Inside Archery November 2022

www.insidearchery.com

®

NOVEMBER 2022





INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022 | VOLUME 25 | NUMBER 9

People

26 Power of Participation
■ Bill Tittle |
Vantage Point Archery
■ Aaron Buehler |
Inside Firearms
■ Travis Gardner |
Easton Archery
■ George Cummings |
Buck Bourbon

28 ■ Jeff Adee |
Headhunter Bow Strings
■ Catelin Peck |
Vapor Trail Archery

28 Bear Archery
Celebrating 90 Years
By Daniel Allred

38 Market Trends

38 Gear Report
Wicked Tree Gear by OPI

40 Following the Latest

Bowhunting Trends

By Patrick Meitin

54 46 46 Bow Report
Elite Archery
2023 Omnia

48 Gear Report
Ani-Logics CRUSH
Sugar Beet Block

64 58 Recreational Archery
The Future of Our Sport
24 By Jack Borcherding

INSIDE ARCHERY (Volume 25, #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 2022



INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022 | VOLUME 25 | NUMBER 9

IInndsiudsetrtyhe
10 Inside Track
Business Success—A Catch 22

14 Kinsey’s Business
Blueprint

Prepping For New-Bow Season

26 16 Your ATA Insights
What’s Your Soundtrack?
By Kurt Smith / ATA

18 Industry News
The latest on news, events and
people in the archery industry

20 Inside Retailing
Anthem Archery, Decorah, IA
50 48
24 ATA Action
#ATA2023 Is the Buying Event

of the Year; Register Now!

By Cassie Gasaway / ATA

50 Organizing Special Events
By P.J. O’Reilly, Lancaster Archery

54 Leading Archery
Manufacturer

The Bohning Company

66 Industry 5Q
Five Questions with Mitch Banks

20 from Banks Outdoors

54 58
6
INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022



INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022 | VOLUME 25 | NUMBER 9

insidearchery.com Online Exclusives

Bowhunt Whitetails

Breaching Common Barriers
to Access Bigger Whitetail Bucks

The white-tailed deer hunter faces many barriers to suc-
cess. Break through the most common five—water, swampy
terrain, topographical, distance and charisma—to leave
your competition behind and discover higher-scoring bucks.

Winter Hunting

Making The Best of Nasty
Weather By Still-Hunting

Fortunately for whitetail hunters, when conditions are
at their worst for sitting, they are best for still-hunting.
Many modern deer hunters have forgotten the lost art
of still-hunting, but Patrick Meitin will tell you how to
make it work for you.

Bowhunt Whitetails

Tapping Into Overlooked Whitetail
Foods For Newfound Success

Every whitetail hunter is aware of whitetail favorites
such as corn, soybeans, alfalfa and acorns. But what
of naturally-occurring food alternatives? Our Executive
Editor fills you in on focal points you may be missing in
your neck of the woods.

Bowhunt Whitetails

How To Plan & Execute A Rewarding
Whitetail-Hunting Road Trip

Inside Archery’s Patrick Meitin has spent a lot of time
behind the wheel traveling to whitetail destinations—
because sometimes the grass really is greener in a
neighboring state. Lessons learned are discussed to
help you enjoy a productive DIY bowhunt.

:WebXtras “Gear Report” tries out OPI’s Wicked Tree Gear and Ani-Logics

Outdoors CRUSH Sugar Beet Block. “Bow Report” tests Elite Archery’s 2023
Omnia. “5Q” chats with Mitch Banks from Banks Outdoors.

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 2022



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE TRACK

Business Success—A Catch 22

O ur love of everything archery and the outdoors guided us to a career in the
industry. It is a way of life that gives so much, includes such deep camara-
derie and aspects that are more real than so much of Corporate America.
It is something that feeds the soul and makes us feel whole. We contribute some-
thing that brings people real joy and spiritual fulfillment—whether poking holes
in targets, providing healthy protein for family and friends
or sparking new-product dreams. The archery industry offers
many rewards.

But with success comes sacrifice, and the more successful
you become, the more that is expected of you, until it begins
to feel you are giving more to the sport—to your archery busi-
ness—than you are receiving. More time is spent in the shop,
behind the computer, serving others, than time in the field
seeking your own soul-cleansing time in nature while seeking another adrena-
line-fueled encounter with the game we all love and cherish.

The whitetail rut makes that more pronounced.
You would love to be sitting on stand, pursuing that ancient buck you have been
matching wits with, unsuccessfully, for years. But business calls. You have sac-
rificed your own time in the field so others may enjoy all the advertised merits
of the outdoor life. You hope that with more success, with increased cash flow,
things will change, but you are only deluding yourself. Greater success brings only
more responsibilities, more time away from what you love most.
If any of this is beginning to sound all too familiar, it might be time to take
charge of your destiny. To make more time for yourself.
Your employees should not be the only ones demanding time off and special
concessions during the whitetail rut. You must make those demands for yourself,
even if it means dipping into profits. Life is short and should be about more than
money.
Hire that extra part-time worker, alter your shop hours to allow some time for
yourself, do not cave to unrealistic expectations or demands. It is your business,
after all. You own it. It should not own you.
There is no doubt more customers will be coming through your doors in the next
few weeks than you likely witnessed during the past few months. Many shops rely
on archery season in general, and the whitetail rut more specifically, to increase
cash flow, exhaust older stock and bank money for the lean days of late winter
and early spring to come. But short of insolvency, there should be a balance in life
between your business’ and your own wellbeing.
What is your time in the field worth—the ability to get away from it all and de-
compress, if for just a day, or morning, or single evening? I’d say it is worth more
than mere money, as your very business depends on Jack not becoming a dull
boy—or short tempered and on the verge of complete burnout…

Patrick Meitin, Executive Editor

INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022



Publisher

Apollo Creative Inc

Executive Editor

Patrick Meitin • [email protected]

Associate Editor

Daniel Allred • [email protected]

Contributors

Kurt Smith | Cassie Gasaway
P.J. O’Reilly | Jack Borcherding

Sales & Marketing Director

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

Design & Production

ER Graphics / Ed Rother • [email protected]

Graphic Designer

Tara Bondar

Social Media Manager

Jason Ashe

Video Editor

Marc Balistreri

Account Manager

Pam Ludlam • [email protected]

Subscription Services & Change of Address:

Inside Archery® Circulation Department
Inside Archery, PO Box 986, Levittown, PA 19055-9998
Phone: (844) 862-9286 • Fax: (888) 965-9961
[email protected]

Publication Office

Inside Archery® / Apollo Creative Inc
P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935
Phone: (719) 495-9999 • www.InsideArchery.com

Inside Archery founded in 1998 by Bill and Sherry Krenz

Inside Archery® Copyright © 2022 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
reflect the views of the publisher, 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. No contract, agreement,
term or condition provided by any contributor shall be binding on
Apollo Creative Inc unless it is signed and returned by the Editor.

Archery, hunting and bowhunting are inherently dangerous 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.

Inside Archery®
is a publication of
Apollo Creative Inc
Printed in the USA.

INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY BUSINESS BLUEPRINT Presented by

Prepping For New-Bow Season Kinsey’s is the leading distributor to the archery and out-
doors industry. Carrying items from your favorite brands,
B owhunting season is upon sure your sales rep is providing up- in-stock and ready-to-ship, the well-established company
us! And, if that is not exciting to-date information regarding when offers domestic and international retailers a wide array
enough, top manufacturers new bows will launch and how many of products and services. Kinsey’s also owns innovative
bows are being introduced. consumer brands including Alpine Archery, BlackHeart,
are releasing their latest must-have Fin-Finder, Elevation, and October Mountain Products.
Reps should be happy to provide  
bow models. Social media and in- detailed information, such as techni- For more information, please visit KinseysInc.com
cal specs and demographic outreach.
dustry publications are flooded with Keep product focus broad, and be cog- bows from everyone’s favorite brands.
nizant of the fact that there are youth You should also be well versed on spe-
coverage on the features and benefits bows, target bows and hunting bows. cific upgrades and pertinent features
It is important to serve all your cus- so you can answer any questions
of these new flagship bows, and they tomers. Perhaps there is a new bow your customers may ask. If possible,
that boasts an impressive new speed. a manufacturer rep can help with
are creating quite a stir within your Don’t be afraid to mention bow mod- such a presentation—if you are able
els for men, women, and children. to coordinate with them to attend on
customer base. This creates a great Further, mention that you carry bows a specific date. Lastly, entice custom-
for all levels of bowhunting, at all ers with food and drink. A pizza night
opportunity to capitalize on some big- price points. This will attract a greater gives customers an excuse to come to
expanse of customers. your shop, speak with your associates
ticket sales. Let’s get your shop ready and get hands-on experience with
Additionally, find out which bows your product selection.
to outfit your deer hunting clientele will have marketing focus on them.
That is where most of the consumer Further, make sure you spread the
with the best new products available. demand will likely be placed, so that word. Take to your social pages and
is where you will want to tie up most post photos of new bows that are fully
To begin, let’s make sure you are of your open-to-buy dollars. rigged and ready to shoot. Reshare
manufacturer’s content. Most manu-
well stocked. Sure, that is obvious, but And, don’t forget about last year’s facturer’s have high-budget materi-
model bows. You want to enter the als readily available to share that will
it is easy to get caught up in the sea- new bow season lean on last year’s help sell their products. Visit local
inventory. Find out which bows are clubs and pass out flyers advertising
sonal excitement and snooze on your moving forward and which are be- your demo nights. Check in with your
ing discontinued and come up with local radio station to discover any
communications with your distribu- a strategy allowing you to retain opportunities to get your name out
margin while still turning inventory there. In this day and age, you may
tor. Be sure to thoroughly familiar- before product becomes stale or out- even have a digital billboard avail-
dated. Don’t be shy, seek constant up- able. In short, any exposure that gets
ize yourself with what is new. Make dates from your sales representative in front of your customers is worth
on projected release dates, and get considering to make the most of this
your orders reserved ahead of time. financially rewarding window. Good
luck this bow season! IA
Next, get aggressive about driving
traffic to your shop. A great way to
lure customers into your store is to
host a demo night. At this event you
will want to have a variety of new

14 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY YOUR ATA INSIGHTS

What’s Your Soundtrack?

