Inside Archery November 2020

www.insidearchery.com

®

NOVEMBER 2020





INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME 23 | NUMBER 9

36 People
34
34 Power of Participation
14 ■ Kurt Howard |
56 Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls
■ Lance Postma |
64 Top of Utah Archery
■ Jeff Pease | Bear Archery
■ Bryant Lyon |
America’s Best Bowstrings
■ Jason Caldwell | Nose Down Scents
■ Lale Krivacevic | Silver Archery

36 Vapor Trail Archery
Enduring the Unexpected
By Daniel Allred

Market Trends

14 New & Notable
Archery products with
strong sales potential

44 Bow Report
Bear Archery Redemption EKO
By Patrick Meitin

46 Penetrating Optics
Binoculars, Spotting Scopes,
angefinders ross ow copes
By Patrick Meitin

54 Crossbow Report
Mission SUB-1 XR
By Patrick Meitin

56 Gear Report
Victory Archery VAP-SS
By Patrick Meitin

58 Bowhunting Knives
Cutting edges and useful pocket

44 tools owhunters need and want.
By Patrick Meitin

INSIDE ARCHERY (Volume 23, #9) 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.

4 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME 23 | NUMBER 9

IInndsiudsetrtyhe

10 Inside Track
Filling the Void

16 Kinsey’s Business
Blueprint

Business Prep Around

Holiday Promos

34

18 Inside Retailing
Lancaster Archery Supply

22 Your ATA Insights
2021 Starts Now
By Kurt Smith / ATA

24 Industry News
Information that keeps you up

58 14 to speed on news, events and
people in the archery industry

32 ATA Action
Join Bowhunters United
By Cassie Gasaway / ATA

66 Industry 5Q
Five Questions on Outdoor Product
Innovations with Dan Reaser

46 By Daniel Allred

36 54
6
INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME 23 | NUMBER 9

insidearchery.com Online Exclusives

Whitetail Hunting Bowhunting in the Rain
Whitetail Gear
Bowhunting Is it actually possible to bowhunt in the
Equipment rain and remain warm, dry and stealthy?
Inside Archery offers some approaches
to consider based on modern fabrics
and membrane technologies

Ideal Winter Bow-Setup

E uipment e pert atric eitin discusses five
qualities that constitute a bow-setup ideal while
perched in cold treestands or tucked into ground
blinds, based on conditions inherent to the
unique circumstances of whitetail pursuit.

Women & Youth Bowhunting

Modern compound bow and carbon-arrow
technologies have brought more women and
youth bowhunters into the fold. Learn how
to assure hard-earned shots result in ample
penetration for quick kills and happy outcomes.

Drop-Away Arrow Rests

How important are drop-away arrow rests
to bowhunting success? The answer depends
on many factors, including likely shot
distances and shooting experience. Delve
into the details to see where you fit in.

WebXtras: In this issue: “Inside Retailing” takes a look at Lancaster

Archery Supply; “Bow Report” tries out the new Bear Archery Redemption EKO;
“Crossbow Report” tests the Mission SUB-1 XR; and “Gear Report” examines
Victory Archery VAP-SS arrows.

Inside Archery Digital Edition

Now Inside Archery can be delivered to your door, viewed on your computer,
AND on your smartphone or tablet. VISIT INSIDEARCHERY.COM/DIGITAL

Fresh content daily
on social media!

INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE TRACK

Filling the Void
B
y now, most in the archery industry are aware that the plug was pulled on 2021’s in-
person, Indianapolis, Indiana, ATA Trade Show. This makes me sad on several levels,
but as much as anything, the big show provides the opportunity to spend face-time

with so many people I cherish but do not have the occasion to spend time with during the

remainder of the year. I’ll also miss the opportunity to handle spanking-new products and

see firsthand what ma es them uni ue and via le must-have items. ostly, ll miss the

pure excitement that comes with every Show.

But business must go on. In fact, business will go on, and

even ourish, as recent trends show that the archery industry

is going gangbusters. Retailers continue to be inundated with

an avalanche of usiness much of it new, first-time uyers.

anufacturers are wor ing overtime to eep up with unprec-

edented demand.

The annual ATA Trade Show provides dealers an opportu-

nity to learn what is new and e citing, and find that ne t ig

thing to generate steady sales. Big orders are filled, typically

while garnering substantial savings through special Show pricing manufactures offer to

gage interest in new products while tooling up for full production.

But fear not, with the ATA Trade Show off the table, Inside Archery will be working even

more diligently to fill dealers in on the newest product developments, e uipment trends and

dealer incentives. With the lack of a Show, we at Inside Archery feel a heightened obligation

to step in and provide the answers retailers need to succeed, and the critical ability for manu-

facturers to spread the word on their latest products.

Inside Archery is here for you, 110 percent, whether you’re an independent dealer, large-

store department manager, product manufacturer or other fundamental archery-service

member. The need for illuminating manufacturer-to-retailer interface has never been more

important than with the absence of the Show we all traditionally depend on so much for

gathering information—and those all important social ties that make us a close-knit family.

This makes Inside Archery’s upcoming issues more important than ever, and the solution

to overcoming this unfortunate dilemma. Particularly, our big January 2021 issue—hitting

mailboxes right before the ATA Trade Show for the past 24 years—will become an even larger

part of remaining abreast of industry developments. This issue can be used to learn what is

hot, or to keep your manufacturing company close to the thoughts of buyers while moving

into a new sales season, via the undeniable durability of print media.

Inside Archery is moving forward, doubling our efforts with plans to print 10 issues in 2021

in order to pipe valuable information directly to your mailboxes. Keep us in mind as you plan

for the New Year, as it is our mission to continue to supply our readers the support and vital

information needed to thrive in 2021.

Hopefully we’ll be seeing you at a bigger and better ATA Trade Show in 2022!

atric eitin, E ecutive Editor

10 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



Publisher

Apollo Creative Inc

Executive Editor

Patrick Meitin • [email protected]

Associate Editor

Daniel Allred • [email protected]

Copy Editor

Lauren Molenburg

Contributors

Kurt Smith | Cassie Gasaway

Sales & Marketing Director

Stephen Mack • [email protected]
(814) 341-9313

Design & Production

ER Graphics / Ed Rother • [email protected]

Graphic Designer

Tara Bondar

Website & Social Media

Stephen Mack • [email protected]

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 O ce

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 © 2020 Apollo Crreative Inc. All rights re-
served. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permis-
sion 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
re ect the views of the pu lisher, the magazine or its staff.

Submission Guidelines: Apollo Creative Inc and Inside Archery® mag-
azine 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 self-
addressed envelope with sufficient postage. o 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 activi-
ties. Improper use of hunting or archery equipment may cause se-
rious 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-to-
date 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 advertise-
ments published in this magazine. Readers use the information in
this magazine at their own risk. Apollo Creative Inc assumes no li-
ability for any errors or omissions in the content of this magazine, or
arising from use by any person of the information in this magazine.

•—•ative inc Inside Archery®
is a publication of
p•—• ollo crea Apollo Creative Inc
Printed in the USA.

INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



MARKET TRENDS NEW & NOTABLE

Musacchia Broadheads NBS100 Quality Archery Designs
Ultrarest TRi Target Rest
John Musacchia, Jr. took a proven and iconic broadhead design and brought it into the 21st
century with updated materials and geometry optimized for today’s high performance com- Mathews’ brand-new Ultrarest TRi Target Rest is
pounds and crossbows. The Musacchia Broadhead is a straight orward but deadly effective another collaboration with Quality Archery Designs
100-grain design, thus the NBS100 label (No “BS,” 100 grains). The cut-on-contact trocar tip is (QAD) and is also built around the Integrate
milled from 416 stainless steel, hardened to 42 RC and includes edges optimized to maximize System found on newer Mathews’ compound bow models.
penetration and breach heavy bone. The ferrule is milled from high quality 7075 T6 aluminum, a The Integrate System assures rock-solid anchoring in a
material much stronger than standard 6065 aluminum. Ferrules are then treated to hard coat more streamlined package when combined with Mathews’
anodizing to protect from oxidation. The .025-inch-thick blades are 420 stainless steel, dovetailed risers. The rest includes numerous adjustments
and locking features to allow tuning the TRi for any bow
hardened to 51 RC and including an e cient 31.5-degree attack angle and setup. The Ultrarest TRi features micro-adjustable horizontal
scalpel-sharp blades. The 4-blade version includes a 1 1/8-inch cutting and vertical knobs and a protective, patent-pending Lizard
diameter, the 3-blade a 1.25-inch cutting diameter. The 4-blade Tongue Cover to prevent damage during transport. Learn
design’s cross-locking blades (and 3-blade’s internal anges)
slide into the ferrule interior and lock into place with the ea a e s
threaded trocar tip. A 33.96 retail purchase includes
three broadheads in a protective hard plastic case.
Replacement and practice blades are available.
Learn more at musacchiabroadhead.com.

Pine Ridge Archery GAS Bowstrings Ghost XV
Maxx Grip and Big Gripper
Ghost XV Camo Bowstrings from GAS are one of the
Pulling arrows from high density foam targets shot from modern most consistent, reliable and accurate bowstrings in
compounds or crossbows can prove challenging. Pine Ridge Archery’s the industry today. Ghost XV Camo strings and cables
two new arrow pullers make that job easier, made from tacky rubber are made from premium BCY material to provide the ultimate
material that allows a secure grip. Included are the at Ma Grip balance o speed and stability. When combined with GAS
and tubular Big Gripper. Both can also be used to
extinguish most lighted nocks. The Big Gripper Bowstring’s exclusive TTS (Total Tension-
Arrow Puller has three different diameter holes ing System) the result is a
to help tighten most eld points or or use as super-stable string that
a nock inde er. The SA-made Ma Grip (MSRP 11.95) won’t stretch with use or
and Big Gripper (MSRP 21.95) Arrow Pullers are simple in warm weather. Ghost
but effective or removing stubborn arrows rom sticky XV Camo is a perfect
foam targets. Learn more at pineridgearchery.com. color match for today’s
modern camo patterns,
Cobra Archery Harvester and end servings and
speed nocks are avail-
Cobra Archery’s Harvester hand-held release able in a wide choice
includes a new ni ed Trigger System of colors. Powergrip
(U.T.S.) allowing adjustment of the thumb- center serving is
trigger length, angle and rotation with a single screw. The patent- standard on all Ghost
pending roller sear gives it incredibly crisp triggering and the Natu- XV Camo strings. A
ral Grip design moves inde and middle ngers closer together or complete set runs
more ergonomic shooting. A lanyard hole is positioned directly behind around 130 to 150
the hook center line to align the anchor point while using the optional retail. Learn more at
lanyard wrist strap. A removeable third nger stem is included and trigger gasbowstrings.com.
sensitivity and weight are independently adjustable. The release includes a full
capture hook and is machined to tight tolerances rom 6061-T6, 7075-T6 aluminum and 303
and 416 stainless steel. It includes a lifetime warranty. Learn more at cobraarchery.com

