Overwhelming, that is a good word to describe the 2007 Archery Trade Association Show. With 300,000 feet of exhibit space packed full of the best products on the market and the new products trying to make a name for themselves you can quickly become lost in the chaos of trying to keep up with what interests you and what blows your mind!

This years ATA show shined with new innovative ideas to improve your hunting or competitive archery skills. You could test all the new bows on the market, meet and greet with the pros, and even get to see some of the nice hunts from this past season. We were able to catch up with old friends and finally meet some people we look up to. A highlight for me at the show was getting to shake hands with Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo. I have looked up to them as a highly respected couple in the industry who let their hunting stand for them and are very humble, caring people. Meeting them was truly an honor. I was also privileged to get to meet Fred and Michele Eichler the owners of Muzzy broadhead company. They presented two very deserving people with the 2006 Muzzy Tall Man award. The Tall Man award has been around for years and is given to people who stand tall among their peers by teaching and promoting archery. This years recipients were Jim and Lynne Frady the Owners of Team Frady Outdoor Adventures. Jim and Lynne were on the road 148 days this year teaching archery to women and children and promoting archery at shows, shops, and events! Jim and Lynne reach an estimated 10,000 people a year with their archery programs doing more than there part to keep this great sport going. It is an honor for Richard and I to be on Team Frady’s Regional Pro Staff and we are humbled by this every time we are around these two wonderful people!

Another event we got to be part of at the ATA show was the Baldy Award. This has become a popular fund raiser for cancer research. Michael Waddell, Fred Eichler, and Ralph Cianciarulo were the lucky ones to get there head’s shaved to benefit cancer research. This year upwards of 80,000 dollars was raised to go to Cancer Research by the companies and brave souls walking around with shiny heads.

There were several new and innovative products on the market this year. It seemed like every company had either a new product to show or had added innovation to an already great product. There were several things that caught Richard’s eye and a few that caught mine. On top of that list is of course the new technology Hoyt has put behind there bows. We both shoot Hoyt and agree they are the best bows on the market, so we were anxious to see how you can make the best even better. On there new line of bows they introduced Stealthshot technology, a new Vector & C2 Cam & 1/2 system, Dual Rizershox, and all that new Technology is wrapped up in the newest, baddest, bow we shot at the show. The name Hoyt surely belongs on the new Vectrix. It was amazingly smooth, quiet, with absolutely no vibration. Debuting eleven brand new boys of their sixteen bow lineup Hoyt surely is set to impress for 2007.

Eastman Outfitters has come out with some awesome new blind setups for any type of hunting, whether you are chasing eastern turkeys here in Tennessee with a bow, or chasing antelope in Wyoming with a gun they have a blind for you. One in particular that caught my eye was the UnderCover Pro 360degree blind. It has Carbon Exscent which is a carbon-based scent reduction built in lining so you want be worried about being seen or smelled. It also has Shadow Blocker Technology and LeafCover super realistic 3-d so your concealment is guaranteed. One thing about the blinds that really impressed Richard and I is the mesh cover and the amount of windows. Getting into filming this year we are excited that the many windows and quick release silent snaps are perfect when you need a quick setup and are unsure the direction that gobbling bird is coming from. Camera man and shooter will be comfortable and prepared for the arrival of their game.

Carbon Express debuted Built in Weight Forward technology specifically for hunters using broadheads. This technology improves down range accuracy due to better balance and faster recovery. Tru-Ball releases has a very impressive new micro adjustable back tension release Tru-Ball also came out with a whole new company called Axcel sights that had some very impressive competition sights to show off. Being their first year they haven’t came out with a hunter sight yet but we were insured it was on its way. They were very impressive sights though with every adjustment ability you can think of made quick and easy.

Along the line of broadheads Muzzy has two new bad to the bone buddies, the Muzzy MX3 and MX4. Muzzy is backed up by the best in the industry and is well known for the toughest broadheads on the market. I also checked out Arrowdynamic Solutions makers of the Gobbler Guillotine and the Atom. No doubt on the video the Guillotine was one bad broadhead specifically designed to stop a turkey in its tracks with the most humane shot. It comes in 125-grain 4-inch by 4-inch or a 100-grain 2.5 inch by 2.5 inch cutting width. No doubt it would do the job it is designed for!

Shooting a Hoyt I have to compliment LimbSaver for all they do and this year was no different. They came out with several new products this year including a line of sights that is very impressive. Being the clearest and brightest sight I have ever seen they caught my eye quick. Of course made by Limbsaver there is no added vibration when you put this site on your bow. They also came out with a fall away arrow rest and modular target and hunting stabilizers. Limbsaver is in the business of making you silent with their new Tentacle bow wrap, silent armor silicone spray for your treestand, and the Ultra Quad dampeners.

Quality Archery Designs has made their unbelievable Ultra-Rest even better. They added a Cord Lock, Harmonic Dampening System, and Larger Thumb lever for easier access. We have used this rest for the past couple years with very impressive results, after getting the rest my groups shrunk by half. I was surprised they could do anything to make it better but they have.

Nikon had several new scopes come out for 2007 and also a very impressive dot site. We always expect the best from Nikon and they never let us down. This year is no different with the new Laser IRT 4-12x42 it combines the speed of a Nikon rangefinder with the perfect accuracy of the Nikon BDC reticle. They also showed off three new binoculars that provide Nikon’s unsurpassed clarity and durability.

One thing that was very noticeable is Realtree’s new AP and APG patterns. They were posters everywhere at several different booths that carry the Realtree patterns. It is a impressive pattern, lighter than a lot of the other patterns we are use to. It will be a very popular all purpose pattern.

That is a brief overview of the things that impressed us at the show. I say brief because the show was unbelievable and the products were overwhelming. Everywhere you turn you see something new and exciting. I also love to catch up with friends at the show so it is just too much to do and see in three days. This year will truly be a great year for hunters with all the amazing product advancements and companies we have out there just wanting to make our experiences in the woods easier and more enjoyable.