best 2010 Broadheads and treestands J u ly 2 0 1 0
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Inside Archery • Volume 13 Number 6
P e o p l e
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28 Power of Participation
Brandon M. Reyes & Morry Osborn, T.R.U. Inc.
Bart Lawhorn, Victory Archery
Ross Graveling, Xtreme Outdoors
Ryan Humpert, Bad River Outdoors
Jedediah Forrest, Pole Mountain Outdoors, Inc.
Chris Cornett, OKI Outdoors
30 Cover Story: Slick Trick Bill and Sherry Krenz
“I’ve got to have a challenge,” says Gary Cooper of Slick Trick. “It’s in my nature
to try to analyze everything and to make things better. There are plenty of times
when I wish I could just chill out. But I seem to need to be looking into something
or thinking about trying some new thing to be happy.”
M a r k e t
52
T r e n d s
24 New and Notable
Archery products with strong sales potential. 38
38 Bow Report: Hoyt AlphaBurner 40 Field Test: Copper John Dead Nuts 3 Sights 42 Why Bowhunters Buy New Broadheads!
Brian Strickland
Plenty of bowhunters buy new styles and brands of broadheads each
and every year. Why?
52 Bow Report:
G5 Quest Primal
54 The Art of Selling Treestands Dan Smith
The best way to sell more treestands is to demonstrate a clear enthusiasm for
treestands. And that suggests that you know all about treestands to boost your
treestand sales numbers.
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8 Inside Track
Better Meetings
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12 Industry News
Information that will keep you up to speed on the latest news,
events and people in the archery industry.
24
16 Inside Archery Dealer School
Approach and Relate
20 ATA Action
Gulf Coast Archery Dealers Await their Fate
42
51 Archery Industry Calendar 64 Marketplace 66 Solutions Greg Staggs
What Didn’t Work 24
Inside Archery ( Vol.13, No. 6) USPS #024-412 is published ten times per year by Zebra Publishing Inc., 2960 N. Academy Blvd, Ste. 101, Colorado Springs, CO 80917. Periodicals postage paid at Colorado Springs, CO 80917 and at additional offices. Postmaster please send address changes to: Inside Archery, P.O. Box 9010, Maple Shade, NJ 08052.
Inside Archery 6 July 2010
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Inside Track
Better Meetings
Even in today’s high-tech business world, it’s not surprising to learn that faceto-face meetings are still the most popular form of business communication. In fact, a recent survey suggested that nearly 50 percent of business executives still prefer to meet with people in person. Email ranked second with around 30 percent. Only 12 percent favored paper memos and just 8 percent said voice mail was the way to go. Still, many meetings drag on and accomplish little. That’s a waste. To improve your meetings consider the following meeting tips and tactics. Send out an agenda before the meeting. With a written agenda in hand, meeting participants will arrive more focused on the real tasks at hand and generally better prepared for the discussions and the decisions. Invite the fewest number of people possible. Crowds make for poor meetings. Invite only those who are invested in the topic and who will be affected by the decisions. Not everyone is automatically a great meeting participant. For a few, that skill comes naturally. But for many more, constructive meeting skills must be taught. In particular, many participants must learn how to thoughtfully consider new points of view and how to fold those points into final thinking. When necessary, be prepared to pause any meeting to teach those skills. The time taken will pay off in the future. Schedule meetings just before lunch so that people will act quickly. Meetings drag on when there is no clear objective or when there is no sense of urgency. Time is money. Present the facts, discuss the options and craft the solutions. Long drawn-out meetings generally produce poor results. Meet only when necessary. Some things can best be solved with face-to-face meetings. Other things can be handled with an email or phone call. Save genuine meetings for those situations in which face-to-face contact, input and active participation are essential. You can improve your meetings and your business with these ideas.
Bill and Sherry Krenz Editor and Publisher Inside Archery 8 July 2010
I
®
Publisher & Founder
Sherry Krenz • sherry@insidearchery.com
Editor & Founder
Bill Krenz • bill@insidearchery.com
Associate Publisher
Travis Reginek • travis@insidearchery.com
Managing Editor
Michaelean Pike • michaelean@insidearchery.com
Associate Editor / Online Editor Dan Smith • dan@insidearchery.com
Contributors
Tracy Breen • Michael Corrigan • Patrick Durkin Bob Humphrey • Mark Kayser • Greg Staggs • Brian Strickland
Art Director
Ed Rother • production@insidearchery.com
Production Manager / Graphic Designer Tara Reginek • tara@insidearchery.com
Graphic Designer Tyler Reginek • tyler@insidearchery.com
Advertising Sales Administrator April Foley • april@insidearchery.com (877) 499-9988 ext. 115
Advertising Sales Reps
Travis Reginek • travis@insidearchery.com (877) 499-9988 ext. 152 Brandon Johnson • brandon@insidearchery.com (877) 499-9988 ext. 150
Accounting Manager
Pam Ludlam • pam@insidearchery.com (877) 499-9988, ext. 120
Office Manager
Jessi Christensen • jessi@insidearchery.com (877) 499-9988, ext. 128
Subscription Services & Change of Address: Inside Archery® Circulation Department P.O. Box 9019 Maple Shade, NJ 08052 Phone: (800) 322-6087 • Fax: (856) 380-4101 zebrapub@starrcorp.com
Publication Office
Inside Archery® / Zebra Publishing Inc. 2960 N. Academy Boulevard, Suite 101 Colorado Springs, CO 80917 Phone: (719) 495-9999 • Fax: (719) 495-8899 info@insidearchery.com www.insidearchery.com Inside Archery® Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved by Zebra Publishing Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Zebra Publishing Inc. is not responsible for researching and investigating the accuracy of the contents of stories published in Inside Archery® magazine. Readers are advised that use of the information contained in Inside Archery® magazine is with the understanding that it is at their own risk. Zebra Publishing Inc. assumes no liability for this information or its use. Zebra Publishing Inc. and Inside Archery® magazine assume no responsibility for unsolicited editorial, photography, or art submissions. In addition, no Terms and Conditions agreements for either unsolicited or solicited photography submissions are recognized by Zebra Publishing Inc. without being signed and returned by the Editor.
z Inside Archery® is a publication of Zebra Publishing Inc. Printed In The USA.
Inside Archery 10 July 2010
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Industry News Bob Fromme Joins Victory Archery
Bob Fromme, world class bowhunter and successful business owner, has recently joined Victory Archery as a member of its Elite Pro Staff and as a product development consultant.
Bob Fromme
Victory Archery CEO Marty Connolly announced the signing at the company’s corporate office. “Bob Fromme comes to us with an impressive resume. Not only does he possess successful, real world experience in the field of hunting, business and the archery industry, he also has proven knowledge in product design, development and marketing. We are looking forward to having Bob on our Victory Team and are confident he will be one of our greatest assets as we continue to develop and innovate within our current and future product lines.” Bob Fromme has been in the archery industry since 1981 and the owner of Performance Archery in San Diego, California, since 1983. Bob has assisted numerous companies in product design and, as a lifelong bowhunter, taken numerous record-book animals. In addition to being one of very few bowhunters to have taken all 28 North American animal species, Bob has also won four California State Broadhead Championships. Victory Archery designs and manufactures high-tech carbon arrows.
For more information, log onto victoryarchery.com.
Delta Sports Products Announces New President
Delta Sports Products has announced the recent promotion of Jen Kresser to president of the 27-year-old, Iowa-based target manufacturer. Kresser has been with the company for 16 years and will be responsible for strategic planning, corporate culture and management of operations. Kresser succeeds Delta Sports Products founder, Laverne Woock, who will remain CEO until November 30. Woock will continue with the company after November as vice president of technology, emphasizing new product development.
Kresser began her career in marketing before being promoted to sales, where she has spent the last 10 years serving domestic and international customers, all the while developing an avid passion for bowhunting. “Jen has spent many years developing the skills needed to tackle the challenges of leading Delta into the future. Her extensive knowledge of our business, her relationships in the industry and focus on strategic development positions her and Delta for success,” stated Woock. “Both Jen and Laverne have done an impressive job building and growing Delta Sports Products, and we look forward to the continued growth and leadership in the target business from Jen in her new role. I was pleased to be on hand for the announcement to congratulate Jen in person,” stated Greg Easton, president of Jas. D. Easton, Inc., parent company of Delta Sports Products.
Inside Archery 12 July 2010
Assuming Kresser’s former position as sales manager will be Jacob Stark, former sales manager with Fiskars Corporation. Stark hails from Madison, Wisconsin, and will be responsible for all sales functions in the United States and internationally. “Jake has been a great addition to Delta Sports Products. His love of bowhunting, his practical sales experience and enthusiasm challenges the status quo. He will be a terrific asset to our sales strategy,” Kresser stated. For more information about Delta Sports Products, log onto deltatargets.net.
Hawk Associates Marketing Will Represent Goat Tuff and Predator Innovations
Hawk Associates Marketing has assumed all advertising and public relations duties for Goat Tuff Products and Predator Innovations. Goat Tuff Products is a long established maker of arrow fletching necessities including a line of quality, cyanoacrylate all-purpose glues. In 2010, Goat Tuff also introduced its 2-inch Opti-Vane which fuses two different materials into a single archery vane for optimal adherence and performance properties. Predator Innovations is the maker of the Hang-On Buddy, the universal treestand mounting system that allows for easier, safer and more versatile treestand use.
Hawk Associates is a full service agency which has been in the marketing field for 33 years specializing in the shooting sports. For more information about the clients of Hawk Associates, log onto Continued on page 14
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goattuffproducts.com, you can also visit predatorinnovations.com.
Muzzy Classic Successful Amidst Foul Weather
During the 11th annual Muzzy Classic bowfishing tournament, which took place in Guntersville, Alabama, in April, contenders faced lighting, wind and multiple tornadoes. But the event was ultimately a success with 73 teams signing up and 54 weighing in. There were some inevitable delays for safety to avoid the severe weather, but seven teams ended up with cash prizes after judging. And all 211 contenders received a quality experience out on the lake.
The first-place team took home $3,500, the second-place team won $2,500 and third place walked away with $1,500. Prizes also included bows and other archery gear given to competitors. Brent Boudra took a 61-pound grass carp at the Muzzy Classic. It was the largest one taken during the event. For more information, log onto muzzy.com.
BCY is Exclusive Distributor of Bearpaw Bowstring Wax
Bearpaw Products will distribute its bpb bowstring wax soley through BCY Bowstrings.
The wax is based on 100-percent natural beeswax and can be used on all types of bowstrings. Bearpaw Products developed and tested the bpb-wax in Germany and
Inside Archery 14 July 2010
gained high approval from expert archers. The wax was designed to reduce friction, lubricate, protect from the elements and extend bowstring life. BCY, founded in 1990, is known for innovative material improvement and an in-depth understanding of bowstring fiber. For more information, log onto bcyfibers.com.
National Archery in the Schools Program and Remington Outdoor Foundation Awards Scholarships
Three students who authored winning essays that describe how the National Archery in the Schools Program changed their lives will see that theme played out again when they collect a total of $3,000 in college scholarships from NASP partner, the Remington Outdoor Foundation.
Sarah Burress, Carolyn Free and Michael Violette all won money for their education because of essays they composed. The winners were announced at the 2010 NASP National Tournament, which was held May 7-8 in Louisville, Kentucky. “The National Archery in the Schools Program helped change these students’ lives, and now these inspirational young people are poised to do great things themselves,” said Jim Moore, president of the Remington Outdoor Foundation. The winning essays described how NASP helped the students overcome physical challenges, connect to their history and improve academic performance. For more information about NASP, visit archeryintheschools.org.
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Dealer School I loved my first truck. It was exactly what I needed at the time—fun to drive with plenty of cargo space and rugged dependability. When I’d finally driven it just about to death, I reluctantly headed to my local dealership, dreading the pushy sales techniques I’d experienced when I’d first bought that truck.
Approach and Relate
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If you work as hard
at selling relationships as you do at selling equipment, you’ll sell
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more of both.
Instead, I met Jeff. Jeff approached me while I was half-heartedly perusing the dealership’s inventory. “Is that yours?” he asked, pointing at my truck in the parking lot. When I nodded, he said, “That was a great model. What’s your favorite thing about it?” That got us talking about what I loved about my truck, which of course led to Jeff showing me vehicles that shared those important qualities. In the end, I left with something I grew to love every bit as much as that first truck. And I haven’t bought a vehicle from anyone but Jeff since then.
Sell the Relationship
If you’re selling bows and arrows, you have plenty of competition out there. But if you’re selling relationships, you automatically have an edge over your competitors. Too often retailers and salespeople focus on making an immediate sale instead of establishing a long-term relationship
Inside Archery 16 July 2010
with a customer. Making a few small changes to how you approach your customers can translate to improved customer loyalty and increased sales down the road.
Establishing the Relationship
When a customer first walks into your shop, how do you approach them? By now, most consumers respond to the standard “Can I help you?” with an automatic “No, I’m just looking.” Some people will brush off a salesperson even if they would like help. Why? First, many customers simply don’t want to deal with high-pressure sales techniques. And secondly, when we’re asked a yes-or-no question, it’s easy to say no. To combat this automatic response, you’ll need to surprise your customers with an unexpected approach. Your customers come into your shop with varying degrees of experience and interest in archery, so a one-size-fits-all approach probably won’t work. Someone who walks into your shop looking as if they’ve just stumbled into a strange and foreign land will most likely appreciate a different approach than someone who walks in and heads straight to the expandable broadhead section. Whatever your opening line is, make sure it’s not an easy yes-or-no question. You want to start a conversation, not be brushed off with a oneword answer. And no matter how you start the conversation, make sure that you’re genuinely friendly and helpful. A rude, distracted or tired salesperson is one of the surest ways to drive customers from your shop.
Once you’ve got your customer engaged in a conversation, don’t jump into a sales pitch. Instead, find out what your customer’s needs are. Many times, your customer may not even be aware of exactly what his or her needs are, so you’ll need to ask smart questions and listen carefully to determine what those needs are. Is your customer interested in recreational shooting, competitive
target archery, bowhunting or all of the above? What kind of hunting will your customer be doing? How much time will your customer devote to practicing with his equipment? What does your customer like or dislike about their current setup? You should also find out if there are any critical requirements that your customers want in their equipment. You might learn that your customer is looking for an easy-to-adjust bow that all
Dealer Survey Questions Archery dealer input is sought for the next Inside
Archery Dealer School. Your comments are invited on a variety of specific Dealer School topics. All you need to do is fill out and send in the easy-to-use Dealer School Response Card found between pages 18 & 19. Selected comments will be published in an upcoming issue of Inside Archery’s Dealer School. Your shop and location will be listed. In every issue a participating dealer will win a new Hoyt bow! To have a chance at this bow, all you have to do is participate.