BY KURT SMITH, COURTESY OF THE ATA

E ven if you despise the song they con- Is it true? ■ There likely is or was some hurting someone’s feelings. It really
tinue playing on the radio during your truth behind each soundtrack in your comes down to the culture of your busi-

morning commute, I bet it is stuck in your business, but that doesn’t mean it is ness and how employees and custom-
head more often than you would admit. based on complete truth. Let’s dissect ers feel about engaging. “Customers
the first soundtrack mentioned above: think they know everything before they

“The owners don’t care about the qual- walk in the door.” We are in an era in

When we hear things over and over it ity of our product.” I doubt which there is a YouTube

is natural to remember it and put it this is completely true, video about anything

on “repeat” in our heads. I recently lis- but the only way to get the you’d ever want to learn.

tened to an interesting presentation whole truth is to ask. Ask It is only natural that

by author and Inc. Top 100 leadership to set up a meeting to talk customers in a hobbyist

speaker Jon Acuff, where he explained about product quality and industry like archery and

how people and businesses have their see if ownership shares bowhunting spend signif-

own “soundtracks”—common themes your concern. Maybe they icant amounts of time do-

(often negative) that we hear and repeat were unaware of prob- ing research before they

over and over until they become part of lems and need an easier way for em- come into your store or contact you.

our personality or business culture. Ex- ployees to share information, or are When speaking of kindness, we are re-

amples: currently working on getting a remedy ally speaking to creating a space where

•“The owners don’t care about in place to solidify a manufacturing people feel they can ask questions and

the quality of our product.” process. Either way, it changes the suggest new ideas without being ridi-

•“Supplier X only looks out for soundtrack to a more positive note. culed. If the soundtrack playing in your

themselves.” head says that customers think they

•“Customers think they know everything Is it helpful? ■ To answer this question know but are clueless, you are likely to

before they walk in the door.” requires some humility. “Supplier X make assumptions instead of asking

None of these are particularly positive only looks out for themselves.” I have questions to gain understanding. Flip-

messages, but I would bet at heard this in countless retail stores I ping the script on your soundtrack to

least one such soundtrack have visited. It could be true—one of “Our customers do a lot of research, so

is familiar to your busi- your suppliers gauges their success by we ask a lot of questions to learn from

ness. And if it sounds fa- sales dollars and profitability (most their experiences” gives your team a

miliar, that also means companies do), without considering push to learn and make customers feel

it is likely become in- how well your business is doing. The valued.

grained in your busi- question then becomes: Is it helpful These soundtracks shape company

ness culture and is for your business to spend time and culture. I challenge you to identify a

having detrimental energy dwelling on the idea that one few soundtracks in your organization

effects to everyday op- of your suppliers cares more about and use the questions above to analyze

erations and mo- their own success than yours? If you whether they are helpful or hurtful for

rale. People in your are being truthful, the answer is prob- the success of the business. If you are

organization hear ably no. How could you replace that struggling to find more positive ways

these phrases in soundtrack with a more positive one? of looking at things, start asking other

their heads, repeat “We take advantage of the market- members of your team for their ideas,

them to co-workers ing efforts of Supplier X to make our or look to your peers and business part-

and allow them to influ- business more profitable” puts the em- ners for inspiration. Gatherings like the

ence their actions. And ac- phasis on what really matters when it ATA Trade Show are a great opportunity

cording to Acuff, the cycle comes to the success of your business. to connect and network with others in

will continue to repeat it- the industry. Ask questions and keep an

self until you get to the root Is it kind? ■ Hold on, before you think open mind to new ideas, different view-

cause of the problem with I am getting all soft on you, hear me points, and maybe even a catchy new
these three questions: out. Being kind isn’t just about not soundtrack. IA

16 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY NEWS

FOeurtadDoyonrePrOoudtudcotosrsInAncoqvuaitrieosns in each and every one of their product folio. In this role, Caleb will develop and

FeraDyne Outdoors, a multi-brand fam- lines. From game feeders to ground implement marketing strategies and
ily of archery, hunting and outdoor in-
dustry products, announces the acquisi- blinds, tent stakes to tree stands, OPI has concepts, as well as manage sponsor-
tion of Outdoor Product Innovations, Inc.
(OPI). OPI is the parent company to the it all. Quality products combined with ship relationships, endorsements and
Rhino Blinds, Rhino Tree Stands, Capsule
Game Feeders, Wicked top-notch customer service has been, pro-staff relationships. Additionally, he
Tree Gear, LidCAM, and
LegCuff brands. and always will be, a recipe for success, will support e-commerce and coordinate

OPI’s diverse suite of with a mission to make each outdoor special events, trade shows and consum-
brands adds to FeraDyne’s
growing position in the gen- experience safer, more enjoyable, and er shows. Caleb will serve as Marketing
eral hunting market to in-
clude a full line of products in more successful. Manager for Bear Archery, Trophy Ridge,
the treestand, hunting blind, hand
tool, feeder and hunting accessory cat- Headquartered in Supe- Cajun Bowfishing, and SIK Broadheads.
egories. As market leaders, each of OPI’s
brands has built an excellent reputation rior, Wisconsin, FeraDyne “We are thrilled to have Caleb join our
for offering quality products at a reason-
able price with exceptional customer Outdoors is a U.S.-based Bear Archery team,” says Jonathan Lene,
service. Falling in line with FeraDyne’s
desire to help more hunters be success- leader in the manufacturing Bear Archery’s General Manager. “Caleb
ful in the field, OPI’s brands expand the
versatility and diversity of FeraDyne’s and marketing of an ever- brings valuable industry experience with
entire scope of products.
growing assembly of category- him, and a creative approach to market-
FeraDyne’s Chief Commercial Officer
Jon Syverson commented, “OPI has done leading archery, hunting and ing that will help drive our legendary
an excellent job of assembling a diverse
network of brands that have been open outdoor brands. Through the design brand portfolio”
in our portfolio until now. Through this
acquisition we have the opportunity to and development of industry-changing As the former Marketing Coordinator
expand the momentum they have cre-
ated over the last several years, while technologies, each brand supports a con- for PSE Archery, he was responsible for
leveraging a multitude of opportunities
presented by our combined retail net- stantly evolving global marketplace of managing social media channels, origi-
work, private label product offerings and
overall customer base. outdoor enthusiasts with nal content creation, part-

“Since the company’s inception in 2015, one goal in mind—success nership relationships, and
OPI has done a fantastic job of bringing
a distinct group of brands together. We in the field. Fueled by an product development.
look forward to introducing them to our
customers throughout the fall, and dur- unwavering commitment “The technology being
ing this year’s tradeshow season,” Syver-
son added. to the satisfaction of shar- developed, and the direc-

Headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, OPI ing in each customer’s ac- tion Bear Archery is dedi-
takes pride in making top quality, pre-
mium products for the hunting and complishments, FeraDyne cated to is a perfect fit for
outdoor industries. Innovative design
and durability are two key components brings together a series of me. With a complete lineup

iconic, award-winning and of bows, combined with the

performance-oriented com- highest quality accessories

panies that include: Axe Bear Archery Marketing on the market from Trophy
Crossbows, Rage and Muzzy Manger Caleb Sorrells Ridge, SIK Broadheads, and

broadheads, Muzzy Bowfishing, Cajun Bowfishing, Bear Archery

Carbon Express arrows and ac- is the ultimate resource for ar-

cessories, Nockturnal lighted chers and bowhunters of all ex-

nocks, Tru-Fire releases, Block, perience levels.”

GlenDel, Shooter 3D, Black Hole Bear Archery was founded

targets and Hurricane bag tar- in 1933 by the iconic father of

gets, IQ Bowsights, Sure-Loc Ar- modern archery, Fred Bear, with

chery Products, S4Gear, Eastman Out- the intention of bringing archery to the

doors, Apple Archery, Rocky Mountain masses. Bear Archery continues to pro-

Archery, Wac'Em Archery, Covert Scout- duce legendary bows with the same fo-

ing Cameras, Covert Optics and Scent cus on reliability and technology, while

Crusher. | FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT maintaining its rich heritage of inno-

WWW.FERADYNE.COM. vative leadership, quality products and

aBseaNreAwrcMhaerrkyeHtiinregsMCaalnegbeSrorrells family values. Bear Archery is a division
of Escalade Sports. | FOR INFORMATION ON BEAR

ARCHERY, ITS PRODUCTS, BRANDS, INSTRUCTION MANU-

Bear Archery is pleased to announce the ALS, RETAILERS, WARRANTY, REPLACEMENT PARTS, OR

hiring of Caleb Sorrells as Marketing CUSTOMER SERVICE, PLEASE CALL (800) 694-9494 OR VISIT

Manager for the legendary brand port- BEARARCHERY.COM.

