. Hopefully you inNew Products New Product Launch display showcases this year’s new products in one location. You can also find them at their booth, or test them in designated Shooting Lanes

42 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 fluenced their decision, but if you didn’t, your window has closed. The ATA Show is a time to show retailers that they are important to you. Every single manufacturer that has expressed reservations about attending the ATA Show has cited return on investment. Fair enough. I understand that we all need to be aware of the bottom-line impact. However, I would keep in mind how your bottom-line decision is interpreted by retailers. Regardless of how you feel, perception is reality. In my mind, the show is more about the dealer than it is about me, the manufacturer. It is time spent developing, educating, and building relationships with retailers, which if done correctly, is beneficial for me as a manufacturer. What I find contradictory is how some manufacturers limit their sales exclusively to brick-and-mortar retailers, yet they feel there is so little value in interacting with those same brick and mortar retailers who sell their products, that they choose not to attend ATA due to low ROI. Additionally, I’ve heard individuals say, “We are either going to go big, or we won’t go.” To be clear, dealers do not judge manufacturers based on their booth size. They judge us by our presence, by the quality of people we bring to the show, by our innovation and new product we introduce, and our ability to deliver product. Your presence matters, and your lack of presence makes a statement as well. The ATA is the most time- and cost-effective way possible to engage with a large percentage of the most relevant retailers. If you manage your spend and keep in mind that it is your presence, not the size of your presence, that matters, the ATA becomes a high-value proposition. The ATA Show is a time to solve problems that are getting in the way of business. I won’t lie, at the 2023 ATA Show, our company had conversations with two of our top 15 accounts to discuss various challenges. Would I prefer that we didn’t have those conversations? No! I wouldn’t have missed those conversations for anything. Because while they were tough conversations, these accounts felt (and were) heard, and more importantly, resolutions were put in place to reduce or eliminate the issues altogether. I guarantee you that if we had not attended the ATA Show, we would not be in the more favorable position (for both parties) that now exists.

43 SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM The ATA show is a time to gain market share! The ATA Show is where you meet potential new customers, or where you swing existing customers toward your brand in a larger way. We’ve all been trying to maintain the sales momentum from the COVID years and stop the slowdown. During the past 30 years, I have learned that when sales get tough, many companies go on a cost-cutting binge, slashing expenditures on marketing and new product development. This is the exact opposite of what they should do because that is what your competitors are doing. When times get tough, those who slam the accelerator down education Attendees can get tips and advice from peers and discover business best practices by attending free seminars, Coffee Talks and Archery Industry Masterclass sessions. shooting lanes Show-goers can test drive the latest products from manufacturers in the shooting lanes located on the Show floor perimeter.

44 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 have a much better chance of not only stabilizing the decline but gaining market share. The ATA Show represents the largest gathering of archery and hunting centric retailers in the world. If there were only one event I could attend each year, it would be the ATA Show. I mean, if you wanted to kill a Pope & Young whitetail, and your only options for hunting were Ohio or Florida, what are you going to choose? I want to be where there is the greatest number of eligible retailers and competitors, and the ATA Show is it. Industry Knowledge I don’t care who you are, what you make, or your position in the industry, your days are short lived if you don’t stay on top of what is going on in your market. The ATA Show is so important that even the manufacturers who elected to reduce costs by not displaying at the ATA Show in years past still sent a contingent from their company to walk the aisles. They understand that if they don’t know what is going on, they are guaranteed to lose a lot, and no one wants to answer for that. As a manufacturer, you will leave the ATA Show each year knowing more about your customers, their problems, your competitors and their product, and the market in general. If you as a manufacturer depart the ATA Show and say you had low ROI, you need to put down the cell phone, talk less, listen more, and start asking questions. In conclusion, the COVID years gave archery and hunting a much-needed shot of adrenaline, the likes of which we as an industry never could have coordinated or even dreamt of. It was fantastic. However, it was a one-time event, and it is over. ‘first night’s on us!’ promotion All registered ATA-member retailers who book their rooms in the ATA block 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” promotion with Explore St. Louis. For more details, please visit ATASHOW.com The relationships and information sharing that occur on the floors of the ATA Show are what have made many of our businesses strong in days past and is unquestionably the recipe for success in the future. For more information and to register, go to atashow.com. IA