14 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

Galaxy Archery Black Star Competition Trophy Ridge Precise Pro
Recurve Limbs
Trophy Ridge, best known or innovative sights, stabilizers
Gala y Black Star competition recurve limbs are a high-quality ILF design that eature high- and arrow rests, will now be offering premium release
per ormance construction combining carbon- ber belly and back with a bamboo wood core. aids and peep sights or 2021. There are eight new archery
The proven bamboo plat orm produces e cellent speed, but also smooth draws through the releases to choose rom, including a mi ture o T-handle and
working portion o the limb. These limbs are available in draw weights rom 20 to 44 pounds and caliper designs. These releases were engineered and tested under
in short, medium and long lengths. Pair these limbs with your avorite Gala y Solstice riser or any the harshest conditions to ensure the designs live up to the
ILF or oyt Grand Pri riser to create a winning combination. Gala y Black Star limbs and all other brand’s high product standards. E amples include the Precise
Gala y products are available at Lancaster Archery. Learn more at lancasterarchery.com. Pro, the brand’s most customizable release and priced at only
109.99 MSRP. Trophy Ridge has even designed a youth release,
the ArchX outh, designed or smaller hands looking or accurate
shooting. Learn more at trophyridge.com.

Custom Bow Equipment Engage Micro SWAT Broadheads Hybrid TI

The CBE Engage Micro bow sight offers rustration ree pin ad ustments through a Revolve The new SWAT BRID TI is a hybrid 4-blade design
Micro Pin System and dependability via Armed Guard Fiber Management System and Blade including a rugged titanium errule with built-in bone-
Pin technology. The Engage system allows moving one pin at a time by loosening a he smashing tip and .040 420 stainless steel blades. The
screw and turning the micro-ad ust knob, with windage and elevation compact broadhead offers dependable ight but 2 5 8 inches
ad ustments also conducted through micro-ad ust knobs o cutting edges. The SWAT BRID TI can be used as a
with clicks. Dovetail mounting allows length ad ust-
ment to t any peep size. The sight is offered with ed-blade or mechanical head, and is not considered barbed
a 5-pin housing holding .010- or .019-inch because the blades release when removed rom a target (check
diameter Blade Pins and uorescent peep local game regulations). The BRID TI’s super compact nature
alignment ring. A sight light is allows it to provide true eld point accuracy, even rom today’s
included. The sight weighs 11.2 high per ormance crossbows. Look or the SWAT BRID TI
ounces. Learn more at in 85-, 100-, 110- or 125-grain versions (the 125-grain model
custombowequipment.com. requires a SWAT W25 weight collar, which is sold separately). A
3-pack retails or 49.95. Learn
SKB Cases iSeries Hard-Soft Combo Case more at swatbroadheads.com.

SKB’s iSeries ard-So Combo Case pairs an iSeries hard case with a padded liner interior
that accommodates a SKB Archery Bag Backpack. The hard case is waterproo , impact
resistant, super durable and includes built-in wheels and a tow handle or easy transport.
The Archery Bag Backpack is constructed o heavy
duty 600D nylon and includes multiple accessory
pockets, hidden backpack straps, a shoulder
strap that converts to a bow sling and a long
e terior arrow bo pocket. Standard eatures
include a molded-in hinge, patented trigger
release TSA-retro ttable latches, com ort-
able snap-down rubber over-mold-
ed cushion grip handles, pressure
equalization valve and V sol-
vent corrosion ungus resistance.
Learn more at skbcases.com/sports.

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDE ARCHERY 15

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY BUSINESS BLUEPRINT Sponsored by

Business Prep Around Holiday Promos
T he usiness preparations need-
ed for the lead-up into the holi- holiday sales season to increase inter- Kinsey’s is the leading distributor to the outdoors and
day sales rush is a great time est, traffic and sales. archery industry. Carrying items from your favorite
for usinesses and retailers to also brands, in-stock and ready-to-ship, the company offers
Loss Leaders domestic and international retailers a wide array of
products and services. Kinsey’s also owns innovative
develop strategies to drive traffic and ne of the first ways retailers can drive consumer brands including BlackHeart, Fin-Finder,
Elevation and October Mountain Products.
sales during the holiday season. traffic and sales during the holiday sea- For more information, please visit KinseysInc.com

etailers should use these sales con- son is with loss leaders. oss leaders ditional retail space for new, higher-
margin or higher-demand items. The
cepts to drive traffic oth in-store and are products that are sold at cost, or at customer wins ecause they get great
deals on items they want and need,
online. ou can use sales strategies li e a loss. This strategy is not meant to e a with the potential for additional cross
sell and upsell opportunities.
loss leaders, argain ins sales, B long term strategy, ut rather as a way
Buy One, Get One
options and pac aged deals as an op- to either ac uire new customers or up-
nother sales strategy to use this up-
portunity to reduce stale inventory sell and cross-sell customers who visit coming holiday season is a Buy ne, et

while also offering limited sales on in- your store for those loss leader items. ne offer. These types of sales strate-
gies are win-wins for retailers and cus-
demand and hard-to-get items. t s important to note that this strat- tomers. or the retailer, you get to move
stale inventory while cutting your
t is also important to note that these egy involves certain precautions. ot all losses. t also allows you to free up that
highly coveted retail space for newer
sales strategies and concepts can e suppliers or manufacturers allow their or high-demand items. The customer
wins ecause with the Buy ne, et ne
implemented on either a one day sale, products to e priced under their mini- offer they get two items for the price
of one. t s also another great strategy
li e Blac riday, or they can run dur- mum advertised price. The loss leader to entice customers in-store, or online,
and then increase their purchase with
ing an e tended period of time li e the strategy can e run y itself or in con- additional sales, upsells or cross-sells.

eals of hristmas or a month-long junction with additional sales strategies. Prepped and Ready To Go

promotion li e aily ecem er eals. These strategies are a great way to pre-
pare for the upcoming holiday sales
ltimately, the goal is to entice peo- Packaged Deals season, however, don t stop with these
strategies alone ou could also use of-
ple into your store, or onto your we - The second way retailers can help drive fers li e holiday gift guides, free ship-
ping or gift card onuses. ith these
site, and get them to purchase these traffic and sales this holiday season is sales concepts, you can increase inter-
est, traffic and sales in a win-win sce-
promoted items, and much more. e ll with gift sets or pac aged deals. By cre- nario for your usiness and your cus-
tomers this holiday season. IA
cover a couple of strategies and con- ating pac aged deals, you can increase

cepts your usiness can implement this the perceived value of that item, while

also clearing out some inventory and

freeing up retail space. or e ample,

you could offer a ow pac age

that includes a ow, arrow

rest, sight, sta ilizer and ar-

rows. riced accordingly, you

not only free up retail space

ut eliminate e isting inven-

tory. The enefit for the cus-

tomer is that they get an all-in-one

pac aged deal that is ready to shoot

no additional wor or set up needed.

Bargain Bins

nother way retailers can help drive
traffic and sales to their stores is
with argain- in sales. et s e hon-
est who doesn t li e a argain
etailers can set up a display or in
with discounted prices on old or stale
inventory. n doing so you ll free up ad-

16 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE RETAILING

Utilizing Social Media to Reach More Customers

Lancaster Archery Supply

Sto e ofi e ing a gold standard distri utor serving ar- Lancaster Archery Supply owners Rob and Carole
chery dealers the world over, and wor ing au old and their family are passionate about
■ Headquarters ancaster, with archers of all disciplines and s ill
■ Owner o and arole aufhold levels through their full-service archery archery and participate on many levels.
■ History: o aufhold had a dream of academy.
etter promoting and growing recreational ■ Inside Numbers: Estimated Annual
and target archery. e pursued that dream, Today s s dealer we site allows shop
founding ancaster rchery upply owners and managers to access the larg- evenue Eight figures. ercentage from
in and steadily growing into one of est selection of archery e uipment on the
the world s largest archery distri utors, a glo e and to place orders any time the owhunting archery etail tore
standing that truly allowed him to fulfill his need arises. ualified dealers get the est
dreams. not only supplies dealers the value in the industry, with lower whole- holesale istri ution e site .
goods needed to thrive, ut hosts archery sale dealer pricing and e ceptional freight
classes including professional coaching programs, including same-day shipping ercentage from target and recreational
services , leagues and tournaments. in most cases. sells only to ric -and-
mortar pro shops, with retail sales con- archery etail tore holesale is-
rom hum le eginnings in a , - ducted at or higher prices.
s uare-foot retail pro shop, e panded tri ution e site .
with incremental determination, ecom- Today, consists of a , -s uare-
foot pro shop and academy facility, and
ancaster Archery Supply not only provides one an , -s uare-foot distri ution cen-
of the largest selections of archery goods to ter warehouse featuring more than
dealers through their website, but their retail
store serves regional archers. , products manufactured y more
than companies.

■ Years in Business Retailing Q & A

■ Square footage , pro shop store Inside Archery: hat role has social me-
oor , , shooting lanes , , dis- dia egun to play in ancaster rchery
upply s interaction with customers, and
tri ution center and wharehouse . as a tool for attracting more usiness

■ Staffing: full-time, part-time. Lancaster Archery Supply: ocial media
has played a huge role in our customer
■ Bow Lines: Every major rand om-
pound, ecurve

ancaster Archery Supply s 12,8 0-s uare-foot pro shop includes an additional 14,800 s uare feet of
shooting lanes. The 80,000-s uare-foot distribution center and
warehouse are just up the road.

