52

rubber safety wings that embed the barrel and help prevent � ngers from dangerously migrating above the � ight deck.

Wicked Ridge has the new Invader G3, which is faster than but priced the same as its predecessor, the Invader HP. � is model shoots 330 fps. � e Ranger, shooting 300 fps and designed for small frame shooters, was declared ”very cool” and “well received” by Bednar. � e Lady Ranger version is out� tted with hot pink string and cables and Muddy Girl camo. All three crossbows come with a scope, an ACU-52 cocking aid, a quiver and three carbon arrows.

Horton Crossbow Innovations o� ers two new bows. � e Storm RDX Jon Teater tested for this issue is the � rst reverse draw bow designed since the company assets were pur-chased in 2013. It has a 165 pound draw weight, shoots 370 fps, has an arrow retention brush to keep the arrow in place and measures 10 inches axle-to-axle when cocked, with a price starting at $999. � e other new Horton crossbow is the Legend Ultra Light, with a 175 pound draw weight, shooting 330 fps and weighing 6.8 pounds. Bednar said the Legend Ultra Light is a “good solid bow. A good bow value. You get a lot of features for $699.”

Tink’s Marketing Director Terry Rohm explained the advantages of several new products. � e Pocketshot is a very light, very quick way to access attractants and cover scents. � e small size frees up space in the pack and is small enough to keep in a pocket to use while walking to your hunt location. � ere are three combinations o� ered and each includes three di� erent scents. Each Pocketshot contains over 50 shots of mist. In the photo below, Rohm is talking with Mark Copeland, store director at Jay’s Sporting Goods in Gaylord, Michigan, about the new Pocketshots

Power Scrape Mist comes in new “bag in a can” tech-nology. � e bag keeps the lure oxygen-free and separated from the propellant so only 100 percent lure is dispensed. While developing the Power Scrape Packages for hunters using trail cameras, Tink’s discovered an additional need, so Power Scrape Finisher was developed to meet that need. “Power Scrape has been a great product for us,” Rohm said. All of the Power Scrape formulas are now no-freeze as of 2015.

Another product Rohm was excited about is the Total

Protection Dry Bag; “It has a round bottom and it’s very durable. Just stu� your clothes in there. It has an external pocket for smaller items for quick access; zipper is water-tight; good, sturdy handles.” Rohm told ArrowTrade that he put his clothes in the bag, closed it up and threw it in the back end of his truck, then drove through a heavy rain. At the end of his journey, he was pleased that his clothes had remained dry.

� e Metzgus family was in attendance, working in the VaneTec booth and talking to people about the variety of vanes, adhesives and tuning tools that this 10-year-old com-pany o� ers as well as passing out decals of the new logo that is part of the rebranding that the company has undertaken along with new pack-aging. Pictured here from left to right are Caleb, Pepper, Chris and Ivy Metzgus. Pepper holds the compact, light-weight Arrowsmith Universal Arrow Tuning Tool in new packaging. This multi-purpose tool � ts in a pocket, on a lanyard or in a pack for easy access. Also of interest, the Swift series vanes are now available in purple and there are no price increases for VaneTec products going into 2015. VaneTec o� ers a free dealer locator service to help send customers to your shop. For information and to update your pro� le, contact Pepper at vanetec@hughes.net or call (866) 428-9067. Additional information is available in the Kasun’s Korner pro� le on VaneTec in the November 2014 issue of ArrowTrade.

At the busy VaporTrail booth below, Jerrod Meyer (a.k.a. “Ears”), general manager, talked with Dan Brothers and Randy Braec from Rocky Mountain Gun Club and Archery in Grand Junction, Colorado. Two products this company wants dealers to know about are VT Wax Pads and the Blade X Rest.

VT Wax Pads are small, wax saturated pads that clean and condition bowstrings. VT Wax is 100 percent all-natural biodegradable ultra polymer bowstring wax with a pine scent. � e package of � ve pads will provide hundreds of applications and retails for $8.99. � e pads can also be used for crossbow rail lubrication.

Show coverage continued from page 49C

ov

era

ge

of t

he

20

15

AT

A S

ho

w i

n I

nd

ia

na

po

lis

Mar15AT044-052T-R.indd 52 1/28/15 5:31 PM

53

Mar15AT044-052T-R.indd 53 1/28/15 5:32 PM

54

� e Blade X target rest system is a stationary spring steel target rest that is inter-changeable with the VT Micro Elite arrow rest. � e Micro Elite can easily be changed to a Blade X using a convenient conversion kit. � e Blade X has seven di� erent launcher blade options and three mounting options (short, standard and long torque bar) and is micro-adjustable in windage, elevation and blade angle. Contact VaporTrail at (763) 862-8870 for more information.

Graham Compton greeted us with a big smile and a handshake when I found the Americase booth. Known for its high quality and near indestructible gun cases, Americase also creates many dif-ferent archery cases. Compton showed o� the brand new o� er-ings for 2015: custom-izable cases with either the Buck Commander or Duck Commander logo. Americase will lit-erally custom build any hard sided, airport and travel safe case for any item. It produces stan-dard sized cases for crossbows, compounds and traditional bows as well. Along with choos-ing what the interior of the case looks like with various compartments and hold-ers, the customer can choose an external color if he or she wishes. Now, for 2015, the customer can not only choose what the inside and outside of the case look like; he or she can show loyalty and display a bit of � air that any bearded Robertson would appreciate with the Buck Commander or Duck Commander logo proudly displayed on the outside. To order from Americase, please call 1-800-972-2737 or check out www.americase.com.