18 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

aJonind DBeofwehnudnYtoeursr URnigithetdtotoHPurnottect By joining BU now with the BU mem- up. The event is set to take place April 12-
bership special offer, it shows your sup- 15, 2023 in Reno, Nevada, at the Nugget Ca-
Bowhunters United has recently strength- port in our fight against anti-hunters, sino & Resort.
ened its efforts to protect and defend bow- unfavorable bowhunting regulations, and
hunters' rights, redesigned its website and other threats to our bowhunting heritage. If you registered for a Full Convention
simplified the join process. Protect your right to hunt and take advan- Package by October 31st, you received $100
tage of BU’s special membership offer to in raffle tickets. If you are not a mem-
Bowhunters United (BU) represents ber, you are in luck. Register as a “Select
get $5 off the original $30 Full Convention Registration-Non-Mem-
all bowhunters, regardless of why, how, membership price. Plus, ber” and receive a complimentary 1-year
when or where they participate. The or- you will receive an exclu- membership in addition to your $100 raf-
ganization is managed and supported by sive Bowhunters United cap fle tickets.
the Archery Trade Association and has as an added bonus!
the full support of archery and bowhunt- With an incredible vendor space to
ing industry retailers, manufacturers and Joining BU only takes a spend time in, a large selection of world
partners. BU’s unique relationship to the minute. Just simply go to class outfitters to visit with, an amazing
archery industry allows the organization BowhuntersUnited.com/join. As a mem- lineup of speakers to learn from, shooting
to offer exclusive benefits unavailable ber, you’ll become part of the nationwide lanes, virtual shooting, contests, raffles,
anywhere else. Bowhunters United community with ac- silent auctions, live hunt auctions, and
cess to these exclusive member benefits: much more, there is something for the
“We reimagined Bowhunters United to ■ Official Bowhunters United membership entire family. Enjoy the day attending
be one voice for all bowhunters, defending card, decals, and members-only cap. seminars, exploring Reno with off-site
our hunting rights, protecting bowhunting ■ Six issues of the Bowhunters United Edi- tours, chatting with vendors and outfit-
for future generations and helping bow- tion of Deer & Deer Hunting magazine. ters and testing the latest and greatest
hunters be their best in the field,” said Jeff ■ Savings through member-only manu- the archery industry has to offer. In the
Poole, ATA’s president and CEO. facturer rebates. evening, the dinners bring us all together
■ Automatic entry to the official Bowhunt- as bowhunters, united under one roof, for
As the unified voice for all bowhunters, ers Bonanza sweepstakes with more than a common cause: Preserving, Promoting,
Bowhunters United is committed to ensur- 100 prizes.
ing bowhunting opportunities exist now ■ Access to verified, trusted and Protecting our pas-
and in the future. Working on behalf of its and extraordinary online sion for bowhunting.
members to identify and stop attempts to hunting resources.
ban or restrict hunting at the local, state ■ Advocacy for bowhunt- The Pope & Young Con-
and national level, BU has identified sev- ing rights, including pre- vention is open to anyone
eral priority issues including landlocked written messages. and everyone. You do not
public lands that restrict hunting oppor- Bowhunters United is have to be a member of
tunities, Federal Excise Tax avoidance by as passionate as you are Pope & Young to attend.
some foreign companies resulting in re- about bowhunting. Join You do not have to have
duced funding for hunters and game ani- now to help protect and any animals in the books
mals, and increasingly more attempts by defend your favorite pastime, while re- to attend. You do not have
animal rights extremists to ban hunting ceiving exceptional member benefits that to bowhunt exclusively.
altogether. help you become a better, more informed The Pope & Young Convention is a place
bowhunter. | VISIT THE NEW, IMPROVED BOWHUNT- for all bowhunters.
The newly redesigned Bowhunters Unit- Registration opened October 13th and
ed website features a new layout, updated ERS UNITED WEBSITE, BOWHUNTERSUNITED.COM, TO is already filling up. Check their website
graphics, a user-friendly interface, more often for updated schedules, events and
intuitive navigation, webpages dedicated LEARN MORE. more.
to issues affecting bowhunters, and a sim- The Pope & Young Club is North Amer-
plified two-step join process. RBeiegnisntiraal tPioonpeis&OYpoeunnFgoCr o3n3vrdention ica's leading bowhunting conservation or-
ganization. If you are a fair chase, ethical
Pope & Young, America’s leading bow- bowhunter, and you care about preserving
hunting conservation organization, is the culture and future of bowhunting, then
excited to announce that registration for you belong to the Pope & Young Club. | PLEASE
their 33rd Biennial Convention is officially
open, and spots are already starting to fill VISIT POPE-YOUNG.ORG/33RD-BIENNIAL-CONVENTION FOR

MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER. IA

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 19

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE RETAILING

Midwest Pro Shop Makes Hay During the Whitetail Rut

Anthem Archery LLC

Store Profile Archery, providing the mutual focus on Andrew (Drew) Nielsen serves as Anthem Archery’s
quality deer management and support- manager and brings a deep set of coaching and
■ Headquarters: Decorah, IA ing archers and bowhunters locally, na- tuning skills and gear knowhow to the business.
tionally and worldwide. Store manager
■ Owners: Curt Headington and Chris Andrew (Drew) Nielsen is an accom- Elite Archery. Anthem Archery’s indoor
Van Gerpen plished hunter and experienced archery shooting range allows customers to
technician with a unique set of teach- fine-tune their shooting skills in a safe
■ Manager: Andrew Nielsen ing skills to accommodate beginner to and controlled environment, aided by
professional shooters. Drew has a keen their capable staff of dedicated hunt-
■ Years in Business: 10 years ability to identify the needs of archers ers and archers. With years of experi-
and uses a custom approach for each. ence in the field, Anthem Archery has
■ Square footage: 3,520 (total), 1,760 learned how to help customers elevate
(store floor), 1,320 (shooting lanes). Anthem Archery has been northeast their archery skills and break through
Iowa’s premier archery pro shop for 10 to the next performance level. Anthem
■ Staffing: Full-time: One. Part-time: Three. years. Anthem Archery is dedicated to Archery also offers league shoots and
serving the large number of hunters adult and youth archery lessons.
■ Bow Lines: Mathews, Hoyt, Elite Ar- and archers in the region by provid-
chery and Xpedition Archery. ing both the tools and the training to
succeed in the field. Anthem Archery
■ Arrow Lines: Easton, Victory Archery prides itself on being not just an ordi-
and Black Eagle Arrows. nary archery shop, but aims to provide
customers a custom-tailored experi-
■ Crossbow Lines: Viking and Mission ence, no matter what their skill set or
Crossbows. background.

■ Inside Numbers: Estimated annual As a pro shop, Anthem Archery of-
revenues: $450,000. Percentage (esti- fers an extensive range of archery and
mate) of store’s revenue generated by bow- hunting equipment, and arguably the
hunting: 90%; by target and recreational top four bow brands on the market
archery: 10% today—Hoyt, Mathews, Xpedition and

■ Store History: Anthem Archery own-
ers Curt Headington and Chris Van Ger-
pen are avid hunters who own both
C&C Land Management and Anthem

Anthem Archery occupies 3,520 square feet in a high-traffic area
of Decorah, Iowa. In a very short time they have become
the premier archery pro shop of the area.

20 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

Anthem Archery is a full-service archery pro shop, The 1,760 square feet of sales space at Anthem Archery allows an uncluttered
and goes great lengths to get customers with any and highly organized layout.
bow problem back in the woods post haste.

Retailing Q & A generally at its best. Bow setups are con-
ducted year round, but trail cameras,
Inside Archery: How much of a factor is blinds, treestands and other bowhunting
the whitetail season in general, and the accessories are the items that really go
whitetail rut in particular to your shop’s quick during that period.
annual bottom line?
Inside Archery: What other season(s)
Andrew Nielsen: Being in northeastern would begin to compare to the period
Iowa, which is home to some of the pre- surrounding the whitetail season and
mier whitetail ground in America, we rut in your region, in terms of store rev-
rely heavily on the whitetail season to enue and business traffic?
boost annual profits. About half of our
income can come from the two months Andrew Nielsen: One of the periods that
leading up to the first week of Novem- really helps our shop prosper is the holi-
ber—when local whitetail hunting is day season. This is the peak for setting
up youth bows, for instance. We also

Doug Crestin talks to customers during Traditional Shooters Night, above: Anthem Archery carries Mathews, Hoyt,
when single-string shooters come to shoot, and enjoy some pizza and soda. Elite Archery and Xpedition Archery bow lines. These
brands have done quite well for them in the region.
NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM left: The employees at Anthem Archery are
themselves serious bowhunters who understand
the needs of local white-tailed deer hunters.

21

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INSIDE RETAILING

Anthem Archery’s 1,320 square feet of shooting lanes see a lot of action leading up to For the past 10 years Anthem Archery has been offering one
the local whitetail season, as bowhunters fine tune equipment for coming festivities. of the widest selections of archery gear in northeast Iowa.

do quite a bit of business in the spring, whitetail season and whitetail rut? traffic. Store hours run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
mostly revolving around food plot seed Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3
and hard-sided box blind sales as cus- Andrew Nielsen: Our biggest prepara- p.m. on Saturday.
tomers gear up for next season. tion for getting ready for the whitetail
rut includes hiring and keeping more Inside Archery: What products do you
Inside Archery: What arrangements do staff on hand, especially on the week- find sell best during whitetail season
you make in preparation for your local ends when we see an increase in store and especially during the November rut?

Andrew Nielsen: In direct relation to the you use to decompress at the end of a that the things that might appear incon-
whitetail rut, our best-selling items for demanding day, to avoid burnout and sequential to some are actually the mo-
that period usually include Reveal Cams flared tempers with testy employees or ments when I am able to make someone
by Tactacam, Conquest Scents, Pnuma customers? else’s season a heck of a lot better. IA
heated base layers, Illusion Game Calls
and Phaze Products. Andrew Nielsen: At the end of a hectic WebXtra ■ For additional infor-
day, I make sure to sit down to a great
Inside Archery: Since the most compe- meal, which allows me to relax and re- mation about Anthem Archery please go
tent archery-shop employees are typi- flect on my day. This helps me realize to insidearchery.com.
cally bowhunters themselves, how do
you balance the need to have all hands
on deck with allowing employees—and
yourself—to get in a decent amount of
hunting time?

Andrew Nielsen: All our parttime guys
work just a couple nights a week, so they
are easily able to schedule hunting time.
We also rotate weekend shifts after the
arrival of late October and through No-
vember—dates when our local white-
tail hunting really takes off. I would say
we all get a fair amount of opportunity
to be out and on stand as much as we
can. And then, too, if someone fills a tag
early, they are usually willing to cover
for their coworkers if they want some
more time in the field, without leaving
us shorthanded.

Inside Archery: How do you deal with
impatient or manic customers who ar-
rive in your store with a severed bow-
string or other mechanical problem and
demand that you put them to the front
of the service line so they can get back
on stand?

Andrew Nielsen: If there is an impatient
customer with a bow problem that
includes a quick fix, I’ll usually ask the
customer I have been working with if
they mind if we fix the new customer’s
problem quickly. For allowing someone
to “cut in line,” we will then be sure to
put in the extra time with that patient
customer to show them our appreciation.
A small amount of communication and
being up front with solutions for both
sides seems to go a long way in keeping
everyone happy. We have a great
understanding of the customers in this
region we love to serve.

Inside Archery: What approaches do

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 23

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ATA ACTION

#ATA2023 Is the Buying Event of the Year; Register Now!

BY CASSIE GASAWAY

A TA members are registering to secure
their spot at the 2023 ATA Trade Show,

a.k.a. the industry’s premier event. Don’t wait!

As the days count down to the 2023

ATA Trade Show in Indianapolis on

January 11-13, registration numbers

are on the rise. It is a sign that ATA

members of all types are excited to

attend the most exclusive industry

event of the year. From new prod-

uct launches and networking op-

portunities to educational sessions

and Show-special pricing, #ATA2023

has something for everyone. A few

ATA members shared their thoughts

about the upcoming Show.