46 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT I BY PATRICK MEITIN October Mountain Products Phoenix Fletching Jig WebXtra ■ For a closer look at this product and many others, check them out at insidearchery.com. thetic vanes with up to 5 degrees of offset in 1-degree increments, and with straight, right- or left-wing orientation. The channeled clamp tower features centerline adjustment screws and a fletch-spacing adjustment knob. Shafts are held at 20 degrees to keep nocks seated during fletching and guarantee positive adhesion. Fletching orientation can be set for standard 120-degree 3-fletch, or 90-degree or 75x105-degree 4-fletch for more positive broadhead control when combined with drop-away rests. The Phoenix comes with 6.5-inch clamps for straight or helical fletching, with right- or left-helical clamps sold separately. Clamps are sold individually or as a single SKU. Clamps are held securely during fletching with powerful N30 magnets, sides beveled for easy cleaning, and laser etched for position indexing. The nock receiver includes an easyview, quick-load design, and the clamps include a cut-out for nock collars. The tower includes a keyed slot, and the nock receiver holds detent holes for locking rotation into place. The oversized base plate with four rubber pads provides stability and this have long lived far from towns and bow shops, so have been fletching my own arrows for decades. I actually prefer this approach, allowing me to choose certain fletchings for specific applications, select favored color schemes, and ensure each fletching is applied precisely. Pro shops and arrow manufacturers certainly assemble fine arrows, but I know with absolute certainty that my DIY arrows are as perfect as I can make them. There are no shortage of fletching-jig options, yet October Mountain Product’s (OMP) Phoenix Fletching Jig is a step above most. It is ruggedly constructed, ultra-adjustable and easy to employ. That ruggedness comes via die-cast and machined aluminum parts. Adjustment capabilities include the ability to apply natural feathers or synbase also includes four accessory cutouts to organize glue, nocks, inserts, or loose fletchings. The Phoenix Jig’s T 6061 grade aluminum construction is solid and made to last. The oversized base plate prevents tipping, and includes screw holes should a customer opt for permanent work-bench placement. The organization trays are a welcomed addition, as they allow organizing all needed arrow components before a fletching job begins. I find 5-degree offset best suited to field-point target practice or for use with aerodynamic mechanical broadheads on hunting arrows. My preferences for fixed-blade hunting broadheads or for fletching natural feathers on arrows assembled for my traditional longbows and recurve bows would still run to the optional helical clamps. I am the kind of guy who uses his equipment hard and frequently, so I find the Phoenix Jig’s sturdy all-metal construction seriously appealing. I also want all the accuracy I can muster, so the Phoenix’s precision design and laser-etched adjustment marks add yet more appeal. This jig applies every fletching exactly the same, every time. This translates into tighter downrange groups, especially with fixed-blade broadheads. The Phoenix is compatible with all arrow diameters, from .165-inch ultra-thin shafts to 27-series line cutters. To learn more, please visit octobermountainproducts.com. IA

