The 1997 Archery Manufacturers Organization trade show held recently in Louisville, Kentucky, was the largest show ever sponsored by AMO (Archery Manufacturers and Merchants Organization). Over 500 exhibitors displayed thousands of products designed, manufactured, and marketed with the bow hunter and 3-D shooter in mind. Three days on the trade show floor and hours of paging through press kits, turned up many items the avid bow hunter should take a close look at.
Broadheads
Barrie Archery, manufacturers of Rocky Mountain broadheads, introduced the Titanium 100, a fixed three-blade head and the Assassin, an expandable three-blade head.
The Titanium 100 features a one-piece ferrule/tip machined from solid Titanium. This alloy is 10 times stronger than aluminum and lighter than steel. The blades are .030 inches thick and they align perfectly with the cutting tip yielding a 1-1/8 inch cutting diameter. The Titanium 100 is designed to the strongest and best penetrating broadhead available.
The Assassin is a 100-grain, three-blade, open-on-contact style broadhead. An "O" ring is used to hold the blades closed during flight. On impact the blades open with a foolproof lever action to deliver a 1-1/2 inch cutting diameter.
Another excellent open-on-impact head, the Jak-Hammer produced by Wasp features the strongest blades in the industry. This three-blade head features .036-inch thick blades and is available in a 75- and 100-grain model with 1-1/4 inch and 1-3/4 inch cutting diameters, respectively.
The blades on the Jak-Hammer are held closed with an "O" ring in fight. On impact the blades fold back to the cutting position.
Treestands
Ol' Man Treestands has combined steel and carbon to produce their new Air Elite climbing stand. The base of the stand is made from carbon, a material that is half the weight yet stronger than steel. The adjustable arm is made of welded steel that accepts a 3/16-inch cable covered with industrial hose. The cable/hose is connected around the tree providing a secure and quiet climbing system.
Strong Built is one of the largest manufacturers of tripod stands. The Magnum Tripod is new for 1997 and is available in 14-, 16- and 18-foot eye-level models. The stand features a 40x40-inch platform, shooting rail, swivel seat, and 300-pound weight rating.
Also new the 16-foot Deluxe Portable Tripod is similar to the Magnum Tripod, but can be shipped UPS. Ideal for hunting in clearcuts, Christmas tree farms, and open areas. Optional camouflage covers are available.
Summit Treestands introduced an unique and functional strap-on stand at the AMO show. Known as the Side-Kick, this new stand maximizes usable space on the platform, features a platform leveling system, plus an adjustable seat that is comfortable for short or tall hunters. The seat also includes an arm and back rest.
Wahoo Hunting Products offers an unique climbing ladder known as the Kwik Step. It consists of three-foot ladder sections strap to the tree using a 1,000-pound web buckle and can be staggered to avoid limbs and ascend imperfect trees. End stops are welded on each peg to prevent slippage. Sold in sets of four, these strap-on steps carry a 300-pound rating.
Camo Clothing and Patterns
King of the Mountain introduced several new items to supplement their line of Omnitherm wool hunting duds. The Frontier Shirt and Bun Lites pants are functional wool clothing for hunting in warmer climates or when strenuous activity is required. Also new the Hooded Sweatshirt is made from tightly woven Omnitherm wool that is machine washable and carries a lifetime warranty. These high-quality hunting garments are only available factory direct or at select consumer shows. Call 970-962-9306 for a catalog.
The Scent-Lok activated charcoal suit has become a popular item among serious bow hunters. Designed to absorb human odor, the original Scent-Lok suit is worn under camo clothing. The all-new Scent-Lok Camo Outerwear takes the chore of controlling human odor to a new level.
The new camo outer garments feature a layer of charcoal sandwiched between a liner and exterior layer of saddle cloth. After several weeks of use the suit is reactivated by placing it in a clothes dryer on the highest setting for 30-40 minutes. The outside of the garment can be spot cleaned as needed. The Scent-Lok set includes a head cover, jacket, and pants available in Mossy Oak Break-Up, Advantage, and Realtree Xtra Brown.
A new camo fabric company known as Photo Stalk uses actual photographs reproduced onto standard textile. The result is an amazingly realistic camo hunting pattern. It is available in two patterns: WoodStalk is made up of yellows, grays, and browns that blend well with hardwoods, and ForestStalk combines greens, browns, and tans to create an excellent turkey pattern and a bow-hunting pattern for early fall.
Bill Jordan's Realtree Xtra Brown and Xtra Gray were two of the most enthusiastically received camo patterns at the show. Both patterns use 11 different screens and natural earthtone colors to create a 3-D effect and a more open pattern than other Realtree designs.
Bows
Surprisingly it wasn't a new bow but a new timing adjustment that stole the show. Golden Eagle announced that a timing system known as Xact Timing will be used on all their performance bows.
Xact Timing is a method for timing two-cam bows that's so easy anyone can make timing adjustments in less than two minutes. Two simple wrenches are used to loosen a screw and rotate the Xact Timing feature on one cam to bring it into synchronization with the other cam. Since it's not necessary to release the tension on the string or cables, timing adjustments can be made in the field.
Xact Timing is available on most 1997 high-performance Golden Eagle bows and will also be sold as an after-market item.
Ladies shopping for a new bow will be impressed with the new Elite by Darton. Designed to provide performance for women and other short-draw-length archers, the Elite uses Darton's Mark II cams. The Elite is offered in 40-, 50-, and 60-pound draw weights and lengths of 23-1/2 to 26-1/2 inches.
Fans of Oneida bows will be pleased to see the new Lite-Force. An affordable machined riser bow that's lighter, shorter, and shoots more quietly than previous Oneida bows. The Lite-Force is available with a 25- to 55-pound draw weight and 22- to 30-inch draw length. The Lite-Force Magnum features a 50- to 70-pound draw weight or a 60- to 80-pound limbs for a small extra charge. Draw lengths range from 26 to 34 inches.