Rick Weaknecht, owner of Weak- ATA members are registering to secure their spot at the 2023 ATA Trade Show, a.k.a. the industry’s
necht Archery in Kutztown, Penn- most premier event. Don’t wait! PHOTO © ATA.

sylvania, was hard-pressed to single

out a favorite element while at the walk around and see new products, Josh Holden, lead bow technician

show. He likes it all, especially the and talk directly with the manufactur- at Root River Archery LLC in Racine,

atmosphere. ers,” he said. “Being face-to-face with Wisconsin, and other staff members

“The Show gives us the ability to them is the most important thing as at the shop also registered early in Au-

we try to get the best gust because they’re eager to learn and

deals we can. I’ve been take advantage of the educational of-

going every year they’ve ferings at the Show.

had it.” “As a bow tech, I run into tuning is-

Weaknecht likes the sues with particular bows, so being

Indianapolis location able to talk to manufacturers and ask

better than anywhere questions about issues we deal with is

else and registered always a huge help,” Holden said. “My

shortly after registra- wife is a coach at the shop and she

tion opened on August loves talking to George Ryals and other

2 to reduce stress before successful coaches. The knowledge

the Show. “We regis- base (at the Show) is impressive. We

tered early to get it out like having the ability to tap into and

of the way and make talk directly to certain people.”

sure it’s done. We got a Holden said it was “definitely a

hotel room and every- bummer” that some manufacturers

ATA Show-goers can attend educational sessions hosted by various industry thing else before we for- weren’t at the 2022 Show, but he is

experts and professionals like George Ryals, pictured above. PHOTO © ATA. get and it gets too close.” grateful for the companies that are

UNITING THE INDUSTRY ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATION
archerytrade.org

24 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

note: The ATA Trade Show is a members-

only event, so join the ATA to gain ac-

cess to the Show. Visit the ATA’s mem-

bership page (www.archerytrade.org/

membership/membership-categories) to

see if you qualify.

Once you are an ATA member, you

can register by logging into your MYATA

Member Dashboard using your user-

name and password. Then, click “Reg-

ister and Book Hotels” and follow the

prompts. Once you have registered you

will receive the link and information on

booking your hotel via email. The dead-

line to book rooms is December 23. The

deadline to book reservations of 10 or

QAD has already secured their booth space for 2023. PHOTO © ATA. more rooms is November 10.
Want to know who else will be at

the 2023 Show? View the floor plan at

attending in January because he can and connect with top retailers in our www.archerytrade.org/trade-show/

learn tuning and sales techniques right industry. We are committed to support- floor-plan to find out. Visit the Archery-

from the source, which helps the shop ing the ATA and our archery industry Trade.org website for more information

improve customer satisfaction and con- and believe it is highly important that about the 2023 ATA Trade Show, Show

duct more business. we are there to serve our customers. We registration and the 2023 ATA hotel

Kevin Fry, vice president of Quality have some new innovative products and block. For registration questions, please

Archery Designs, echoed Holden’s feel- exciting Show specials already planned contact Sarah Halla, Trade Show coor-

ings. The QAD team secured booth space for the 2023 Trade Show. We are excited dinator, at sarahhaala@archerytrade.

at the upcoming Show to ensure buyers to be back in Indianapolis, and we en- org or (507) 233-8130. If you’d like to ex-

have an opportunity to connect with its courage all retailers and manufacturers hibit at #ATA2023, please contact Becky

team members. to join us!” Lux, senior manager of Trade Show,

“Dealers have been a vital part of Register to secure your spot at the most at  [email protected] or (507)
our company and loyal to us for over inclusive buying event of the year. Please 233-8132. IA

30 years,” Fry said. “We consider them

to be family, so for us, the opportunity

each year to sit down face-to-face with

hundreds of our dealers in one place

is a huge blessing and something we

don’t pass up. We believe it is extreme-

ly important to the well-being and

future of this industry to continue to

come together in person each year as

much as we can.”

Jonathan Lene, general manager for

Bear Archery Brands, believes #ATA2023

has great potential. He can’t wait to re-

veal new products and chat with indus-

try members in January.

“We are excited for the 2023 ATA Show

in Indianapolis,” Lene said. “We had

record sales at the 2022 Show, proving

once again that the ATA Trade Show is Show-goers can test new products, like a Bear Archery bow. PHOTO © ATA.
the best place to introduce new product

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 25

PEOPLE

PowerTheofParticipation
Archery Industry Members Participating in the Sport

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO: Visit insidearchery.com/pop or mail a color image with your name,
address, where the animal was taken, and archery gear used—both manufacturer and model—
to Inside Archery Power of Participation, P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935.

Travis Gardner • Utah Mule Deer Aaron Buehler • Montana Elk

Accounting , Easton Archery Account Executive, Inside Firearms

Bow ■ Hoyt Ventum Pro 33 Sight ■ Black Gold Accent 4 Pin Bow ■ Prime Inline 3 Arrow ■ Easton 5mm FMJ

Arrow ■ Easton Axis Broadhead ■ Kudu Broadhead ■ G5 Outdoors Rest ■ Vapor Trail Gen 7X

5mm Match Grade Point 100-grain Montec M3 Sight ■ Black Gold

Rest ■ Hamskea Epsilon Quiver ■ Tight Spot 5-Arrow Release ■ Spot-Hogg Tuff Guy Mountain Lite 3 pin

26 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

Jeff Adee • Colorado Elk George Cummings • Kentucky Whitetail

Owner, Headhunter Bow Strings Founder, Buck Bourbon

Bow ■ Bowtech Solution SS Sight ■ Trophy Ridge React Pro Bow ■ Prime
Broadhead ■ Swhacker
Arrow ■ Carbon Express Rest ■ HHA Virtus Other ■ Buck Bourbon 110 Proof Attractant

Broadhead ■ G5 Montec Release ■ T.R.U. Ball

Other ■ Headhunter Bow Strings

Bill Tittle • Tiburón Island

Mexico Desert Bighorn Sheep

Pro Staff, Vantage Point Archery (VPA) Catelin Peck • Minnesota Whitetail

Bow ■ Bowtech Solution SS Arrow ■ Carbon Express Bowstring Manager, Vapor Trail Archery
Sight ■ Spot-Hogg Fast Eddie Piledriver DS Hunter
Bow ■ Mission Switch Broadhead ■ Muzzy MX3

Broadhead ■ VPA 3-Blade 125-Grain Rest ■ AAE Driven Sight ■ B3 Exact Rize Hunter Arrow ■ Easton Bloodline

Release ■ Spot-Hogg Wiseguy Quiver ■ Tight Spot Release ■ B3 Exit Mini Rest ■ Vapor Trail Gen 7x
Stabilizer ■ Stokerized
Stabilizer ■ Bee Stinger Sport Hunter Extreme

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 27

28 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

E stablished in 1933, Bear Archery will cel-
ebrate its 90th anniversary in 2023. This
would be an impressive milestone for any
company, but it carries extra significance
for the team at Bear Archery. That is be-
cause Bear Archery and its achievements re-
main synonymous with the company’s iconic
founder, Fred Bear, whose countless contribu-
tions to the sport of archery played a massive
role in developing the industry we enjoy today.

One simply cannot celebrate Bear Archery
without also celebrating Fred Bear, and that is
why the team at Bear Archery is adamant about
celebrating this 90-year milestone and using it
as a chance to reflect on the company’s roots.

After all, Fred Bear instilled a clear set of
ideas and philosophies into his company,
and these concepts are still highly re-
spected and cherished by the leaders
of Bear Archery today. In a sense, the
spirit of Fred Bear is still helping to
guide Bear Archery forward by re-
minding its employees of where
the company came from.
To coincide with the Bear Ar-
chery’s 90-year anniversary, the
company has assembled one of its
most impressive collections of products

ever produced to date. The new lineup in-
cludes everything from high-end, extremely in-
novative products, all the way down to modestly
priced but highly effective equipment that helps
archers of all varieties get involved and enjoy
the sport. The leaders of Bear Archery have re-
mained dedicated to the principles that have
guided the company for almost a century, and
they have also been able to adapt those prin-
ciples to suit the modern world. The result is

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 29

30 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

something truly special, something Fred quite the experience for me, and years later I
Bear would be proud to have his name on. started working for him in the summertime
when I was still in high school.”
Reflecting on the Company’s Roots
Neil Byce and his family ended up mov-
Neil Byce, Bear Archery’s director of opera- ing across the country when Bear Archery
tions, has been working for Bear Archery for relocated to Gainesville, Florida, in 1978.
44 years—roughly half of the company’s en- Byce’s summer job turned into a decades-
tire existence. Byce began working full-time long career, wherein he had a hand in de-
for Bear Archery in 1978, shortly after Fred veloping and assembling some of the Bear
Bear relocated his manufacturing facil- Archery’s most iconic products.
ity from Grayling, Michigan, to Gainesville,
Florida, where it remains today. “I spent a lot of time building recurve
bows—pressing the limbs and doing things
But Neil Byce’s connection to Bear Ar- like sanding and lamination,” Neil Byce
chery goes back even further than that. His said. “I did the assembly for some of Bear
father, Neil Byce Jr., was one of Fred Bear’s Archery’s very first compounds, like the
bowyers when the company was still locat- Alaskan, and I even helped train a lot of the
ed in Grayling, and this is what led to Neil original staff here in Florida. I was eventu-
Byce meeting Fred Bear for the first time at ally promoted to the supervisor of the com-
a young age. pound assembly area, and I remained in
the position for a good number of years—
“I met Mr. Bear for the first time shortly through all the Whitetail Hunters, Brown
after I had turned 7 years old,” Neil Byce said. Bears and Pronghorns. I was still in that
“My dad started working for Bear Archery in role when Bear Archery bought Jennings
1967, and one time he brought me to a com- Archery in 1983, so I had the opportunity to
pany picnic when the business was still lo- work extensively with Tom Jennings and
cated in Graying. I was doing some fishing on learn all about his approach to building
the edge of a pond, and Mr. Bear came over bows, integrating his products and tech-
to have a conversation with me and give me niques into our system. I have a lot of fond
some casting lessons. That was obviously