48 INSIDE ARCHERY SEPT / OCT 2023 MARKET TRENDS BOW REPORT New for 2024 and found on the Bear Persist, the silent shelf pad means bowhunters will not have to add adhesive-backed felt to eliminate arrow clicks. The 2024 Bear Archery Persist includes an improved Swing Arms Cable Management system, which allows greater adjustment. Bear Archery added a hanging loop to the Persist, providing a convenient attachment point for a pull-up rope or for hanging while on stand. ear Archery celebrates 90 years in the archery industry in 2024. The company has thrived under Escalade Sports leadership by continuing the tradition of creating solid bows made by bowhunters for bowhunters. A lot of companies claim such, but Bear bows have remained working-man designs tailored for serious bowhunting. In recent years, Bear Archery bows have also seen significant technological improvements, putting them on equal footing with the largest brands in the industry. The 2024 Persist is such a bow—a bowhunter’s compound packed with innovation and the kind of features that make shooting more enjoyable and hunt efficient. The Bear Archery Persist is the company’s 2024 flagship model, a culmination of that 90 years of American ingenuity, tradition, and thorough field testing. The Persist is quieter than any Bear model released before, is compatible with the latest accessory technologies, and is easier to shoot than ever. There are a lot of moving parts here, so let’s jump right in. Persistently Stealthy ■ The Persist’s multiple dampening technologies make this bow quieter and essentially hunt ready out of the box (after appropriate accessories are added, obviously). The Persist is fitted with bevy of strategically-placed silencing features, including riser dampeners, a refined string stop featuring enhanced dampening, and a brand new silent arrow shelf to eliminate clicks caused by errant arrows or falling rest launchers. The Persist holds two through-the-riser orbital dampeners—one set located beneath each limb pocket. These include steel stars/rings floating on rubber modules, which absorb and silently dissipate limb-pocket and riser vibrations. The quad limbs hold wedge-fit KillerWave rubber dampening blocks. What changed most dramatically is the string-stop system. The works are based on a carbon rod, and the string captures the bowstring following release with a standard rubber bumper. But the connection between carbon rod and rubber bumper includes a milled aluminum barrel with slots, the interior filled with soft rubber material that slides over the carbon base rod. The rubber-filled aluminum barrel moves reasonably freely, allowing it to soak up vibrations and dispel them silently. What struck me, though, was the new silent arrow shelf. This is a pliable plastic insert that snaps over the entire arrow shelf, wrapping around all corners and extending up the sight window. This insert does a decent job of taming arrow clicks, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a softer rubber utilized. It is anchored by three machine screws, making it replaceable. I see the potential for optional colors in the future, other than the current black. The long-riser/short-parallel-limb configuration, and rock-solid milled-alumiB BY PATRICK MEITIN num limb pockets also makes the overall design inherently quiet. Persistently Convenient ■ Bear engineers incorporated many details that should make bowhunters’ lives easier, introducing a host of conveniences with real-world utility. Large among these features is the ability for shooters to employ newer QADdesigned Integrate arrow rests, as well as the newest Picatinny-mounted bow sights. These features allow more streamlined setups that involve fewer moving parts and create better in-hand bow balance. The rear Integrate and front Picatinny mounting plates include their own recess cutouts and bolt into place. This makes them removeable, though only the front Pic rail interferes with installing a conventional sight. The newly integrated wrist sling is a nice touch, streamlining that connection and allowing removing the stabilizer for bow case storage or travel without involving the sling. A simple rope sling is provided, secured by a single rear set screw. This rope is adequately stiff and includes a back section of Bear-logoed heat-shrink tubing to make getting in and out of it slicker. Another ingenious touch is the integrated top hanging loop. The loop is made from the same stiff rope used for the sling, and also includes Bear-logoed heatshrink, offering a convenient and silent attachment point to hang on a bow hook, or a handy tie-off point for treestand haul ropes. This system, too, is anchored by a set screw. Provisions have been provided for a bottom loop, so a quick-attach shoulder sling can be added. The riser includes dual rest taps, for those of us who prefer the automatic leveling and extra security of double-bolting Bear Archery 2024 Persist

SEPT / OCT 2023 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 49 Arrow Speed Bear Archery Persist set at 70.44 pounds at 29.0 inches. 29-inch Arrows/ Shaft Finished Kinetic Arrow 100-Grain Tips gpi Arrow Wt. Energy Speed ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CX Triad 300 10.9 564 grains 97.0 ft. lbs. 278.3 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easton T64 DF 7.9 tapered 528 grains 93.8 ft. lbs. 282.8 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Bloodsport Evidence 300 11.7 518 grains 96.4 ft. lbs. 289.5 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Arrow Tech MT 12.2 508 grains 97.2 ft. lbs. 293.5 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory VAP-SS 300 9.9 473 grains 94.6 ft. lbs. 300.1 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CX Max RED SD 350 9.4 465 grains 93.4 ft. lbs. 300.7 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Black Eagle Spartan 340 9.9 453 grains 96.9 ft. lbs. 310.4 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory VAP 300 8.7 424 grains 94.0 ft. lbs. 315.9 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easton Hexx 330 7.9 386 grains 93.2 ft. lbs. 329.8 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Black Eagle Carnivore 350 7.5 363 grains 92.2 ft. lbs. 338.2 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory RIP XV 300 7.0 355 grains 90.91 ft. lbs. 339.6 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Liberty Archery 320 5.9 292 grains 87.4 ft. lbs. 367.1 fps ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Arrows shot from a Spot-Hogg Hooter Shooter and velocity established using a Shooting Chrony chronograph. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (800) 694-9494 OR VISIT BEARARCHERY.COM Specifications –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Axle-to-Axle Length 31 inches –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Brace Height 6.5 inches –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mass Weight 5.5 pounds fully equipped –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Let-Off 75 to 90 percent, adjustable –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Available Draw Lengths 25 to 30 inches –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Available Draw Weights 45-60 and 55-70 pounds –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Available Finishes Mossy Oak Break-Up Country DNA and Bottomland, Fred Bear camo, Olive and Stone. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dexterity Left- and right-hand –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– MSRP $1,249.99 at full draw—all while maintaining top performance at every setting. For a busy dealer, the EKO Cam allows serving more customers with fewer SKUs. The string stop system is solid, but those seeking a harder wall can choose optional limb stops. This is a selfsynchronizing, three-track system with helix center take-up that shifts load weight to the middle of the axle to reduce torque, cam lean and stress on the limbs, axle, and the sealed bearings. The riser includes geometry that aligns the limb pocket pivot points with the grip throat, a design that provides stability and forgiveness. The synthetic grip insert is slim and fairly flat, providing a comfortable and repeatable hand interface. The split Gordan limbs measure 2 ¾ inches across the flats, effectively taming torque and creating a more stable platform, while the Swing-Arm Cable Management system helps remove lateral riser torque. It was given upgrades for 2024 to provide a greater degree of adjustability. The 6.5-inch brace height is an ideal compromise between speed generation and shooting forgiveness and a 31-inch axle-toaxle span, given the long-riser/short-limb geometry, offers a solid balance of stability and maneuverability. IA conventional arrow rests (if a customer chooses to forgo Integrate rest mounting). A single set of sight taps are provided, which include radiused openings that make starting attachment bolts easier (if a customer chooses to forgo Picatinny sight mounting). The riser-embedded bubble level also provides convenience, making it faster and easier to set the 2nd axis adjustment on bow sights with the bow held in a vice. Persistently Shootable ■ One of the things that has made Bear compounds persistently attractive is their pure shootability. Bear’s proven EKO Cam is a big part of this, not only offering a huge range of adjustment possibilities, but providing an ultra-smooth draw cycle that is gentle on stiff muscles. The EKO’s large profile makes breaking through Bear Archery’s proven TKO Cam remains for 2024, allowing adjusting a single bow for draw lengths from 25 to 30 inches, and 75, 80, 85 and 90 percent let-off. An integrated wrist sling and quieter rubber-mounted string stop are new features found on the 2024 Bear Archery Persist. WebXtra ■ To take a closer look at the new Bear Archery Persist in action, go to insidearchery.com. start-up inertia easier, and the system includes no surprise bumps or sudden drops into let-off. This EKO Cam allows setting draw lengths from 25 to 30 inches in ¼-inch increments, plus let-offs of 75, 80, 85, or 90 percent and the ability to dial a softer or harder rear wall

