Orofino, Idaho, saw the birth of High Country Archery 30 years ago. At that time, most speed bows shot in the mid-200s with let-offs ranging from 35 to 55 percent. “High Country changed the face of things by producing bows that shot over 300 fps with 65 percent let-off, which quickly became the standard throughout the market,” said Nathan Land, president of High Country Archery.

More than a one-trick pony, HCA innovated several other milestones that changed the face of archery, including the 65 percent-let-off cam (Pro Eliminator 1983); the Hatchet Cam (1989), which powered some of the fastest bows of the day; the first extruded aluminum riser using 7075-T6 aluminum (Ultra Extreme 1993); the first carbon riser (1996); the first draw-length-adjustable cam (XD Cam 2000) without modules; the roller-guard (2002), for which it holds a patent; and the first cam to be draw-weight, length and let-off adjustable (Perfect Cam 2004).

HCA has added four bows to the line for 2011. The Speed Pro X11 leads the way. “It’s a split-limb version of the X10, which was traditionally a solid limb. It’s a little more radical, but you still get the benefit of what most people are used to with a cam system. It’s very smooth and very friendly to shoot,” Land stated. The X11 stretches 33.5 inches between the axles with a six-inch brace height and clocks out at 350 to 355 fps IBO, but that’s not what’s garnering the most buzz for the X11. “Not only is it fast, it’s extremely lightweight at 3.3 pounds. And that’s for an all-aluminum bow,” Nathan asserted.

HCA’s Speed Pro X10 has a new riser for 2011 and utilizes the Barnesdale Laminated Limb System. “The two-cam design is draw-length adjustable on the cam—that’s a very nice feature. Additionally, the Speed Pro X10 comes with the Bowjax dampening system and 80 percent let-off,” Land explained. The Speed Pro is true to its name at 340 to 345 fps IBO.

The Supreme Pro Eliminator may well own the specifications that shooters find tops. “It’s a target-model bow as far as the specs but works great as a hunting bow,” Nathan related. The 37-inch Supreme Pro shoots 330 fps IBO with an eight-inch brace height and weighs less than four pounds. “The Supreme Pro Eliminator uses the same Trinary cam as the X10 with all of the same great features,” he went on to say. If the Pro Eliminator nameplate is making your ears ring, there’s a good reason. It was the name of High Country’s first bow 30 years ago.

“Under new ownership, High Country is now debt free, which allows us to cut overhead costs,” said Land. “We’ve then taken these savings and passed them along to our dealers, and while High Country has been around for a while, it’s really a new company, with a new team of very passionate and innovative employees.”

(423) 443-4185; highcountryarchery.com