Win!
a MAXXIS bow from
Inside Archery 17 July 2010
Th Montis Winn h’s er! Ty
ler
Tempy’s Sp Chubb ortin Grove, OKg Goods
Dealer
Comment
What’s the best opening line you’ve heard from a salesman to put a new customer at ease and ready to buy?
The following are selected responses from the Inside Archery Dealer School Survey presented in our April 2010 issue. Are you interested in participating and possibly winning a FREE 2010 Hoyt bow in the process? See page 17 of this issue for more information. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
“ ” “
If you shoot a bow, you’re making a mistake! Once you shoot it, you’re definitely going to want it!
Mike Barrandey • Bowlero Archery - Van Horn, TX –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
I like to be really friendly and open with the customer. The next step is finding out what first sparked their interest in archery.
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Morgan Dugger • Xpert Archery - Farmington, NM ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
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Feel free to look around—you won’t know what you can’t live without until you see it.
George Heitzenrater • The Shooter’s Shop - Brockway, PA –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
I prefer to ask them how they are doing. This allows me to make contact without putting pressure on the customer, and then I ask if they need any help.
Brandon Robson • Kames - North Canton, OH
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Finding out a specific price range the customer feels comfortable with is very effective. This shows the customer that you care about and respect their limitations.
Darron McDougal • J’s Archery Pro Shop - Antigo, WI
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Man, that bow fits you like a glove.
Larry Notch • Top Notch Archery - Avon, MN
Inside Archery 18 July 2010
three of his children can shoot. Or a customer may be looking for a broadhead that works equally well on both whitetails and hogs. And delicately determining a customer’s budget is pretty important. (And remember that “mid-priced bow” means radically different things to different people.)
Making the Sale
Once you’ve established a customer’s needs, you can then suggest products that meet those needs. Some salespeople say that they work best if they imagine themselves to be problem solvers. Customers come in with problems and, if the salesperson does their job correctly, leave with solutions to those problems. Just as with your first approach, keep in mind that every customer will have a different level of archery expertise. Many archery salespeople live and breathe archery equipment, but it’s important that you don’t make the mistake of assuming your customers have the same interest and knowledge. Make sure that you’re discussing products in a way your customers can understand. If all you’re doing is running through a list of a product’s features, you might as well be a manufacturer’s catalog. It’s easy to describe a product and the many technologies that go into that product. It’s harder to explain how those technologies benefit the user. Even archery equipment manufacturers sometimes neglect to elaborate in their
advertisements or on their websites on how the features of a product translate into benefits. As you point out the features of a product, make sure you explain what those features mean for the product’s performance. Since you’ve gone to the trouble of learning what your customer’s needs are, you can take the extra step of personalizing those benefits to your customer. For example, a customer who recently missed a whitetail but has no idea if the shot was high or low might appreciate a bright, lighted nock that will allow him to more easily track the path of his arrow. Or you might have a customer with limited time for scouting who could benefit from a scouting camera or two to give her more scouting opportunities. In the end, the most important thing about any sale is that your customer buys the right piece of equipment. This may mean redirecting someone from a high-performance, high-end piece of a equipment to more middle-of-the-road equipment that’s more appropriate for their current needs. But that kind of honest sales advice is something that’s hard to find these days and hard for your customers to forget when it’s time for them to shop for equipment in the future. If you work as hard at selling relationships as you do at selling equipment, you’ll sell more of both.
If a guy wants to buy a new treestand, what sort of questions are important to ask him to find what type, brand and D e a l e r model of stand he really needs? Comment The following are selected responses from the Inside Archery Dealer School Survey presented in our April 2010 issue. Are you interested in participating and possibly winning a FREE 2010 Hoyt bow in the process? See page 17 of this issue for more information. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– You must find out what type of terrain the person will be hunting. In certain situations a hang-on will be the best choice, but other times the customer will need a climber or a ladder stand.
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Tyler Chubb • Tempy’s Sporting Goods - Grove, OK ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– It is important to determine the size of treestand my customer is looking for. Once we have looked at a variety of hang-on, climber and ladder stands, I move the conversation to safety. I want my customers to be safe in the woods, and we always take time to discuss safety harnesses.
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David Steinberg • Gem Sport Supply - Syracuse, NY
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––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– I have found that people who do a great deal of rut-hunting tend to look for a good climbing stand. On the other side of the coin, many customers who hunt early or late lean toward a fixedposition stand, such as a hang-on.
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Darron McDougal • J’s Archery Pro Shop - Antigo, WI ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– You must find out if the person plans on moving the stand often. If this is their plan, I typically recommend a climber. When the plan is to leave the stand in one spot, they should go with a ladder or hang-on style.
“
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Brandon Robson • Kames - North Canton, OH ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-–—– For me it is essential to discuss what type of hunting they will be doing, and that will help me determine what stand to recommend. I like to discuss size, weight, ease of set-up, height adjustments and, of course, cost.
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Mike Barrandey • Bowlero Archery - Van Horn, TX ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– I want my customer safe when in a tree. For that reason I always discuss how the stand is built as well as the features of each stand.
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Claudio Foiera • CesenArco - Cesena, Italy
Inside Archery 19 July 2010
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Action Gulf Coast Archery Dealers Await Their Fate Archery retailers along the Gulf Coast are already feeling the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and some predict the toll could be worse than Hurricane Katrina. Archery dealers along the Gulf Coast have long prided can think about,” Wenzel said. “We’re about 20 minutes themselves on enduring and overcoming nature’s worst from the Gulf, and all the businesses that dig oysters— hurricanes, but when the ATA contacted them in mid-June or trap crabs, shrimp, crawfish—they’re scared. Fishing regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, most expressed is all they know. It’s what they’ve always done. When deep concerns and uncertainty about their business. people are scared, they don’t buy anything. “The storm (Hurricane Katrina, late August 2005) “They’re working for BP right now on the cleanup, was bad, but we were back in business two weeks after but they don’t know what they’ll be doing two years from the storm,” said “Killer” Godwin, manager of The now,” Wenzel continued. “They’re learning all they can Bow Shop in Gulfport, Mississippi. “Everyone thinks about the Exxon Valdez. They hear the herring fishery New Orleans took the worst of in that part of Alaska is still dead Hurricane Katrina, but Katrina 20 years later, and they know this hit us dead-center so we know spill is already far worse. They’re how bad things can get. This is wondering if they can hold on. I worse. It’s dead in here. It’s bad. wonder the same thing.” We’ve reduced our hours. The phone didn’t ring for five hours Recreational Fishing Killed last Saturday. We mostly just sit Tommy Bailey, owner of Gulf here looking at each other because Coast Outdoors in Pensacola, so few customers are coming in.” Florida, said the spill eliminated John Wenzel, 57, is owner of his recreational fishing business, Chalmette Bow Accessories in which he relies on to carry him Chalmette, Louisiana, which is through summer. just downriver from New Orleans “The tar balls have been comon the Mississippi. Like many of ing ashore the past few days, so his neighbors, Wenzel tracks the we know the oil isn’t far behind,” number of days since the oil disashe said. “It’s pretty much imposter began. When speaking to the sible to fish around here. Our fishATA on June 10, Wenzel said he Photo Courtesy of United States Fish and Wildlife Service ing business is practically nothing Orange Beach, Alabama, before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. sold only three bows in the 51 days compared to previous years. The since the Deepwater Horizon rig blew and oil began federal waters are shut down, and now that our state spewing into the Gulf. waters are shutting down, that kills fishing for grouper Wenzel concedes May and June are typically slow and red snapper.” months anyway for archery retailing, but his business Although it’s a small consolation, the archery side has never been that slow in early June. “In many ways it’s of his business had been doing better. “Our archery just like Katrina because it’s the only thing people here business hasn’t really been affected yet,” Bailey said.
Inside Archery 20 July 2010
“It’s probably been a little better so far than last year. We’ve seen more new archers coming in; more so than in the past. But that’s not what carries us in early summer. We rely on fishing this time of year.” Farther to the northwest, Scott Vernon at the Bowhunter Pro Shop in Saraland, Alabama, wondered if his store’s bubble might burst as summer wore on. His archery-only store is about 10 miles north of Mobile, which sits in the far northwestern corner of Mobile Bay. Business had been good so far in 2010, but he thinks his true test will occur between July Fourth and Labor Day. “The Gulf oil spill isn’t going to help the situation, but right after Memorial Day we were 53 percent ahead of where we were a year ago,” Vernon said. “Will that continue? I don’t know. Our best business is usually August, September and October, but things usually start rolling right after the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (scheduled for July 16-18). They’ve held that tournament since 1929. It’s day to day whether they can hold it this year. Most of my customers aren’t saltwater fishermen, but it always seems that once the big tournament is over a lot of guys turn their attention to bowhunting. Whether that happens again this year, we’ll find out.” Vernon expects that the farther the oil spreads, the more economic impacts his store will feel. On June 10, for example, the day he spoke with ATA, Alabama’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced precautionary closures to all recreation and commercial fishing on coastal waters west of Mobile Bay. Those closures followed previous closures of all
Alabama waters in the Gulf of Mexico, including Pelican Bay and most of Mobile Bay itself. “When anything starts affecting your customers, it affects your business
Inside Archery 21 July 2010
too,” Vernon said. “I have some very good customers who run a charter fishing boat. That’s been their livelihood for years. They’re having a tough time because they haven’t been able to take
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Action fishermen out, and this is their peak time. This is their bow season. So, we can’t help but think about it. It’s a topic every night around our supper tables.”
Assessing the Impacts Throughout the Gulf Coast states, wildlife agencies are working with other state and federal agencies to control and minimize the oil’s threats as much as possible. In Florida,
FWC vessels offshore. Its Division of Law Enforcement has also dispatched 11 boats, three helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft to conduct regular reconnaissance flights to monitor Florida’s shoreline for oil. FWC personnel are on duty at Joint Incident Command posts in Mobile, as well as in St. Petersburg, Key West and Miami, as well as at the Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. Dozens of staff are working behind the scenes to coordinate all activities and communications. Several websites help keep citizens updated on closures to state and federal fishing, including Alabama’s, http://www. outdooralabama.com/fishing/saltwater/DH.cfm. Also, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency provides detailed updates about the oil’s spread, constantly updates maps forecasting the spread, tracks the progress of teams drilling relief wells, and other news at http:// response.restoration.noaa.gov/.
The Waiting Game Archery dealers are especially concerned about what would happen if the oil starts pushing inland into estuaries, marshes and freshwater fish and wildlife habitats. Hurricane Katrina Photo Courtesy of United States Fish and Wildlife Service wiped out large swaths of coastal Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Manager Jeremey Phillips contacts the Unified Incident Command to report oil on a refuge beach. wetlands in 2005, but oil could for instance, the Wildlife Commission is working with the do far worse damage if it gets into root systems and starts state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), killing aquatic plants. county governments, water-management districts and sevAlthough no one likes to see individual birds and anieral federal agencies to conduct pre-impact wildlife assessmals coated in oil, far more wildlife will disappear if habitat ments. The work includes taking water samples and testing losses become severe because of the oil. for contamination in sediments, fish and shellfish along Wenzel said much will depend—as usual—on the Florida’s coastline and into the Gulf of Mexico. weather this summer. In early June, winds pushed most of The FWC also is evaluating critical habitat, shorebird and the oil eastward, away from Louisiana. However, he lives on sea turtle nesting areas, and other wildlife. These assessments the east side of the Mississippi River, and people along the will help wildlife managers determine and document potenriver’s western banks had already lost much of their marshes tial impacts throughout their regions of responsibility. The to the oil spill. FWC is also trying to locate oil by stationing scientists aboard “It’s already a worse-case scenario across the way,”
Inside Archery 22 July 2010
Wenzel said. “They’ve got it and it’s killing things off. Their fishing businesses were just starting to come back after Katrina. Most of them lost their homes, boats and equipment to the storm, but they were coming back. Their tradition was still there. But if the oil gets into the marshes and the oyster beds, not only will the wildlife and oysters die, their traditions will die. There might be no coming back from an oil spill this big.” For now, though, all Wenzel can do is wait. “I’ll have a good idea by Christmas if I can hang on,” he said. “Katrina let the air out of my business, but I got rolling again. But if I have a really bad year this time, I’ll have to think about retiring. If fishermen lose their traditional businesses to the oil, the restaurants will start shutting down. Everything will start falling apart. None of those people will be in here buying my bows. They’ll be too worried about their own futures.”
Plug the Leak Like the rest of his archery-retailing colleagues, Vernon pins his hopes on capping the massive oil leak so everyone can focus on the cleanup. “We don’t know what will happen day to day,” he said. “This is still a learning process for us. If they can cap the leak, that would be the start. We could see what needs to be cleaned up. We could start getting over it. Then it’s something we’re familiar with. Not to minimize this, because it’s horrible, but disasters and stuff like that happens here. It happens more regularly than we’d like. We just deal with it. After the hurricanes are gone, you have no choice. You go outside, you pick up your stuff, and you start putting it back together. That’s all you can do.” Bailey echoed those sentiments. “We’ll do it like we’ve always done before,” he said. “You pick everything up and put it back together. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. But it still hurts. There’s no getting around that.” Godwin agrees the situation would improve if they knew the spill was capped, and the oil “spigot” was turned off. However, everyone continually worries about longterm paychecks. “With hurricanes, people had insurance and they were receiving insurance money soon after things settled down,” he said. “People don’t carry insurance for oil spills. They have to put all their effort into finding ways to make money. While that’s going on, hunting is a luxury. Fishing is a luxury.”
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Inside Archery 23 July 2010
New&Notable New & Innovative Products to Watch
G5 T3 Expandable Broadhead 1
Hunters have come to expect tough, reliable broadheads from G5, and the new T3 follows suit. This rugged head features three expandable blades to produce a devastating 1.5-inch wound channel. The T3 also features the new Spider Clip blade-retention system, which allows hunters the ability to tune their blade deployment. One clip provides easier deployment for hunters shooting lower poundage bows, while adding the second clip creates a stronger tension setting for use with high-speed bows. The second clip is also ideal for crossbows and for shooting through blind windows. In addition, the Spider Clips eliminate the need for rubber bands or O-rings. For more information, log onto g5outdoors.com.
2 Russ Trading Post Buck Lure
Russ Trading Post Buck Lure is a no-frills attractant from a company with a well-established reputation. The label simply states “stir and place a little lure 10 to 15 yards downwind from your stand position.” And the result is just as simple—it works. Bucks will be charging toward this lure which contains 100-percent natural ingredients. Russ Trading Post has been creating attractants and other scent-based products since 1941, and the addition of this Buck Lure continues its legacy of outstanding products. For more information, call 607-359-3896.