18 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

Sponsored by

Plano Synergy

Participating retailers will receive $1,000 in
products generously donated by Plano Synergy.

interaction by allowing us to personally Lancaster Archery Supply carries just about every major bow brand in the business,
engage with customers on a daily basis. including 11 compound and 19 recurve bow brands.
Whether it’s personal messages, comments
or being tagged in photos, social media has archery industry. The most eneficial is ciencies to take advantage of social media
allowed us to personally connect with cus- Facebook, due to its popularity and ability to platforms n short, how difficult was it to
tomers and answer any questions they may share almost any media. However, we don’t ecome proficient with social media plat-
have pertaining to products we carry. Cus- believe any one platform is the only one to forms
tomer reviews are also very important to us. use because there are key demographics we
target on each platform. Lancaster Archery Supply: We’ve hired sev-
Inside Archery: What social media eral young, tech-savvy rockstars in recent
platforms have Lancaster Archery Supply Inside Archery: Have Lancaster Archery years, including social media, video and
used most and which have proven most Supply managers always been computer e-Commerce directors. Our managers are
savvy, or did they have to overcome defi- computer savvy and can navigate their way
eneficial around most anything, but we are always
looking for ways to train and educate one
Lancaster Archery Supply: We use Face- another as new technology is released. We
book, Instagram, YouTube and Reddit, all often have training sessions where one
helping us promote new products and cre- member of the team helps others get up to
ate open discussions on new trends in the speed, allowing team members to help each
other if someone is out sick or on vacation.

Inside Archery: hat specific areas of
your usiness have enefited most from
the use of social media, and how has Lan-
caster Archery Supply implemented effec-
tive strategies

Lancaster Archery Supply’s Pro Shop store includes 12,850 square feet of merchandise, Lancaster Archery Supply: Lancaster Ar-
offering just about any archery brand you can thin of. chery s usiness has enefited the most
from social media by increasing our brand
awareness through followers and subscrib-
ers to our channels. As long as we can con-
tinue to increase our social media following
every month, whether it’s on Instagram,

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 19

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE RETAILING

Rob au old founded ancaster Archery Supply with the dream of better ancaster Archery Supply s main pro shop facility also includes an
promoting archery. That dream blossomed into top-notch shooting facilities outdoor range, where target shooters can stretch their abilities
including full-time archery coaches. on ITA-style and 3D targets.

YouTube, Facebook, etc., we can be sure we tar pro shop, have enefited tremendously Inside Archery: It is common to see polit-
have eyes on any product-related or infor- from this. ically-charged posts on social media plat-
mative content we publish. All aspects of forms such as Facebook. Any thoughts on
our business, including our brick-and-mor- Inside Archery: Can you point to a particu- this as it directly relates to business?
lar social media approach that has proven
ancaster Archery Supply s pro shop is a full-service especially eneficial to ancaster rchery Lancaster Archery Supply: In today’s cli-
archery outlet, with expert bow technicians and Supply in recent years? mate, politics should not be a part of any
on-staff archery coaches. business’ social media presence. We respect
Lancaster Archery Supply: Listening to your every person without prejudice and gladly
audience. If you can pick up on or even lead serve dealers, archers and manufacturers
trends within the industry and shape your on both conservative and liberal sides, so
content around those trends, you’ll see en- this has not pertained to or affected Lan-
gagement increase as well as your reach. caster Archery Supply in a meaningful way.
That’s one thing Lancaster Archery Supply
ta es pride in. e try to have our finger Inside Archery: Any other bit of advice you
on the pulse of our dealers and the archery can offer dealers or department managers
community at all times. for making the most of social media oppor-
tunities?
Inside Archery: Can you recall any mistakes
Lancaster Archery Supply might have made Lancaster Archery Supply: Social media
related to social media and offer some ad- management software has really helped
vice on how others might avoid making the our team. We use Sprout Social, which
same mistakes? allows us to keep all our social media ac-
counts under one roof. We are able to see
Lancaster Archery Supply: Sometimes com- and respond to comments within Sprout
panies get too caught up on analytics. While for all of our social media accounts, and
analytical data can show how your social we can schedule content in advance. This
media strategy is performing, don’t be dis- tool has helped us stay organized and has
couraged if you have a decrease in reach given us metrics that we use to measure
or impressions for a month. Just change our success and make improvements to
things up a bit with different content or pro- our strategy. IA
motions. As long as you’re seeing increases
year to year for your own key performance WebXtra ■ To learn more about
indicators, and you’re seeing growth within
your audience, you will continue to have Lancaster Archery Supply, please go to
success within social media. insidearchery.com/lancasterarchery.

20 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY

2021 Starts Now
BY KURT SMITH, COURTESY OF THE ATA

A rchery businesses likely won’t look back fondly on 2020. Whether you’re a re- nowledgea le salesperson e plaining
tailer, manufacturer or other industry professional, your business got upended. how each product enefits the uyer and

satisfies their needs, or those of some-

With some restrictions easing and hunt- tailers might be looking at empty one on their shopping list. These are

ing seasons in full swing, archery’s bow- pegs where hot-selling products once opportunities to make sales and oppor-

hunting component has been playing hung, but remain over- tunities to be the hero who

some serious catchup. Suppliers can’t stocked with other items. ecomes that customer s first

keep products stocked and retailers of- Both are good indicators choice ne t time around.

ten can’t keep up with their customers’ that buying habits should Reading specs and bullet

purchasing pace. Those are good prob- change. For any business, points off the package won’t

lems, but we can’t forget 2021 is just it’s not enough to know create a long-term customer,

ahead. Even as you put in long hours you sold “X” number of so know your products, know

capturing every opportunity possible, it’s products this year. Knowing when your customers and e their e pert.

time to prepare for ne t year. they sell and for how much helps

Let’s review a few ways to make the you make better buying decisions e

most of your fourth quarter while reap- and improve cash ow ne t year. While the annual ATA Trade Show will

ing enefits that can ma e ne t year e ee s ea es look much differently than it ever has,
even more profita le. this time of year still represents an op-

ee e s People and businesses make buy- portunity to conduct a slew of business
ing decisions during the holidays in just a few days or weeks. Maybe more

Some wise business owners say this that they wouldn’t normally make. importantly this year than ever is tak-

year s num ers are ne t year s profit. That’s because they tend to face sup- ing advantage of education offered by

s you go from one customer to the ne t ply shortages and increased demands industry e perts and peers through T

this hectic autumn, make good record- as Christmas Eve deadlines near. Your 2021 Online. While you may be a suc-

keeping part of your routine. Manufac- most popular items could sell out with cessful industry veteran, there is always

turers might need to take more notes no clear ET in sight. ou must find room to learn and improve. COVID-19 has

on product returns or warranty repairs suitable alternatives for customers or shown us that all businesses and indus-

so they now e actly where to improve risk lost sales. tries need to be nimble and continually

the product or process ne t year. e- What builds customer trust is a evolve business practices. If you don’t

know what needs to change in your busi-

ness, or have difficulty ma ing changes,

it could be a great time to attend some

educational sessions and start to brain-

storm. The Archery Industry Masterclass

could e an e cellent way to get yourself

or one of your staff members into the

mindset of refining usiness practices

and getting creative to solve issues that

you might encounter in the year ahead,

and that all starts now.

If you have questions about the

Masterclass or any other educational

sessions that are part of ATA 2021 On-

line, don’t hesitate to contact me at
[email protected]. IA

22 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS

BNeeawr 2A0rc2h1 eBroywAsn&noAucncecesssories includes several new compound and Trophy idge rch release.
traditional bows, as well as an all “It was Fred Bear’s goal to ma e ar-
Bear Archery and its family of brands new crossbow for the BearX lineup.
have announced the early release of chery accessible to anyone, no matter
another impressive lineup of bows For 2021 Bear released the all-new their udget or level of e perience.”
and accessories for 2021. The re- edemption E . The new agship said company general manager on
freshed lineup of archery equipment model utilizes the company’s ground- Lene. “The Ready to Hunt Extra pack-
rea ing i ration eduction ystem age does just that, y presenting an
afforda le and all-encompassing so-
. ee this month s lution to get you into the woods with
Bow Report for a deep the proper gear at a great price.”
dive into the Redemp-
tion EKO. Bear is introducing two other eg-
end eries compound ows for .
Also new for 2021, everal changes have also een made
Bear’s egit includes a to the traditional suite, including a
Ready To Hunt Extra new ag iser Ta e own made from
lightweight aluminum composite,
T pac age including and hedua as a new wood choice on
a Trophy idge sight, uper odia , uper rizzly, rizzly
rest, quiver and stabi- and Cheyenne recurves. The new Im-
lizer. For 2021, Bear is pact series crossbow includes a silent
raising the T sta es coc ing cran .

y including three The company plans to egin ship-
oc et iphon road- ping product orders efore the
heads, Trophy idge
Wrath arrows with 100 Continued on Page 26
grain field points and a

ATA Cancels Annual Trade Show long-term impact of a Show with less than 50 percent attendees and ven-
dors?’ It’s the Board of Directors responsibility to look out for the industry,
In an open letter to members, ATA President and CEO Matt Kormann an- and as painful as this decision was to make, I believe it’s the right one.”
nounced on October 14, 2020, that the ATA Board of Directors had made
the decision to cancel the in-person 2021 ATA Trade Show, scheduled to ATA Co-chair of the Board of Directors and president of Headhunter
take place January 7-9 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Bow Strings, said, in part, “It’s imperative that we keep all our members
safe, and canceling the Show is the right thing to do.”
Kormann said the organization holds the ATA Trade Show to an ex-
tremely high standard and it became clear that due to the COVID-19 pan- Finally, Co-chair of the ATA Board of Directors and owner/marketing
demic they would not be able to provide the trade show environment that director of Rinehart Targets, added, in part, “Canceling the Show was dif-
members have come to expect and enjoy. ficult, but nowing that this was the right decision is not.

ATA s goal, ormann continued, is to deliver a first-class event that Questions or concerns can be directed to the ATA Leadership:
helps the archery and bowhunting industry succeed, while keeping health
and safety as a top priority. Updates were promised involving virtual plans • , CE
and offerings, so ATA members were encouraged to chec their inboxes in ..
the coming weeks for information regarding virtual education opportuni-
ties, Show specials and Impact Awards. • J ,S D M
C
Those who registered for a badge should have received a full refund, ..
while exhibitors should have heard from Maria Lewis or Becky Lux. If not,
contact ATA for updates. • ,S D TS M

Mark Copeland, Chairman of the Board and store director of Jay’s Sport- ..
ing Goods, said, in part, “At some point, you have to ask yourself, ‘What’s the
•J ,S D E

..

24 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS

Continued from Page 24

end of the year, with most customers completing the world’s first uper lam ar eting nternational .

taking delivery from their dealer after of orth merican Big ame. The u- Leaving behind a storied 48-year

the first of the year. | INFORMATION ON THE per lam, a term he coined and trade- legacy as a critical part of the archery

2021 BEAR ARCHERY LINEUP CAN BE FOUND AT mar ed, signifies ta ing every orth industry’s most in uential rands,

BEARARCHERY.COM, OR BY CONTACTING YOUR LOCAL American P&Y big game species with a ezmer is set to retire at the end of

BEAR ARCHERY DEALER. ow and arrow. huc was the first to .