After closely examining the Arrow Precision crossbows on display at the show, the word “custom” came to mind. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the company released three sleek new crossbows this year to � t every hunter’s needs. � e new Scorch crossbow shoots a blazing 390 feet per second and boasts an adjustable trigger, adjustable stock and adjustable hand grip to � t any hunter’s personal preferences. Weighing in at 7.5 pounds, the Scorch has an illuminated multi-reticle scope. � e new Flame model that was on display looked cool with exclusive Trek camo. Just a bit heavier than the Scorch, the Flame weighs 7.85 pounds and shoots up to 385 feet per second. � e Flame also comes with an illuminated multi-reticle scope. Rounding out the new releases, the Heat is a recurve model with an adjustable

stock as well. Lighter than the compound crossbows, the Heat weighs in at 4.8 pounds. � e Flame is perfect for some-one who is just getting into crossbow hunting or a hunter who wants something a bit simpler. Bill Lako (above) was very proud of how far his company has come in the last 10 years and readily showed o� the new choices for our cam-era. To learn more or order, please call (610) 437-7138 or check out www.arrow-precision.com.

Co-owner Michael Banks quickly directed my attention to Banks Outdoors’ new Wild Water after our initial handshake. A 100 gallon enclosed portable water hole, the Wild Water “brings the water to you,” as Michael shared with me. Getting water out of the dirt and o� the ground, this new product eliminates any chance of the EHD midge thriving as well as rodents and other pests falling in and drowning. � e long drinking trough only calls for water when it’s low, minimizing evaporation. Michael shared, “� is will � nally allow the hunter to strategically place the water where they want it.”

� e versatile blind company also showed o� its shelled corn feeders. With options to hold 40, 275 or even 600 pounds of shelled corn, there’s a feeder for every need and budget. � e 40 pound feeder can attach to any steel fence post as well as other posts. � e 275 pound feeder � ts perfectly on a 4 x 4 and the 600 pound feeder will rest comfortably on a 6 x 6. Michael shared with me that one time, he got creative with his chainsaw and “carved a small tree to � t the 275 pound feeder.” Although he didn’t want to become a p r o f e s s i o n a l chainsaw art-ist, he wasn’t opposed to doing that again if necessary.

M i c h a e l also pointed

Co

ve

ra

ge

of t

he

20

15

AT

A S

ho

w i

n I

nd

ia

na

po

lis

Mar15AT053-062T-R.indd 54 1/28/15 5:38 PM

55

out how the company has redesigned its four person blind, which tow-ered above the show-room � oor. � e big blind now has a full size walk through door. � e bigger door helps people get in a bit more easily, as well as making for quieter entry and exits from the blind. To purchase from Banks, please call 1-800-262-4129 or visit www.bank-soutdoors.com.

An industry leader in all things related to archery � bers, BCY had a booth that was an explo-sion of color and drew me in from a long distance away. Greeted by Chris Deston, we were given a tour of the new o� erings and modi� cations to the old. Powergrip serving thread is new to the company. I was curious as to what was new about the serving thread and Deston elaborated, “It acts like electrical tape, whereas when it is stretched, it actually tightens.” Deston also told me that the new Powergrip comes in three sizes to � t each need. � e end serving threads are either .014 or .018 inches, the center servings are .021 or .025 inches and the crossbow serving is .032 inches.

As I was still curious about all of the colors, Deston told me how the company has augmented so many of its thread colors. When asked why, he replied that bow companies keep experimenting with new color schemes, so BCY needs to as well to continue to match customized bows. A huge portion of BCY’s business is accredited to its variety of col-ored threads o� ered. Deston said, “It’s not just little girls coloring up their bows; it’s full grown men, too...Everyone wants to customize their bow these days.” Not to miss an opportunity, the team at BCY said they plan to o� er even more colors next year. To get your own threads, call BCY at (860) 632-7115 or visit www.bcy� bers.com.

Lots of arrows were � ying near the Bear Archery/Trophy Ridge booth and for good reason. As the third addi-tion to the speed bow series, the new Arena compound bow

Mar15AT053-062T-R.indd 55 1/28/15 5:39 PM

56

was getting a lot of attention. With the company’s synchro-nized hybrid cam system, this bow comes in a few di� erent models to best � t the hunter. � e Arena 30 is 30.5 inches from axle-to-axle and is blaz-ing fast at 345 fps. With a 6.5 inch brace height and weigh-ing in at only 3.8 pounds, the Arena 30 is perfect for ground blind or stand hunters who need to � t into tight spaces. � e Arena 34 is a bit longer for the tallest of hunters or those who like a longer bow. At 34.5 inches from axle-to-axle, this 4 pound bow shoots a speedy 340 fps. � e company’s catalog boasts that either Arena “puts you exactly on that apex of sweet Nirvana between speed and forgiveness.”