Mountaineer Sports Rescue One CDS II 1
Safety should be at the top of everyone’s list when hunting from a treestand, and the folks at Mountaineer Sports are providing cutting edge products to accommodate this. The Rescue One CDS (Controlled Descent System) is back in a new revised model for 2010. This year the CDS II has changed the 30-inch Safety Tether line to an 8mm diameter with 4,000-pound tensile strength. This line has less bulk for a lighter, more comfortable system that doesn’t compromise strength. Like the original CDS the CDS II allows hunters to lower themselves after a fall, which reduces fatalities caused by Suspension Trauma. The CDS is also available in a Big Boyz model that will safely arrest the fall of hunters ranging up to 400 pounds. For more information, log onto mountaineer-sports.com.
2 Vanguard Saberlock 83C
You have got to protect what you love, and that’s why you need a solid case for your coveted bow. The new Saberlock 83C from Vanguard is modeled after the popular GDS 6200 Series bow cases. The Saberlock 83C boasts all of the same features with an additional inch of vertical space to fit today’s radical riser designs. Flexibility and ruggedness converge with this great addition from Vanguard. The GDS 6200 Series bow cases have been a big hit for archers, and the Saberlock 83C is sure to be another popular offering. For more information, log onto vanguardworld.com.
Inside Archery 24 July 2010
Barnett Crossbows Buck Commander 1
Barnett Crossbows has joined forces with the crew of the show Buck Commander to create the ultra-sleek Buck Commander Crossbow. With Barnsdale/ Gordan Glass laminated limbs, this beauty is very tough and quiet. Over-molded AVI technology reduces noise up to 30 percent while shutting down unwanted vibration in the Buck Commander. The patented shoot-through foot stirrup increases power and speed by extending the power stroke to 15 inches, allowing for a compact fit along with great balance. Another excellent feature of this innovative crossbow is the Anti Dry Fire trigger system, which prevents those terrible mishaps. The Buck Commander is shipped with an all-new illuminated 3x32 magnified scope. For more information, log onto barnettcrossbows.com.
2 Old Faithful Outdoors BuckMister
Lightweight, waterproof and durable, The BuckMister from Old Faithful Outdoors is a highly effective scent-dispersal system utilizing a programmable clock and timer. The clock and timer allow you to program The BuckMister with the exact date and time for scent disperal—days, weeks and even months before your hunt. That eliminates the risk of leaving behind human odors and makes it possible for you to “train” whitetails to visit your hunting area exactly when you want them to. The BuckMister works with high-quality Buck Bomb scents. For more information, log onto thebuckmister.com.
HME Ground Blind Accessory Shelf 1
The untimely kicking of a thermos or a misplaced game call can mean the difference between bagging your quarry and slurping down tag soup. Keeping organized in a ground blind increases success, and the HME Ground Blind Accessory Shelf keeps your blind tidy. The Ground Blind Accessory Shelf latches onto your blind’s frame and holds all the gear you need out of the way but accessible. The shelf is 8 inches long, has a fold-away drink holder for added convenience and also sports two accessory hooks to hang gear from. For more information, log onto hmeproducts.com.
2 Tink’s Miss November
We all know that Tink’s is legendary for its amazing deer scents, but it has brought something new to the table for 2010. The big bucks roaming the woods this fall will be intrigued by the realistic-looking Miss November inflatable doe decoy. At just a shade over 2 pounds this lightweight decoy will be perfect for hauling around this fall. There are no loud plastic parts that bang and clang; just a soft-skinned decoy that sets up in minutes. Miss November is quite the model, and has 2 poses—standing or bedding. She also sports a super-light tail that flicks and twitches with just the slightest breeze from Mother Nature. For more information, log onto tinks69.com.
Inside Archery 25 July 2010
New&Notable PSE Bow Madness 1
To get all that you desire in a bow, you often have to pay a premium. Not so with PSE’s Bow Madness. This ultra-light bow has everything a serious bowhunter wants to harvest a trophy, and it all comes with an affordable price tag. The Bow Madness features a high-efficiency single-cam system, an Asymmetric Idler Wheel and a Vibracheck Backstop. All these attributes combine together in the Bow Madness to achieve a remarkably smooth draw cycle with a silent release. Torqued shots will be a distant memory with the Biomechanically Ergonomic Slim Throat (B.E.S.T.) grip that comes on the Bow Madness. And don’t worry about speed—as with all PSE bows, the Bow Madness hurls out arrows with authority. For more information, log onto pse-archery.com.
2 Cobra Python Micro Adjust
Flexibility and durability collide with the Cobra Python Micro Adjust. Cobra’s new offering is a versatile and lightweight sight that includes five all-metal pins with .019-inch field-replaceable fiber optics. Laser-engraved adjustment marks and a unique reversible mounting bracket provide flexible vertical positioning. Even the most discerning archer will be pleased with the precise .003-inch per click adjustability of the Python Micro Adjust. The tool-less windage and elevation adjustments equate to an easily tunable and highly accurate sight. Cobra is known for its amazing products and it has put another one on the books with the new Python Micro Adjust. For more information, log onto cobraarchery.com.
Inside Archery 26 July 2010
P E OP L E
Archery Industry Members Participating in the Sport SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO: Email a color image with your name, address, where animal was taken and archery gear used to popphoto@insidearchery.com or mail to Inside Archery Power of Participation, 2960 N. Academy Blvd., Suite 101, Colorado Springs, CO 80917.
Chris Cornett • Saskatchewan Black Bear Owner—OKI Outdoors Bow: Mathews HyperLite Arrow: Easton A/C/C Broadhead: Rage 2-Blade Arrow Wrap: OKI Outdoors Custom Wrap
Quiver: Treelimb Quiver Bracket: OKI Outdoors Hippie
Ross Graveling • Nebraska Whitetail Sales Team—Xtreme Outdoors Bow: Quest Arrow: Victory Broadhead: G5 Tekan
Inside Archery 28 July 2010
Sight: G5 Rest: G5 Clothing: Medalist
Bart Lawhorn • Ohio Whitetail General Manager—Victory Archery Bow: Rytera Alien X Arrow: Victory VForce 400 Broadhead: Swhacker 100
Sight: Vital Gear Pro Slide Rest: Vapor Trail Limb Driver Release: Scott Little Goose
Brandon M. Reyes with videographer Morry Osborn • Virginia Eastern Turkey Director of Marketing—T.R.U. Inc. Bow: Mathews Z7 Arrow: Gold Tip Pro Hunter Broadhead: G5 Tekan Sight: Axcel ArmorTech HD Pro
Ryan Humpert • Michigan Eastern Turkey Prostaff—Bad River Outdoors Bow: Excalibur Crossbow Arrow: Lumen-Arrow Broadhead: LimbSaver Turkey Terror
Sight: Bad River Tagged-Out Sight and Rangefinder Nock: Lumenok
Rest: QAD Ultra-Rest Release: T.R.U. Ball Boss X
Jedediah Forrest • California Hog National Sales Manager—Pole Mountain Outdoors, Inc. Bow: Ross Cardiac Arrow: Victory Sight: Black Gold
Inside Archery 29 July 2010
Sight Cover: Pole Mountain Pinshield Bipod: Pole Mountain Bowlegs Case: Pole Mountain Hardcase BII
The Slick Trick Team in Jonesboro, Arkansas: (L to R back row) Packagers Leslie Davis and Charlene Snyder, owner Gary Cooper with company mascot Tess, General Manager Tony Reed and Office Manager Jamie Reed. Front and center are Emily and Lacey, Tony and Jamie’s children.
Inside Archery 31 July 2010
“Back when and where I grew up, which was the 1960s on a farm in rural Arkansas, I wasn’t acquainted with anyone who knew anything about archery. All I knew was that I wanted to try it. My first bow was a Bear Archery recurve. It came from Wal-Mart, and I taught myself to shoot it. There was no one else around to give me direction. A decade later I bought my first compound bow, a Stemmler. By that time I was totally fascinated by archery and especially by bowhunting. Besides the pure, simple pleasure of just being in the woods, archery and bowhunting challenged me like few things ever had.” After college and well into a two-decade career with the United States Postal Service, Gary began thinking about yet another archery challenge. “I found myself fascinated by broadheads,” Gary explains, “although a big part of that especially keen interest grew out of my frustration with so many of the heads I had tried over the years. The first broadhead I ever used was a big one-piece head called the M-A 3. It was copper-brazed and welded in 24 places, and
Gary Cooper is the developer of the entire Slick Trick broadhead line. That line includes Standard, Magnum, GrizzTrick, RazorTrick and Xbow Trick models in a variety of weights.
Slick Trick General Manager Tony Reed (left) works day to day with new-dealer development and the Slick Trick Pro Staff along with customer support and consumer inquiries. Office Manager Jamie Reed (right) oversees Slick Trick accounts payable, accounts receivable, current dealers and assists with all customer support. the idea was that you sharpened it yourself. Of course I couldn’t sharpen those things to save my life. Nor did I have much luck with the other sharpen-yourself broadheads I tried. Then, in the early 1970s, when first Wasp and then firms like Satellite pioneered presharpened, replaceable-blade broadheads, I quickly jumped on that bandwagon. Such heads represented a huge improvement in convenience and sharpness, but I still found myself far from satisfied. “One of the biggest lessons that all of my bowhunting had taught me was that accuracy, with broadheads, was crucial. In fact, I’d concluded that accuracy was the number one requirement for any broadhead. If a head wasn’t accurate, nothing else really mattered.” Gary took his thinking about broadheads even further. “Beyond pure accuracy, I also wanted a broadhead that flew well without fancy bow tuning. In addition, I felt an ideal broadhead would also cut a big hole and penetrate extremely well. And furthermore, it had to be both reliable and durable. In other words, I wanted the whole broadhead enchilada––accuracy, flight, terminal performance, dependability and strength. Unfortunately, most of the many broadheads I had tried over the years seemed to fall down in one or more of those areas. Every one of them seemed to have a weak link.” By the mid-1980s Gary Cooper was beginning to think that he’d need to design his own broadhead. In typical Cooper fashion, that thinking took a studied and structured form. “I read everything I could get my hands on concerning broadhead design and function. I pored over magazine articles and design books of all sorts. At one point, I even drove to Little Rock, the state capital, to research broadhead design in the archives of the state libraries.
Inside Archery 32 July 2010
“At the same time I began experimenting with even more broadheads, including plenty of expandable heads. Eventually, after all of that experimentation and research, I arrived at a novel broadhead conclusion—almost all modern broadheads were too long! “Broadhead length, I felt, may look cool, but it created distinct performance problems. To begin with, long broadhead ferrules were difficult to manufacture so that they were perfectly straight. Furthermore, those long ferrules accentuated their own crooked tendencies, along with any issues of misalignment between the head and the arrow shaft. Long broadheads also simply possessed excessive surface area, particularly in the blades. That unnecessary surface area promoted wind planing. The upshot of all this was that the long-broadhead design idea actually created broadheads that were relatively critical to shoot. And there’s more. “To keep the weight down with long broadheads, lightweight aluminum ferrules and fairly thin blades were often used. Such ferrules and blades proved understandably weak. The result was that bent ferrules and broken blades were commonplace with many long broadheads.” If length created so many problems, Gary further deduced, the broadhead solution lay in going shorter. “After thinking all of this through, I almost immediately began to design much shorter-than-normal broadheads. An unconventionally short broadhead would hold distinct advantages for any bowhunter. A short ferrule would be much more likely to be straight. A short broadhead, with shorter blades, would significantly reduce overall surface area. Those two key things would combine to make a shorter broadhead inherently more accurate and more forgiving to shoot. “In addition, there were significant strength and durability advantages to a much shorter broadhead. Shorter ferrules and shorter blades would both be lighter in weight. That would allow me to dramatically beef up the ferrule on a short broadhead by switching from the relatively soft aluminum of long broadhead ferrules to a much stiffer and stronger, super-hardened steel ferrule for an especially short broadhead, while still maintaining the popular broadhead weights
of 85, 100 and 125 grains. At the same time I could also increase the thickness and durability of the blades. Short broadheads would be unmistakably tougher.” With visions of more accurate, more forgiving, stronger broadheads, Gary began making drawings. “By then I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted to do––the unconventional one-piece ferrule would be short, stiff and
Inside Archery 33 July 2010
strong, and the blades would be much the same. I’d also concluded that I wanted four blades. The simple slits made by two-blade broadheads can close up with fatty, thickhide animals like bears. And while threeblade heads were quite popular, a four-blade head that flew every bit as well and as accurately would cut 33-percent more with every shot. A super-accurate four-blade
head was clearly the way to go for more efficient entry and exit holes, faster bleed-out and shorter, easier-to-follow blood trails.” Even though all of the basic concepts now seemed clear to Gary, rolling those ideas into an actual, workable broadhead design proved daunting. “The fact is I hit quite a design stumbling block about that point,” says Gary. “I knew what I wanted, but I soon discovered that to incorporate all of my ideas into a single broadhead was not easy. I worked and worked at it, and I went through all sorts of possible design iterations. But the answer eluded me for a long time. “Fortunately or unfortunately, depending how you look at it, once I get an idea in my head I just can’t quit. I batted things around mentally and on paper for almost a decade before the right idea finally emerged. “A fair number of good broadheads utilize some sort of design that has their blades interlocking inside of an aluminum ferrule. Most of those designs slot their ferrules from the front but then must screw a steel tip onto that open front to protect and close the ferrule. I wanted to avoid that complication by using a solid stainless-steel, one-piece ferrule. The solution I eventually developed was to slot my short one-piece steel ferrules from the side without disturbing the integrity of the integrated tip or the threaded rear end. I called it cross-slotting. My male and female
V-blades then slide into the cross-slots and interlock inside the ferrule like a precise puzzle. It’s so solid and secure that I called it the Alcatraz BladeLock System after the legendary maximum-security prison in San Francisco Bay. Assembly with the Alcatraz System is simple. A female long-slot blade was slid into a cross-slot and pushed forward into position. Next a male short-slot blade was slid into the other ferrule slot below the first blade and rocked carefully forward to engage with the first blade. A washer was then slipped over the thread tail of the broadhead and the now-assembled head was screwed and tightened onto the arrow. The result was an unconventionally short, amazingly accurate and incredibly strong broadhead.” Gary Cooper’s overall broadhead design really was a rather slick trick. “I’ve always thought that the best designs and inventions were those that were simple and yet worked surprisingly well. My new broadhead design seemed to fit both of those criteria. It was wonderfully simple and the slick way it worked was just extraordinary. I considered it a slick trick of engineering and design. In fact, I liked that play on words so much that I decided to name my broadhead and my company Slick Trick.” After several more years of prototypes and in-the-field testing, Gary was finally ready to show Slick Trick broadheads to the world in January of 2000. That year Gary attended the ATA Archery Trade Show for the first time as an exhibitor. “I borrowed $4,000 to make up my show samples, loaded up my car with those samples and a few brochures and drove all the way to Indianapolis for the show. I’m not a fancy guy. My booth was simple and of the smallest size available. Yet my innovative new broadheads attracted quite a bit of interest. “Not surprisingly, initial reaction from many was guarded. The Slick Trick broadhead was decidedly different. It was so much shorter than nearly every head of its type ever made. Some showgoers threw out that it was maybe too small. But that was a reaction to its appearance from the side. From the side it did appear shorter and smaller than ever. But as soon as I would turn the head so that it was pointing directly at the viewer, they would see that the blades