CFPaholuplscekt&oAYEdoaausmtnosgn’ 2AF0nM0imJthal accomplish the lam in . The uest “ hen first started, the compound
for the uper lam, and a continued
prolific hunting schedule since, has al- bow didn’t even exist,” ezmer said.
lowed him to gather countless stories
“I’ve seen a lot of great changes and

innovation in archery over the years—

World-renowned bowhunter Chuck and inspire bowhunters by sharing his and I’ve traveled around the world be-

Adams used the 2020 fall bowhunting adventures in print. cause of it. ’m eager to pass the torch

When asked about his to and enjoy more time in the field

relationship with Easton shooting, hunting and making new

Archery, Adams said, “I memories with my family, friends and

harvested my first deer grandchildren.”

53 years ago at age 16 n a seamless transition, ezmer’s

with an Easton T duties will be assumed by OMI, a hand-

bare shaft that I cus- selected group of sales professionals

tom coated with green, whose territory coverage will include

non-glare primer, since the entire globe, with the exception of

anodizing was not avail- orth and outh merica.

a le ac then. n fact, “I’m very impressed with the team

I’ve shot every animal at OMI and know they’ll continue the

in my archery life with tradition of service, account manage-

Easton shafts, from the ment and development that I initiat-

T aluminum, to uper ed more than 36 years ago during the

lam, and now ull etal Continued on Page 28

ac et.”

Adams’ latest P&Y en-

Chuck Adams with his 200th P&Y record-class trophy tries should score well
into the record books and

season to collect his 198th, 199th, and will e officially entered after ope and

200th Pope & Young (P&Y) record-class Young’s mandatory 60-day drying peri-

animals using Easton arrows. od. VISIT EASTONARCHERY.COM AND BOWHUNT-

The three animals included a mule ERBASECAMP.COM TO SEE EXCLUSIVE TIPS FROM

deer, pronghorn and a trophy bull elk, CHUCK ADAMS AND OTHER ARCHERY EXPERTS.

bringing his total of P&Y-quality ani- RSFeaerlteairsDeyMmnaeennOatugotefdrIonotresrnAantnioonuanlces
mals to . dams is nown for his
tenacious approach to every hunt and
this perseverance paid off with many

more entries in the archery record FeraDyne Outdoors, manufacturer of

books than any other single hunter in more than 20 industry-leading brands,

history. announces the retirement of interna-

As one of bowhunting’s most pro- tional sales manager ennie ezmer,

lific writers, dams’ archery resume and the resulting transition of Interna-

reaches back 53 years and includes tional ield epresentation to utdoor Lennie Rezmer

26 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS

Continued from Page 26

humble beginnings of GameTracker,” Todd Seyfert. “The addition of our all-new ATA Retail Locations Map Layer
said Rezmer. archery brands to their strong that instantly connects HuntStand Pro
portfolio is a natural fit. Though users with ATA member retailers across
For the remainder of the 4th quarter ennie leaves ig shoes to fill, North America.
Rezmer and OMI will work in concert have full confidence the team
to facilitate the transition—ensur- at OMI will excel at providing “We are honored to support the ATA
ing all of FeraDyne’s valued custom- FeraDyne’s customers the level and expand the capabilities of Hunt-
ers are made aware of their new sales of excellence they have come to Stand to include highlighting its trust-
contact(s), while fully initiating OMI to expect during Lennie’s long and ed member retailers,” said Lanford Hol-
the entire portfolio of FeraDyne brands. successful career.” | FOR MORE IN- loway, CEO of Terrastride, HuntStand’s
OMI will be tasked with international FORMATION, VISIT FERADYNE.COM.
sales of the entire FeraDyne portfolio of
brands with emphasis both on target AWHruictnhhteSArtTyaAnR, deUtnPavaielretilrnseMNrasepwLayer
archery and hunting. Their sales staff
and office support team have earned HuntStand is proud to announce a
the group an exceptional reputation partnership with the Archery Trade As-
worldwide. sociation (ATA). Under the new agree-
ment HuntStand will offer discounts
“I’ve worked with OMI since Peter to ATA members and offer HuntStand’s
started the group, and they’re second-
to-none in a global sales capacity and
overall integrity,” said FeraDyne CEO

parent company. “The ATA has been nationwide property ownership in-
at the forefront of inspiring archery formation, multiple satellite base lay-
industry growth and our company is ers, detailed weather information and
proud to support its efforts to preserve advanced map creation and sharing
the sports of archery and bowhunting.” capabilities. HuntStand also offers a
top-notch high-resolution map print-
As part of the partnership, ATA mem- ing service. For more information visit
bers will receive discounts on Hunt- huntstand.com.
Stand Pro memberships and custom
printed maps, and the organization APonpneouanncdeYsoMuenmg bCelurbship Drive
will promote its member programs
and services through the app and Hunt- The Pope and Young Club is proud to
Stand’s extensive e-database. announce their 2- and 4-year mem-
bership drive, featuring products from
The new ATA Retail Locations Map their corporate partner, Outdoor Edge.
Layer not only shows the thousands of All new 2-year memberships receive a
North American locations of ATA mem- free Outdoor Edge ChowPal. Four-year
ber retailers, but users can click on any memberships receive the Wild Pair
location to see the business name, ad- knife set, courtesy of Outdoor Edge.
dress, phone, hours, website, services
and more. Supplies are limited, so don’t wait.
Stand with the P&Y Club to protect the
“ATA is fortunate to have HuntStand future of our bowhunting heritage and
among its trusted partners, helping promote the conservation and welfare
grow the sports of archery and bow- of North American habitat and wildlife.
hunting,” said Matt Kormann, ATA
President & CEO. “We’re especially “We have all seen how easy it is to
grateful for HuntStand’s new ATA Mem- lose what generations before us worked
ber Retail Locations layer that will help so hard to establish,” said Rick Mowery,
our retailers reach more customers as outgoing communication / marketing
bowhunters are planning and prepar-
ing for their time in the field.” manager for the Pope and Young
Club. “We encourage all se-
HuntStand is the world’s rious bowhunters to
most widely used stand with us. Now
hunting app, with more than ever, we
more than 6 million need the support of bow-
downloads and mil- hunters to ensure that
lions of active users.
The app affords full
of ine capa ilities,

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS

our bowhunting heritage is protected. 4-year mem er. The only re uirement ness and appreciation of bowhunting
Your support ensures that bowhunt- is to be a bowhunter that cares.” foundations, principles and values. The
ing may be enjoyed by generations of
The ope and oung lu is a non- ope and oung lu is focused on fair-
owhunters yet to ta e the field. ut- profit orth merican conservation chase hunting ethics that support the
door Edge has generously provided and bowhunting organization dedicat- ethical pursuit of free-ranging, wild
these great products as a thank you for ed to promoting and protecting bow- game animals without unfair advan-
hunting y striving to increase aware- tage, while promoting the conservation
ecoming a ope and oung lu 2- or

Mathews Archery Releases Mathews Mathews
New Target-Bow Lineup TRX 34 Green TRX 34 Red

Since its 2016 release no other compound bow tournament circuit,” said Mathews team shooter Dan McCarthy.
has topped more professional podiums than the “The new TRX 34 adds even more versatility to the target line, while
TRX series. For 2021, Mathews introduces the the new TRX 38 G2 brings the latest Mathews technology to one
new TRX 34 and TRX 38 Gen 2 to complete this of my favorite platforms. Both of these models will only improve
line of world-class target bows. the TRX’s proven performance. Emily and I can’t wait to put them
to work.”
At 34 inches axle-to-axle, the TRX 34 is a per-
fect crossover bow for hunters and target archers Go to mathewsinc.com for full specifications, finish options and
while the TRX 38 G2 offers ultimate stability and more information on the 2021 target line, or experience them at your
forgiveness on the range. Both models offer a new local Mathews retailer.
75-percent let-off module, which gives shooters a
deeper valley, while the standard 80-percent mod
and 70-V mods remain an option. The TRX 34 has
an IBO rating of 334 fps and the TRX 38 G2 of 329
fps. Both models also share these features:
■ New Dovetail Mount: Mathews teamed
with Quality Archery Design (QAD) to introduce
the all-new UltraRest TRi Target Rest. Built
around the dovetail Integrate System, archers
are promised the most secure rest-to-riser at- Mathews
tachment possible with micro-adjustability in a TRX 38 G2 Blue
streamlined package.
■ 3D Damping: Reduces post-shot vibration around all three axis
stemming from the grip, and improves balance at full draw.
■ AVS Bearings: Ultra-strong bearings result in a more stable cam
system, which increases accuracy and consistency for the shooter.
■ Bridged Riser: A wider riser adds rigidity through the sight and rest
mounting locations, while added cut-outs minimize weight.
■ Stabilizer Bushing: New, enlarged diameter stabilizer bushings in-
crease stiffness of shooters’ stabilizer set up, enhancing accuracy.

“The TRX Series has already proven to be a powerhouse on the

30 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

of both habitat and wildlife. The Club Abi Johnston As a graphic designer on the RubLine
also maintains the universally recog- team, Johnston will help with client
nized repository of records and statis- sive resume, great vision and is a team logo development, print and digital
tics on North American big game ani- player who will fit in well at u ine. artwork design for advertisements and
mals harvested with a bow and arrow. Her high standards will put her in good other placement, digital asset develop-
company with the rest of our team. ment for client websites, monitoring
Visit pope-young.org or call 507-867- Abi’s versatility when it comes to design and managing client branding efforts
4144 to learn more. will be an asset for us and our clients.” and supporting digital storefronts for
various eCommerce clients.
RwDueitsbhiLgiAnnbeBi MeJonahcrnhkseSttotirnnegnAgdthds
Abi and her husband live in Grinnell,
RubLine Marketing is excited to an- Iowa, with their two young daughters.
nounce the addition of Abi Johnston to In her spare time Abi is an avid painter,
the agency’s team. Johnston is a graph- runner and enjoys riding her bike.
ic designer with a wide range of media
design skills, including print, web and Rubline Marketing is a marketing
digital. Her wide range of talents will agency that helps organizations design,
complement the team at RubLine. develop and execute marketing plans tai-
lored for the specific results each client is
“Abi is a great addition to our team seeking by combining the most modern
at RubLine,” says company President marketing tactics with years of strategic
Chase Rohlfsen. “She has an impres- business development. | FOR MORE INFORMA-
TION, VISIT RUBLINEMARKETING.COM. IA

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION

Join Bowhunters United to Help Bowhunting’s Future

BY CASSIE GASAWAY

H elp ensure bowhunting op- The ATA and BU organizations are ■ Providing funds and grants to help
portunities forfuture genera- not directly connected. That is, ATA individuals, businesses and out-
members and BU members do not door groups build archery ranges
and programs that attract bow-
tions by joining Bowhunters United. belong to each other’s organizations. hunters.