Along with the new bows, Trophy Ridge had a few dif-ferent sights. � e React Trio and React Pro sights each uti-lize the company’s React tech-nology. React sight technol-ogy automatically adjusts the downrange sights based on the distance between the 20 yard pin and the next pin. For instance, when the top pin is set at 20 yards and the hunter dials in the next for 30 yards, all of the rest of the pins move correspondingly to accom-modate. � e React Trio is a three pin sight, shown below. When the � rst pin is anchored in at 20 yards and the second pin at 30, the rest is automatic. � e third Trio pin will auto-matically be in at 40 yards with a precision dial that allows it to be set all the way out to 120 yards. � e React Pro is a slightly di� erent version. A � ve pin sight, it has the same premise: when the � rst two pins are set, the rest will fall into place automatically out to 60 yards.

Customer Service and Pro Sta� Manager J. R. Neidlinger was really excited about the company’s new o� erings; “Honestly...the draw cycle and wall on the Arena are the best I have ever felt on a speed bow. And the sights...the React Pro will change everyone’s idea of what a � xed pin sight

should be.” For anything related to Bear, Trophy Ridge, Rocket Broadheads or Cajun Bow� shing, please call (812) 467-1200 or visit www.beararchery.com.

Always great to talk to, Becky and Stuart Wright (at right) enjoyed a busy show. � e success that their sound and vibra-tion dampening company, Bowjax,enjoys had the Wrights beaming with well-earned pride. Stuart � lled me in on his show strategy and how he loved his loca-tion on the end of a row, where his booth really had the frontage of about three. � e Wrights got a lot of tra� c at the Bowjax booth not only because of location but because they make great products!

� e company’s Revelation extra wide split limb damp-ener is fairly new. Extra wide to � t many split limb bows, this vibration dampener is only sold in pairs because doubling up on each limb would simply be too much. � e Revelation is easy to install, with no tools required. All one needs to do is simply slide it in sideways between the split limbs and twist until the dampener is locked into place.

Following the trend of other accessory companies, the Wrights have also been busy tweaking some color combina-tions for their popular color choice selections. Stuart shared that generally, there are about 10 possible shade variations for each particular color and he and Becky are constantly trying to tweak their color tones to align with those of major bow manufacturers. Bowjax products were on display at a few booths at the show because the company not only sells to dealers and archers; it also supplies many other manufac-turers. To talk with Stuart or Becky or order anything from Bowjax, please call (208) 762-3692 or visit www.Bowjax.com.

Dead Center is going to continue to become a house-hold name in the archery industry. With a new logo, ramped up branding e� orts and more of a dealer focus, the company hopes to continue to expand its brand recognition in 2015. “We want to become more dealer focused,” Director of Sales and Marketing Corrine Davis shared with me. On display at the show were all of Dead Center’s well-known products, along with a few new ones that Davis focused our attention

Co

ve

ra

ge

of t

he

20

15

AT

A S

ho

w i

n I

nd

ia

na

po

lis

Mar15AT053-062T-R.indd 56 1/29/15 8:35 PM

57

Mar15AT053-062T-R.indd 57 1/28/15 5:44 PM

58

on. The Dead Level Hunter sys-tem was unique. With a front and rear stabilizer, the company had a bow rigged with the system per-fectly balanc-ing on a display bracket. Davis pulled the lower limb of the bow to o� set the bal-ance and released it to demonstrate. Within a few swings, the bow would be back to parallel, with lit-tle or no residual movement at all.

As Davis put it, “2015 is going to be a big year for Dead Center!” To learn more about Dead Center or to become a dealer, please call (570) 658-1069 or visit www.deadcenterarchery.com.

We made it to the Hawke Optics booth just before quit-ting time. � e guys manning the booth were “whipped” and for good reason. Hawke’s crossbow scopes have become very popular in the shops across the nation. Known for its innovative reticle designs, Hawke had two di� erent cross-bow scopes on display. Its top of the line model is the XB30 Pro SR. According to some promotional materials the guys at the show shared with us, the XB30 Pro SR is a “30 milli-meter fully coated multi-optical system.” With a glass etched reticle, the XB30 Pro SR boasts better light transmission and image quality. With an adjustable reticle for bows shoot-ing anywhere from 215 to 400 feet per second, this scope is very versatile. � e XB30 Pro SR has a fully adjustable red IR (Illuminated Reticle) sighting system and is the closer scope in the photo below.

� e new XB1 SR has a vari-speed reticle system. A bit lighter and smaller than the XB30 scope, the XB1 SR will adjust for bows shooting between 250 and 425 feet per sec-ond. � is 1 inch scope has a red/green IR sighting system with � ve brightness settings. Hawke can be reached at (877) 429-5347 or at www.hawkeoptics.com.