Slick Trick pioneered the concept of more accurate, more forgiving, stronger and more reliable super-short broadheads. Above, left to right, Tony Reed holds an arrow equipped with a Slick Trick GrizzTrick, Jamie Reed an arrow with a Slick Trick RazorTrick and inventor Gary Cooper a shaft equipped with a Slick Trick Standard. Inside Archery 34 July 2010
were as wide as most other broadheads. You could almost see the lights going on in their heads when they looked at it that way. Then, when I walked them through all the advantages––the increased accuracy, forgiveness, strength and durability––most dealers were quickly sold enough to volunteer to give them a try. After the show I made up samples and sent them out to the dealers that I had talked with at the show. I felt that if I could just get dealers and bowhunters to shoot my heads, they would quickly see all the pluses. “In short order the comments began to roll in, and that was fun because the typical response usually was something like, ‘Wow! I can’t believe it. This is the best-shooting broadhead I’ve ever tried.’ Those early conversations with dealers from all across the country were delightfully rewarding.” Bowhunters, too, soon got the Slick Trick word. “I’ve loved talking with the bowhunters, learning how happy they were with my broadheads. ‘You ought to see how they fly and the big holes they cut,’ they’d tell me. What many seemed particularly surprised with was the penetration that Slick Trick broadheads delivered on game. Quickly gone was the old bias that only long, thin broadheads penetrated especially well. With today’s compound bows, penetration with short, wide Slick Trick broadheads was routinely spectacular. What was particularly interesting were all the comments on Slick Trick performance when the broadheads encountered bone. There was one guy who shot a giant Maryland buck but then initially ran into problems with a game warden when the warden inspected his deer. The bowhunter had hit the deer in the hip as the buck dodged through heavy brush. The Slick Trick had shattered the buck’s hip and then gone on to penetrate deeply into the opposite ham. At first glance the officer suspected the deer must have been shot with a rifle of some sort. Fortunately, upon closer inspection, the warden agreed that the Slick Trick had really done a number on that buck, and everyone was duly impressed by the broadhead’s performance. “Most decent broadheads shot from a reasonable hunting compound will penetrate flesh quite easily. But what really separates the men from the boys is how
a broadhead performs when it hits bone. Overly long broadheads tended to flex or even bend when they hit bone, greatly impeding or even stopping all penetration. Super-short broadheads like the Slick Trick appear to almost blast through bone because their ferrules are so much stiffer and stronger, and because they present less surface friction to slow penetration in
Inside Archery 35 July 2010
dense materials like bone. Long, thin broadhead tend to try to cut or slit their way through bone and often become wedged tight in the bone. Unconventionally short, super-strong heads tend to break straight through bone, shattering the bone while the arrow continues on its way. A good analogy is the comparison between trying to split a log with a
relatively thin ax or a relatively thick splitting maul. The axe will frequently get squeezed and even trapped in the wood. The blunter, stiff maul forces the log to crack wide open.” Gary’s original Slick Trick broadhead had a 1.12-inch cutting diameter and weighed 100 grains. Not one to rest on his laurels, in 2005 Gary renamed that original head the Slick Trick Magnum and introduced a new Slick Trick Standard with a slightly smaller 1-inch cutting diameter. The Magnum was offered in 100- and 125-grain versions, the Standard in 85-, 100- and 125-grain models. With that expanded broadhead selection, Slick Trick’s popularity and influence really began to grow. Even the competition began to take notice and a flock of competing ultra-short heads began to appear. With their appearance, so did some new broadhead terminology. “As I remember, the editors of this very magazine coined the term ‘super-short broadhead’ to describe the trend that Slick Trick pioneered. Soon everyone was using that term, and our little trend turned into a landslide. Super-short broadheads, led by Slick Trick, have rewritten the broadhead map in the last ten years. “To keep the ball rolling and to keep myself challenged, I’ve continued to design and introduce new Slick Trick heads. In 2008 we debuted the 1.25-inch GrizzTrick for those bowhunters seeking an even bigger cut than that offered by the Slick Trick Magnum. At the same time we introduced the RazorTrick, a super-short broadhead with a leading cutting edge. “This year we introduced the Xbow Trick, a 175-grain broadhead
Slick Trick packagers Charlene Snyder (left) and Leslie Davis (right) make sure that each display package is properly assembled and securely closed. designed specifically for today’s high-performance crossbows. For years, crossbow experts have been using Slick Trick broadheads because of the way they flew and their inherent accuracy. But the crossbow guys had discovered that with their short bolts, heavy point-weighting provided by far the best performance out of today’s fast crossbows. Most often they achieved that weighting with extraheavy brass inserts in the arrow shaft. With the new 175-grain
Inside Archery 36 July 2010
Xbow Trick that’s no longer necessary, which explains why the Xbow Trick has been so well received by serious crossbow hunters. Then, too, bowhunters heading for Africa have also noticed this 175-grain super-short head and are using it to assemble the especially heavy arrows they need for dangerous game on the Dark Continent.” Today Slick Trick remains in Jonesboro, Arkansas, not far from where the Slick Trick super-short concept was originally developed. Founder Gary Cooper owns the company. General Manager Tony Reed handles new-dealer development, the Slick Trick Pro Staff, customer support and consumer inquiries. Office Manager Jamie Reed, Tony’s wife, oversees accounts payable, accounts receivable, current dealers and assists with all customer support. “Being from Arkansas we pride ourselves on our southern hospitality,” Gary says with a decided drawl. “We’re straight with people. We tell our customers that if they’re not satisfied with our heads, we will send their money back. And we mean that. Making dealers and bowhunters happy is what we’re all about. I tell my employees that their number one job is to be cheerful. I figure that if you do that with a business and you go under, at least it was fun while it lasted. But we aren’t worried, if that happens we’ll be fine here in Arkansas living off possum and poke salad.” Then he turns serious. “It’s really quite amazing how many broadhead companies have followed our super-short broadhead lead,” admits Gary. “And I suppose it would be easy to get resentful of that. But I think differently. “Competition in the broadhead market certainly is intense. But I see that mostly as interesting, and I also have a slightly different take on how it all might contribute to a greater good. My philosophy is that I am happiest when I push myself to develop and offer broadheads that, simply put, make others happy. The way I look at it is that if dealers and Slick Trick bowhunters are happy, our company will continue to flourish and grow. But on top of that, I sometimes have to remind myself that better broadheads are not a cure for cancer, nor can they plug a big oil spill. But I like to think that maybe some user of our broadheads somewhere is a doctor or an engineer, and the satisfaction,
enjoyment and stress relief they get from using our broadheads when bowhunting will allow them to reapply themselves in their respective fields and just maybe they will come up with that cancer cure or an oil-cap solution. One thing I know for certain though is that there are a bunch of average workinghero bowhunters out there that put food on the table for their families and are happier
Inside Archery 37 July 2010
at home and work because of bowhunting. It makes me happy knowing that Slick Trick broadheads, and all the other super-short broadheads that work so well, put smiles on people’s faces. That’s what really counts.” For more information on Slick Trick broadheads, log onto slicktrick.net or call Slick Trick at (870) 934-0131.
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M a r k e t
T r e n d s
Bow Report By Bill Krenz
Hoyt AlphaBurner A
lot of today’s archery-equipment catalogs just sort of sit there. The products are great but the catalogs are uninspired. Not so the 2010 catalog from Hoyt. It’s inspiring, even exciting. The photography is superb, and the copy is a hoot. Take, for example, the headline used on the page introducing the new-for-2010 Hoyt AlphaBurner. That line reads “Because HardHitting Speed Doesn’t Mean Jack If You Can’t Hit Anything.” Within that one edgy headline beats the heart of this new bow. Bow speed in archery is a good thing. It stomps arrow trajectory flat. It also gets an arrow off the string and out of the bow quicker, minimizing the errant problems of individual shooters. The upshot is that bow speed can help you do a better job of hitting what you’re aiming at. Of course there is always a flip side. Standard on hunting AlphaBurners, the Hoyt 180 Grip is a wonderfully comfortable and Mega-fast bows have often been atronatural grip to shoot. ciously harsh to draw, noisy to shoot, shock-prone and frequently have proven to be finicky shooters. They shoot spoton one day, but off the next. Bow-design leaders like Hoyt are working hard to fix all that. The 2010 Hoyt AlphaBurner is one such fix. It’s a remarkable new superfast bow that seems surprisingly easy to shoot well. I’ve been shooting a test AlphaBurner for about the past month and it’s surprised me. As advertised, it’s smoking fast. I expected that. But Precise limb pockets are one mark of a what’s caught me off guard is a draw quality bow. The extended pocket system that’s firm but steady throughout with a on the AlphaBurner provides perfect limb alignment shot after shot. relatively smooth transition into letoff, a shot that’s wonderfully shock free and reasonably quiet and accuracy that has remained pinpoint consistent day in and day out. The AlphaBurner’s performance has me scrambling for answers. Why is this speed bow so different? I’ve written before that bow accuracy starts with a good grip, and the AlphaBurner certainly has that. Its low-torque 180 Grip is superb. I can also surmise that its revolutionary TEC LITE riser, extended precise-alignment limb pockets and bombproof laminated XT 2000 limbs all coalesce
Inside Archery 38 July 2010
to create an unusually stable launch platform. There’s probably also something in this bow’s 34.75-inch overall length. That’s a bit longer than most, which likely helps further stabilize a super-fast shot. I believe I especially notice that on shots beyond 50 yards with the minimal right/ left deviation in my groups. The 2010 Hoyt AlphaBurner is indeed fast, but it’s miles from furious. In fact, it’s rather a sweet shooter….because speed doesn’t mean jack if you can’t hit anything or don’t enjoy the bow.
How It Shoots
The draw on too many speed bows tears me up. It’s rough, tough and the letoff, when it finally does come, is like unexpectedly stepping off a cliff. Letting down such a bow takes extreme concentration. All that has been banned on planet AlphaBurner. The 2010 Hoyt AlphaBurner draws with a controlled steadiness that is altogether uncommon in such a fast bow. It’s still stiff (all that energy has to come from somewhere), but there are no surprises and the slide into letoff is sensibly smooth. At full draw there is a firm back wall, thanks to a draw-stop peg that pivots around with the lower cam to contact an inside cable. That’s important because the bow’s valley is quite small to maximum energy storage and that means, as it does with any speed bow, that there is essentially little or no room to creep forward at full draw. Pulling firmly into the AlphaBurner’s draw stop helps prevent possible creep. It’s hard to say enough good things about the simple, small, low-torque grip on the 2010 AlphaBurner. For me it seems a wonderfully comfortable and natural grip to shoot. It’s also extremely repeatable. All of that enhances accuracy and heightens shooting enjoyment. Plenty of fast bows deliver plenty of handshock when an arrow is released. Many are not overly quiet (I’m being kind). The Hoyt AlphaBurner is different. It delivers practically no handshock and it’s comparatively quiet, even with very light arrows.
Specifications
Arrow Speed
Axle-to-Axle Length
34.75 inches
28-Inch Arrows
Brace Height
6 inches
Riser Geometry
4 inches reflex
Mass Weight
4.3 pounds
Letoff
75 percent
Draw Lengths
22 to 30 inches
Draw Weights
50#, 60#, 70#, 80#
Color
Black Out, Half & Half, Bone Collector, Realtree APG-HD, Target Colors
Hoyt AlphaBurner ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hoyt AlphaBurner set at 29 inches (by factory) and adjusted to 70 pounds ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Shaft: Arrow: Kinetic Arrow Grains/In Weight Energy Speed
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easton XX78 Alloy 2512 Easton Full Metal Jacket 400 Carbon Express Aramid KV 350 Carbon Tech Whitetail 65/80 Carbon Express Maxima Hunter 350 Easton ST Axis N-Fused 400 Beman ICS Hunter Elite 400 Gold Tip XT Hunter 55/75 PSE Radial X Weave Hunter 300 Gold Tip Ultralight Pro 400 Carbon Tech Cheetah 400 Easton FlatLine 400 High Country Speed Pro Max
10.3 10.2 9.8 9.5 8.9 9.0 8.4 8.2 8.1 7.4 6.4 7.4 5.5
448 gr. 426 gr. 415 gr. 411 gr. 398 gr. 392 gr. 390 gr. 385 gr. 376 gr. 361 gr. 346 gr. 344 gr. 303 gr.
86.0 85.2 84.6 84.4 84.4 84.7 84.9 84.3 83.9 83.6 82.7 82.7 80.6
294 fps 300 fps 303 fps 304 fps 309 fps 312 fps 313 fps 314 fps 317 fps 323 fps 328 fps 329 fps 346 fps
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For more information, log onto hoyt.com or call Hoyt at (801) 363-2990.
Bow weighed with an Easton Bow Force Digital Scale. All tests conducted with a Spot-Hogg Shooting Machine and a Competition Electronics Pro Chronograph.
Because it’s a Cam & 1/2 System there are little or no synchronization concerns. Both the top and bottom cams are slaved together with a control cable so that the cams move in sync.
Hoyt Stealth Shot
This is the top limb on the Hoyt AlphaBurner. Note the superfast Hoyt Spiral X Cam and the highly effective AlphaShox Limb Dampener.
Along with being super fast, I also found the new Hoyt AlphaBurner super accurate. Claims of great accuracy with great speed are often exaggerated, but not with the AlphaBurner. This bow turned in great groups day after day all the way out to 80 yards on my test range.
Key Features and Benefits Revolutionary TEC LITE Riser
The Hoyt AlphaBurner utilizes one of the stiffest, strongest, most stable speed-bow risers ever designed. The AlphaBurner’s TEC LITE riser guarantees all three of those things while also offering a great grip, wonderfully precise and accurate extended limb pockets and maximum shot dampening.
Speedy Spiral X Cam & ½ System Built specifically for a super-fast shot, the Hoyt AlphaBurner’s Spiral X Cam & ½ System is power-packed. Yet it also provides a surprisingly comfortable and controlled draw.
Located just below the grip on the AlphaBurner is Hoyt’s Stealth Shot, a bumpered string stop designed to quiet bowstring vibration and noise with each shot. The Stealth Shot also encourages a cleaner and quicker release of the arrow from the bowstring. That makes this fast bow even more forgiving.
