A few weeks ago, I was perusing the aisles of the 2009 Archery Trade Association show. Of course the gear that jumped off the shelf at me was the new shiny bows. Every year I check out the new bows, test most of them and every year ask myself what will they come up with next?
Every year manufacturers dug deeper than ever before and designed a bow that is often faster, lighter, smoother-shooting and more user-friendly than the previous year’s model. How they do it, I don’t know. I do know that the 2009 bow line up is better than ever. Below are a few of the new bows that caught my eye. There are dozens of new bows each year; below are just four of my favorites.
Mathews is known for designing bows that push the engineering envelope and the new Reezen is a prime example. Matt McPherson designed the fastest solocam to date. The new Reezen 7.0 can send an arrow sailing at a whopping 335 fps while the Reezen 6.5 throws an arrow 340 fps. With speeds like that, most deer hunters will only need one sight pin in the woods, making aiming quick and easy. The Reezen has a new vibration dampening device on the lower part of the string near the cam called a String Grub. It helps reduce string vibration and helps the bow deliver more speed.
Another nice feature on the Reezen is a quick change axle. With the quick change axle, a Mathews technician can change cams and adjust the draw length in a minute or less. Other features Mathews shooters have grown to love are the String Suppressors, harmonic dampers and SE 4 composite limbs that are known to be super strong and long lasting. The Reezen comes with Mathews exclusive SphereLock Pivoting limb Cup System and Limb Turret which cradle the limbs and spread out the load.
The Reezen is slightly longer than previous models at 32 inches, making the bow stable yet small enough to maneuver in tight spots. The Reezen is available in two models—the 6.5 which comes with a 6.5-inch brace height and the 7.0 which has a 7-inch brace height that is a little more forgiving but still offers plenty of speed. For more information on the Mathews Reezen, visit www.mathewsinc.com.
Darton Archery has been around for decades. The team at Darton has numerous archery patents that have contributed to their success and the success of many bow companies. The 2009 Darton 3500S offers bowhunters everything they are looking for in a good hunting bow—speed, smooth-shooting and easy tuning. The 3500S features Darton’s CPS-G2 cam system offers great benefits, lots of speed that two cams are known for combined with the smooth-shooting and easy-tuning benefits of a single-cam bow. The CPS-G2 can deliver speeds exceeding 340 fps and has very little vibration thanks to a bowstring noise suppression system.
The 3500S comes with adjustable draw length between 25 to 30 inches so bowhunters can shoot the 3500S and pass it on to friends or family and the bow will probably work for them. The grip on the 3500S is one of the bow’s best features. The bow feels good in your hand and is easy to hold, regardless of the size of your hands. The 3500S is a compact bow at just under 34 inches, so the bow is perfect for treestand hunters and western big game hunters. Draw weights are available from 50 to 70 pounds. To find out more about Darton Bows, visitwww.dartonarchery.com.
Hoyt Archery strives to engineer bows that are super tough and bowhunter- friendly. The 2009 AlphaMax fits the bill. The Alpha Max is super light at 3.9 pounds which is sure to please bowhunters who hike miles in rough terrain in search of critters like elk and mule deer. The Alpha Max is light in weight, but not on features. It comes with Hoyt’s new adjust XTR Cam & ½ System that is smooth and efficient and shoots arrows at 321 fps.
The AlphaMax comes with Hoyt’s new ZT lock pocket system which helps eliminate bow vibration and locks the limbs to the riser, creating an extra tough bow that can take anything the wilderness dishes out. The split limbs are made of five laminated layers that are strong and lightweight, two things bowhunters are looking for in a bow.
The AlphaMax comes with a 7-inch brace height, is available in draw weights from 40 to 80 pounds and draw lengths between 23.5 to 30 inches. The AlphaMax is available in the 32-inch and 35-inch model. The AlphaMax 35 has a draw range of 27 to 31 inches. Both models are compact enough for any style of hunting. To learn more about Hoyt bows, visit www.hoyt.com.
Bowtech Archery has become one of the most sought after bows in the industry recently due to unique bow designs that are pleasing to the eye. The 2009 Admiral offers Bowtech’s second generation center pivot limb/riser design. The riser actually connects to the split limbs near the center of the limbs which greatly reduces limb noise and vibration when shot. The Admiral comes with Bowtech’s CenterTrac Binary Cam System that eliminates cam lean, making an efficient cam system that produces plenty of speed and kinetic energy. The Admiral delivers speeds up to 320 fps.
Other key features found on the Admiral include the Carbon Rod String Stop. This rubber-tipped carbon rod has been engineered to be directly in line with the front stabilizer mount to create a “coupling” effect for efficient transfer of string energy through the rod, into the stabilizer and direct to the target. My favorite feature is the inVelvet coating found on the surface of the bow. This coating protects the bow against wear, makes it warmer to the touch in cold weather, and acts as a noise dampener which quiets the bow.
The Admiral has a extra long 7 ½-inch brace height making it extremely forgiving, has an adjustable draw length between 24 to 30 inches, is available in draw weights from 40 to 70 pounds and is a super short (31 1/16-inches long) making it a bow that is perfect for hunting from a ground blind. To learn more about Bowtech Archery, visit www.bowtecharchery.com.