Owning the oldest foam archery target company in the business, Darrin Brown (above) was very excited to show o� his Hips Targets. With “the only true six sided target in the industry,” Brown explained how Hips targets are uniquely created. � ey are solid, high density foam, with no boards or straps or anything that would prohibit a shot. Brown shared that having six sides to shoot at gives archers a “66 percent larger shooting surface than a bag target and 33 percent larger surface versus a four sided target.” Hips o� ers all sorts of targets, from a youth bow to a pro shop target and every-thing in between. � e targets themselves vary a bit for each speci� c shooter’s needs. In fact, Brown was proud of the fact that each Hips target comes with a buyer’s guide printed on the side. I was curious as to what could be so di� erent about each and Brown explained that the sizes and layers of high density versus traditional foam are the key. Super light, the cube style Whitetail is a popular choice for many backyard archers, consisting of two layers of high density foam. On the other end of the spectrum, the Grizzly is signi� cantly bigger and a bit heavier for good reason. It consists of eight layers of high density foam.

We were curious as to how the target was held together without straps or boards that could limit shoot surface area. “� e layers of variable density Hips exclusive Endurance Foam are heat welded together, fusing the layers vertically,” Brown explained. He also said that the company’s 12 Pack target is the most popular of the line. At a smaller 12 x 12 x 12 inches, it’s still made out of Endurance Foam; will still stop all broadheads, � eld points, and mechanicals and can easily be stowed for trips to a hunting camp or a few practice shots at the truck before heading out to the stand. To contact Brown and everyone at Hips, please call (830) 899-2999 or visit www.hipstargets.com.

Steve Anderson at the Hoyt booth was such a tall guy, he made the new 34 inch Nitrum bow look small. � e Nitrum has some rather intriguing designs that caught our attention. Anderson shared with us that it is an aluminum bow with a patent pending o� set upper riser design accompanied by the

Co

ve

ra

ge

of t

he

20

15

AT

A S

ho

w i

n I

nd

ia

na

po

lis

Mar15AT053-062T-R.indd 58 1/28/15 5:45 PM

59

company’s lower tunnel riser, which is new to its hunting bows. Hearing about the o� set upper riser got us curious; see-ing it made a lot more sense. Almost looking like a blade of a boat propeller from the rear, the upper o� set riser has the advantages of a wider stance, more strength, less vibration, less noise and less weight. � e lower tunnel has been around for a while on Hoyt’s target bows but is new to the hunt-ing series. L o c a t e d on the r i s e r d i r e c t l y

below the grip, this feature also allows for more strength and stability while weighing less.

Another interesting feature on the Nitrum and also on the Carbon Spyder ZT series of bows is the Zero Torque Cable System. Taking the side cable pressure o� of the riser, the Zero Torque Cable System is a set of pivoting wheels mounted to a bar o� of the riser. When the bow is drawn, the cables � ex and the pivoting wheels bend in response. Most of the torque is felt at the pivot-ing arm and wheels and not on the bow. Once the arrow is � red, the wheels quickly respond and fold back out of the way, allowing the arrow to � y down� eld freely. To order from Hoyt or learn more, please call (801) 363-2990 or visit www.hoyt.com.

It was hard to miss the PSE booth with its giant, fully functional semi trac-tor and trailer parked on the showroom � oor. Jad Rinderknecht (below) was

helpful in showing us around the semi. Based on customer feedback, the company is releasing the new Decree HD 35 inch hybrid bow he’s holding in the photo below left. “� e best of both worlds,” as Rinderknecht put it, the Decree HD can be used for either target shooting or hunting. Paired with America’s Best Platinum strings, Rinderknecht also described this bow as having a “silky smooth draw cycle.” At 35 inches from axle to axle, this bow is a bit longer then most and shooting an IBO of 345 fps, it’s also faster than many.

Also new at PSE was the Stinger X entry-level bow. Taken from the popular Micro Midas, the Stinger X is adjust-able in every sense of the word. With possible draw lengths ranging from 25-1/2 to 31-1/2 inches, the company feels this may be the last bow someone would need to purchase.

STRYKE NOW™

360 FPS 3.5LB TRIGGER SMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTSMOOTH SHOTULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIETULTRA QUIET

TWO INDUSTRY

UN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEUN I T E TO FORM THEL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERSL EADERS

StrykerAd_2015_475x7375.indd 1 1/27/15 10:28 AM

Mar15AT053-062T-R.indd 59 1/28/15 5:47 PM

60

Rinderknecht also showed o� how easy the draw weight is to adjust. With one hand and a bit of knowhow, he eas-ily adjusted the draw weight over and under 10 pounds. Of course, with the appropriate Allen wrench, he could continue to tweak it more. All in all, the Stinger X can be adjusted from 32 to 70 pounds of draw weight. � is single cam bow has a very solid back wall to encourage consistent shooting and, as Rinderknecht put it, “good habits.” � e number to reach PSE is (520) 884-9065 or you can visit www.pse-archery.com.

When we � rst discovered the Redneck Blinds booth, curiosity got the best of me as I wondered how and why the booth sta� brought in round bales of hay. I looked closer and realized we were seeing the company’s success-ful Bale Blind series hard at work. � e newest addition to the Bale Blind family is Redneck’s Hunter’s Choice. Created for all sorts of hunt-ing situations, the Hunter’s Choice Bale Blind can be used for deer, turkeys, preda-tors, waterfowl and many other hunting situations. � e sliding windows cover most game situations while the drop down water-fowl window has high � ying shooting action covered. Owner Danny Little was really proud of his blinds and how far his company has come.