Hoyt AlphaShox Limb Dampeners Strategically squeezed between the AlphaBurner’s XT 2000 Split Limbs are AlphaShox Limb Vibration Dampeners. Designed and built by Hoyt and LimbSaver engineers, AlphaShox deliver highly effective vibration dampening and noise elimination. Ten linear inches of LimbSaver NAVCOM material are the key to the remarkable effectiveness of these unique limb dampeners.
Optional Hoyt Pro-Fit Grip System I really like the hunteroriented 180 Grip on the AlphaBurner. Still, it’s difficult for just one grip to be perfect for every shooter. That’s why Hoyt offers the option of its Pro-Fit Custom Grip System for this remarkable bow. Besides the 180 Grip, Standard, High Wrist and Side Plate laminated-wood grips are also available.
z
Inside Archery 39 July 2010
Hooter
Shooter Portable
M a r k e t
T r e n d s
Field Test By Bill Krenz
Copper John Dead Nuts 3 Sights
Tl
Copper John Dead Nuts 3 Mark I
Copper John Dead Nuts 3 Mark III
Copper John Dead Nut 3 Mark IV
here really isn’t anything on this earth that couldn’t stand a few improvements, and be better for it. Someone is going to think of those improvements. Why not beat the other guy to it? That’s been the thinking at Copper John for a long time. The company’s original Dead Nuts hunting sights, which were first introduced by Copper John in 2000, were quite revolutionary. Those original Dead Nuts Sights were unusually compact, bombproof and affordable. Furthermore, they were the very first commercially available hunting sights equipped with a perfectly round pin guard for precise peep-sight alignment and the enhanced accuracy that new feature afforded. A round pin guard with a high-visibility alignment ring proved such a significant improvement that virtually every hunting-sight manufacturer eventually adopted the concept. In 2007 Copper John again delighted archery dealers and bowhunters with a major re-design of the hugely popular Dead Nuts line. The improved Dead Nuts 2 sights featured beefier pin guards and enhanced sight pins that completely protected the fiber optics, could be adjusted extremely close together and were brightened by extended lengths of fiber wrapped protectively within the sight’s pin guard. Some models further featured micro-adjustability. Each element was an important improvement roundly cheered by bowhunters.
Inside Archery 40 July 2010
For 2010 Copper John has done it again, completely re-designing and significantly improving its Dead Nuts hunting sight lineup. Brand new for 2010 are the Copper John Dead Nuts 3 sights, each one jam packed with new features and new options. Of particular note, I think, are the new Dead Nuts 3 Mark I, Mark II and Mark IV models. The Copper John Dead Nuts 3 Mark I sight sports a host of improved features beginning with EasyGlide and Speed Gap Technology. EasyGlide Technology incorporates an innovative new Force Spreading Pin and Washer design that minimizes material deformation and thereby enables its sight pins to adjust easier and last longer. The new Mark I sight can be ordered with either three or five fiber-optic pins in two pin-head sizes, and with Speed Gap Technology those uniquely offset pins can be nested one over the other in the same line and plane to provide the ultimate in tight, accurate pin gapping. At the same time, the sight pins in the new Dead Nuts 3 Mark I feature extra long fiber optics which are fully enclosed and protected all the way from the pin head to the sheltered wrap within the sight’s pin guard. Plus those fibers are Copper John’s IronClad Fiber Optics, the toughest in the archery industry. The results are dramatically improved fiberoptic longevity, easy fiber-optic replaceability and super-bright sight pins. Windage and elevation adjustments are also clearly laser engraved for enhanced adjustment precision, the sight’s bubble is third-axis adjustable and the new Mark I is drilled and tapped for Copper John’s AfterBurner Sight Light. On top of all that. the Mark I is convertible for right or left
hand use and the bright orange pin-guard highlight that works so well to enhance peep-sight alignment is also coated with vibration-absorbing polyurethane for improved vibration-dampening capabilities. Optional with the Mark I is silkysmooth micro-adjustability. The new-for-2010 Copper John Dead Nuts 3 Mark III is an even more feature-packed sight. In addition to all of the attributes of the standard Mark I models, the Mark III versions accept an optional AfterBurner Light Assembly, an optional dovetail extension bar and optional optical lenses. For the ultimate in precise aiming, Copper John’s BigShow Lenses are available for the new Mark III in diopters 0.25 (approximately 2 power), 0.50 (approximately 4 power) and 0.75 (approximately 6 power). Sight-pin confusion with a multiplepin hunting sight is always a potential problem for many bowhunters, which is exactly why so many prefer a single-pin sight with quick distance-adjust capability. The brand new Copper John Dead Nuts 3 Mark IV is just such a sight. Like all the other new Dead Nuts 3 sights, the Mark IV features an extra long fiber optic which is fully enclosed and protected all the way from the pin head to the sheltered wrap within the sight’s pin guard, a bubble that is third-axis adjustable, a bright orange pin guard highlight that also serves to dampen shot vibration, laser-engraved adjustment marks, is drilled and tapped for a Copper John AfterBurner Sight Light and is right- or left-hand convertible. In addition, the Mark IV features a smooth one-touch adjustment lever that allows the user to quick-adjust the sight’s single sight pin for the exact distance of the shot. A single, beefy elevation-locking screw secures any sight setting. An easy quarter turn loosens that screw, enabling the distance lever to be quickly and precisely slid to the pre-set distance mark required. The slider range is a generous 1.375 inches. Like the Mark III, the Mark IV accepts an optional AfterBurner
Light Assembly and is fully Copper John’s BigShow Lens capable. Everything can be improved. Copper John continues to demonstrate that with its evolving Dead Nuts sight line. Through three distinct generations of superior hunting sights, the Copper John Dead
Inside Archery 41 July 2010
Nuts lineup has proven itself with dealers and bowhunters worldwide. When you get only one shot, be Dead Nuts accurate! For more information on the new Dead Nuts 3 sights, log onto copperjohn.com or call Copper John at (315) 258-9269.
z
“Because they fly well and just plain kill stuff!” That’s how one bowhunter responded to the query about his favorite hunting head. “Accuracy is the number one thing for me,” explained another. “A broadhead must fly well and I really want it to hit at least close to the same place as my field points. But if a particular head just isn’t accurate for me, I’ll dump it like a hot rock.” A third bowhunter was even blunter. “Why a new broadhead? For the big gnarley holes they promise to make along with the crazy-short tracking jobs. I like blood and lots of it. Big expandable broadheads do that for me.” A more comprehensive answer was given by yet another bowhunter. “I like broadheads that are accurate, extremely effective when it comes to cutting and penetration, very sharp and very durable, and it’s crucial that they also don’t break the bank.” Boil all that and more down and you come up with what today’s bowhunters are typically looking for in a new broadhead––accuracy, good flight, pass-through penetration, durability, sharpness, big entry and exit holes for easy-to-follow blood trails and at least a stab at reasonable affordability. Within that mix of features and benefits are at least four different styles of broadheads. For 2010 that spread includes front-pivot expandable broadheads, reardeployment expandable broadheads, chisel-point fixed broadheads and blade-point fixed broadheads. That’s a lot, but here’s a complete rundown.
Front-Pivot Expandable Broadheads Believe it or not, front-pivot expandables have been in the bowhunting industry for decades. However, little did anyone know how expandables would evolve into some of the most efficient broadheads on the market today. The blades of frontpivot expandables pivot backward from the tip of the broadhead upon impact to provide large holes. Because these types of heads offer field-point accuracy, you’ll find more and more of them screwed onto the ends of arrows today. Starting off this parade of front-pivot heads is the newest member of the Carbon Express line of expandables, the Dual Blade F-15. Unlike other expandables, the F-15 offers a total of six blood-gushing blades along its strong, stainless-steel, onepiece ferrule. Its dual, side-by-side parallel steel blades swing open to provide 1.37 inches of cutting power, as well as a chisel-type point fixed in the opposite direction that provides an additional cutting channel. These multiple cutting surfaces create a 250-percent greater wound than other single blade systems. The MidAtlantic X-System broadhead incorporates patented Spin-Tite Airfoil Technology, which spin-stabilizes the arrow and allows its 1.5-inch deployable
Inside Archery 43 July 2010
Teflon-coated stainless-steel blades to screw into the flesh and bone of unsuspecting prey like a power drill. Its steel ferrule incorporates the patented Inertia Trigger Cam, which easily deploys the blades with no loss of kinetic energy. Engineered with all the same qualities as its older cousin, NAP’s new Spitfire Edge features precision tolerances and the patented snap-lock blade retention that we’ve all come to expect from NAP. The Edge also features the exclusive Bone Saw steel Diamize expandable offset blades that provide a full 1.75 dualaction, flesh-cutting serration. Add to this the micro-grooved ferrule which amplifies stability and accuracy, and you have a must-use broadhead this season. With a huge 2.75 inches of cutting power, the AfterShock HyperShock 125 is devastating. It also works differently, utilizing a unique center-of-gravity set to keep the blades shut when the head is launched from a bow, but then employing the same system to dramatically deploy the blades after initial penetration. Samurai-style curved blades conserve forward momentum and slice effectively. The Razortip is another proven expandable put out by the folks at Grim Reaper. It offers a full 1.38 inches of slicing power, and the Trocrazor three-blade cut-on-contact tip crushes through bone with ease. The blades use Maxx Edge SS technology, which gradually thins the blade from a strong .035 thick to a thinner .020 that creates the scary-sharp cutting surfaces Grim Reaper Broadheads are known for. The Vortex Mini-Max III is an expandable three-blade cutting system that incorporates a unique ring and collar blade-retention system for easy blade replacement––that is, of course, after its 2-inch cutting diameter blades and chisel point plow through flesh
Inside Archery 44 July 2010
and bone. Its steel ferrule is as tough as nails, and the safety O-ring keeps the blades from opening in flight. The Steelhead XL is one of many expandables offered by the good folks at Trophy Ridge. The blades on the XL deliver an inch and a half of devastation, and the bulletproof-slick titanium nitride coating on the steel ferrule reduces friction while at the same time providing durability and outstanding penetration. Its low-profile design and scalloped ferrule also reduce drag while providing field-tip accuracy. The Wasp Jak-Hammer SST features the pre-aligned, Trocar, Stainless Smart Tip (SST) which creates a straight cutting path that ensures a deep-penetrating result. The surgically sharp stainless-steel blades are folded forward with an O-ring while in flight and upon impact fold back to deliver 1.75 inches of sheer slicing power. The EXP two-blade or three-blade systems from Innerloc offer a machined, stainless-steel constructed ferrule and chisel tip that deliver both durability and deep, bone-crushing power. The spring tension clip-lock design holds the blades in place when either opened or closed, and the unique stop collars let you decide just how much of a wound channel your bowhunting situation dictates, either 1.25- or 1.44-inch. New from Steelforce is the innovative Phathead SOB (Swing Open Blade). The Phathead SOB is a short, tough broadhead similar to the regular Phathead but with two forward-facing expandable blades that instantly deploy upon impact, increasing the SOB’s cutting diameter from 1.0 inches to 1.5 inches. With excellent geometry for penetration and a .075-inch-thick stainlesssteel main blade, this head is prepared for anything.
Rear-Deployment Expandable Broadheads
Of the two types of expandable broadheads, the rear-deployment models are the new kids on the block. The idea behind reardeployment expandables is that they are almost deflection-proof at extreme angles, unlike some of their front-pivoting cousins. Regardless of where one falls on that debate, rear-deployment expandables typically require less energy to open, which can mean deeper vital penetration. Topping the list of this expanding breed of broadheads is the revolutionary Rage SlipCam system. With a 2-inch cutting diameter for the dual-blade model and 1.5-inch on the three-blade, the Rage delivers massive wound channels that create paintbrush-sized blood trails that are a breeze to follow. Its machined aircraft-aluminum ferrule and streamlined HexFlat design provides stable flight with field-point accuracy. Upon impact, the SlipCam initiates the stainless-steel blades from the rear of the ferrule to allow full deployment before entry and continues to plow through the toughest flesh with its razor instant-cut tip leading the way. This fluid action creates amazing entry and exit holes for an easy and quick recovery. Requiring less than 3 pounds to deploy its steel, razor-sharp blades, the G5 Tekan is an expandable broadhead to be reckoned with. Its one-piece stainless ferrule and .50inch cut-on-contact point are its foundation. While in flight, the dual blades are secured with an O-ring, and upon impact they travel down the channel of the ferrule and deploy from the rear to create 1.5 inches of bonecrushing destruction. The Trophy Ridge Meat Seeker is a uniquely engineered piston-designed broadhead that provides 100-percent blade deployment every time. Equipped with an aerodynamic tip, the stainless-steel blades straddle the heat-treated steel cylinder and are held in place by a rubber band while in flight. Once the aerodynamic tip makes contact and is forced down, the Piston-Hammer Technology kicks in and deploys the steel blades from the rear. This creates a swath of destruction from beginning to end that is 2 inches wide for two-blade models and 1.5 inches for three-blade models. The name should speak for itself, and since its introduction a few years ago the Switchblade from Tru-Fire has been responsible for countless animals going down. Depending on the speed of your bow, Tru-Fire offers a Speed Tip for bows shooting over 310
fps and a Chisel Tip for those that don’t; and regardless of which one you need, this openon-impact broadhead provides nearly 2 inches of bone-splitting power. The Smoke Broadhead was designed to be the most accurate and efficient broadhead on the market today. Using no rubber bands or O-rings, its blades are completely hidden inside the ferrule while in flight, which reduces wind planing and produces absolute field-point accuracy. Once contact is made with its sculpted-steel chisel tip and the point assembly is engaged, its three surgically sharpened blades eject from the ferrule and produce a 1.12-inch diameter cut. With one of the largest cutting diameters on the market today, the new 2-Blade BloodRunner from NAP is a force to be reckoned with. Combining the look and elements of a fixed blade and the ingenuity of an expandable, the BloodRunner gives you the best of both worlds. Its sharp, stainlesssteel blades and the unique design of its 7075 aircraft-aluminum ferrule provide strength and penetration for those heavy-boned critters. Upon contact, the blades deploy to provide 2.1 inches of blood-gushing damage.