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 31

32 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

memories of those days, and I consider it a real privilege and honor to be
all those experiences a true blessing.” able to work with these brands,”
Jonathan Lene said. “Fred Bear is the
Neil Byce has remained integral to most iconic name in archery. He’s
Bear Archery’s operations in the inter- the grandfather of modern bow-
vening decades, witnessing another hunting, so I feel like we have a real
major milestone for the company in responsibility to preserve his legacy
2003. as stewards of this brand. Getting
ready for Bear’s 90-year anniversary
“In the years following Mr. Bear’s has been an eye-opening experi-
passing, the company went through ence in that regard. We have to be
about five different ownerships, and very careful to preserve the legacy of
none of them really owned the com- Fred Bear—not just the brand that he
pany for long stints of time until Esca- built, but also what he stood for. He
lade Sports came along in 2003,” Neil was a true advocate for this indus-
Byce said. “Bear Archery has now been try. He was passionate about getting
owned by Escalade for 20 years, and I people to participate, and he was
have been able to see how well Esca- obviously a big bowhunter, but he
lade has invested in Bear Archery over was also just an outdoor enthusiast
the years. They have invested in our in general. It didn’t matter if it was
people and the facility, and they have fishing, camping or hunting, he just
also really invested greatly in technol- wanted more people to spend time
ogy—both the technology we use for in the outdoors. It was all about the
manufacturing and the technology we experience of nature and the people
incorporate in our products. Escalade you were experiencing it with. Those
Sports has been extremely good for ideas have really been taken to heart as
Bear Archery, and they have also added we have approached this 90-year mile-
other strong brands to our lineup, com- stone. We are trying to stay dedicated
panies like Trophy Ridge, Cajun Bow- to his vision, but we also want to do it
fishing and Carolina Archery Products, in a way that is still new, relevant and
makers of the Whisker Biscuit.” innovative.”

Much like Bear Archery, Escalade New, Relevant & Innovative
Sports is a highly respected name that
can also trace its roots back about 90 Bear Archery unveiled its 2023 lineup
years. Established in 1927, Escalade of products at the beginning of Octo-
Sports is a leading manufacturer in ber, and this newest assortment has
multiple sports categories, covering ev- already received a lot of attention
erything from basketballs, to billiards and praise from industry members
tables, to home gym equipment. and consumers. Similar to years past,
Bear’s 2023 lineup covers a wide spec-
After acquiring Bear Archery in 2003, trum of features and price points.
Escalade Sports created a separate di-
vision of its leadership team that’s en- “Whenever we are developing new
tirely dedicated to the archery industry products, we ask ourselves a lot
and the success of Bear Archery. Today, of important questions,” Jon-
the head of Escalade’s archery division athan Lene said. “We ask
is Jonathan Lene, a passionate bow- things like: What’s the goal
hunter with extensive experience of this product? How does it
in the archery industry. help somebody? How does it

“As a life-long bowhunter and
archery enthusiast, I considered

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 33

fix a problem? How does it improve the archery “The new Execute is a very nice bow with
experience? I think those kinds of questions high efficiency and a lot of great features and
help us arrive at products that really make benefits,” Neil Byce said. “We spent a lot of
a difference. For instance, last year we re- time revising and reworking prototypes before
leased the Trophy Ridge Digital React One Pin, we finally arrived at this design, and I feel like
which is one of the most innovative products it truly is the culmination of all the bows we’ve
I’ve ever been a part of developing in this in- built in the past. It’s just a terrific bow. It has a
dustry. It’s very technologically advanced and high-end price tag around $1,200, but we also
highly effective, but it’s also a high-end sight offer a full compound bow set for under $400,
that sells for about $400. We know everyone which is almost unbelievable in today’s mar-
isn’t in the market for a sight that expensive, ket. We take both approaches because that’s
so we also developed a sight that incorporates what Mr. Bear believed in. He is known as a
similar technology for a price closer to $99. I great innovator, but he also believed in mak-
think that sort of represents Bear Archery’s ing products that were affordable so everyone
approach in a nutshell. We want to push the could experience archery. That’s something
envelope on technology and features—as Fred that we at Bear Archery still believe in today,
Bear was known to do—but we also want to and I don’t think that influence will ever fade.”
make products that are affordable and acces-
sible. Some bowhunters go out and spend a Bear Archery’s dedication to producing af-
few thousand dollars on a new lineup every fordable yet effective products has allowed
few years. Others are shooting a bow that is 10 the company to truly thrive and prosper in
or 15 years old and need to replace a worn-out recent years.
accessory. We want to cater to both of those
archers, along with everyone else in between.” “The last few hunting seasons have really
invigorated Bear Archery and the archery in-
Bear’s new flagship bow for 2023 is the Ex- dustry as a whole,” Jonathan Lene said. “Obvi-
ecute, a feature-packed and highly efficient ously the pandemic had its share of negative
design that truly incorporates 90 years of bow- effects, but because of it we saw more people
building expertise. shooting archery and more people getting
out in the field to bowhunt with friends and

34 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

clockwise from bottom:
■ General Manager Jonathan Lene

■ Engineer Sean Keeney
■ Sales Manager JR Neidlinger

■ Engineer Andrew Hughes
■ National Sales Manager Jeff Pease

■ Director of Operations Neil Byce

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 35

family. They were buying more bows, along with more INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022
consumables like broadheads and arrows. We found that
2020 was our best year ever, and we were then able to fol-
low it up with an even better year in 2021. Although things
have started to slow down a little in 2022, we are still not
even back to the levels we saw in 2020. Despite factors like
inflation and high gas prices, the bowhunting population
is still inspired and still buying new products. They are
still celebrating this lifestyle, and Bear Archery has been
able to take an even bigger market share because we have
stuck to our plan of building products at key price points—
especially price points on the lower end, which we feel
some of our competitors have abandoned altogether.”

Meanwhile, Bear Archery has also remained commit-
ted to fans of traditional archery by continuing to produce
recurves with that iconic Bear touch.

“Our traditional bows have experienced a noticeable
spike in popularity over the past few years,” Jonathan
Lene said. “We are still building all our traditional bows
by hand in Gainesville—sometimes using the same equip-
ment that Fred Bear once used. It’s still a very labor-in-
tensive process, and we have actually not been able to
produce enough supply to meet the demand. The demand
continues to increase, and we are always trying to figure
out ways to improve the process to fill everyone’s needs
and not have them wait six to eight months for a bow,
which is how long some of our traditional bows were
backordered during 2020 and 2021. We are trying to get
more efficient, but we also need to maintain the level of
quality that we are known for. These are cherished col-
lector’s items, and we know how passionate people are
about them.”

Bear Archery’s 2023 lineup has only been released for a
few weeks, but it has already been a big hit among Bear
Archery’s dealer base.

“We sort of anticipated the end of 2022 being a little more
challenging for the industry, but the recent response from
our dealers has seemed to imply the opposite,” Jonathan
Lene said. “We have received a phenomenal response to
our newest lineup, with a lot of attention being paid to the
Execute. We have always felt like we build good high-end
bows, but we are not really considered a high-end bow
company. That’s why we really went all out with the Ex-
ecute. It’s packed with amazing features, and it just feels
downright amazing to shoot. Our dealers have confirmed
our belief that the Execute is something special, and they

36

are excited to have a high- 37
end option from Bear that
customers will come in and
ask for. There has also been
a very positive response to
our mid-level price point
Legend XR, which is just
around $450 and one of the
nicest bows for the money
that the industry has ever seen.”

A Legacy Preserved

While interviewing Neil Byce in
preparation of writing this arti-
cle, I couldn’t help but notice that
he always referred to Fred Bear
as “Mr. Bear.” My assumption for
the reason behind this—at least
in part—was that this is how he
always used to refer to him back
when he worked under this icon-
ic figure. It was the name he used
ever since he received that fish-
ing advice at the company picnic,
and old habits die hard.

This is far from the only mem-
ory of Fred Bear that lingers in the
company’s historic manufacturing
facility in Gainesville. Around every
corner, there is a piece of history, a
reminder of the man who built this
place, and this sense of a continued
legacy serves as powerful motiva-
tion for Bear’s workforce today.

“The beliefs and values that Mr.
Bear had are the same beliefs and
values that are instilled in me,” Neil
Byce said. “They are the same beliefs
and values that I try to pass on to ev-
eryone else who works here. Bear Ar-
chery is truly committed to provid-
ing the best archery equipment for
the money, and I mean the absolute
best—bar none. Mr. Bear’s legacy is
something we are always thinking
about, and in honor of him, we are
truly trying to make products with
the highest level of quality, perfor-
mance, and technology. We want to
make products that archers can find
success with and truly have fun us-
ing. That is our goal, and I believe it
always will be.” IA

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM

MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT

Wicked Tree Gear by OPI

BY PATRICK MEITIN

A nyone who bowhunts white-tailed by OPI, if anything, product quality has
deer needs a good saw, or two. only improved.

Wicked Tree Gear saws were created

From prepping stand sites, to clearing in response to the frustrations with

brush or gathering camouflaging mate- cheap saws already mentioned. The

rial for a ground blind, to cleaning out bread-and-butter of the Wicked lineup

shooting lanes around stands or blinds, is the Wicked Tough Hand Saw, a name The 12-foot model includes a 46-inch col-
lapsed length and weighs just a pound
sawing brush and limbs is part of the that says it all. The cast-aluminum more.

game. And anyone who has conducted handle and hardened locking hardware Both include the Wicked Ultra-Lock
connection that keeps the head solidly
these chores knows how frustrating holding the carbon steel blade are near- anchored, while allowing fast and ef-
fortless removal should the user re-
cheap and flimsy hand saws can be. ly bombproof, so much so that they are quire a hand saw. The curved arborist-
style, high-carbon steel blade provides
I bought my first Wicked Tree Gear backed by a lifetime warranty. smooth, non-binding cutting and makes
quick work of all types of wood, includ-
handsaw more than a decade ago, and The rugged handle—over-molded ing sappy evergreen or dense hardwood.

still use it regularly today. It is well with non-slip rubber that is ergonomi- Each pole saw is held in a heavy-duty
nylon plastic scabbard, which includes
made, it is indestructible and it cuts cally perfect—makes it easy to use. The a lanyard and innovative blade-punch
system that keeps the scabbard in place
through sizable branches with ease. And heavy-gauge, 7-inch carbon steel blade during transport. The telescoping pole
design is constructed from stout and
since Wicked Tree Gear was purchased resists bending, will not bind while durable aluminum to last forever. The

cutting, and will not break. The taper- pole base and saw handle
include comfortable rubber
ground cutting teeth zip through even over-molded grips for a sure
purchase even when wet
the toughest hardwood, with a Safe or while wearing gloves.
Twelve- and 15-foot Wicked
Blade Lock Design held in place by a Tough Pole Saws are also offered, which
include cast-aluminum saw heads. Both
hardened steel lock-pin and hardware. are compatible with Wicked’s optional
Utility Hook, used for pulling branches
The half-pound saw folds to 8.25 inches down or reaching rope into trees.
Also look to Wicked Tree Gear for one-
to fit in any pack, or the optional nylon piece wood and bone saws, a quality
Hand Pruner and brush-clearing Ma-
belt sheath. It is offered with a black or chete. Check out the complete lineup at
wickedtreegear.com. IA
yellow handle.