Therefore, BU members cannot at- ■ Addressing hot-topic legislative
issues that affect bowhunting.
Bowhunters are unique individu- tend the ATA Trade Show or receive That includes hunting regulations,
wildlife-disease research, public-
als who are hardy, hearty and T -mem er enefits until ecom- access issues, federal excise-tax
policies and R3 (recruitment, re-
full of vigor. They scout hard and ing ATA members. tention and reactivation) efforts to
ensure everyone bowhunts safely.
practice often to ensure ATA staff and Board of
Join Bowhunters United
they harvest their quarry irector mem ers first
To show your dedication to bow-
ethically and respectfully. discussed the potential of hunting and make a difference in
its community, join BU for $25. Your
They’re also proud of their a consumer organization contribution will help BU advocate
for the sport, conserve public lands
heritage and traditions, in early 2018. They estab- and build the next generation of
bowhunters through training, edu-
which are commonly lished a “consumer orga- cation and other programs.

passed down from previ- nization feasibility study” As a BU member, you will receive
a window decal, vinyl sticker, mem-
ous generations. in August 2018 as one of 11 initiatives bership gift and membership card.
You’ll also get access to tools and
The bowhunting community is in the ATA’s strategic planning pro- knowledge to become a better bow-
hunter, mentoring, conservation is-
strong, passionate and tightly knit. cess. ATA staff worked with vendors sues and become natural-resources
stewards. BU members also receive
It is also about to become much and researchers to determine if a a free subscription to hunting mag-
azines and discounts on popular
stronger and more visible thanks owhunting-specific consumer or- hunting and mapping apps for tab-
lets and smartphones.
to a new conservation organization ganization was feasible and desired.
Joining BU is easy, helps secure
called Bowhunters United. When the answers were positive, bowhunting’s long-standing tradi-
tions and makes bowhunting acces-
ATA staff began developing the orga- sible and enjoyable for all.

About Bowhunters United nization.

BU is a national bowhunting orga-

nization striving to build a strong How BU Strengthens the

future for current and potential Bowhunting Community

bowhunters. BU also helps bow- ■ Recruiting new bowhunters.

hunters share their passion with ■ Making bowhunting mainstream

each other, and encourages mem- in society.

bers to become mentors, informed ■ Donating archery equipment to

conservationists, better bowhunt- shooting programs.

ing advocates and responsible pub- ■ Educating nonhunters about bow-

lic-land stewards. hunting’s role in conservation.

The archery/bowhunting industry ■ Training its leaders to safely teach

and Archery Trade Association are archery to newcomers.

sponsoring the Bowhunters United ■ Creating mentoring programs

liftoff, but plan to step back once that support and encourage begin-

the organization is well established. ning bowhunters.

UNITING THE INDUSTRY ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATION
archerytrade.org

32 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

Join the Bowhunters United team ummers said he nows other con- of the force that ensures owhunting
in five simple steps servation organizations do amazing for generations. ou can sit on the
Step 1 isit owhuntersunited.com. things for wildlife and wild places. sidelines or e part of the game.
Step 2 lic oin ow. till, he sees the need for a group to
Step 3 reate an account. teach and promote owhunting and Share Bowhunters United
Step 4 Enter your information. stand up for the rights of archers.
Step 5 ay and chec out. oin B to uild a stronger, more uni-
ummers started owhunting in
nce you join, you will receive 6th grade, and has enjoyed it for fied owhunting community. lso
a confirmation email from info years. e got his son involved and
recently watched him arrow a doe encourage your friends, family mem-
owhuntersunited.com and a wel- during irginia s youth owhunt-
come pac et y mail. ing wee end. e felt so proud he al- ers and fellow owhunters to join
most ro e down when his son ac-
One of the First Members B . nvite them to visit owhunter-
nowledged the deer s sacrifice and
Ben ummers, a dedicated owhunt- than ed od for the food and hunt- sunited.com and clic the oin ow
er from irginia and vice president of ing opportunity.
T. . . Ball E rchery, wanted to utton.
That s what thin the mission of
e the first B mem er when hearing B is all a out teaching people how emind your owhunting friends
a out the organization. That s why he to e ethical owhunters, and fight-
joined immediately. ing for their rights to owhunt, um- that supporting conservation organi-
mers said.
B has an incredi le potential for zations li e B enefits wildlife and
good, ummers said. ny group that e encourages all owhunters to
teaches our ids and friends how to ecome B mem ers. preserves hunting s future. lus, join-

e more dedicated hunters and a part merica is home to a out million ing this organization connects you to
of nature is a lessing to society and owhunters, and even more who
our communities. support what we stand for, um- li e-minded individuals nationwide.
mers said. lone, we are few and
lease use the Bowhunters nit-
have little power, ut together
we are a strong force for ed handles and hashtag to help us
good. s a B mem er, you
have a voice. ou ll e part spread awareness a out this new,

powerful organization ace oo

Bowhunters nited nstagram

Bowhunters nited fficial ashtag

owhuntersunited

isit owhuntersunited.com for

more information a out the orga-

nization s goals and mission. ues-

tions ontact the Bowhunters nited

mem ership office at -

or info owhuntersunited.com. IA

Help ensure bowhunting opportunities for future
generations by joining Bowhunters United. PHOTO © ATA

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 33

PEOPLE

PowerTheofParticipation
Archery Industry Members Participating in the Sport

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO: Email [email protected], Visit insidearchery.com/pop or mail a color
image with your name, address, where the animal was taken, and archery gear used—both manufacturer
and model—to Inside Archery Power of Participation, P.O. Box 25007, Colorado Springs, CO 80935.

Bryant Lyon • Ohio Whitetail

Kurt Howard • Idaho Elk Marketing Manager, America’s Best Bowstrings

General Manager, Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls Bow: PSE Archery Evoke 31 Rest: Quality Archery
Arrow: Victory Archery V-Force TKO Designs Hunter
Bow: Hoyt Red WRX Release: Spot-Hogg Broadhead: Wasp Dart Other: America’s Best
Release: TRU-FIRE Releases Hurricane Extreme Bowstrings
Arrow: Easton Axis Stabilizer: Apex Gear Sight: Spot-Hogg Fast Eddie Platinum Series

Broadhead: TRUGLO Titanium Other: Rocky Mountain

Sight: Apex Gear Hunting Calls

34 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

Jeff Pease • New Mexico Elk Lance Postma • Missouri Whitetail

National Sales Manager, Bear Archery Owner, Top of Utah Archery

Bow: Bear Archery Divergent EKO Rest: Trophy Ridge Whisker

Arrow: Goldtip Airstrike Biscuit Sure Shot Pro Bow: Bowtech RevoltX Sight: Black Gold Verdict

Broadhead: Rocket Meat Seeker Stabilizer: Trophy Ridge Arrow: Gold Tip Pierce Platinum 340 Rest: Quality Archery Designs MXT

Sight: Trophy Ridge React Pro Hitman 10” Stabilizer Broadhead: B3 Exoskelatal 3 blade Quiver: Tight Spot

Lale Krivacevic • Africa, Kudu Jason Caldwell • Illinois, Whitetail

Manager, Silver Archery, LTD Owner, Nose Down Scents

Bow: Bowtech RealmX Sight: HHA

Bow: Obsession DEF-CON 6 Broadhead: GrizzlyStik Sight: Trijicon AccuPin Arrow: Gold Tip Rest: Quality Archery Designs

Arrow: Victory VAP Monarch 200-grain Rest: Axion Pulse X Broadhead: Sevr Release: TRU-FIRE

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 35

Vapor Trail Archery

ENDURING THE UNEXPECTED

If there is one thing we’ve learned from 2020, it’s that you can
never know exactly what the future holds. You certainly should
be well prepared, but there’s still the potential of something truly
unexpected around the next corner B Y D A N I E L A L L R E D

36 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM he introductory statement is one of the

insights that the team at Vapor Trail

T Archery took to heart this year. The com-
pany experienced a variety of highs, lows,

challenges, and transformations, but it endured

everything and became stronger because of it.

Established in 1993, Vapor Trail Archery is no new-
comer to the ups and downs of business. Best known
for its innovative limb-driven arrow rests and high
performance VTX Custom Bowstrings, these key of-
ferings helped Vapor Trail become a staple of the in-
dustry. The company has grown and prospered for
nearly three decades, and it owes all of those years
of growth and prosperity to the pursuit of a simple
mission: solve archers’ problems with high quality,
USA-made products, and backup those products with
top-notch customer service.

Everyone familiar with Vapor Trail Archery would
agree the company does exactly that. This was cer-
tainly a year of trials and tribulations for Vapor Trail
Archery, but the company has proven that it is here to
stay. Vapor Trail Archery has a strong foundation of
products, people and traditions. That foundation will
continue to help Vapor Trail endure the unexpected.

A Problem-Solving Company

You could almost say Vapor Trail Archery was created
on a whim. The company’s founder, Jarrod Fondie,
was a diehard tournament shooter, and he had
grown frustrated with the quality and consistency
of the bowstrings and cables available in the early
’90s. To alleviate his own frustrations, Fondie began
experimenting with different bowstring materials to
create a better, more dependable alternative.

Still active in the tournament scene, he could see
that his fellow shooters were also getting fed up with

their bowstrings.
After listening to
an archer complain
about his strings
and cables all day, Fondie bluntly said to him, “Quit
your crying, and shoot with my strings. You won’t
have that problem anymore.” Shortly thereafter, Va-
por Trail Archery was born.
Today, “Quit Your Crying” is still the slogan of Va-
por Trail Archery, and—just as Jarrod Fondie did—
the company seeks out the problems archers are ex-
periencing and provides effective solutions.
Looking back, Vapor Trail Archery has come a long
way from its humble beginnings. After a decade of
development, the company unveiled its revolution-
ary VTX Bowstring Material in 2005. That same year,

37

T T Vapor Trail also introduced the industry’s
GT - very first lim -driven arrow rest. These
two powerful innovations truly put apor
T . . Trail on the archery map and propelled the
company to new heights.
38
Tragically, arrod ondie passed away
in . The company continued operating
under the leadership of arrod s rother
and co-founder, teve ondie, until anu-
ary when teve announced his deci-
sion to sell the company to a new owner.

apor Trail s new president and owner,
ory oughlin, too the helm this past
anuary, and his first order of usiness
was reassuring the team a out the future
of the company.