Chisel-Point Fixed Broadheads
Although expandable broadheads are very popular, it’s still hard to beat the consistency of a fixed-blade broadhead. Countless bowhunters today still prefer these time-tested heads on the end of their hunting arrows. The chisel-point-style broadhead is a favorite among many bowhunters. They provide the necessary power and bone-splitting durability in virtually every bowhunting situation. Here’s a look at what this style of broadhead has to offer you this season. If you’ve bowhunted for longer than a day, then you’ve heard of Muzzy, and its MX series is one to consider this season. The MX-3 (three-blade) and MX-4 (four-blade) are both designed with Trocar Tips, and the ingenious blade-locking design allows the blades to be replaced once they’ve crushed the lungs of your unsuspecting prey. These low-profile heads provide ultra-sharp blades with up to 1.25 inches of “bad to the bone” cutting power. The new Thunderhead Edge from NAP has all the features that have made the Thunderhead series a mainstay in the broadhead market. The exclusive straight/serrated Bone Saw, deep-set Diamize blades and patented Trophy Tip power through game with ease. Add to this the tough-as-nails, aircraft aluminum, micro-grooved ferrule and a
Inside Archery 45 July 2010
cutting diameter of 1.12 inches, and you have the complete tack-driving package. The Crimson Talon Hyper-Speed XT from MidAtlantic offers 11 rigid airfoils that are specifically designed to spin-stabilize the shot. In fact, the folks at MidAtlantic claim the faster the bow the more spin-stabilization; and in this era of hot bows, this is something to consider. Add to this the patented Spiral Kut Tip and six scary-sharp blades, and you have a broadhead that screws through flesh to create devastating wound channels. Looking for uniqueness in a broadhead? Check out the Titanium Atom from Arrowdynamic Solutions. With the ferrule machined from solid titanium, this oneof-a-kind, four-blade-like system screams technology. The Flexible Razor Wire blades are made from a nickel titanium alloy called Nitinol that has the ability to be razor sharpened. Once these unique blades are easily locked into position, they have the ability to compress when they come into contact with bone, minimizing the loss of kinetic energy and promoting deeper penetration. The hybrid chisel-point Ramcat from Smoke Broadheads offers a one-piece, stainless-steel ferrule that delivers 1.4 inches of cutting devastation. The patented deep lobes in the cutting tip prevent wind planing and allow for solid field-point accuracy. Once delivered into flesh and bone, the lobes create a hydrofoil which in turn reduces friction. And unlike other broadheads, the Ramcat’s blades are razor sharp on both sides, which means the Ramcat will efficiently cut its way back out in the event the arrow does not fully penetrate through your target. Grim Reaper’s Hades features Maxx Edge SS blades that uniquely step down in thickness from .035 to .020, which provides a combination of durability and sharpness that is second to none. Its V-notched Trocar steel tip doesn’t hesitate to split flesh, and in
Inside Archery 46 July 2010
the unusual event that a clean pass-through doesn’t occur, the steel blades are sharpened on both edges, giving the Hades the ability to do damage in both directions. The folks at Innerloc insist the Falcon broadhead is “fast, fierce and fatal!” This compact unit incorporates Innerloc’s popular and reliable Center Blade Locking System. When coupled with their exclusive B.A.T. (Blade Alignment Technology), which allows the broadhead to be perfectly tuned to any bow, you have a weapon that centerpunches the 10-ring every time. The Slick Trick Magnum incorporates aerodynamics, accuracy and penetration to produce a fixed-blade broadhead that flies like a dart. Its patented Alcatraz Bladelock system firmly locks the four razor-sharp Lutz Solingen German stainless-steel blades inside the ferrule, which produces a straight path from your bow to a waiting target. Its headto-toe steel construction provides a durable foundation so the 1.12-inch cutting diameter blades can work their blood-letting magic. If you’re looking for one of the toughest fixed blades on the market, then check out Trophy Taker’s Terminal T-Lock! Crafted from a single-piece, cut-on-contact ferrule and equipped with non-vented quiet blades, the T-Lock offers a level of bone-crushing power that is at the top of the broadhead food chain. Add to this the Terminal T-Lock’s blade-toferrule connection, .041-thick blades with a cutting diameter of 1.12 inches, and you have the stopping power of a freight train. The wicked SaberMaxx broadhead incorporates a patented flight-stabilization design to enhance accuracy. The SaberMaxx’s unique blade serrations and devastating cutting ring deliver a huge wound channel that puts game down quickly and provides a ridiculously easy-to-follow blood trail. Keeping fast bows in mind, the folks at Continued on page 48
Continued from page 46
Wasp created the Boss SST. Its compact aerodynamic ferrule offers reduced blade surface and perfect SST tip alignment. The result is a forgiving and accurate cut-on-contact broadhead that delivers heart-stopping penetration and bone-busting strength in one package. With today’s compound bows launching arrows at well over 300 feet per second, EP Hunting decided to design a broadhead that actually takes advantage of all of that speed. The result is The Reign, a broadhead that is radically different from other designs on the market. The Reign utilizes a unique Shatterhead, a steeply angled tip that actually blows through bone much like a mushrooming bullet. In addition, The Reign features a pivoting, single-piece, two-blade design. When a single blade on many broadheads encounters bone, the entire broadhead’s trajectory is changed. With The Reign, however, the blade simply pivots out of the way, allowing The Reign to continue along its original path.
Blade-Point Fixed Broadheads
The signature feature of the blade-point broadhead is its scalpel-like cutting surface that runs from front to back. Because of their special ability to slice easily through hide and penetrate to extreme depths, these types of heads are frequently favored by many. These are also some of the toughest broadheads available today. And with both two-blade and fourblade models to choose from, there’s bound to be one that will meet your special needs. The 4-Blade Stinger from Magnus couples the powerful performance of its twoblade cousin but adds the exclusive Bleeder Block to lock in the .75-inch bleeder blades for additional bone-busting devastation. With an aircraft-aluminum ferrule and .042thick blades machined from knife-grade
Inside Archery 48 July 2010
stainless-steel, the Stinger flies true from beginning to end. Add to this the strength of its diamond tip and Magnus’ lifetime replacement guarantee, and you’ll see it’s hard to go wrong with the Stinger. The Phantom MX-85 offers everything you have come to expect from the folks at Muzzy. The two-blade, cut-on-contact head features a 1.12-inch cutting diameter, and similar to its older cousin, the Phantom MX-4, the MX-85 offers a shorter profile with less blade surface for better tuning and maximum accuracy. Even with high-speed bows, the MX-85 will fly like a dart and the scarysharp steel blades will devastate the toughest of game. Another standout from Muzzy is the aforementioned Phantom MX-4. It offers four blades of bone-splitting power, with two primary blades that deliver a 1.12-inch path of destruction and two additional bleeder blades that only add to the carnage. The four-blade Crimson Croc by MidAtlantic dives deep into flesh and bone and wreaks havoc on any big game animal. Two rigid airfoils spin-stabilize the arrow from the front, which forces the leading Teflon-coated large serrated blades and trailing bleeder blades to screw through the target creating a spiral, slice-and-dice wound channel that will bring the biggest of critters to their knees. Touted as the World’s Most Accurate Fixed-Blade Broadheads, LimbSaver Broadheads feature Zero Plane Technology for a leading cutting edge and boosted durability. These cut-on-contact broadheads also offer individually replaceable blades. The LimbSaver Super Sonic is an especially fast head available in both 85- and 100-grain versions. The .036 stainless-steel blades are secured with a compression bushing, and once in place they form a precise razor edge that produces a 1.12-inch cutting diameter. Continued on page 50
Continued from page 48
The Woodsman Elite from 3Rivers Archery is machined from a solid piece of Tool-Grade Steel. Its Pyramid tip provides bone-smashing strength, and the Tefloncoated blades provide deep penetration into flesh and bone. The blades are heat-treated to 50 on a Rockwell hardness scale, and not only will they hold an edge, but they can also be re-sharpened in the field with ease. The G5 Montec CS is a one-piece, metal-injected, stainless-steel design that is heat-treated to increase density and strength. No weld, pin or moving parts here either, just bone-crushing toughness. Its diamondcut sharpness is 25-percent sharper than the original Montec, and the 1.06-inch cut-oncontact head produces a devastating wound channel that makes for easily recovered game. This compact head is aerodynamic and is perfect for the fastest of bows. Similar to its expandable cousin, the F-15 Fixed Blade from Carbon Express offers a total of six edges of devastation. Its deep-penetrating stainless-steel main blade starts the process with a cutting diameter of 1.12 inches, and then four auxiliary blades follow close behind to deliver the knockout punch. This massive amount of damage creates a 250-percent greater wound channel than single-blade systems. Just by looking at the F-15 you can tell it means business! The RazorTrick 125 from Slick Trick is a compact, cut-on-contact broadhead that offers the patented DeadBolt blade-lock system. This makes the RazorTrick as strong as any one-piece three-blade head on the market today. The four Lutz Solingen German blades are scary sharp and have no problem delivering a devastating wound channel. Utilizing an impressive equal-blade system, the Sanford Bloodshot delivers true cut-on-contact for superior cutting and penetration. The Bloodshot features 100-percent stainless-steel construction and razor-sharp blades. Sanford Blade-Overlock Technology guarantees you’ll never lose a blade. The Wac’em Triton XL is made of 416 stainless-steel and heat treated to a 42-45 on a Rockwell hardness scale. The high-quality blades are constructed from .030 Sanvik stainless-steel, and because of its tight tolerances the Triton XL enjoys the same cuton-contact design as its older brother, the Triton. Add to this its field-point accuracy and full 1.25-inch cutting diameter, and you
Inside Archery 50 July 2010
have an efficient killing machine. The Wasp SharpShooter is a four-blade system that features a self-aligning bladelocking system which utilizes a hardened stainless-steel forward section that aligns the main blades to the ferrule with precision and top-notch accuracy. The main steel blade provides a 1-inch diameter cut, and the two bleeder blades follow up to provide excessive devastation to unsuspecting game.
The Broadheads They Want
Bowhunters can be an odd lot in that they are very particular about their broadheads and yet many experiment constantly with their broadhead selection. They’re searching, they’ll admit, for the perfect head. They demand accuracy, great flight and big holes. They desperately want durability as well as a fair shot at acceptable affordability. And everyone has their preferences when it comes to the four types of heads. Offer them all that, and you’ll sell more broadheads.
Z
For More Broadhead Information
For more information on today’s best broadheads, log onto the websites of these leading broadhead manufacturers. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
3Rivers Archery
3riversarchery.com
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Aftershock Archery
aftershockarchery.com
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Arrowdynamic Solutions
arrowds.com
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Carbon Express
carbonexpressarrows.com
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EP Hunting
ephunting.com
G5 Outdoors
g5outdoors.com
Grim Reaper
grimreaperbroadheads.com
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Innerloc
innerloc.com
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LimbSaver Broadheads
limbsaver.com
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Magnus Broadheads
magnusbroadheads.com
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Vortex Broadheads
vortexbroadheads.com
MidAtlantic Archery
spintite.com
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Muzzy
muzzy.com
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New Archery Products
newarchery.com
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Rage
ragebroadheads.com
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SaberMaxx Broadheads
sabermaxx.com
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Sanford Innovations
sanfordinnovations.com
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Slick Trick
slicktrick.net
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Smoke Broadheads
smokebroadheads.com
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Steelforce Broadheads
steelforce.com
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Trophy Ridge
trophyridge.com
Trophy Taker
trophytaker.com
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Tru-Fire
trufire.com
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Wac’em Archery Products
wacemarchery.com
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Wasp Archery
wasparchery.com
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Archery Industry Calendar –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
By Organization:
2012 SHOT SHOW
January 24-27, 2012 • Las Vegas, NV
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ELLETT BROTHERS
ATA ARCHERY TRADE SHOW PHONE: 866-266-2776 FAX: 801-261-2389 WEBSITE: www.archerytrade.org
2011 ATA TRADE SHOW
Thursday – Saturday, January 6-8, 2011 • Indianapolis, IN
PHONE: 800-845-3711 FAX: 803-932-5105 WEBSITE: www.ellettbrothers.com
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By Date:
ARCHERY SHOOTER’S ASSOCIATION / ASA PHONE: 770-765-0232 FAX: 770-795-0953 WEBSITE: www.asaarchery.com
ASA McKenzie ASA Classic
July 29-August 1, 2010 • West Monroe, LA –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
INT’L BOWHUNTING ORG. / I.B.O. PHONE: 440-967-2137 FAX: 440-967-2052 WEBSITE: www.ibo.net
December 2010 • Wisconsin Dells, WI
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KINSEY’S DEALER SHOW
I.B.O. National Championship Triple Crown—3rd Leg
PHONE: 800-366-4269 FAX: 800-366-4126 WEBSITE: www.kinseyarchery.com
I.B.O. Traditional World Championship July 16-18, 2010 • Chapmansboro, TN August 12-14, 2010 • Ellicottville, NY –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
NATIONAL FIELD ARCHERY ASSOC. / NFAA
SHOT SHOW PHONE: 203-840-5600 FAX: 203-840-9600 WEBSITE: www.shotshow.org
2011 SHOT SHOW
January 18-21, 2011 • Las Vegas, NV
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JULY
July 9-11, 2010 Nelsonville, OH • I.B.O. National Championship Triple Crown—3rd Leg
July 10-11, 2010 Various Locations • NFAA Southwest Marked 3D Sectional
July 16-18, 2010 Chapmansboro, TN • I.B.O. Traditional World Championship
July 28-August 1, 2010 Darrington, WA • NFAA Outdoor National Field Championships
July 9-11, 2010 • Nelsonville, OH
I.B.O. World Championship
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NFAA Vegas Shoot / World Archery Festival 2011
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2011 Mathews Retailer Business Show
February 18-20, 2011 • Hershey, PA
December 10-12, 2010 • Homestead, FL
February 11-13, 2011 • Las Vegas, NV
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2011 KINSEY’S DEALER SHOW
NFAA North American Field Archery Championships
January 5-8, 2011 • Columbia, SC
Thursday – Saturday, January 12-14, 2012 • Columbus, OH
PHONE: 608-269-2728 WEBSITE: www.mathewsinc.com
July 28-August 1, 2010 • Darrington, WA
2011 ELLETT BROTHERS DEALER SHOW
2012 ATA TRADE SHOW
MATHEWS RETAILER BUSINESS SHOW
NFAA Outdoor National Field Championships
PHONE: 909-794-2133 FAX: 909-794-8512 WEBSITE: www.nfaaarchery.org
NFAA Southwest Marked 3D Sectional July 10-11, 2010 • Various Locations
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July 29-August 1, 2010 West Monroe, LA • McKenzie ASA Classic –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
AUGUST
August 12-14, 2010 Ellicottville, NY • I.B.O. World Championship –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DECEMBER
December 10-12, 2010 Homestead, FL • NFAA North American Field Archery Championships
December 2010 Wisconsin Dells, WI • 2011 Mathews Retailer Business Show
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(800) 322-6087 www.bowhuntamerica.com Inside Archery 51 July 2010
By Bill Krenz ————————————––— Here are down-to-earth lessons from 45 years of bowhunting all across North America, from Alaska to Florida and almost everywhere in between. Get Close! is a first-of-its-kind informative and instructional guide that will help you boost your bowhunting success. It details secrets and proven ideas that can make you a better bowhunter and a better shot.