For difficult-to-reach

limbs and branches, Wick-

ed offers the Wicked Ultra

Light Pole Saw. This light-

weight, telescoping pole

saw includes an 11-inch, quick-detach

saw head that doubles as a hand saw

as needed. The 10-foot model collapses

to 41 inches and weighs just 2.5 pounds.

WebXtra ■ To take a closer look

at the Wicked Tree Gear saws, please
go to insidearchery.com.

38 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022



BY PATRICK MEITIN What is newly hot in the world

of bowhunting and how these

products help shape sales.

Bowhunting trends come and go,
while some stick long enough to be-
come industry staples. Bowfishing
is one of those archery endeavors
that seem to peak and trough unpredictably,
popular for a time before fading for no logi-
cal reason, but always making periodic resur-
gences; certainly on a regional basis. This is
one of those phenomena that has never made
sense, as bowfishing is super fun, wholly
worthwhile and a perfect off-season pastime.

Yet newfound trends often turn into stan-
dard-issue gear. Scent-control sprays come to
mind—once doubted, now huge sellers. Steven
Simms’ LimbSaver products started as a new
approach to vibration and noise control, until

40

seemingly overnight the entire industry er/short-limb bow geometry to a greater son’s original designs have remained es-
followed suit. No bowhunter would con- preponderance of carbon fiber and tita- sentially unchanged for 30-some years.
sider entering the field today with a bow nium built into everything we use. These
unadorned by a full array of dampen- are archery staples that started as tod- Will the new trends highlighted be-
ing accessories. Many bow companies— dling trends. low stick to become must-have gear for a
Mathews and Martin Archery easy exam- large percentage of modern bowhunters?
ples—building such technology right into So, what are today’s latest bowhunt- That is a good question, as bowhunters
their bow models. There were many nay- ing gear trends? That is what we set out are a fickle bunch, clinging to old ways,
sayers when Bohning introduced their to determine here—gear that is relatively sometimes rejecting solid ideas for lack
2-inch, high-profile Blazer Broadhead new to the scene, or that has been around of understanding. But as the old saying
Vanes, but they are now the most popular awhile but has recently caught on in a big goes, strike while the iron is hot, and re-
fletching style in all of archery and cop- way. That is the funny thing about trends, tailers can benefit in the here and now by
ied by anyone who manufactures plastic they often take shape slowly. Mechanical stocking the latest product hotness.
fletching. Greg Johnson truly started the broadheads have been with us since the
modern mechanical broadhead ball roll- ‘50s in some shape or form, bowhunt- Saddle Hunting
ing, a trend that morphed into a bow- ers forever interested in creating more
hunting touchstone. devastating wound channels. Yet when I was a little confused when I first heard
Rocket Aeroheads appeared in the late the term “saddle hunting,” as for me
There are many more subtle and more 1980s, many bowhunters shunned them. it suggested horseback riding. Adding
general examples I could toss out, from We are, at heart, a traditionally-bound lot. the word tree, as in “tree saddle,” pro-
rounded pin guards on every bow sight It took more than a decade for the now- vided one of those light-bulb moments.
in existence to drop-away arrow rests to standard broadhead style to really catch Tree saddles have been around awhile,
universal parallel bow limbs to long-ris- on, despite the fact some of Greg John- of course, but have become a definite
rage of late. White-tailed deer obviously

41

dominate the bowhunting realm, and el- example, when hearing that bull elk bugle,
evated hunting dominates whitetail hunt- instead of running his herd over unknow-
ing. Woods have also become increasingly ingly in the dark while riding a rumbling
crowded, particularly with the influx of ATV, you can now draw up short, tip the si-
recent new recruits sparked by the recent lent e-bike into the bushes and start your
day hunting instead of scouting.
pandemic, and most markedly on pub-
lic lands—even in the vast West. Stay- During the November whitetail rut, just
ing one step ahead of your competition ride the silent e-bike within a couple hun-
dred yards of your stand instead of invest-
is important to regular success on ing in a sweaty mile hike to avoid clearing
increasingly savvy bucks. Too, in- out the valley with a raucous ATV. After a
creased woods traffic has also led to a successful hunt, ride your e-bike across
rise in the theft of expensive tree gear, rough pastures, up rocky-rutted logging or
such as steps, ladders and stands. ranch roads, effortlessly toting your deer
on a trailer—without tearing up habitat or
Tree saddles leave a bowhunter rutting muddy roads and angering a land-
more mobile and able to adapt quick- owner. The fat tires let you traverse deep
ly to changing patterns and hunting sand, mud or snow, and the power assist
and mountain-bike gearing allows pulling
pressure, as they require minimal up steep grades without breaking a sweat.
tree prep and always go with the
hunter. This has become a DIY, There are various grades of e-bikes avail-
public-lands juggernaut. I just able today, from “road-touring” models
ordered one myself, as I have to rugged mountain-bike styles. The lat-
one big-woods spot that is ac- ter is what will most interest bowhunt-
cessed only after a couple miles ers—something beefy with rugged suspen-
of climbing, and another where sion that allows tackling rough terrain or
stand theft is a real concern. A washed-out roads while also carrying a bow
saddle allowed effortless access and arrows and daypack on convenient gear
to hunting sites with minimal carry racks. Tires resist punctures and smooth
weight (less than 2 pounds fully rigged). I out uneven ground. The best hunting mod-
typically carry a handful of screw-in steps els have a single-charge range of 40 to 55
to access major branches (not too safe) and miles or more under full power—meaning
seldom climb as high as I would while in- they will go much farther if the rider is will-
stalling semi-permanent stands. ing to peddle assist. If an e-bike rider should
Trophyline is the biggest name in this find themselves far from the truck with a
category and a true original. The U.S.-made dead battery, the bike can always be ped-
Trophyline Venatic Saddle, for instance, is dled home, using mountain-bike gearing
ultra-lightweight and one of the most com- that allows making time on flat ground or
fortable in the business. The saddle weighs downhill stretches, or making uphill pulls
just 20 ounces (30 ounces with bridge and manageable. Most e-bikes weigh from 70 to
Black Diamond Carabiner), includes a 80 pounds, making them easy to transport
rubberized waistband, Raptor waist and in a pickup bed or bike rack.
leg-strap buckles and is made from ultra-
light ripstop fabric. It is equipped with an The biggest stumbling block in selling
adjustable 33-inch, ⅜-inch-diameter rope e-bikes is price. The best hunting-ready e-
bridge with a Prusik knot. bikes don’t come cheap, starting at around
$3,500, with models including all the bells,
Electric Bikes whistles and maximum energy output
entering the $6,000 range. For lower price
Electric-assist mountain bikes (a.k.a. e- points, 750W units provide plenty of pow-
bikes) are quickly becoming a huge part er required for basic whitetail hunting, or
of bowhunting and an increasingly useful elk in logging country. For those custom-
hunting tool. In September elk country, for ers with a bigger-is-better mentality, cost-
lier 1,000W units are also quite popular.
Trophyline Covert Lite Saddle

42 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

E-bikes represent a major investment treestands are the only way to go, accept- feed stations, which are also the decided
in inventory capitol, though most e-bike ing something diametrically opposed to realm of private lands. Best sellers in this
manufactures understand this and offer that philosophy takes time. That time has arena offer a lot of bang for the buck.
special programs and payment plans to come. Early on I was of this mindset, be- Summit Outdoors’ Shadow Hunter and
blunt the impact. Selling them is easier, lieving that deer would shun them, and Banks Outdoors models fill the bill.
as most bowhunters want one, though surely smell me. I have since arrowed a
most do not have that kind of cash laying dozen deer from pop-ups—never mind Which style of ground blind sells best
around. Layaway and 90-days-same-as- 50-plus spring gobblers—and now con- in your area depends on a few factors: the
cash deals can help keep units moving. sider them a compliment to my collection dominance of private verses public lands,
of treestands. The trend within the trend and what kind of disposable income
QuietKat’s Ranger series are just a few of pop-ups is now see-through walls that hunters in your region have on hand. The
choices from this popular brand that ex- allow hunters to freely see out (minimiz- hard-side blind customer is normally a
emplify e-bikes. Offered with either 750w ing the blinder effect of standard ground landowner or a member of a deer lease.
or 1000w motors, they provide extreme si- blinds), while preventing game from see- One or two blinds will serve them, one for
lence, up to 48 miles between charges and ing interior movements. A great example the food-plot or corn feeder, another for
significant power. The Ranger comes with featuring this technology is OPI's Rhino 180 the edge of a corn, soybean or alfalfa field
two-piston mechanical disk brakes, a load See-Through Blind. Other features include or apple-tree plot. The pop-up customer is
capacity of 325 lbs. and innovative hub- top and bottom brush straps, oversized more likely to hunt public lands, or will be
drive technology in case the chain breaks. zipper-less door, silent-slide windows, a blue-collar hunter who cannot justify a
tie-down ropes and stakes, and three- $2,500 to $4,500 hard-side blind. Don’t for-
Other brands today include Rungu Du- person capacity. Buck Bourbon Rackhouse get, public or private land turkey hunters
alie (offering dual front tires for safer rid- 300+ is another great example. alike will choose pop-ups for the run-and-
ing) and Rambo (known for their rugged gun mobility afforded. In Texas I seem
design and high-end air suspension). Hard-sided blinds are decidedly the to hunt from a lot of pop-ups, simply be-
province of private lands, where access cause hunters maintain multiple hunting
Grounded Bowhunting is unlimited (hard-side blinds are heavy sites (feeders) and cannot afford to equip
and generally require equipment to place) all with an expensive hard-side blind.
As a destitute college student plying scrub- and only yourself, family or friends will
brush West Texas, I bowhunted from plen- see it. Hard-side blinds are also best If looking for something combining
ty of ground blinds, mostly unsuccess- suited to unchanging focal the mobility of a pop-up with the stur-
fully. These were brush blinds constructed points—farm-field diness of a hard-side blind able to with-
from natural materials, with maybe a edges, food stand high winds and heavy snow, don't
swatch of camo-printed burlap used as plots and forget Fore Runner’s retractable-wheel
a face. Better heeled hunters owned tri- design, which is easily moved with an
pods. When I travel to Texas today to visit ATV, or even an e-bike.
old friends, gone are the roughshod brush
blinds, replaced by enveloping pop-ups at Broadhead Style & Function
minimum, and just as likely a deluxe
hard-sided blind that are even more ef- When I started bowhunting the only
fective at turning away wind and cold. broadhead we trusted implicitly were
old-fashioned one-piece-welded, cut-on-
Pop-ups, again, have been around contact designs, like the timeless Zwickey
awhile, introduced in original Double Bull Black Diamond. We grudgingly accepted
models, but in more recent years have
simply exploded in popularity. This could QuietKat Apex E-Bike
have something to do with the aging de-
mographics of the average bowhunter,
or maybe better understanding. When
bowhunters are told for decades that

