January 09, 2013
By Bowhunting Online Staff
Without question, one of the fastest growing items within the bowhunting community has been the crossbow. As more and more states allow the use of crossbows for hunting — helping get people who may not otherwise be interested or able into the sport — that trend looks like it will continue well into the future.
As interest grows, so does the number of manufacturers and the quality of innovations coming down the pike, which is evident this year at the Archery Trade Association (ATA) Show in Louisville, Ky. To help keep you up to date on the latest and greatest from the trade show floor, we at Petersen's Bowhunting
Cajun Hornet LITE Arrow Long known for producing an entire line of topnotch bowfishing equipment,
Cajun Archery is now part of the Bear Archery and Trophy Ridge family. Consequently, you can assume there are good things in the future for Cajun. For right now, they still make everything you need to hit the water, with their Hornet LITE arrow giving youths a chance to outshoot their older bowfishing counterparts. The Hornet LITE weighs 600 grains, which is nearly half the weight of traditional bowfishing arrows. This aids low-poundage shooters in penetration and accuracy. The Hornet LITE is 28" long and specifically designed for setups with draw weights of 40 lbs. or less.
Price: $ 5 (bare), 15 (complete)
Innerloc Grapple Points Quality bowfishing reels are important, but they are useless without the right arrows and points. Enter the
Grapple Points from Innerloc Broadheads . Available in a 2 Barb, 3 Barb, and 3 Barb Gator option, Innerloc has got heads for every bowfishing situation. Designed to reduce planing and increase penetration, Grapple Points open to a full 2.75" to ensure that no matter how fierce the fight, any fish you impale will end up in the boat.
Price: $ 14-17
RPM NOS Point Another quality offering in the point category comes your way from
RPM Bowfishing . Their NOS Point is a wicked stainless-steel point that features twin serrated gripper barbs to cut down on lost fish. If you spend any time shooting around rocky shorelines or bowfishing spawning suckers on smaller interior rivers while they pile into the rapids, you'll appreciate the NOS's hardened bullet tip, because it resists deformation and stays true even after serious abuse.
Price: $ 10
Rhinehart Carp Target Anyone who has spent any time shooting into the water understands that it's easy to miss. Light refraction and the sheer challenge of knowing just how low to aim cause plenty of on-the-water whiffs. If you're interested in cutting down on the misses though, check out the
Carp from Rinehart Targets . Designed to be shot at steep angles and simulate a true 50-lb. bottom-feeder, the Carp is perfect for diehard bowfishermen.
Price: $ 200
Wiley X Saint Naturally, none of these products matter if you can't see into the water. Over the years I've spent a lot of time and money trying to find polarized sunglasses that cut surface glare and give me the chance to arrow more fish. Through that process I've ended up relying heavily on
Wiley X eyewear . Their new Saint is available in their Changeable Series, which gives you the ability to customize lenses.
Personally, I prefer the Polarized Smoke Green lenses when I'm bowfishing. After stepping on a pair and crunching them into oblivion, I now opt to store them in the hard zipper case when I'm not wearing them. Aside from looking cool and functioning well, each Saint meets high-velocity and high-mass-impact safety standards to offer eye protection — something everyone on your boat should have.
Price: $ 75-130
Quick Draw Bowfishing Arrow Rest Quick Draw Outdoor Gear also makes a full-containment bowfishing rest that will enhance a day on the water. Their Quick Draw Bowfishing Arrow Rest is designed for shooters of all skill levels. To aid in quick reloading, which is something that is sure to be appreciated during periods of frenzied fish-shooting activity, each Quick Draw has a rubber gate that allows you to quickly slip your arrow into place and fire away. The Quick Draw is available in silver or pink.
Price: $ 45
PSE Wave A great package from
PSE Archery contains all you need to kill everything from common carp to stingrays and even alligators. The new-for-2013 Wave is a 32", 3.4-lb. bow with up to 30" of draw length. Its 6.5" brace height and 40-lb. draw weight make it the perfect option for all-day, or all-night shooting. Each kit contains an AMS reel, PSE Snapshot rest, and two bowfishing arrows.
Price: $ 380
Muzzy Xtreme Duty Reel If you've already got a suitable bowfishing bow, then it would be wise to check out the new
Xtreme Duty Bowfishing Reel from Muzzy . The Xtreme is built for bowfishing, which is evident from the extra-large spool, stainless-steel hood and pushbutton cap, and automotive disk drag. To accommodate left or right-handed shooters, each Xtreme is convertible for either preference of retrieve.
Price: $ 53
Bohning Carp-ivore Rest An often-overlooked aspect of rigging up for bowfishing season involves rests. I prefer to bowfish with traditional bows most of the time, so I end up shooting off of the shelf. However, this spring, when I opt for a compound, it will be outfitted with the new Carp-ivore Bowfishing Rest from
Bohning Archery . The Carp-ivore combines a capture rest with a roller rest, utilizing the best of both styles. Additionally, each Carp-ivore can be mounted for left and right-handed shooters and features vertical and horizontal adjustment for fine-tuning.
Price: $ 50
AMS Bowfishing Retriever Pro In the realm of bowfishing reels, I'd be remiss if I didn't cover
AMS Bowfishing's Retriever Pro . This reel, along with earlier versions of it, have accounted for a lot of dead fish over the years. Unlike other bowfishing reels, the Retriever Pro is built to release line without the push of a button, meaning to quickly retrieve line it's necessary to engage the reel. Each Retriever Pro comes standard with 200-lb. Hi-Vis Dacron line, two AMS Safety Slide Kits, and replacement nocks for your arrows.
Price: $ 90
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