There can e a lot of an iety and uncer-
tainty whenever there s a merger or ac ui-
sition, ory oughlin said. Employees
are all as ing, ho ought the company

hat do they want to do with it nd what
does that mean for me , made it very clear
from the very eginning that didn t want
to change anything a out the people and
products here at apor Trail. There are em-
ployees at apor Trail who have een here a
very long time, and now they are some of
the est in the industry. That was the eau-
tiful thing a out ac uiring apor Trail. The
people and the products were already here,
and they didn t need to e changed.

Passion-Driven

ory oughlin certainly didn t e pect
the odd year that awaited him when he
ac uired apor Trail at the eginning of

. uc ily, oughlin s e tensive usi-
ness e perience made him the right man
for the jo .

spent the past years of my career in
commercial financing, oughlin said.

wor ed hands-on with usiness own-
ers and entrepreneurs, and helped them
grow their usinesses and overcome what-
ever challenges they were facing. wor ed
with pretty much every ind of usiness
you can imagine from rand new start-
ups to older companies e periencing a
merger or ac uisition and my jo was
to meet with them, wor with them and
help the vision for their usiness ecome
a reality. ve always een infatuated with

INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

the adventure and challenge of business A The Vapor Trail crew is a dedicated
ownership, and I knew it was something assembly of the Gen 7x. Vapor Trail produced and loyal group. In fact, most
I wanted to do one day.”
-- recent company purchase.
Rory O’Loughlin has also been a pas- the Gen 7x being their latest iteration.
sionate archer since his youth, and this
factor contributed heavily to his decision 39
to acquire Vapor Trail.

“I’ve been a bowhunter for most of my
life,” O’Loughlin said. “I grew up in the Dal-
las-Fort Worth area around horse country,
so I practically grew up in the outdoors
and that’s where I fell in love with archery.
Over the years, I progressed from recurve
shooting to compound bowhunting, and
that became my true passion. Between my
17 years in the corporate world and my love
for archery, the decision to buy Vapor Trail
was a no-brainer. It’s a perfect marriage of
my experience and passion, and I feel ex-
tremely blessed. It doesn’t even feel like I’m
working. Every day, I just do what I love.”

An equally passionate group of archers
surrounds O’Loughlin in his new role. The
company’s key leadership team includes
Ricky Brule, production manager and cre-
ative director; John Betker, senior sales
manager and marketing director; Jake
“Hollywood” Iverson, bowstring depart-
ment manager; and Cole Rach, arrow rest
manager.

Much like O’Loughlin, this group is deep-
ly inspired by their love of archery. Just
take Ricky Brule, for instance. Growing up
in northwest Minnesota, Brule developed
a love for hunting and the outdoors in his
youth. e purchased his first ow from
a friend at age 16, and over the years he
developed a deep passion for bowhunting.
Brule started his career in the outdoor in-
dustry at Sportsman’s Warehouse, where
he soon worked his way into a manage-
ment role. Brule went on to join Vapor
Trail Archery in 2006, right when the com-
pany was experiencing a surge of growth.

“I had established a good friendship with
the guys here at Vapor Trail by the time
Sportsman’s Warehouse closed their stores
in the Midwest,” Brule said. “I started as a
string builder in 2006. The company had
just introduced its VTX strings, along with
the first-ever lim -driven arrow rest, so
got to see Vapor Trail really take off. By 2010

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM

I started to take on more of a managerial ent, I knew I had to take good care of them. a lot of experience to the table. Our arrow
role. I had management experience from Everyone needs time off to recharge their rest manager, Cole Rach, was also recently
Sportsman’s Warehouse and the company batteries—whether it’s spending time promoted to his new position. He started
was growing very quickly, so they basically with family and friends or getting their out in arrow rest assembly, and he’s been
created a new position for me. I oversaw hunts in. I know they’re in this industry with us for a few years. He understands
the whole bowstring department, and I’m because they love archery and bowhunt- how we function and what we expect, and
also a graphic designer by trade, so I was ing and I wanted to give time back to em- putting him in that position has helped
designing all our packaging and getting the ployees, so they remember why they love quite a bit. Then we also have Jake “Hol-
website up and running. I’ve had to wear a it. That s why increased T and enefits lywood” Iverson in the role of bowstring
lot of hats over the years, and it feels like across the board.” manager, and he’s been with us since he
it’s been ‘pedal to the metal’ since I started was 14 years old. He went to college and
working for Vapor Trail.” As a long-time Vapor Trail employee, got his degree, but then came right back
Ricky Brule has seen all the positive effects to Vapor Trail. We’ve all been thriving in
A Breath of Fresh Air these investments have created. our new positions, and together we have a
very deep knowledge of Vapor Trail, as well
As the new owner and president of Vapor “Rory has put a lot of faith in us and tak- as archery in general.”
Trail Archery, O’Loughlin made a handful en really good care of us,” Brule said. “He
of important investments in the company implemented greater enefits for employ- Rory O’Loughlin also made an impor-
earlier this year. ees, and that has clearly given them more tant investment in Vapor Trail’s inventory
drive. He’s also been bringing in more em- management capabilities.
First and foremost, he invested in his ployees, so managers can wear fewer hats
team. and focus more on our core areas. Togeth- “We brought in a brand new inventory
er, we have a lot of tenure with the com- management system, and it ended up
“I know I’m only as strong as my em- pany and now we can really draw on that. being a huge deal,” O’Loughlin said. “It’s
ployees,” O’Loughlin said. “I have guys on We have John Betker, our sales manager difficult to imagine all the parts and pro-
my team who have been with the compa- and marketing director. He’s been with the cesses that go into a finished arrow rest,
ny for 15-plus years, and they’ve been bow- company for about six years, but he’s been and trying to make six at the same time
hunting since they were kids. In order to in the industry a lot longer, and he brings can make you dizzy. There’s just so much
keep that good talent and attract new tal-

AT .
- .T
-.

40 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

to keep track of, and this new platform / E .
makes all of our lives so much easier. . T
The system knows exactly where every 41
nut and bolt is throughout the whole pro- ST .
cess—from machining to anodizing to
pac aging. e increased our overall effi-
ciency, and our dealers are having a bet-
ter experience because of it. It feels like we
have all our ducks in a row, and now we
can look for the next big thing to add to
our product line that matches the quality
of our existing products.”

Other aspects of Vapor Trail’s operations
have also received upgrades.

“We did a very deep cleanse of our facil-
ity and got rid of all the things we don’t
utilize,” O’Loughlin said. “That increased
our operating space and allowed us to in-
vest in new equipment. We have new, bet-
ter jig stations for building our VTX strings.
We have new computers for quicker com-
munication with our vendors and dealers,
and we also placed a newfound emphasis
on marketing. In the past, there wasn’t one
person devoted to marketing. We changed
that, and we’ve seen a lot of growth as a
result. For instance, we went from about
8,000 followers on Instagram to about
13,000 this year, and next year we hope to
hit 20,000. Altogether, these are all small
changes and adjustments, but they’ve ac-
cumulated into something bigger.”

A Turbulent Year

With these important investments in
place, Vapor Trail was in a good position
for the unexpected events of 2020.

“Back in April, we weren’t hearing any-
thing but the crickets,” O’Loughlin said.
“But eventually people got sick of sitting at
home all day, and they decided they want-
ed to go outside and do the things they
enjoy again. Luckily, archery is one of the
things people enjoy in the outdoors, and
by the time June came around, things just
blew up. The phones were ringing off the
hook, and they’ve been ringing ever since.
t s een a wild ride and a difficult year, ut
we are definitely stronger ecause of it.

This surge of orders broke Vapor Trail’s
previous records and pushed things into
high gear.

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM

T TT “The sheer number of orders coming in
. . seemed almost overwhelming at times,
but being busy is good, right?” Brule said.
“In the past, I don’t think we ever had
more than 250 bowstring orders circulat-
ing through the building at one time. This
year we saw upwards of 1,700 orders. All
of those investments that Rory made—
the new jig stations, new hires, and new
inventory management software—that
infrastructure made our operation much
more prepared and efficient. don t thin
we had any back ordered arrow rests this
year, where in the past we ran into back-
orders that could go up to four weeks. With
that inventory management system, we
were able to forecast what we would need
for the year, and it wor ed awlessly.

Vapor Trail’s customers and dealers
were certainly pleased that the company
was able to keep up with the demand. Af-
ter all, the company’s latest arrow rests,
the Gen 7 and Gen 7x, have been big hits.

“The Gen 7 is the culmination of many
different generations of our arrow rests,”
Brule said. “It was the result of asking con-
sumers the question, ‘Do you shoot our
rest, and if not, why?’ The Gen 7 came to
fruition when we heard answers to that
question. Two of the main things people
wanted were full containment and a rub-
ber overmold cage. We released the Gen 7
in 2019, and it is currently our most popu-
lar rest because it has those features at a
good price point. Of course, it also uses our
proven limb-driven technology. We are
very proud that we originated that tech-
nology here at Vapor Trail. We were the
first, and in some cases, we were actually
laughed at, but we stuck with it, and now
a lot of other manufacturers have started
using limb-driven activation as well.”

For 2020, Vapor Trail brought us the Gen
7x, which adds even more upgrades to the
company’s tried and true approach.

“The Gen 7x has a serious increase of
features,” O’Loughlin said. “It has the same
carbon construction and rubber overmold
as the Gen 7, but it has windage and eleva-
tion micro-adjustments, and it can also
be attached to the top or bottom limb. The
previous generations had to be attached to

42 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

the top limb, and in rare cases, the cord Ricky Brule in the process of making one of Gen 7x easy setup includes
could potentially interfere with sights and Vapor Trail’s signature VTX bowstrings, known -
quivers. We knew customers wanted to be for providing zero creep and longer life. .
able to use the bottom limb instead, so we
figured that out for them. Because of its e - 43
tra features, the en has a higher price
point than the Gen 7. It’s sort of catered
more to the elite bowhunters, but the Gen
7 is also there as a more affordable option.”

