By Ammoland Archery Editor: Jason Reid
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Louisville 2016. Barely a week into the new year and the heart of the archery and bowhunting world converged on Louisville, Kentucky.
Known for the powerhouse ACC college athletics program the Louisville Cardinals, for a brief few days, manufacturers, TV personalities, archery pro shops and enthusiastic hunters converged to build business relationships, sell, and unveil new gear.
This year was not a disappointment for the bowhunting faithful.
While there is always plenty of big news coming out of the show, I managed to boil down a few pertinent points to know from ATA 2016.
Browning Crossbows
The crossbow market continues to get plenty of attention as it is a hotbed for innovation year after year. One of the most revered companies in the industry made headlines for introducing their new Browning Crossbow. Browning generated tons of buzz and interest in their new Crossbows and it was evident considering the length of the lines to shoot both at the shooting lanes on the perimeters of the show floor booth.
Browning Zero Seven Series: the Browning OneXixOne and OneSixTwo Crossbows were quality pieces of equipment and I found them to shoot smooth. It was the built in cocking device and quality Magnesium Riser which caught my eye. The OneSixOne has a draw weight of 135lbs. and a power stroke of 14.625 not to mention Picatinny rails on both sides of the riser for custom equipment.
Learn more at www.browningcrossbows.com
Mathews Archery
Much to the delight of attendees and the ATA, Mathews Archery returned to the ATA show after several years. Ever since they introduced the New Halon Series of Bows in Mid November, the ripple effect has been felt throughout the industry. They realized they needed to bring a bit more speed to the smoothness of the NoCam and delivered. In speaking with other Archery Technicians, they love the smoothness due to the Crosscentric
Cam design, some calling it the best bow they have ever shot. To handle the speed of the cam system delivers, the limbs are a bit wider and stiffer than what we have generally seen from Mathews in the past and come in 5,6 and 7 inch brace heights. Learn more here.
http://mathewsinc.com/halon/
HAWK Hunting
HAWK Hunting continues to shake up the tree stand niche. Since they jumped onto the scene three years ago, they have fought their way into the thick of the competition consistently producing quality equipment for the hardcore hunter. This year they delivered again with their flagship Treestand called the Big Denali. Living up to its name, this 20ft stand has a padded mesh least measuring 26×23, perfect for the all day sits. Just don’t fall asleep.In addition to the 26×14 platform the Big Denali has a patent pending Stacking Ladder System. Each section of the ladders fit inside of each other for easier transport. Well, it is about time someone did that. This should make things quieter for transportation in the field.
http://hawkhunting.myshopify.com/
Elite Archery
Elite Archery cranked up the speed this year with their Impulse Line. Elite has become well known for their shootability and solid backwall. Speed was never the most pressing aspect to the folks at Elite since their focus was on producing the best shooting bow on the market. This year the Impulse 31 and 34 provide IBO speeds in excess of 340. While still maintaining a simpler design, strong riser and probably the best back wall in the industry, you can find your arrow hitting the mark much faster this year
National Deer Alliance
National Deer Alliance Names CEO: Although not product news, news on the conservation front carried good vibes into the ATA show. Just days before the show, the National Deer Aliance, who is supported heavily by the ATA, named Nick Pizzinto, known for his work as CEO of the Sportsmans Alliance, the first President and CEO of the young organization.
When asked about the move, Nick told me it was “A natural fit as his entire life is consumed by deer and the passion for their conservation.”
http://nationaldeeralliance.com/
In all, this is just a fraction of the great innovation and exciting new products to hit the market for 2016. The best way to sift through all the new gear released in the past few weeks is to make a checklist for yourself not of what you what, but what you think will help you become a more efficient shooter and hunter, then research what will help you become better in 2016.
About: Jason Reid is a writer and business professional from upstate New York. After deciding to pursue his dream of becoming an outdoor writer, Jason started a blog from his dorm room at Houghton College, growing it and working hard to earn opportunities. While bowhunting big game is his ultimate passion, Jason welcomes all outdoor challenges which force him to push his limits. Jason’s work can be viewed on his website Pushingthewildlimits.com