After a bit of a hiatus from speed -- in order to place priority on silence and reduced hand shock -- bow makers seem to have shifted their focus back to building fast bows. Pushing the envelope again, many bow manufacturers now list arrow speeds as fast as 350 feet per second (fps) IBO (70-lb. draw weight, 350-grain arrow, 30" draw). Most practical hunting setups won't produce such astronomical speeds, but the IBO rating gives a basis for comparison. Whatever the measure, 2007 bows are fast!

Some manufacturers have made only subtle changes by adding new models, refining cam designs, or adding sharp new paint jobs. Other bow makers have made significant changes or revamped their lineups altogether. Of one thing you can be sure -- all companies are striving to make better products.

As a matter of clarity, all bow lengths mentioned in the text are axle to axle, and all speeds listed are IBO (unless otherwise noted). Companies are listed in alphabetical order.

With that said, read on for a look at the latest bows. Have fun figuring out which will be your trusted hunting companion this year and beyond.

1. ALPINE ARCHERY
The heart of Alpine's newest bow, the Silverado, is the Velocitec Cam System, a licensed hybrid technology refined by Alpine engineers. The cables do not attach to the limbs, and the dual cams, although very different, have dual payout grooves to balance the load. The Upper Velocitec Control Cam gives the Silverado a smooth draw and minimal recoil. The Lower Velocitec Power Cam generates arrow velocity, giving the Silverado its IBO rating of 325 fps. The Silverado, at 32" long with a brace height of 7.25", is built around Alpine's patented modular riser. The limbs are anchored in place by VX Pocket Technology, and the cams are fitted with Fast Trac Ball Bearings.

Another new offering from Alpine is the 3-lb., 32" Micro Elite, with draw lengths ranging from 21"- 28" on the same Stalker II Cam.

Alpine's Tundra Series of bows still includes the 31" Avalanche and the 34" Denali. Match Grade versions of these bows include riser sections machined to accept integrated accessories.

2. APA INNOVATIONS
This company, based in Biggar, Saskatchewan, builds bows for speed. The Black Mamba, which comes in two models, is the fastest. If you think you can handle a true speed bow, try the 35.87" Black Mamba X1. With a brace height of only 5.5", this bow generates speeds up to 353 fps! The 33.87" Black Mamba X2 has a much higher brace height of 7.06", but it still produces 340 fps. Both bows are fitted with APA's Venom Twin Cams. All APA models have a carry handle machined into the riser as well as a multi-tool center.

3. ARCHERY RESEARCH
Sometimes it's smarter to make refinements than wholesale changes, and that's the philosophy at Archery Research this year. AR has fitted the popular Velocity with a new, improved Ram Velocity Cam, a modular design with a new draw-stop system that allows you to customize the valley. This year's Velocity also features 11 separate vibration dampeners and a grip with in-creased thumb clearance. It remains 34" long with a 6.5" brace height and boasts speeds of 312 - 320 fps.

The AR 31 is back in the line with a Ram Plus single cam and the new Hyperlite Unibody limb pocket system. Developed for treestand hunters, this bow is 31.5" long and has a generous brace height of 8.25". The AR 35, the AR 35SD (short draw), and the AR 34 round out AR's high-tech line.

4. BEAR ARCHERY
The big news at Bear Archery involves a yearlong collaboration with Will Primos and his team in the creation of a new flagship bow, The Truth. The Primos team had considerable input in the design of this single-cam bow. The Truth's machined-aluminum riser is loaded at either end with Bear's Compression Molded Quad Limbs and the new Elliptical Perimeter-Weighted Single Cam. The limbs flex beyond parallel, and the 80% letoff ends at the "Rock Stop" position. At 33" in length, with a brace height of 7", The Truth is capable of speeds up to 314 fps. As Will Primos puts it, "The Truth gives me a balance between speed and forgiveness." The Truth is, this bow won't shoot down your hunting budget, either.

Bear Archery's line of bows still contains the Code, a 34" bow with a 7.37" brace height; and the Instinct, a shorter bow at 30" with a 7.5" brace height. The Element is back as well, and the Odyssey II is a new, highly adaptable youth bow with a draw-length adjustment range from 13" - 27".

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