Needing a break from walking all day, I was invited to sit in one of the many Portable Hunting Chairs in the Redneck booth. � ese chairs were super comfortable and Little was excited to show them o� as well. With the ability to fold � at and strap to a hunter’s back for carrying, this new chair is well designed. Every possible moving part is lined to make it silent and the camou� aged chair cushion covers are remov-able for washing.

Another interesting innovation the company show-cased was the new Hunter’s Console. � e Hunter’s Console, shown below, is a portable shelf system that straps into any Redneck blind. � e Console will work in many other manu-facturers’ blinds as well. � e Console solves the old problem every blind hunter has, as Redneck’s T.J. Pugh put it: “Where do I put all my stu� ?” � e sturdy plastic shelf is molded and comes with Redneck’s tight bungee strapping system. Call Little and the team at Redneck at (877) 523-9986 or visit www.redneck-blinds.com.

� e Robinson Outdoor Productsbooth looked something like

how I imagine Grand Central Station. People were constantly coming and going. Robinson had just held a major press conference (see above) fol-lowed by its “Women of SOLA” calendar auto-graph event (see below). ScentBlocker’s popular SOLA line of women’s hunting and safety apparel continues to grow with the new SOLA Shield in the Field initiative. Marketing Director Mike Swan had this to say about the program and its new website: “� e SOLA Shield in the Field is a new initiative for us. We’ve gathered women from all walks of life, located across the country, with one thing in common: a love of the outdoors. Finally, active outdoorswomen, curious beginners and anyone in between have a place to call home: the SOLA site.” Along with the SOLA ladies mak-

ing a big appearance, Robinson had a handful of products it was excited to introduce. � e Black Out series of gear is designed for ground blind hunters. Well equipped with all of ScentBlocker’s bells and whistles, the Black Out gear comes in plain black so ground blind hunters can remain both scent free and invisible. � e Dead Quiet gear is designed to be just that: silent. Swan explained that the company has created the perfect soft hunting fabric in which any friction is completely silent. “Designed at -50 degrees” is the new slogan for ScentBlocker’s Northern extreme gear. Versatile, with reversible Realtree Xtra APS snow camo/Realtree Xtra, this new extreme condition gear, the company feels, will

Co

ve

ra

ge

of t

he

20

15

AT

A S

ho

w i

n I

nd

ia

na

po

lis

Mar15AT053-062T-R.indd 60 1/28/15 5:49 PM

61

allow hunters to be comfortable in the Arctic or the late season north woods without compromising scent control. Along with the clothing line, the company introduced the new Trinity Du� e Bag. Designed to be a scent free storage and transport system, the bag is lined with removable syn-thetic Trinity scent adsorbing panels.

A few new sprays will also be on the ScentBlocker shelves this fall. Nose Blocker is made of all natural plant based extracts to “stop, calm and relax” big game animals that hap-pen to be downwind. Swan jokingly described this as “catnip for deer.” � e company is also planning on Bug Blocker mak-ing a big impact for hunters in the � eld this season. With two formulas to discreetly repel bugs, Bug Blocker is available as a tick treatment or an insect repellent. To learn more or place an order from ScentBlocker, please call 1-800-397-1927 or visit www.robinson-outdoors.com.

Joel Harter (left) promised that Shadow H u n t e r , recently under new owner-ship, will be everything it ever was, with bright hopes for changes in the future. � e operation will be moving from south-ern Michigan to Fort Wayne,

Indiana. Jim Bainbridge, inventor and past owner, will stay on as a consultant. Customer Service guru Cindy is still on full time. � ese aluminum clad, insu-lated blinds are created with a lot of thought and love. Still handmade, the blinds are painted dark on the inside to

hide a hunter, hence the name “Shadow Hunter.” � e blinds are lined with a thick wire mesh on the bottom to keep rodents out; these guys have thought of everything. Shadow Hunter makes four di� erent versions of the blind: gun, bow, combo (gun and bow) and handicapped accessible models. Regardless of the version, the blinds all include the adjust-able window shades that the company has become famous for. � e elevator brackets are still impressive, allowing each blind to safely rest as high as the hunter wants or his or her lumber allows. Harter was really excited about this new undertaking and looked forward to the future, promising that nothing would change about quality or customer ser-vice. Harter and the team at Shadow Hunter can be reached at 1-888-446-4868 or at www.shadowhunterllc.com.

The new has a limb width of just 25"!Recurve-limbed crossbows have always been more reliable, more accurate, more powerful, lighter weight and virtually maintenance free. They were also wider. Not anymore! The new Excalibur Micro, at just 25" wide, is comparable to compound crossbows!

The most e�cient Excalibur ever (79.5% e�cient) GEN II Compact Recurve Technology Feather-Lite Skeletonized stock Reduced vibration and noise R.E.D.S. Recoil Energy Dissipation System Guardian Anti-Dry Fire System

270 lb. 335 FPS† 9.5" Power Stroke

2335 Shirley Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2B 3X4 Canada Bus: (519)743-6890 service@excaliburcrossbow.com

www.excaliburcrossbow.comLearn more at

Wicked without the width!