M a r k e t
T r e n d s
Bow Report By Bill Krenz
G5 Quest Primal S
ome bows just feel right. That’s one of those things that is easy to say but difficult to explain. A bow that “feels right” is typically the result of the careful blending of a broad spread of factors, including how the bow fits in the hand, how it draws, how it aims, what happens when an arrow is released and even how it looks. Many of those things factor in. One the best examples I’ve tested lately of a bow that just feels right is the G5 Quest Primal. Things start to come together the moment you pick up the Quest Primal. The G5 Quest Primal is a bow of obvious quality. G5 is a company backed by over 40 years of precision manufacturing experience. Ten years ago they began making great archery products—broadheads, sights, rests, peeps, quivers and more. Then more recently they launched Quest, a bow brand built around a solid commitment to innovation, craftsmanship and The blue Speed Studs on the Primal’s bowstring boost performance. The 2010 Primal embodies arrow speed and can also be used to fine-tune the all three. starting attitude of your peep sight. The feel of the Primal begins with the slip-your-hand-right-in comfort of its laminated two-piece wood grip combined with the reassuring precision of its forged and machined aluminum riser. Every edge on that riser is artfully rounded or beveled for a custom quality look and feel. That perception of feel flows straight into the silky-smooth way this bow draws, holds and aims. At full draw, its limbcontact draw stop delivers an exact draw length and a rock-solid back wall that seems to steady the aiming process with the Primal to pinpoint precision. Upon release, the sweet feel continues with minimal hand shock, a quiet shot and an Quest’s optional GFade finish blends camo-finished limbs, limb pockets and the ends of the riser with a accurate delivery. jet-black riser midsection. How a bow looks is part of how a bow “feels.” The 2010 G5 Quest Primal looks spectacular. Black-finished bows are all the rage today, and the Primal is available in all-black. It’s also available in all-camo. But the slickest Primal finish, I think, is what may well be the next generation of
Inside Archery 52 July 2010
exciting bow finishes. It’s called GFade, and it involves the fusion of camo-finished limbs, limb pockets and the ends of the riser with a jet-black riser midsection. It is, in a word, striking. The 2010 G5 Quest Primal just feels right. Everything about the Primal, from its grip to its performance to its finish seems to almost melt together to create one incredible new bow. Maybe feeling just right isn’t so hard to explain after all.
How It Shoots
Bow performance involves tradeoffs. To reach out and grab extreme bow speed, for example, you must typically sacrifice a smooth, comfortable draw. That’s the way it works, and every new-bow buyer must sooner or later decide if that’s the route he wants to take. The Quest Primal offers another approach. The Primal is a bow that delivers moderate but deadly bow speed with a draw that is smooth, steady and comforting. It’s still power-packed for a world of big-game performance, but it’s far from arm wrenching. I thoroughly enjoy the calm, steady way the Quest Primal draws and lets down. It makes me feel in control. I also just love the bow’s adjustable draw stop. With that stop I can micro-tune not only the Primal’s draw length, but also the very feel of the bow at full draw. That stop allows me to precisely position the bow’s back wall, tailoring it to my shooting style and preferences. Furthermore, the draw stop on the Quest Primal is of the limb-contact type. That means that the draw-stop peg rotates around as the bow is drawn to firmly contact the flat of the lower
Specifications
G5 Quest Primal –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Axle-to-Axle Length
32 inches
Brace Height
7.1 inches
Riser Geometry
3 inches reflex
Mass Weight
3.9 pounds
Letoff
80 percent
Draw Lengths
26.5 to 30 inches
Draw Weights
50#, 60#, 70#
Color
Black, Solid Realtree AP-HD & GFade Advantage MAX-1, MAX-4 & AP-HD
Arrow Speed G5 Quest Primal set at 29 inches (by factory) and adjusted to 70 pounds ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 28-Inch Arrows
Shaft: Arrow: Kinetic Arrow Grains/In Weight Energy Speed
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easton XX78 Alloy 2512 Easton Full Metal Jacket 400 Carbon Express Aramid KV 350 Carbon Tech Whitetail 65/80 Carbon Express Maxima Hunter 350 Easton ST Axis N-Fused 400 Beman ICS Hunter Elite 400 Gold Tip XT Hunter 55/75 PSE Radial X Weave Hunter 300 Gold Tip Ultralight Pro 400 Carbon Tech Cheetah 400 Easton FlatLine 400 High Country Speed Pro Max
10.3 10.2 9.8 9.5 8.9 9.0 8.4 8.2 8.1 7.4 6.4 7.4 5.5
448 gr. 426 gr. 415 gr. 411 gr. 398 gr. 392 gr. 390 gr. 385 gr. 376 gr. 361 gr. 346 gr. 344 gr. 303 gr.
75.8 75.3 75.3 75.1 74.9 74.7 74.8 74.4 74.6 74.1 73.4 73.4 72.4
276 fps 282 fps 286 fps 287 fps 291 fps 293 fps 294 fps 295 fps 299 fps 304 fps 309 fps 310 fps 328 fps
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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For more information, log onto questbowhunting.com or call Quest at (866) 456-8836.
Bow weighed with an Easton Bow Force Digital Scale. All tests conducted with a Spot-Hogg Hooter Shooter Portable Shooting Machine and a Competition Electronics Pro Chronograph.
draw stop can also be used to micro-tune draw length and the feel and position of the bow’s back wall even further.
I-Glide Cable Guard System
The innovative Quest I-Glide System captures the bow’s cables within glazed ceramics to reduce friction and cable wear while promoting a quieter shot.
limb. No draw-stop system delivers a more solid back wall than this. I also find that such systems typically deliver the most precise possible draw length and anchor point from shot to shot, and that they seem to additionally steady the aiming process. Partly because of all that it came as no surprise to me that the 2010 Quest Primal proved to be a real tack-driver. Consistency in feel does translate directly into enhanced accuracy. At the shot, the Quest Primal is also a wonderfully quiet and comparatively shockfree bow. Arrow speed is good. Accuracy is phenomenal.
Key Features and Benefits
Modular Twin Track SYNC Cam System Cams power a bow. The Twin Track SYNC Cam System on the Quest Primal offers both bowhunter-ready power and ease of adjustment. Utilizing interchangeable modules, draw length is conveniently adjusted without a bow press in half-inch increments. An adjustable
Exclusive to Quest bows is the company’s innovative I-Glide Cable Guard System. Replacing noisy, inconsistent multi-part systems, the I-Glide system totally captures the bow’s crossing cables within glazed ceramics to reduce system friction and cable wear while promoting a quieter shot.
Adjustable String Suppression System Located just below the Primal’s grip is a backward-facing Adjustable String Suppressor. That bumpered suppressor captures and instantly dampens the rushing bowstring early into the shot to squelch shot vibration and noise.
Dual Purpose Speed Studs
The Speed Studs on the Primal’s bowstring are dual-purpose and simply ingenious. First, they work like magic to boost arrow speed. Second, they can be used to fine-tune peep-sight attitude. Should your peep not be turning perfectly, slide one or both of the Speed Studs up or down minutely to finetune the starting attitude of your peep sight. Nifty plus!
GFade Durafuse Finish Option This may well be the next generation of exciting bow finishes. GFade blends camo-finished limbs, limb pockets and the ends of the riser with a jet-black riser midsection. It’s both tough and classy.
z
Inside Archery 53 July 2010
Inside Archery 54 July 2010
Inside Archery 55 July 2010
Then, across the entire spectrum of treestands, are spread a wide array of differing features, characteristics and price ranges. Some treestands deliver almost palatial comfort. Others are especially quick to set up. Some offer particularly easy access. Quite a number are light in weight. The list of specific features goes on and on. This article was expressly designed to help you more fully understand and get enthused about treestands. It dives deep into all four types of today’s stands. It covers the best treestand manufacturers and their products. To sell more treestands, learn more about them.
Hang-On Stands
Economical hang-on stands are perfect for hunters who want multiple stand locations on their hunting property. Set up hang-on stands in advance to eliminate the hassle and noise of packing a stand in with you. Hunters who want a portable stand will also love hang-on stands, which are often very lightweight and easy to install. Although the Amacker Timb-R-Lock offers super-strong all-welded steel construction, the stand weighs in at just 15 pounds. Because the Timb-R-Lock folds flat and features a backpack strap set, this is an ideal stand for bowhunters who want to stay mobile. A T-bar screw hanger and J-hook fastener quickly attach the Timb-R-Lock to practically any tree, and the platform locks against the tree with a cam-type motion. The Timb-R-Lock sports a 20x29-inch platform, a 10x11-inch seat and a weight capacity of 300 pounds. New from the Ameristep Grizzly treestand line is the Bruiser Hang-On. The padded seat, shooting rail and armrest make for a comfortable wait, and the 24x30inch sure-grip platform features a flip-up footrest. Straps secure the seat back to the tree. The Bruiser sports durable steel construction with a matte finish and is rated for 300 pounds. There’s a lot to love about the API Outdoors Alumi-Tech Magnum Baby Grand. This hang-on stand attaches securely to the tree with a locking cam-over buckle-andstrap hanging system, and the included stabilizer T-screw makes installation quick and easy. The large 30x30-inch platform features large, ribbed traction treads for sure footing, and all-day comfort is provided by the wide, padded bench seat. Larger hunters will appreciate the 350-pound weight capacity of the Magnum Baby Grand. The Big Dog Beagle II is a compact, easy-to-hang stand that is so affordable you’ll probably want to pick up a few. The rock-solid Beagle II has a 20x25-inch
Inside Archery 56 July 2010
platform with a padded 14x8-inch flip-up seat. The Beagle II, which weighs 17.5 pounds, has a weight capacity of 300 pounds. Weighing a nominal 15 pounds, the new-for-2010 Big Game Boss Lite was designed for hunters who want a tough, highly portable stand. The platform of the Boss Lite is 20x27 inches, and the 14x8-inch seat flips up for full platform use. The Boss Lite is available by itself or in the convenient Boss Lite Packable Combo. This package includes a three-pack of stagger-steps, Big Game’s innovative new portable ladder system that is easily installed even on slanted trees. Also included in the Packable Combo are comfortable backpacking straps for easy stand transport, a multi-hanger that keeps your bow and other gear right where you need it and a 30-foot nylon lift cord. Made of resin instead of metal, the True Quiet Tree Stand from C&C Innovations is ultra-lightweight, weather resistant, durable and, with no metal surfaces to ping or squeak, super quiet. For 2010, the True Quiet Tree Stand is now available in pink camo. Like the original True Quiet Tree Stand, this more feminine version features a large 20x30-inch honeycomb platform with Edge Alert Technology and is secured to the tree with a two-belt ratchet system. The attractive pink finish of the True Quiet Pink is perfect for anyone who likes a little color in their setup or who wants a way to more quickly locate their stand in the woods. Constructed with galvanized tubular steel with a high-heat powder coating, the HD/HO Lock-On Stand from Family Tradition Treestands is as durable as it is comfortable. The 25x32-inch platform offers a built-in footrest, and a nylon webbed seat provides for all-day comfort. Two 1,900-pound working-load rubber-sleeved chains support the platform. The HD/HO weighs just 19 pounds and is exceptionally easy to set up. A heavy-duty galvanized-steel T-handle screw holds the HD/HO in place, allowing you to use both hands to secure the stand to the tree. The Gorilla Silverback HX is a mid-sized aluminum stand that weighs a mere 12 pounds. The Silverback HX features a 21x27-inch platform, a flip-up XPE dualdensity foam seat, seat leveling system, XT-6 nylon washers for silent performance and Easy-Cinch dual claw straps for a secure attachment to the tree. This ultra-portable stand is rated for 275 pounds. The Lone Wolf Elite Hang On Stand boasts an extremely generous 36x24-inch one-piece cast aluminum platform and a contoured foam seat cushion. The Elite utilizes an offset bracket with two-strap fastening system, as well as seat and platform self-leveling systems. The lightweight Elite folds down to a slim, easy-to-backpack profile. Molded right into the Elite’s platform is a one-size-fits-most bowholder. The Elite has a weight capacity of 350 pounds. Weighing just 12.5 pounds, the updated Muddy Outdoors Hunter Hang-On offers a roomy 34x24-inch welded-aluminum mega-grid platform that eliminates all noise underfoot and boasts a new footrest. This versatile stand also features a quick, no-tools-needed leveling system for both the seat and platform, and the groundbreaking new boomerang cleat system will keep you secure to the tree. Best of all, the unique 3-inch triple-layer foam seat will keep you comfortable no matter how long it takes for
Inside Archery 57 July 2010
Mr. Right to show up. The remarkable new SwiveLimb Buck Commander boasts an attached ratchet strap that makes for easy, lighting-fast installation. The Buck Commander’s seat swivels a full 360 degrees, will level in a wide range of positions and provides lower back support for added comfort on long days. Weighing in at just 15 pounds, the Buck Commander is a versatile, economical treestand. The Woodsey Too Grey Ghost Hang-On can be hung on even crooked or leaning trees while still providing a level platform. The octagonal platform offers plenty of foot room. A one-piece plastic seat swivels 360 degrees in complete silence, and the Grey Ghost has a 500-pound weight capacity.