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 43

replaceable-blade broadheads with time, Kudu Point 125-grain Magnus Stinger Buzzcut
or at least, more dependable designs like
NAP’s Thunderhead or Muzzy. Mechani- An increasing number of cut-on-con- bull elk) or when situated at the low end
cals meet considerable resistance upon tact broadheads are one-piece designs of the energy scale (youth, women or
introduction because humans instinc- machined from a single piece of qual- physically-challenged shooters) a rugged
tively reject that which they do not fully ity steel—like Vantage Point Archery’s COC design can save the day. Bowhunt-
understand. But eventually mechanicals entire lineup—or investment cast to ers work hard for every shot opportunity
were refined to the point they became create one solid piece of steel—like An- today. They want 100 percent assurance
mainstream, with as many bowhunters nihilator models. their shot will result in a successful com-
using them today as fixed-blade heads. pletion of the hunt.
The advantage of such designs is the
Even in mechanical broadheads, the same as it has always been—total reli- Amateur Wildlife Managers
hybrid has become a huge trend. The typ- ability and unstoppable penetration. The
ical hybrid broadhead is characterized by one-piece-milled and investment-cast Just 20 years ago most of us had never
prominent cut-on-contact leading edges models, in particular, can take on unlikely even considered or heard of quality deer
to provide reliability, backed by wider- targets such as cinder blocks and emerge management. Just 20 years ago we bow-
cutting deployable blades for devastating unscathed. As an experiment try this: be- hunted for the sake of bowhunting, look-
wound channels. The general rationaliza- tween two stable blocks of wood stretch ing to tag any deer and any bow kill was
tion is that should the mechanical blades an old piece of carpet. Mount mechani- considered a prize. Today only record-
inconceivably fail, you still have the fixed cal, standard replaceable-blade and COC book animals seem to elicit excitement,
blades to get the job done. The hybrid pro- broadheads on arrows. Now physically at- and in that pursuit anyone with the
vides peace of mind and penetration as- tempt to push each broadhead through the means has become an amateur wildlife
surance. The mechanical blades will not carpet face. With the mechanical and re- manager, whether actual landowners, a
fail, but what it does do is start things off placeable-blade heads some struggle will
on the right track, while opening huge ensue. The COC broadheads will
wound channels that spill more blood. slide through nearly effortlessly.

Then a funny thing happened: as a Obviously many modern bow-
broadhead trend we began to return to hunters shoot more than enough
the old ways—at least old geometry, if energy to push any broadhead
not old materials and engineering. Cut- style through game. Increased
on-contact designs have made a huge re- success rates demonstrate this.
surgence of late. Some of these are modu- But when shots go askew (espe-
lar, such as Magnus’ Stinger (available in cially when major bone is en-
2- or 4-blade) or Stinger Buzzcut (with a countered), when tackling the
chiseled serrated edge) and Kudu Point, largest game (starting with
which features a single-bevel cut-on-con-
tact design. The solid shape also reduces
drag and noise. Designs like the Kudu
Point and Magnus Stinger are the perfect
example of old geometry combined with
high-tech materials and manufactur-
ing process, creating a stop-for-nothing
design that also provides pin-point ac-
curacy with today's high-performance
compound bows. Other modulars include
SIK’s F4 and Wasp’s Sharpshooter.

Shadow Hunter Marksman 6x6 Octagon

44 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

member of a longstanding deer lease, or just a hunter with Ani-Logics Ani-Supplement Gold
solid access to a patch of private land.
45
Growing higher-scoring whitetail antlers has become big
business—business sure to put money in your cash regis-
ters. Applied at its most basic level are mineral-lick or pro-
tein-feed products touted as antler builders or formulated to
promote overall deer health. This isn’t all hype. On a private
ranch I bowhunt near home, I once witnessed large numbers
of 4x5 whitetail bucks, that nub on the 4-point side just never
quite materializing. I started feeding minerals in bulk at a
couple sites and after two years those 4x5s started showing
as 5x5s, with no other change in range conditions. The boost
isn’t huge, maybe 10-15 percent, but it is significant enough.

One successful case study is Ani-Mineral Block from
Ani-Logics, a long-lasting and proven provider of key min-
erals deer need not just to survive, but to thrive. It incor-
porates the chelated form of copper, zinc, selenium, and
manganese which increase mineral absorption rates by
as much as 70 percent.

Even in areas where hunting directly over mineral or
supplemental feed sites is not legal, such products sell
briskly. Though, it is important to understand state and
local regulations, as some states do not permit feeding
wildlife at all.

More popular on private lands are food plots. It may come
as a shock to some how much time and money landown-
ers and lease members are willing to spend to kill a deer,
but that really isn’t the point. Food plots and other habitat
improvements are as much about improving carrying ca-
pacity and improving the health of all deer on a property,
a closer connection to the land and making it better than
you found it. It is about being more involved and remaining
engaged on a year-round basis. This is what I believe drives
amateur wildlife managers.

Food plot seed is not all the same, just as soil, annual
precipitation and photo periods are not equal across the
nation. It is vitally important to talk to sales reps or
study company websites to determine which products
might prove most successful in your region, and there-
fore create satisfied customers. Killer Food Plots can
certainly help you here, as they make one of the widest
varieties of seed mixtures in the business. Just one ex-
ample of many, Deepwoods is a versatile seed blend cre-
ated by KFP that addresses the need for a high-
quality forage requiring little-to-no ground
preparation and flexibility to grow with
minimal sunlight and in poor quality soil.

These are some of the product categories
that are trending as we speak. Will they be-
come permanent fixtures in the bowhunting
marketplace? I’m guessing they will. What will the next
big thing in bowhunting prove? That is left to be seen! IA

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM

MARKET TRENDS BOW REPORT

Elite Archery 2023 Omnia
BY PATRICK MEITIN
Let-Off adjustment designed to create a Branded QAD UltraRest arrow rests are available
E lite Archery’s tagline has long been customizable shooting feel. The system al- for all Elite Archery bows, with the LTR buss cable
“The World’s Most Shootable Bows.” lows dialing holding weight down to single management system reducing torque.
percentiles between 70 and 90 percent let-
It is difficult to argue that point, as the off, all while using a single module. Elite of fletching clearance required for individ-
Elite bows I have shot, stretching back engineers remained hyper-focused on ual setups or for further fine tuning.
more than 15 years, have been some of my optimizing the shooting experience while
favorite treestand bows because they pro- creating the SP Cam, a heavily-skeleton- Renowned Caged Riser ■ The Omnia re-
vided silky-smooth draw cycles following ized design with a large profile that gener-
hours on a cold stand, and relinquished ally allows an easier break through start- tains Elite’s ground-breaking dual cage
maximum forgiveness during the stress of up inertia when initiating the draw cycle. riser, milled to create strategic weight dis-
an adrenaline-filled encounter with a sea- The three-track system also lends these tribution for perfect in-hand balance that
son-making buck. The multiple Elite bows cams excellent balance by helping to sig- promotes dead-steady aiming and faster
I have hunted with in the past few years nificantly reduce cam lean and torque. target acquisition. The Omnia includes a
were indeed hugely shootable. slim grip with small wood side panels that
The SP Cam system includes a string stop provides an ideal and repeatable interface
For 2023, Elite Archery strived to main- that creates a solid rear wall, or optional
tain that heralded shootability, while also limb stops can be added to work in con- between bow hand and riser. A round/
making a faster bow. Introducing the new- junction with the limb-mounted stop recessed bottom socket is provided
ly-refined 2023 Elite Archery Omnia, which tabs for an even firmer rear wall. to accommodate today’s popular
provides arrow speeds of up to 347 fps. As shot, with only string stops V-bar setups, and triangular top
in place, arrow velocities proved and bottom sockets are placed to
Hugely Customizable Cams ■ The Elite remarkably consistent. Draw- accept two-piece, bolt-on
length adjustments are quivers. Two sets of sight
Omnia’s newfound performance is based made in ¼-inch incre- taps are provided front to
on the all-new SP Cam with V2 Micro Mod ments through rotating
modules top and bottom, which include rear, the back set staggered slightly higher
precision hash marks and draw-length to allow additional sight-placement flex-
code numbers. One mod anchoring screw ibility. Dual arrow-rest taps allow double
rides in a curved slot, the other removed to bolting for those who prefer that approach
be placed in the appropriate tap for the de- for the extra security and automatic lev-
sired draw length before tightening both. eling it provides. The standard front and
The string stops include independent, sin- lower/rear-facing stabilizer tabs are steel
gle-screw adjustments. inserts for increased reliability and rug-
gedness against stripping.
The Elite Archery Omnia is equipped with an effective Torque-Free Platform ■ The SP Cam’s
string stop set on a carbon rod. A radiated dampening The Omnia, unsurprisingly, also retains
disk is also added for excellent sound suppression. torque-free nature is accentuated by a wid- Elite’s revolutionary S.E.T. Technology
er limb stance mounted in a machined- (Simplified. Exact. Tuning.), which allows
The new Elite Archery SP Cam with V2 Micro Mod allows aluminum limb-pocket system that cap- faster and more precise tuning for straight
making a myriad of intricate adjustments to the 2023 Omnia. tures the limb tips and cradles the bridge arrow flight, and without a bow press. The
contact points with vibration-dampening system micro adjusts tension on individu-
liners. Each quad limb set is 2 ¾ inches al limb butts to tune away the smallest lin-
wide, creating a rock-solid platform. ear arrow kicks or porpoising, and creates
super-clean arrow flight. The Omnia fol-
The LTR buss cable management system lows the newest trend of long-riser/short-
further eliminates torque, including an off- limb geometry, the riser around 28 inches
set milled-aluminum rear extension hold- long and limbs 11 ½ inches, terminating
ing bearing-equipped rollers. The extension in past-parallel fashion and creating a 32-
can be adjusted left/right, marked by en- inch bow with 6-inch brace height.
graved hash marks, to provide the amount

46 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022

Specifications Arrow Speed

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Elite Archery Omnia set at 70.0 pounds at 30 inches.