50 INSIDE THE INDUSTRY COMPANY PROFILE ing his father build bowstrings for customers, he figured it was time to make these quality bowstrings available to the public, launching a website to get the word out, and attending the ATA trade show and The Great American Outdoor Show to sign his first dealers. Business has grown exponentially since. Phantom Bowstrings build their bowstrings out of only the best materials available today. By using BCY 452x and Bloodline Fiber Vec99 string materials in all of their string series, they assure customers have the best strings possible. Phantom Bowstrings are assembled using several secret proprietary techniques to minimize creep and make them last many seasons. Phantom also applies serving using wands, which ensures a consistent application of pressure on the serving during instillation and even finishing. Another Phantom Bowstring process customers can see with their own eyes is Phantom serves from the end-loop down—unlike other brands that serve towards the end-loop. Phantom Bowstrings does this to produce a cleaner look, and to eliminate the knot from finishing, which can cause bumps inside the cam tracks. Phantom’s newest bowstring is their p2 Series (Phantom Performance Series). They include a material made by Bloodline Fiber, which benefits from a waxless makeup and has proven to be faster, lighter, and stronger. Phantom is also offering their own Phantom Autumn color, available in the Bloodline Vec99 and their newer p2 Series bowstrings. Phantom can build a string set for any popular compound or crossbow model in the industry. Check them out at phantombowstrings.com. IA m old enough to remember when bowstrings stretched as a matter of course and most bows held cumbersome peep-alignment tubing. A lot of this was based on the materials used, of course, but as raw materials like those from BCY have improved meteorically, we have become ever more demanding of our bowstrings and even buss cables. Gone are those old peep-alignment systems, replaced by stand-alone “Tru-Peep” designs, aside from the fact today’s faster, more powerful bows demand finer tuning. This has spawned an entire industry of customgrade bowstrings and cables assembled to minimize stretch and so-called creep, and even serving separation with today’s high-performance cam systems. To the list of top-grade bowstring makers can now be added Phantom Bowstrings—a company that has made their customers priority one. Phantom Bowstrings is run by Matthew and Cheryl Carter out of their 800-square-foot shop in St. Joseph, Missouri. They believe the bowstring is one of the most overlooked yet most critical components of any bow setup, whether shooting paper or foam for money, or burning precious vacation time pursuing a favorite big game animal. Their goal is to keep archers in the field, building bowstrings customers can depend on during crunch time. Matthew’s father, Mike “Crackers” Carter, opened an archery shop and started building strings 39 years ago. At the time the only way to get a set of strings was to either mail your bow or bring it in to his archery shop. After spending between 18 and 20 years helpI’ BY PATRICK MEITIN Phantom Bowstrings