Climbing Stands
When it comes to mobility, it’s hard to beat an easy-to-use climbing stand. You simply strap one on your back and you’re ready to go. Today you can find everything from no-frills, ultra-lightweight models to climbing stands that rival your favorite La-Z-Boy in comfort and features. The Amacker Aluminum Deer Thief Adjuster Climber boasts a unique selfleveling system that allows you to step into the stand when it is flat on the ground and maintain a comfortable stand orientation as you climb. Once in place, the Deer Thief can be set to a level position even on odd-shaped trees. The platform is a roomy 20x32 inches, and the Deer Thief can hold up to 350 pounds. This lightweight climber weighs in at 24 pounds for easy transport, while a padded sling seat makes long sits more comfortable. Heavy-duty welded steel construction makes the Ameristep Grizzly Climber one extremely solid stand. With Ameristep’s NS3 Technology (No Scent, No Shine, No Sound), the Grizzly Climber is the ultimate in stealth. The Grizzly Climber’s platform is 35x20 inches, and the stand is rated for 300 pounds. Safety lock cinch straps add stability, while the seat and backrest are padded for comfort. This climbing stand weighs 36 pounds and folds flat for easy transport. With the Equalizer’s three-way moveable seat cushion, you can hunt in any of three positions—facing the tree, with your back to the tree or in the leaning post position. The innovative Equalizer utilizes a tandem blade stabilizer system that reaches farther around the tree for optimal security. Made from aircraft-grade aluminum with over 270 inches of full-circumference welding, the Equalizer is light but strong. The Equalizer weighs 20 pounds and features a 19x29-inch platform. The new Gorilla Greyback Stealth HX Climber combines comfort, stability and silent performance. The 19.5x33-inch platform gives you plenty of room to maneuver, while the 18x12-inch Zero-G XPE dual-density seat provides superior comfort. The
Inside Archery 58 July 2010
Stealth HX’s Gorilla grip pivoting arms can be adjusted to fit most trees between 8 and 20 inches in diameter. Other features include silent XT-6 nylon washers and adjustable, padded backpack straps. Stay mobile with the Millennium M1 Climbing Stand from Hunting Solutions. Set up is easy with the M1’s easy-to-attach cables, sure-grip teeth and platform stabilizing straps. The platform is a large 19x36 inches, and the ComforTech seat folds up to give you even more room for standing shots. If your stand location isn’t producing, the M1 folds flat for quick and easy transport to a more productive spot. If you’ll be covering a lot of ground, you’ll want a stand that’s lightweight. And, after all that walking, a comfortable seat probably wouldn’t hurt, either. The Lone Wolf Wide Sit & Climb possesses all the features that made the original Lone Wolf Sit & Climb a bestseller but is 3.5 inches wider. That super-spacious 21-inch contoured foam seat accommodates bigger hunters or bulky clothing with ease. The one-piece cast aluminum platform is 30x19.5 inches and features Lone Wolf ’s 3D camo platform design. The Wide Sit & Climb weighs just 21 pounds and comes with backpack straps for easy transport. The StrongBuilt Bow Hunter was designed for maximum portability. This 22-pound stand quickly and easily attaches to the tree of your choice, and the non-glare olive-drab finish aids in concealment. The Bow Hunter features a large 31x19.625-inch platform and a comfortable padded sling-style seat. The versatile Summit Titan features a giant 21x38-inch platform. Two-piece seat buckles allow you to adjust the height of the fully padded foam seat, or to remove it quickly. Aluminum construction keeps this oversized stand lightweight while providing the strength to support 350 pounds. The X-1 Treestand from X-Stand utilizes Flexible Arm Technology for easy climbing. That means that unique fiberglass arms flex inward as the cable cinches to securely grip the tree and outward to open the cable. A quick cable attachment system makes for quiet, simplified set up, and the platform is a roomy 21x31 inches. And X-Stand packs these features into a stand that weighs less than 12 pounds.
Ladder Stands
The reassuring stability of today’s best ladder stands is perfect for anyone who doesn’t relish the idea of negotiating climbing sticks in the dark. In the past, “portable” hasn’t exactly been a word most people would have associated with ladder stands, but that’s changing as innovative stand construction has produced a number of relatively light ladder stands. For bowhunters who need to get really high, there’s the Ambush Trophy Tower. Available in 20- and 24-foot models, the sturdy Trophy Tower features steel construction and a truss bracing system. Comfort is ensured by the 14x21-inch Bungee flex seat with backrest, the padded footrest and the padded armrests, and the 21x28-inch
Inside Archery 59 July 2010
platform gives you room to stretch your legs. If you’re looking for a quality ladder stand, look no further than the Ameristep Kodiak. The 17.5-foot Kodiak features a 25x24-inch platform, flip-up camo shooting rail and a flip-up footrest. Like other Ameristep treestands, the Kodiak utilizes NS3 fabric to reduce your chances of being busted by whitetails. The Kodiak sports a padded 12.5x26-inch seat and is rated for 300 pounds. The Big Man Econo-Ladder from BBK Hunting Systems is 15 feet high with a wide, padded seat and an extra-large platform. The Big Man features easy assembly, a quick pin system and a removable padded shooting rail. The Big Dog 15-Foot Big Bud has plenty of room for two with its spacious 40x12.75-inch foot and seat platform. Both the seat and the flip-up shooting rail are padded. The Big Bud attaches with two looped ratchet straps and features an adjustable ladder support bar. The Big Bud is rated for 500 pounds. A 17-Foot Big Bud is also available. Comfort, functionality and durability—that’s the Big Game Legacy in a nutshell. The Legacy stands 20 feet tall at the shooting rail—which is padded and removable—and the 23x23-inch platform was designed to accommodate bowhunters with a wide stance. The Legacy’s seat is a roomy 23x14 inches and utilizes Big Game’s Flex-Core Seat Technology. The ladder consists of four double-rail sections. In addition, the Legacy features two zippered pouches to keep your gear handy and organized. The Family Tradition LD360 features a swivel seat for 360-degree viewing and shooting. The nylon webbed seat is ultra-comfortable for long sits, and the double-rail ladder is ultra-rigid. The LD360 features an oversized platform, and
Inside Archery 60 July 2010
an optional camouflage skirt is available for extra concealment. If you’d like to share your hunt with a friend or child, you can’t go wrong with the Gorilla King Kong Expedition HX 2-Person Ladder. This new-for-2010 stand features a 44x14-inch platform and a convenient 16x9-inch gear shelf. The spacious 42x12-inch seating area has 2-inch camo cushion seats, a mesh backrest and high-density foam armrests. The 15-foot King Kong Expedition also offers a U-Bracket system at each connecting point on the ladder for rock-solid stability, a stabilizer bar with sound-dampening tension system and an anti-sink tamping bar. Muddy Outdoors has been busy updating its popular line of treestands. The improved Archer Ladder Stand is 20 feet tall and features a wide 20x17.5-inch platform. The Archer’s waterproof sling seat was designed with comfort in mind, and the shooting rail swings down for use as a footrest. The Archer weighs 60 pounds and is easy to set up. Muddy’s commitment to hunter safety is demonstrated in their ratchet-strap replacement program. Just return your ratchet straps to Muddy every three years for a free replacement. Specifically designed for bowhunting, the Ol’ Man 20-Foot Bow Lite Ladder weighs just 45.2 pounds, so it’s a very packable ladder stand. The Bow Lite features Ol’ Man’s ComforTech Seating System to make extended sits more enjoyable, while a wide ladder base makes for a rock-solid climb. A 15-foot model is also available for bowhunters who require less height. The ultra-portable 13-foot Pack-NStack by Rivers Edge weighs a scant 33 pounds and, when broken down, can be easily packed to those far-off destinations. Set up takes minutes, and the sling-style seat will allow you to hunt in comfort. The Pack-N-Stack features a durable, welded tubular steel frame that is rated for 300 pounds, and the powder-brown finish vanishes in the woods. The Summit Single Shot Ladder Stand features a removable, padded 24x12inch seat with backrest, and the 23x21inch platform provides plenty of leg room. Constructed from heavy-duty, thick-gauge steel, the Single Shot requires no stabilizer bar to prevent ladder and platform wobble. The Single Shot weighs in at 90 pounds.
Inside Archery 61 July 2010
As the name suggests, the XOP Max Hunter Big Man Extreme, with its 350pound capacity, can accommodate larger hunters, as well as those hunters who enjoy having extra room to maneuver. The 19-foot Big Man Extreme offers a 24x26-inch platform and a flip-up seat with removable closed-cell-foam pad. Tubular steel construction with pinned ladder sections makes one very strong stand.
Alternative Stands
Sometimes the right tree just isn’t available where you want it. In those instances, you might consider a tripod stand, which can be set up in fields, brushy terrain or anywhere else suitable trees are hard to find. If you’re planning on covering large distances and want to really travel light, take a look at the lightweight Tree Saddle. If a traditional treestand won’t work in a particular situation, one of these alternative stands just might fit the bill. The portable Ameristep Non-Typical Raptor Tripod is packed with features. Ameristep’s Truss Tech System means the Raptor is exceptionally stable, while pushbutton adjustable legs make it easy to set up the Raptor on uneven terrain. A swivel seat maximizes your shooting range. The 42-pound Raptor is 10 feet tall at the shooting rail, has a 24x24-inch platform, features a 300-pound weight capacity and can be assembled without tools. If you need a lot of room to maneuver, check out the API Grandstand Skypod. With its enormous 40x40-inch platform, the Skypod provides all the room you need. The camo swivel seat gives you 360-degree shooting, and a full-size ladder features traction ridge steps for extra climbing safety. Adjustable legs, anchoring stakes and a cross-bracing system make for level, secure set up. The Skypod is 14 feet tall and has a 300-pound weight capacity. The Big Game Pursuit combines versatility with exceptional portability. Weighing in at 60 pounds, the Pursuit’s legs fold together for transport or storage, while included stakes provide for rock-solid stability. The Pursuit’s 22x13-inch seat rotates a full 360 degrees and features Flex-Core Seat Technology for all-day comfort. The Family Tradition DBL-TRI Tripod is designed to comfortably seat two adult hunters with room for all your gear. The 48x78-inch platform stands 12 feet off the ground. This quality stand has two comfortable nylon webbed 360-degree swivel seats and is constructed with durable high-heat powder-coated galvanized steel. An optional camouflage skirt and heavy-gauge plastic roof are available.
Inside Archery 62 July 2010
The Best Treestands
The Trophyline Ambush Saddle is the ultimate in versatility. The Ambush Saddle looks a little like a safety harness, but unlike a safety harness, the Ambush Saddle is designed to allow you to hang from the tree. This gives you complete maneuverability without compromising safety. The 1.5-pound Ambush Saddle features a breathable mesh seat ideal for hunting in warmer climates or during the early season. You can even wear the Ambush Saddle as you walk in to your tree.
Enthused About Treestands
Your enthusiasm for treestands will definitely help you sell more treestands, and that enthusiasm begins with knowing all about what’s available and how it will benefit your customers. If you transfer that information and understanding to your customers, then your treestand sales numbers will certainly soar.
Z
Inside Archery 63 July 2010
To learn more about today’s best treestands, contact these leading treestand manufacturers: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Amacker Outdoors amacker.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Ambush Hunting Products ambush.candsglobal.us.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Ameristep ameristep.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– API Outdoors apioutdoors.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– BBK Hunting Systems bbkhs.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Big Dog Treestands bigdogtreestands.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Big Game Treestands biggametreestands.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– C&C Innovations treestandhunter.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Equalizer Treestands equalizertreestands.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Family Tradition Treestands familytraditiontreestands.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Gorilla Treestands gorillatreestands.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Hunter’s View huntersviewltd.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Hunting Solutions huntingsolutionsusa.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Lone Wolf Stands lonewolfstands.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Muddy Outdoors gomuddy.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Ol’ Man Treestands olmanoutdoors.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Rivers Edge Treestands huntriversedge.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– StrongBuilt strongbuiltinc.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Summit Treestands summitstands.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SwiveLimb Treestands swivelimb.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Trophyline trophylineusa.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Woodsey Too woodseytoo.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– X-Stand Treestands x-stand.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– XOP Outdoors xopoutdoors.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Marketplace
Inside Archery 64 July 2010
Marketplace
s ubs c r i b e To
b (800) 322-6087
New Website!!! Hot Bowhunt America Topics... • In-depth bowhunting stories • Straight-to-the-point advice to amp up your skills • Gear reviews including our popula Bow Reports • Unique Blogs • Bowhunting news • Helpful videos with tips and tricks • Trophy photo galleries • Opportunities to win free gear • Wild game recipes
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Inside Archery 65 July 2010
I n s i d e
t h e
i n d u s t r y
Solutions by Greg Staggs
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hat Didn’t Work • About three times a year, my district sales manager jumps in the company car with me and travels along for a day or two as I make routine sales calls. He has to do it as part of his job responsibilities, but I actually relish the opportunity to bounce new ideas off him as well as listen to the feedback he has for me at the end of each day. Even more important, perhaps, is the opportunity to dissect what didn’t work so well. Too many people spend all their time analyzing only the things that did work. While there is indeed valuable information in such analysis, I’ve always learned even more from the things that didn’t work out so well. It’s a great idea to apply that technique to retail sales. I’ll never forget the owner of the sporting goods store where I worked during my undergraduate school. Things had become tight for the store and creditors were beginning to call. To create immediate cash, he decided to run a storewide sale with everything marked 50 percent off. He placed ads in the papers and bought radio time. The weekend-only event pulled more people into the store than I thought possible. It felt like Christmas traffic times four. By the end of the day, the cash register was smoking and our store’s shelves were laid bare. The money we generated in that all-out sale paid the pastdue bills. But that left almost nothing with which to re-stock the store. Ninety days later, the white envelopes with the redstamped letters began arriving in the mail and things spiraled down even more. Eventually the store was forced to close. The lesson from that didn’t-work experience was clear— extreme sales are rarely more than short-term fixes. Tim Wilson of Mega Sports in Farmington, Missouri, admits he’s learned similar lessons about moving old archery inventory. “The first time we had a major sale in the store to get rid of old equipment, we simply ran a storewide sale. The problem with that proved to be that our customers came in and bought the best merchandise, the stuff that would have moved anyway, right along with the slow-moving gear. These days,” says Wilson, “we’ve learned to be more selective of the items we put on sale. Our BowTech,
Mathews and Hoyt bows are going to sell without marking them down. Those highly popular bows don’t go on sale. Other carefully selected things do. We no longer give good money away with bad sales.” Clayton Spurlock is the archery manager at Dunn’s Sporting Goods in Paducah, Kentucky. He’s learned from some of his past mistakes as well. “One of the things I’ve learned is to not let people use the bows they’ve put in layaway,” Spurlock said, turning and pointing to a hard case leaning against the wall. “A guy came in here late last fall and put some money down on a new Hoyt Bone Collector bow. He’s been coming in here and shooting it three times a week since November. Last week he walked in, canceled the layaway and demanded a refund. Now there’s $1,500 sitting in that case that I can’t sell as new.” Spurlock said he’s also learned some important lessons by throwing in too many freebies for customers. “If there’s one thing that’s cost us money, it’s doing too many favors for people, like giving away cases with a bow purchase.” He said it’s tempting when people are spending over $1,000 on a new setup to throw something in for them, but he’s finally figured out that if they want the item they’ll probably buy it anyway down the road. “And, of course, we’ve got those unique customers who come in, pick up an item, look you straight in the face and want to know what their special price is on that item. Some of them just absolutely don’t believe that they should pay what everyone else does. We’ve had to learn that a regular customer that you don’t make money on isn’t a great customer. Worse yet is the fact that some of those customers love to brag about the discounts they’ve received, and pretty soon everyone is expecting a deal. It’s a vicious no-profit circle.” Another area that didn’t work for Spurlock was used bows. The proliferation of used archery equipment on eBay and other auction sites has taught Spurlock not to buy used bows any more. “People want to come in here and sell their old bow as a trade-in,” he said. “But we simply dare not do that anymore. With the huge volume of used bows being sold on the Internet, many at rock-bottom prices, we too often can’t begin to pay what the customer hopes to get out of his old bow. At one point, Spurlock also occasionally did consignment sales, but no more. That didn’t work either. Too many potential new-bow buyers opted for those used consignment bows, and the profit on those sales just wasn’t there no matter how you figured it. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. If you want the best results possible from your archery business, take stock of both what has and hasn’t worked. Learn from your mistakes and then quickly move forward.
Inside Archery 66 July 2010
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