Axle-to-Axle Length 29-inch Arrows/ Shaft *Finished Kinetic Arrow

32 inches 100-Grain Tips gpi Arrow Wt. Energy Speed

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

Brace Height CX Triad 300 10.9 564 grains 99.8 ft. lbs. 282.2 fps

6 inches –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easton T64 DF 7.9 tapered 528 grains 95.1 ft. lbs. 286.3 fps

The 2023 Omnia from Elite Archery includes a new Mass Weight –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Elite Delta VRT riser dampener, helping to suck any
residual vibrations from the riser. 4.5 pounds Bloodsport Evidence 300 11.7 518 grains 96.0 ft. lbs. 288.9 fps

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

Let-Off Arrow Tech MT 12.2 508 grains 96.9 ft. lbs. 293.2 fps

70 to 90 percent, adjustable –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory VAP-SS 300 9.9 473 grains 96.7 ft. lbs. 303.4 fps

Available Draw Lengths –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

24.5 to 30 inches CX Max RED SD 350 9.4 465 grains 97.2 ft. lbs. 306.8 fps

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

Available Draw Weights Black Eagle Spartan 340 9.9 453 grains 98.9 ft. lbs. 313.6 fps

40, 50, 60, 65, 70 pounds –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory VAP 300 8.7 424 grains 95.7 ft. lbs. 318.7 fps

Available Finishes –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Ninja Black, Realtree Edge and Easton Hexx 330 7.9 386 grains 94.7 ft. lbs. 332.6 fps
Excape, Kuiu Verde, Vuni and Pure
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Whitetail camo finishes, Sienna
Brown, Outdoor Green and Mountain Black Eagle Carnivore 350 7.5 363 grains 92.8 ft. lbs. 339.3 fps

Tan solids, and six target colors –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Victory RIP XV 300 7.0 355 grains 93.8 ft. lbs. 344.9 fps

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

$1,199 Liberty Archery 320 5.9 292 grains 89.3 ft. lbs. 371.0 fps

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

Arrows shot from a Spot-Hogg Hooter Shooter and velocity established using Caldwell Shooting Supplies’ Chronograph G2.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (877) 503-5483, OR VISIT ELITEARCHERY.COM

Elite Archery's renowned dual-caged riser lends the Omnia ex- even arrow velocities and resulting accura-
cellent balance in the hand, as well as creating a rigid platform. cy. The string stop is set on carbon—itself
a dampening material—anchored by dual
Mega Vibration Control ■ The Omnia fea- set screws and a radiated damper is add-
ed to the rod base, snugged against the
tures many vibration control/silencing fea- riser. The speed buttons are molded from
tures that make it essentially bowhunting soft rubber, a design that serves double
ready out of the box. The new Elite Delta VRT duty for boosting speed and silencing each
works in conjunction with VibeX and Vibra- shot. To my mind this has always seemed
tion Reduction Technology (VRT) dampeners
to further dampen any residual vibration the most efficient approach possible.
on release and hush every shot. The Delta
VRT includes outboard weights set on a rub- Hunt Ready ■ The Elite Archery Omnia
ber base and is held in its own riser tap just
above the lower limb pocket. VibeX are ex- has it all, whether shooting 3D, and espe-
ceptionally effective wedge-fit limb damp- cially while bowhunting. Elite’s shootabil-
eners installed at the factory, while riser- ity provides confidence with every shot, the
embedded VRT rubber buttons are located buttery-smooth draw cycle and remarkable
beneath each limb pocket. balance allowing full concentration while
picking a spot and executing a technically
The split limbs create a past-parallel dy- perfect shot. The Omnia is remarkably qui-
namic, as hinted, a design long acknowl- et without additional aftermarket acces-
edged to reduce vibrations and shot noise, as sories, and in bowhunting there is just no
well as maximize efficiency by more quickly such thing as too quiet. And, the Omnia is
settling the bounce and shock of opposing fast, adding 10 to 15 fps to last year’s flagship
limb sets following release. The LRT roller speeds. The Omnia particularly liked the
system also maintains tension on the buss mid-weight arrows in our test group, and
cables to eliminate post-shot vibrations in its efficiency was evident via high kinetic
that area. energy numbers from start to finish, heavy
arrows to light. The 2023 Omnia is in full
The Omnia is equipped with a stan- production and available now. IA
dard rubber-bumper-equipped string stop,
which serves to tame bowstring strum, but WebXtra ■ Take a closer look at
also imparts more even nock separation for
the 2023 Elite Omnia in action! Please go
to insidearchery.com.

NOVEMBER 2022 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 47

MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT

Ani-Logics CRUSH Sugar Beet Block

BY PATRICK MEITIN

A s deer hunters, our attitude about the best in the business is Ani- selenium and manga-
resource has changed considerably Logics Outdoors 20-pound nese, healthy essential
oils and vital vitamins
over the past few decades. Ani-Signature Series CRUSH then added. The addi-
Sugar Beet Block. The CRUSH tion of crushed sugar
beets create a massive ap-
Our focus remains filling tags, obvi- Sugar Beet Block, part of peal that brings deer in ini-
ously, but more each year deer hunters the Whitetail Deer Attrac- tially, and keeps them coming back for
have also become avid land managers. tant series, makes it easy to more.
For some this involves purchasing prop- provide deer with the protein and im- All these benefits are packed into a
erty and striving to make it better for the portant minerals they need to remain “set it and forget it” block. Hunters like
needs of deer than it was found. For far healthy, produce healthy fawns, and the convenience and long-lasting pow-
more deer hunters, without the means yes, grow larger antlers. er of this trouble-free and tidy package
to acquire large properties, farm equip- to create focal points for trail camera
ment and the seed and fertilizer to create There are many nutritional deer scouting, while also aiding land man-
vast food plots, we do our best by provid- products on the market that go to waste agers in maintaining herd health and
ing nutritional supplements that help because deer do not find them attrac- boosting antler growth. CRUSH Sugar
elevate the health of all deer in a herd. tive or palatable. This is not one of Beet Blocks are a top choice to pair with
those. The CRUSH Sugar Beet Block is a trail cameras while inventorying bucks
One of the neatest and most efficient product deer find hugely appealing and and creating a season hit list.
ways to accomplish this is through palatable, which means they consume Better yet for those hunting on
compact feed/mineral blocks. One of the it greedily. These crushed sugar beet- smaller properties or a competi-
infused blocks are packed with protein, tive deer lease, CRUSH Sugar Beet
Blocks help hunters gain
to help deer recover post-rut, and go an advantage by hold-
ing deer in an area for
into a new season in top form. more frequent encoun-
ters. CRUSH Block users will capture
Ani-Logics Outdoors part- more images and video on trail cam-
eras, see more deer around stand sites,
nered with renowned deer and ultimately witness higher-scoring
bucks than before.
hunters and land man- Ani-Signature Series CRUSH Blocks
are also available in Persimmon, Apple,
agers Lee and Tiffany Acorn and Wild Berry flavors. Ani-Log-
ics offers a one-stop shop for feeding
Lakosky to develop block deer and creating better habitats, in-
cluding food plot seed, mineral supple-
formulations offering incredible attrac- ments, and attractants. Check out these
and other beneficial Ani-Logic products
tion, while providing optimal protein by visiting anilogics.com. IA

levels. Ani-Logics’ scientific reformula-

tion starts with a grain-based protein

formula, bone-building minerals such

as calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc,

WebXtra ■ To take a closer look

at the Ani-Logics CRUSH Sugar Beet
Block, go to insidearchery.com.

48 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022



Organizing
Special
Events

P.J. O’REILLY ■ Lancaster Archery Supply

At Lancaster Archery Supply, one of the best ways
we’ve found to boost sales at our Pro Shop is by or-
ganizing, advertising and holding special events. We
create special occasions where the focus is on coming to
the shop for a day of fun, which then translates to busi-
ness at the counter.

Scheduling special sales is always a good way to attract
customers to your store, but we have found that when the
emphasis is put on fun activities rather than special deals,
traffic through the doors tends to be heavier.

Recently, our Pro Shop hosted our third annual Cus-
tomer Appreciation Event. It’s a one-day celebration of our
customers, held on a Saturday in early summer. Prior to
the event, we worked with many manufacturers to secure
products to give away. Customers love the opportunity to
win free gear, so the attraction is obvious.

But a main feature of our Customer Appreciation Event
has become the Steel Target Challenge. We had a series of
steel animal targets made by a local fabricator, with holes
cut in them roughly where the animals’ vitals would be.
The targets are placed in front of Block targets and spread
out in a field adjacent to our shop. Prizes, such as bows
and an electronic bike, are dedicated to each target. All an
archer has to do to be eligible to win the prize associated
with a given target is to safely shoot an arrow through the
hole. One arrow in equals one ticket in the drawing bucket.

Archers love a challenge. They want to try to win the
prize, but as we’ve seen, they want to test their skills even
more, especially if they come out with some buddies. As
word of the Steel Target Challenge has spread year to year,
we’ve seen increased participation each year. To hype the
shooting portion of our Customer Appreciation Day, our
Marketing team has produced a video each of the past two
years that demonstrates the fun customers can expect,
while also giving them all the pertinent information they
need if they choose to attend. We publish that video on all
our social media channels a couple of weeks before the
event so customers can make plans to be there.

Besides the giveaways and the Steel Target Challenge, we
have celebrities on hand to sign autographs, take photos

50 INSIDE ARCHERY NOVEMBER 2022