At just 25 inches wide, Micro 335 is every bit as maneuverable as any compound crossbow, yet offers all of the durability and performance advantages of a recurve crossbow. Micro 335 touts an off-the-charts 79.5% efficiency rating which means you get more speed with less cocking effort. It’s also incredibly quiet, deadly accurate and loaded with features.

22" Cocked(25.5" Uncocked)

26.25" Cocked(30.62" Uncocked)

29.75" Cocked(36" Uncocked)

† Velocity @ 350 Grain

Mar15AT053-062T-R.indd 61 1/28/15 5:51 PM

62

Eric Overstreet at Leupold had a lot to share. � e company’s new RX 1200 range� nders are shattering conventional thought. Able to accurately range a tree out to 1200 yards, the RX 1200, shown here, can easily mark game animals out to 850 yards. � e new range� nder comes in two versions. � e standard RX 1200 is a straight line indicator that will accurately measure the distance of the line of sight. � e RX 1200 ITBR takes the elevation above or below the target into consideration and provides a completely accurate shooting distance to the user. At 300 yards, a bit of drop or rise might not matter much to a ri� e hunter but 25 feet up a tree on a steep Ohio gulch while bowhunting, a few yards may mean the di� erence between a kill or a miss. � e RX 1200 ITBR comes in black or camou� age, whereas the standard RX 1200 is available in black. With Leupold’s DNA (Digitally eNhanced Accuracy) laser range� nder technology, Overstreet boasted, these new products will be able to di� erentiate between dark and light targets more accurately and quickly than before.

Overstreet also showed o� these new BX-3 Mojave binoculars “designed with the professional out� tter in mind.” Available in two camo patterns, Kryptek Typhon and Kryptek Highlander, the Mojave binoculars are waterproof, fog proof and tough. With crystal clear, high de� nition lenses to boost perceived colors, these binoculars will help guides and hunters better pick out game animals camou� aged in brush. Leupold can be reached by calling 1-503-646-9171 or at www.leupold.com.

We couldn’t tell if we were talking to a deer hunter or a master gardener when Mark Trudeau, director of certi� ed research at Whitetail Institute, took us aside. Being avid gardeners ourselves, we could have talked to Trudeau for hours. He showed o� Whitetail Institute’s newest creations (below): Turkey Select Chufa (pronounced “shoofa”) and the new fall Ambush blend. � e chufa is a lush, hearty legume of sorts that grows just underneath the soil. Trudeau explained that at � rst, the hunter might have to train turkeys to locate and eat the chufa. Once the chufa has matured, all that needs to be done is for someone with a tractor to come through and take a pass or two through the chufa plot with a really shallow disk

to turn over the ground and expose some of the delicious treats below. From that point forward, the birds will catch on and in most soils, the chufa

plot won’t ever need to be turned over mechanically again.Also new from Whitetail Institute this year is the

Ambush blend. Planted in late summer for a fall and winter hunting plot, the Ambush blend is made up of lupines (a hearty legume), whitetail oats, sugar beets and winter peas. � e lupines are new and the company believes that they’ll quickly become very popular. Unlike clover and alfalfa, which tend to go dormant when it gets cold, the lupines will droop and fall in the snow but as soon as the sun comes back out, they will reach for the sky again. Trudeau shared that many hunters, especially people in the cold northern states and provinces, will really appreciate how long into the winter this new Ambush blend will attract deer.

Without giving away too many trade secrets, Trudeau shared his love of growing plants with us. Trudeau and the team at Whitetail Institute cultivates its own plant seeds under very controlled circumstances for several years before even thinking about bringing them to the public. � ere’s not a lot of fancy machinery or equipment on the test farms: just a lot of backbreaking work counting seeds, germination rates and hours of in-� eld observation. Trudeau said deer are the ultimate testers because if they choose not to eat a product, the company won’t even bother to try and sell it. Talking with Trudeau was memorable because we could tell he was very passionate about the quality of his work. Contact Whitetail Institute by calling 1-800-688-3030 or visiting the company online at www.whitetailinstitute.com.

Another colorful booth that could be seen for some distance was that of Pine Ridge Archery. Brian Bychowski greeted us warmly and didn’t waste time before showing o� the company’s newest archery accessories. Wish Bones (shown below) are small rubber string and cable vibration/sound dampeners. Able to be applied without tools or a bow press, Wish Bones come in a large variety of colors. Pine Ridge is another company that has capitalized on the trend of customized archery equipment and proudly makes most of its products in a multitude of colors. Bychowski has shared with us in the past that it “isn’t just women custom coloring their bow...a lot of men are doing so as well.” No matter who is buying the colored accessories, they sure are selling quickly. Another new product Bychowski wanted to show o� was Nitro Hunter stabilizers with a snakeskin cam-ou� age pattern. � e snakeskin camou� age pattern looked

great matched on a bow with all of Pine Ridge’s other corresponding accessories, like a tattoo for a bow. We’re guess-ing a customized bow with Pine Ridge gear would be easy to identify in a lineup by its owner. To contact Pine Ridge, please call 1-877-746-7434 or visit www.piner-idgearchery.com.