Vapor Trail’s latest and greatest rests
were also developed with dealers in mind.

The en and en are oth dealer-
only products,” O’Loughlin said. “We know
the competition they are facing with all
these big online presences. Our dealers
have supported Vapor Trail for so many
years, and we will continue to make sure
that the support is reciprocal. On top of
that, we offer them competitive margins
and stand behind our products. We want
to produce the highest quality archery
products in the industry, and anytime
someone has an issue, they can send it in,
and we will get them up and running as
quickly as possible.”

Conclusion

Vapor Trail Archery certainly had a year
for the record oo s. The company under-
went a quick and decisive transformation,
and it did so just in time—right before the
une pected struc .

Everyone on the Vapor Trail team would
tell you that this year was uite the roll-
ercoaster ride, but the company has also
proven that it s still in it for the long-haul.

“I’ve only been here for a little more
than ten months, but it feels like I’ve been
here for years with how much we ve ac-
complished in such a small amount of
time,” O’Loughlin said. “Looking ahead,

apor Trail will always remain a family-
owned small business, and that’s all there
is to it. There will be no hedge funds, no
private e uity groups. ought this com-
pany because I believe in its products and
traditions, and apor Trail s mission re-
mains the same. e will always e fam-
ily-owned. e will always e merican-
made, and we will always strive to create
the highest quality archery products in
the industry.” IA

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM

MARKET TRENDS BOW REPORT

Bear Archery Redemption EKO
BY PATRICK MEITIN

L ast year I packed a Bear Archery while also giving shooters the choice of system eliminate cam lean throughout
Status EKO for my annual Texas four let-off options within a single bow. the draw cycle by shifting the cable load
The large-profile cams rea through toward the center of the cam during the
most stressful portions of the draw cycle.
adventure: a 30-hour road trip that in- startup inertia easily, and pull into an- This system lends the edemption E
an accuracy and stability edge through
cludes visiting family and college friends, chor smoothly, allowing bowhunters to torque elimination.
concentrate on the shot instead of a chal-
EKO technology is found on the dealer-
shooting some hogs, and if I’m lucky, a lenging draw cycle. The EKO Cam is at the exclusive Bear Legend Series bows and
are strung with zero-creep Contraband
Muy Grande Tejas whitetail buck. heart of Bear’s most talked-about Legend Strings made from space-age materials
Series bow models, including the all-new to offer top performance, stability and
long-term durability across extreme tem-
Choosing which bows make that anx- agship edemption E under dis- perature uctuations.

iously awaited journey can prove excru- cussion in this Bow eport. Updated Chassis ■ If you can picture

ciating, so the fact the Status EKO made The edemption E handily splits the the 2020 Status EKO (still a solid part of
the lineup , the edemption E will
the cut is saying something. Bear bows difference between the longer 33-inch appear familiar. The edemption E
is based on the same cleverly skeleton-
typically make my annual favorites list Status EKO (Inside Archery Bow eport, ized, extensively milled-aluminum riser
that gives it a racy look, but also provides
because they are my kind of bows— October 2019) and the more recent 30-inch excellent in-hand balance and riser stiff-
ness. The edemption E riser is a out
designs made for serious bowhunting. Divergent EKO (July 2020 issue), measur- an inch and a half shorter than the Status
EKO, but includes the same dual-axis
They are dependable, quiet and draw and ing 31 inches between the axles and pro- milling. This means it includes cutouts

shoot great. In fact, I used that Status viding a near ideal for a large percentage through the riser ats and
its edges. The bladed front
EKO to make a dead-center heart shot on of bowhunters. Bear Archery also brought edges, serpentine support
trusses, channeled arrow
a fat Lone Star hog at a laser-measured back classic Fred Bear Camo, which the shelf and recessed sight
window also contribute
yards. t was a eeting opportunity, a test edemption E was finished in. to the edemption E s
feathery 4.1-pound mass
quick draw-and-shoot affair with little and excellent in-hand
balance, especially while
time to think it through. It is the kind of EKO Quick Review ■ The silky-smooth at full draw. That balance
promotes steadier, more
shot scenario that can make an entire EKO Cam provides dealers and end users relaxed aiming.
The longitudinal mill-
season, and the reason I say Bear bows the ability to introduce four different
ing also allowed the ingenious
are made for real bowhunting. They han- let-off settings within a single bow—75, addition of Align Lok, a bubble level inte-
grated directly into the riser (a welcomed
dle and shoot almost instinctively. 80, 85 or 90 percent. Every shooter has a holdover from the Status EKO). This helps
establish 2nd and 3rd axis leveling dur-
The EKO portion of the name, of course, preferred feel or end goal, ing bow-sight setup, to help get bows out
of the shop faster and shooting plumb in
represents Bear Archery’s newest cam and the EKO accommo- the field. sing this uilt-in level while
adjusting a bow sight’s bubble level en-
design. The cam system shifts draw-force dates every taste without sures more precise shooting on slanted
ground. New for 2021, all-new Vibration
energy to the center of the cam for excel- the need for additional

lent balance and torque-free shooting, modules or cam sets.

It’s like stocking four

The 2021 Bear Archery Redemption EKO, like other different bows in one.
Legend Series bows, holds a Roller HingeGuard. The Better yet, every one of

system eliminates lateral riser torque at full draw for these let-off ratings are

more comfortable aiming, and quiets every shot. available at every draw

length between 26 and

30 inches, and without

sacrificing performance

at any setting. The pre-

cise let-off and draw-length

settings are established through a rotat-

ing module system that doesn’t require a

bow press—yet another time saver.

The 3-track system promotes what

Bear Archery labels Equalized Kinetic

Orientation, or the EKO found in these

agship ows la els. The cam design

ensures harmonized synchronization for

straight arrow ight. The two spiral

trac s coupled with the inge oller uard

44 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

Specifications Arrow Speed

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Bear Archery Redemption EKO set at 70.0 pounds at 30 inches.

Axle-to-Axle Length 29-INCH ARROWS/ SHAFT *FINISHED KINETIC ARROW

31 inches 100-GRAIN TIPS GPI ARROW WT. ENERGY SPEED

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Brace Height VICTORY XTORSION 300 12.9 532 GRAINS 96.7 FT. LBS. 286.1 FPS

6.25 inches –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– BLOODSPORT EVIDENCE 300 11.7 518 GRAINS 95.8 FT. LBS. 288.5 FPS

Mass Weight –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

4.1 pounds EASTON 4MM FMJ 330 11.0 *502 GRAINS 96.4 FT. LBS. 294.0 FPS

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Let-Off CX MAX RED SD 350 9.4 *465 GRAINS 93.1 FT. LBS. 300.2 FPS

Up to 75, 80, 85 or –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
90 percent, adjustable
GT KINETIC KAOS 340 9.9 453 GRAINS 92.3 FT. LBS. 302.9 FPS
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Available Draw Length
BLOODSPORT JUSTICE 300 9.8 443 GRAINS 94.4 FT. LBS. 309.8 FPS
26 to 30 inches
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
BLACK EAGLE SPARTAN 300 9.0 *439 GRAINS 93.9 FT. LBS. 310.3 FPS
Available Draw Weights
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
45-60 and 55-70 pounds
BEMAN WHITE OUT 340 8.8 416 GRAINS 90.2 FT. LBS. 312.5 FPS
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Available Finishes
GT VELOCITY PRO 340 8.2 387 GRAINS 90.9 FT. LBS. 325.3 FPS
Realtree Edge, Veil Alpine and Stoke,
Fred Bear Camo, Iron (grey) and Olive –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– BLACK EAGLE CARNIVORE 350 7.5 363 GRAINS 90.5 FT. LBS. 335.1 FPS

MSRP –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

$999.99 VICTORY RIP XV 300 7.0 355 GRAINS 90.5 FT. LBS. 338.8 FPS

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

LIBERTY ARCHERY 320 5.9 292 GRAINS 85.9 FT. LBS. 364.0 FPS

Bear Archery’s smooth-drawing EKO Cam can be set –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
to 75, 80, 85 or 90 percent let-off in a single bow; an
Equalized Kinetic Orientation (EKO) 3-track system Arrow speeds established using a Caldwell Shooting Supplies Chronograph G2. *Denotes steel inserts
removes cam lean and limb torque.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (812) 467-1200, OR VISIT BEARARCHERY.COM.

eduction ystem modules are also On release the system snaps back into

placed inside each riser dogleg, with the at-rest position to allow etchings

dampeners situated adjacent to each lim to pass cleanly.

poc et. The modules are sandwiched in ther silencing accessories include

the riser interior, a steel weight suspended the modules already discussed,

in dampening ru er, the dampeners hoc waves ampening ystem to re-

threaded through riser ports to include duce lim vi ration, and a single, fully-

twin T-posts with out oard weights. Bear adjusta le onic top string stop mounted

engineers say the system helps reduce ehind the stainless-steel sta ilizer ta

residual riser vi rations y up to percent, opposed to the dual onic tops held y the

for uieter, shoc -free shooting. tatus E at the rear riser points . verall

The pivoting, molded-aluminum lim riser stiffness, tight tolerances all the way

poc ets hold polymer liners for silence around and parallel lim s also contri ute

and dead-nuts lim alignment, and are to the edemption E s uiet nature.

set on a wide two-point anchoring system The Bear rchery s agship e-

that shifts lim pivot points rearward for demption E e hi ited a remar a le de-

increased sta ility and e cellent alance. gree of efficiency through our full arsenal

ins in each lim utt ensure relia ility. of test arrows, gaining velocity in a pre-

The preloaded uad lim s terminate in dicta ly linear fashion while also main-

parallel geometry for increased energy taining crushing inetic energy E from

transfer and shot silence, and include a heavy through light arrows. any ows

3 8-inch edge-to-edge width for further egin hemorrhaging E as arrows grow

tor ue reduction. The edemption E lighter, ut the E am proves so incred-

ships with two custom grips, including the i ly efficient it cran ed out impressive

low-profile ersa rip or proven aro rip. energy even with lighter, faster shafts.