Hunting Boots
Bow hunters concerned about keeping human scent under control know the value of wearing tall rubber boots. The new Sorel Redwood is a knee-length boot with a 6mm ThermoPlus InnerBoot and a comfort rating of +40F to -25F. A Cordura collar closes at the top with a drawstring to keep out snow and debris.
For extremely cold hunting, the IceFisher is the warmest rubber boot money can buy. Comfort rated at +40F to -100F, this boot features the ThermoPlus 100 InnerBoot system. The InnerBoot is 13mm thick and composed of four layers including polyester next to the skin for wicking moisture, polypropylene to add warmth and wicking ability, Radiantex foil to reflect body heat, and polyester/viscose on the outside for moisture storage and dispersion. The InnerBoot is teamed up with a midsole that's a 12mm combination of mesh, Radiantex, and felt.
Arrows and Nocks
The new Easton A/C/C HyperSpeed may be the fastest arrow shaft in the world. This the latest generation of the A/C/C (Aluminum, Carbon, Competition) uses two wraps of carbon instead of three over an aluminum core. The result is a shaft that's 30-40 grains lighter than comparable A/C/C/ shafts with a similar spine stiffness.
Gold Tip grabbed everyone's attention with the introduction of their Graphite XT shaft. The Graphite XT is constructed of five layers of graphite fiber including three layers of straight fiber and two layers of radial or wrapped fiber that gives the shaft more stiffness and crush resistance that other shafts. The result is a shaft that's considerably stronger than any aluminum, graphite, or carbon/aluminum shaft on the market. What's even better the Graphite XT covers all spine needs from 35- to 95-pound draw weights with only three different shafts and uses a single size nock and point insert instead of bulky outserts.
The straightness factor is +/- .002 of an inch, making the Graphite XT one of the straightest target and hunting shafts available.
Bohning introduced a new product especially for cross bow enthusiasts who wish to fletch their own bolts. Designed as a two-part system, the Cross Bow Bolt Cap fits into the bolt and the Fletching Nock indexes into a square hole in the Bolt Cap. When the Fletching Nock is installed, the bolt can be fletched in any standard fletching jig.
Bohning also introduced their Signature nock designed to fit the Easton Uni-Bushing. The Signature nock features a deep throat and firm string tension, making it ideal for both finger and release shooters.
ATV Accessories
Bow hunters who use an ATV to access remote hunting areas will appreciate the Wahoo ATV Totem. The Totem is a gear hauler that mounts to the rear rack on most ATVs. The slickest way yet to haul treestands, bow cases, and other gear, the Totem secures these items while leaving the rear rack open for other storage needs.
Hand-Held GPS
Quality hand-held GPS units are now within the price range of any bow hunter. The new Eagle Explorer offers 12-channel GPS performance for around $200. With technology co-developed by Rockwell International, the Explorer analyzes and computes data from up to a dozen satellites simultaneously. The result is the fastest, most accurate, and dependable hand-held GPS navigational aid available.
Powered by four AA batteries or a Nickel Metal Hydride battery that can be recharged up to 500 times, the Explorer also offers accessory chargers that provide on-board charging even when the unit is in use.
The Explorer can store up to 750 position points, 250 waypoints, and up to 500 graphic event icon symbols. A total of 15 different graphic icons are available to note special locations. Users can mark treestand sites, camps, the location of downed game, and more.
Rangefinders And Optics
The Bushnell Yardage Pro 400 is a lazer rangefinder that instantly measures distances up to 400 yards with accuracy of plus or minus one yard. The Yardage Pro 400 looks and functions like a pair of binoculars. Simply line the object up in the viewing screen and push a button. The yardage is displayed as an LED readout.
Browning introduced two models of the Telemetry Triangulation Rangefinder that are designed to mount to your bow. Not a lazer or infrared ranging device, the Telemetry uses known distances and simple electronics to calculate true mathematical range based on geometry.
Bausch and Lomb introduced two new waterproof binoculars suitable for serious hunting. The Elite series is available in a 7x24 and 10x28 magnification and features a compact design, long eye relief, and rubber armoring. Both models use a Porro prism system and weigh about a pound.
For more information write:
Browning, One Browning Place, Morgan, Utah 84050
Golden Eagle/Satellite Archery, 1733 Gunn Highway, Odessa, FL 33556.
Darton Archery Equipment, 3540 Darton Rd, Hale, MI 48739
Bushnell, 9200 Cody, Overland Park, KS 66214
Wahoo Hunting Products, 471 First Street SW, Cleveland, TN 37311
Ol'Man Treestands, 32 Raspberry Lane, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Strong Built, P.O. Box 157, Waterproof, LA 71375
Barrie Archery, P.O. Box 482, Waseca, MN 56093
Wasp Archery Products, 9 West Main St., Plymouth, CT 06782
Sorel/Kaufman Footwear, 700 Ellicott Street, Batavia, NY 14020
King of the Mountain, 2709 West Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, CO 80537
Photo Stalk, 111 Dennis Dr., Lexington, KY 40503
Scent-Lok, 821 W. Western Ave., Muskegon, MI 49441
Easton, 5040 W. Harold Gatty Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
Lowrance Electronics, 12000 E. Skelly Dr, Tulsa, OK 74128
Oneida Bows, 1263 County Route 5A, Fulton, NY 13069
Gold Tip, P.O.Box 1183, Orem, UT 84059
Bohning, 7361 N. Seven Mile Rd., Lake City, MI 49651
Copyright (c) 1997 Mark Romanack. All rights reserved.
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