Co

ve

ra

ge

of t

he

20

15

AT

A S

ho

w i

n I

nd

ia

na

po

lis

Mar15AT053-062T-R.indd 62 1/28/15 5:52 PM

63

David Gryspeerd, founder of All-Blade Archery, is shown at left with Tim Smith of On-Target Archery in Starwood, Michigan. Gryspeerd said the B.O.S.S. broadhead is made using food-grade stainless steel in a blade over shaft design. It comes in four and six bladed models for cross-bows and a four bladed model for compound bows. � e � xed blade design is all one piece and screws behind an existing � eld point, e� ectively turning it into a hunting tip. Blade thickness is just .010 of an inch. As a result, the serrated blade cartridge is very light, just 10 grains in the four blade and 15 grains in the six blade model. As Gryspeerd described the broadhead, it is “pull through versus push through” and “very strong.” After having sighted in a 60 pound draw weight bow with a 100 grain � eld tip, Gryspeerd said, “I repeated the same shots at exactly the same yardages once I applied our B.O.S.S. six blade and it was as if the broadhead was never added. No noticeable drop in the � ight of my arrow and I was in the same tight pattern of 2 inches with our six blade on my arrow.” � e Michigan manufacturer can be reached at (586) 749-5429.

Win&Win, a company known for its competition recurve bows, branched out several years ago into compound bows with its Win&Win Black brand. At the Win&Win booth, we spoke with Eddy Jung, a member of the global marketing team, about the compound bow named the “Hurricane.” Because of the long limb bolts, Jung said, the Hurricane does not need a bow press; “just use an Allen wrench.” He went on to say that he really appreciates how “easy it is to tune.” Archer Yi, compound engineer and production director

pictured here, explained that if there is some-thing wrong while you are hunting, like a string that needs replacing, the repair can be handled in the � eld. � e Hurricane has a carbon riser for strength and light weight.

The Dragonfly 40 can also be adjusted and serviced without a bow press. � is bow comes in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. North American deal-ers can order products from Lancaster Archery Supply at (800) 829-7408 or Carbon Tech at (800) 951-8736.

� e Transformer Hunt-Pod from Hawk is a com-bination game cart/stand with a platform at 6-1/2 feet tall that folds up to 27 inches by 25 inches, is 90 inches long and has a seat size of 21 inches wide by 16 inches deep. Billy Matlock, inventor of the Transformer, explained that the inspi-ration for it was the lack of trees in the Louisiana swampland. He created the stand as a “no trees needed” alternative. Matlock is shown here sitting on the Transformer with a folded up Transformer sitting underneath. Setting up the product requires the use of � ve hand-bolts and two leg-pins. � ere are adjustable spring-pin legs for leveling on uneven ground. It weighs 93 pounds with a capacity of 300 pounds. Matlock said, “[You] could ride on it, use it as a deer dolly and carry stu� on it.”

Hawk’s 60 page catalog includes a variety of treestands, accessories and target stands. � e phone number for the Michigan company is (810) 626-3026.

C.P. Oneida Eagle bows are based on a totally di� erent

Deer Crossing Archery is now accepting applications for Dealers!Join the network of Dealers who’ve already taken advantage of some of the industry’s lowest prices and the biggest margins on the highest quality arrows. Utilize our website for convenient, any time ordering and let us work around your busy schedule. We offer next day shipping on most orders and terms for approved dealerdealers. Visit our website at www.deercrossingarchery.com and use code ARROWTRADE30 for up to 50% off MAP and up to 60% off MSRP. Questions? Call 1-760-670-2079 and talk with experienced archers and dedicated Customer Service agents. Member of the ATA and NABA.

Mar15AT063-077T-R.indd 63 1/28/15 1:50 PM

64

compound system that lets them look like recurves and shoot like compounds. � ey are known to be easy to draw. � e ability to snap-shoot and draw to partial draw lengths makes them particularly useful for bow� shing. Like all of Oneida’s bows, the Osprey comes with interchangeable modules to adjust let-o� and draw weight. It has stainless steel hardware, draw weights of 30 to 50 pounds and draw lengths from 25-1/2 to 31-1/2 inches; weighs 3.4 pounds and has 50 to 80 percent let-o� . � e die cast magnesium riser makes it light in the hand. Stacy Skaggs, a pro shooter for Oneida, stated the Osprey is the “number one bow� sh-ing bow.” � e bow comes in four di� erent colors, with cus-tom colors available as well. In the picture above, Skaggs is shown holding two custom colored Osprey bows. Skaggs also stated that Oneida has sold more bows in this last year than in the past � ve years combined. � e Michigan � rm can be reached at (231) 743-2427.

� e Top Secret Deer Scents brand from Portland Outdoors utilizes a process in which the urine is kept away from oxygen from collection to bottling. Bottles are made of glass instead of plastic because some plastics leach, accord-ing to Rusty Andrews. � e Deer Bladder Adjustable Drip System is new for this year. � e product comes pre-loaded with 5 ounces of Hot Mama or Bad Boy deer scent. � e system is based on the I.V. used extensively in the medical world. Matt Gindorf asserted the continuously dripping scent says “a deer is here.” When the pouch of the product is empty, a hunter can re� ll it instead of needing to replace the whole thing.