A Silent Bear ■ Bear rchery s trade- This is a ow that s smooth and forgiv-

mar oller inge aurd remains a part ing enough to derric into a cold white-
of the egend eries and acts as a silenc-
ing and accuracy- oosting feature of the tail stand, ut also powerful enough to

edemption E . The pivoting ca le tote while dogging ugling high-country
guard includes earing-e uipped roll-
ers to carry the uss ca les while reduc- el . t s also a ow ll e ta ing to Te as
ing friction that wears serving, and the
articulating arm is hinged on a milled- in ecem er during my annual road-trip
aluminum rac et to swing inward at scramble… IA
full draw and remove lateral riser tor ue.
WebXtra ■ Take a look at the

Bear rchery edemption E in action at

insidearchery.com earredemptione o

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 45

46 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

During the 23 years I spent guiding big- able for saving your legs during spot-and-
game hunters in New Mexico’s Gila stalk hunts in rough-and-tumble terrain
region, I often said I’d rather forget my by helping determine if a distant critter
bow than my binoculars. The punch line is worth more effort, or allow spying on
was that with binoculars at least I would unsuspecting game from afar while scout-
see something. No matter what kind of ing. aser rangefinders have completely
hunting your customers enjoy, optics are changed the bowhunting game, turn-
an integral part of that pursuit. Standard- ing what was once our No. 1 stumbling
issue binoculars help discover game while block—knowing the range—into single-
stal ing or still-hunting, confirm a suspi- button simplicity. And, of course, with
cion while sitting in stands or ensure an the growing popularity of horizontal-bow
animal is legal in a given game manage- hunting across the land, specialized cross-
ment unit. Spotting scopes are indispens- bow scopes have become hot-ticket items.

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 47

I’d say the biggest dilemma in op- hunter who abuses their gear. All of ery need, East to West, weekend dab-
tics is separating frustrating, un- these factors and more dictate what bler to gung-ho wilderness adven-
dependable junk from viable and class of optics a customer will be sat- turer. Here we’ll have a look at some
trusted hunting tools. Some prod- isfied with. of the latest optics designed to boost
ucts appear functional straight out bowhunting success.
of the package, but when subjected To follow are optical tools to fill ev-
to the hard knocks of typical hunting Binoculars
endeavors, they fog, blur, break Bushnell Engage X
or otherwise disappoint. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This leads to inconvenient Swarovski NL PURE
returns that no dealer Bushnell ••
wants, disgruntled cus- Hawke Frontier APO
tomers and tarnished repu- Engage X 10x42mm binoculars
tations. There are a handful from Bushnell were designed
of “good deals” in optics, but for to offer quality glass in a light-
the most part, this is an area where weight and affordable package.
price dictates quality. Fully multi-coated optics provide
a bright, clear image in any light-
Steering customers in the right ing conditions, particularly during
direction starts with an intimate all-import dusk and dawn periods.
understanding of what makes optic The binoculars are IPX7 waterproof
products tick, as well as asking the rated and have Bushnell’s exclusive
right questions to ensure individuals molecularly bonded EXO Barrier for
are paired with products right a clear image regardless of weather
for their needs. For instance, conditions. An adjustable diopter
binocular needs for Eastern ensures sharp focus by any user.
treestand hunters or still- An ultra-smooth focus wheel
hunters varies considerably
from Western spot-and-stalk allows viewers to focus on
hunters where one is restricted any object quickly for excep-
to tight cover, while the other ad- tional definition, and twist-
dresses vast, open habitats. Hand in up eyecups make it easy to
hand, the Eastern hunter may find create the desired imaging,
they get along just fine without a with or without glasses. Bushnell’s
spotting scope, while the Western proprietary coatings and construc-
deer hunter might find them indis- tion are covered by a lifetime war-
pensable. Too, the Eastern hunters ranty. Engage X binoculars are avail-
who use a spotter for long-range able in black or Realtree Edge, are
scouting have the advantage tripod compatible and feature a
of operating from a truck durable rubber armor with ag-
or UTV, while the Western gressive texturing for a com-
bowhunter’s gear is carried fortable, secure grip. They
on their back. Weight mat- retail for around $129.99. Visit
ters according to intended bushnell.com to learn more.
use. There is also the issue of
how hard a product will be used; Swarovski Optik ••
the use of the item will vary greatly
from a so-called weekend warrior Swarovski’s newly released NL PURE
versus the hard-core backcountry Binoculars utilize the largest field
of view yet, helping customers find
more game while also providing

48 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020

an extremely compact design with correction. H7 adds new high-perfor- Vortex
remarkable ergonomics. The new mance lens coatings and dielectric- Diamondback
focus mechanism was designed by coated B - roof prisms, which in HD
Austrian engineers to minimize fric- all deliver the highest level of light SIG SAUER
tion, and the magnesium chassis transmission for a bright, crystal- OSCAR8 HDX
is covered in green rubber armor- clear image. Customers can Hawke
ing, guaranteeing maximum rug- choose from two Fron- Nature-Trek
gedness combined with light mass. tier Binoculars Leupold & Stevens
They re offered in three configura- models. The 8x42 in- SX-2 Alpine HD
tions; 8x42, 10x42 and 12x42. The NL cludes an 8.1-degree
PURE’s new FRP forehead rest fur- field of view
ther accentuates glassing comfort and weighs 26.1 ounc-
and is fully adjustable to individual es via a lightweight
users. The overall system provides magnesium-alloy chas-
a stable 3-point support that allows sis. The 10x42 model includes
hands-free glassing with a tripod at a 7.1-degree FOV and also weighs 26.1
high magnification. warovs i op- ounces. Both models sport wa-
tics provide uncompromising image ter-resistant lens coatings
definition, unmatched clarity and and are waterproof and
ma imum color fidelity to provide nitrogen purged to pre-
true-to-life images and high light vent fogging. Replace-
transmission. The NL PURE is sup- able, twist-up eyecups
plied with an B side ag and uni- with click stops create
versal adjustable comfort strap with the perfect fit, while lens
quick-lock clasps on each side. They covers protect the lenses.
retail from $3,299 to $3,443. Visit rontier Binoculars are cov-
swarovskioptik.com to learn more. ered by Hawke’s No-Fault Lifetime
Warranty. Visit hawkeoptics.com to
Hawke Optics •• learn more.

Hawke Optics’ new premium Fron- Spotting Scopes
tier Binoculars include apochro-
matic lenses and H7 optics. APO, or ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
apochromatic lenses, are designed
to focus three light wavelengths Vortex Optics ••
(typically red, green and blue) into
the same plane. This provides supe- The Diamondback HD line of spot-
rior image correction of chromatic ting scopes from Vortex includes two
and spherical aberration from dis- new configurations the -
tances, which commonly distorts and - . They include power
color and reduces image clarity. APO and clarity in a redesigned pack-
lenses also adjust for spherical ab- age that provides high quality per-
erration at two wavelengths, rather formance at a reasonable price.
than one. The result is a sharp in- New Diamondback HD
crease in the definition of o jects spotters offer an
viewed and a wider, at-field of view HD optical sys-
without distortion. H7 optics include tem delivering
extra low dispersion glass providing crisp resolu-
even more color control and phase tion, brighter

NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 49

images and edge-to-edge sharpness fine adjustments. n rca- wiss are $599.99. They include Vortex’s
to reduce eye strain during long compatible foot allows Diamond- unconditional, transferable, lifetime
glassing sessions. All exterior glass back HD to mount quickly on com- VIP Warranty. Visit vortexoptics.com
surfaces are fully multi-coated for patible tripod heads without addi- to learn more.
increased light transmission and tional plates. A neoprene protective
low-light performance. The new cover is provided. The 16-48x65mm SIG SAUER ••
exterior design includes a more angled and straight configurations
streamlined, snag-free profile and include an MSRP of $499.99, and the SIG SAUER’s Electro-Optics OSCAR8
the helical focus wheel provides fast, 20-60x85mm angled and straight HDX Variable Power Spotting Scope
offers more power, magnification,

High-Performance Crossbow Scopes

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

APEX GEAR ••

APEX GEAR’s new CROSSPEAK Illuminated Crossbow Scope is engineered to match the
speed and extended yardages inherent of today’s modern crossbows. The scope provides
gin-clear viewing and speed-calibrated crosshairs to wring the most from modern cross-
bows. The glass-etched reticles can be illuminated, showing red for increased contrast and include
10 brightness settings to match prevailing conditions. It features variable 2-7-power magnification for finer

aiming capabilities. APEX’s Ballistic Reticle (ABR) is easily calibrated to sync with the specific speed
of any production crossbow (260 to 500 fps) and provides accurate hold marks from 20 to 100 yards. The 30mm main tube is milled
from one piece of aircraft aluminum and is treated to a non-glare black finish. The scope is nitrogen purged to prevent fogging; the
lenses are fully coated for maximum brightness, clarity and contrast. The adjustment turrets include ½ MOA windage and elevation
increments. It comes complete with 30mm aluminum mounting rings, protective neoprene cover and a limited lifetime warranty. The

scope weighs 14.1 ounces. Visit apex-gear.com to learn more.

SIG SAUER ••

German engineered and US-made SIG SAUER Electro-Optics partnered with Mission Crossbows to bring
SUB-1 crossbow shooters the company’s Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX) System. This is facilitated with

SIG’s SIERRA3BDX 2.5-8x32mm riflescope, now given crossbow capabilities. The ultralight rifle-
scope offers the perfect size, weight and magnification for crossbows, making it possible to reach
beyond 100 yards and engage targets with extreme precision. The BDX System includes a fully
integrated rangefinder and riflescope system utilizing Applied Ballistics Ultralight. A free SIG BDX app
allows for crossbow ballistic profiles to be loaded and communicated via Bluetooth to any SIG KILO BDX
rangefinder. When targets are ranged, ballistics, target distance, slope, temperature and barometric pressure
are used to precisely calculate a shooting solution, display it in the rangefinder and instantly share it with any SIERRA3BDX scope. The exact holdover reticle
aiming dot is then illuminated. The 30mm, illuminated scope weighs 19.4 ounces, includes ¼ MOA adjustments and includes BDX-R1 reticles. The scope retails
for around $480. Visit sigsauer.com to learn more.

Vortex Optics ••

Vortex’s new Crossfire II 2-7x32mm Crossbow Scope is packed with features serious cross-
bow hunters demand. The reticle is designed specifically for crossbows and provides range
versatility, while red and green illumination allow for confident low-light shooting. The reticle is
built to be zeroed at 40 yards and proves accurate to 100 yards with holdover points. The holdover subtensions are accurate
at 4x for a 380 feet per second crossbow, but Vortex also included the magnification power/feet per second on the magnification ring, making the optic compatible
with a wide variety of crossbows. The scope comes with rings, flip caps and a neoprene cover, so it’s ready to mount out of the box. With an MSRP of $279.99 it
is also priced to move. It comes with an unconditional, transferable, lifetime VIP Warranty. Visit vortexoptics.com to learn more.

50 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2020