Looking for the “inside scoop” on some of the great new bowhunting gear for 2010? You are in luck…I recently returned from covering the 2010 Archery Trade Association (ATA) Trade Show, held Jan. 13-15 in Columbus, Ohio.
The huge, sprawling ATA Show is a true “gear-junky heaven,” where annually nearly 500 industry companies come to show off their latest wares to inquisitive pro shop owners from across the country…and beyond. Attendees get to hold and otherwise fondle all the latest stuff, talk with gear designers and shoot the latest, greatest bows.
Unfortunately, the general public is not allowed behind the security-protected ATA Show doors. But that is OK…I was your eyes and ears. What follows will be several reports on the greatest new gear, discovered as your reporter and the rest of the Bowhunting World team made our way up and down the many long, innovation-packed aisles.
Here’s a sampling of what we found:
Krista Huffman also gave us a look at a neat new series of HS Strut decoys made by Delta Sports Products, which offer outstanding realism and three different price points to appeal to turkey hunters everywhere.
Limbsaver Proton Bow
LimbSaver Founder and President Steve Sims was on hand to talk about the new LimbSaver Proton bow, an incredibly compact, lightweight design that I found performed admirably in the shooting lanes. It was hard not to be impressed with the silent, stable, shock-free shots.
Sitka Optifade Concealment Big Game/Forest camo
Sitka Gear founder Jonathan Hart was rightfully excited about his cutting-edge latest wares—smartly designed outerwear and insulation built with avid treestanders in mind. Several pieces of new high-tech clothing are designed for both extreme warmth and ultra silence, and it is all covered in a unique new camo pattern—new Optifade Concealment Big Game/Forest camo from W.L. Gore. It is a great complement to the lighter, Big Game/Open Country pattern that is designed for “spot and stalk” western hunting.
Delta Photo-Realistic Target
Krista Huffman of McKenzie/Delta shows off some of new targets from McKenzie, some of which were in the “prototype” stage at showtime—including a “photo-realistic” bag style.