� e Scent Saver Vacuum System is built to help keep the scent in a bottle fresh once it has been opened. In order to use it, a person plugs the top of the bottle using the included rubber cork (specially made for this purpose) and uses a simple hand pump to suck the air out of the bottle of scent.

� is wasn’t all that was going on at the Portland Outdoors booth. � e company has expanded with three new products: ScentDefense, BioShield and Fog Zero. BioShield, powered by NeuroRX, is engineered to repel � eas, ticks, mosquitoes and bedbugs. ScentDefense products (� eld spray, laundry detergent, shampoo and body wash) are similar to BioShield, with the added components of killing human odor and hav-ing a scent that deer like. � e third product, Fog Zero, is made to � x the problem of foggy scopes, windows, glasses etc. Steve Burklow, CEO, is holding the new BioShield spray

in this picture. Reach Portland Outdoors at (888) 462-3536.

� e Ignitor lighted nocks from NuFletch Archery are unique because the light can be removed from the nock if you are hunt-ing in a state where lighted nocks are ille-gal. The aluminum insert � ts into the end of the bow and the clear nock body, which has a LED battery light inside, � ts into the insert. Below, Aaron Noah, sales manager, is shown holding the green-lighted nock. As Noah explained, the light is “energy driven” and therefore activated by shooting the arrow. In order to turn o� the light, twist o� the nock, take the battery and light out of the nock and pull up on the bulb. NuFletch sells replacement bat-teries. Noah said the green battery lasts for approximately 50 hours and the red bat-tery lasts for approxi-mately 25 hours because of the higher draw from the red LED.

The electronics in the light are fully enclosed and water-proof. Because of the insert system, the same nock � ts standard or slimline arrow inserts. Nocks come in sizes from .204 to .246 iDs for carbon arrow shafts and .285 to .300 iDs (in half moon and � at) for crossbolts. � e Florida business can be reached at (877) 353-8244.

� e Gamekeeper line of clothing is a partnership between the Canadian brand Sportchief and Mossy Oak. � e clothing is made from premium, natural and sustainable fabrics with the goal of re� ecting love for the outdoors. Phil Hardy detailed this line as “lifestyle, work wear and hunting wear. It’s really a 365 day[s] a year concept.” � e Gamekeeper logic is based on a love for the land, its wildlife and giving back more than you take. � e camo accenting the garments is Mossy Oak Bottomland. Here, Phil Hardy (left) and David

Co

ve

ra

ge

of t

he

20

15

AT

A S

ho

w i

n I

nd

ia

na

po

lis

Mar15AT063-077T-R.indd 64 1/28/15 1:50 PM

65

Coté from Sportchief are pictured with a Gamekeeper out� t.

� e Illusion jacket and pants from Sportchief are made to help the hunter blend into the tree, its dark pattern vertical along the center, breaking up the silhouette with a light pattern on the arms and sides. � is out� t is both waterproof and scentproof.

� e Chaparal 3/1 jacket (pants are also available) is new to men’s out-erwear from Sportchief. It features a unique Zip Fit system to tighten up the body of the jacket to � t well after you’ve removed the liner. Zip Fit uses a zipper on both sides of the jacket. Phil Hardy described it as the “only three in one that gives you back a slender � t.” Like the Illusion, this out� t is both waterproof and scentproof. To order Sportchief and Gamekeeper prod-ucts, call Hudalla Associates at (218) 346-2734.

Typical black metal � eld points transfer oils onto packaging and pro-duce a heavy metal by-product dur-ing manufacturing. New for this year, Precision Designed Products has come up with a polymer coating over a platinum colored metal conditioning. � e coating is more rust resistant and helps to keep the threads on the points from vibrating loose. Additionally,

unlike the typical process, this new coating process doesn’t have heavy metal waste. Keith Jabben, president of PDP, said the reception of the new coat-ing (o� ered as an option this year) has been very good and the company is planning to “do away with the black” in the future. He mentioned that his favor-ite features of the product

are the unique appearance and the protection it provides for the tip. In the picture above, there is a typical black point next to a new polymer coated one. As Jabben described it, the new coating on the point at top right doesn’t look generic. Contact PDP in Kansas by phone at (620) 331-0333.

� at thing that sets Advanced Treestand Technologies apart is its focus on the attachment system of a hang-on treestand. � e company’s treestands are made up of three main pieces: a stem (which attaches to the tree), the seat and the platform. In order to use the three piece system, you attach the stem to the tree, then attach the quick connect seat and platform pieces. You can buy multiple stems, put them on di� erent trees and leave them there, taking only the platform and seat with you as you move around from tree to tree. Michelle Wheelington pointed out that the stems only weigh 8-1/2 pounds and there is a lot of technology that goes into the stands. Both of the company’s stands utilize this system. Wheelington said “[the stand] will not budge once it is on the tree” because there are two straps holding the stand in place for added security instead of one. In this picture, � omas Delong, Jim Wynegar and Brian Kormanec of

Mar15AT063-077T-R.indd 65 1/28/15 1:51 PM