SPECIFICATIONS -CPX
Speed:	355 FPS
Axle to Axle:	32″
Brace Height:	6″
Draw Length:	25.5″ – 30″
Draw Weight:	50, 60, 70, 80 LBS
Overall Weight:	4.3lbs
Let-Off:	80%
MSRP	~$999.00

SPECIFICATIONS -CPXL
Speed:	340 FPS
Axle to Axle:	35″
Brace Height:	7″
Draw Length:	27.5″ – 32″
Draw Weight:	50, 60, 70, 80 LBS
Overall Weight:	4.4lbs
Let-Off:	80%
MSRP	~$1049.00

After months of anticipation and secrecy Bowtech released their pride and joy at this year’s 2012 ATA show. The 2012 Bowtech Insanity was one of the top most anticipated attractions this year at the show and as expected drew a large crowd. The 2012 Bowtech Insanity comes in 2 models the first being the Insanity CPX which is a 32″ axle to axle bow with IBO speeds of 355fps, and the other model is the CPXL which is the 35″ axle to axle model shooting IBO speeds of 340fps.

The 2012 Bowtech Insanity bows have a few great features that are sure to grab the attention of bowhunters this upcoming year. Among these features include the Center Pivot Extreme Technology, which helps to provide more forgivness and accuracy in the line of shooter torque. OverDrive Binary Cam system to help prevent cam lean, and create a smooth draw.

I was fortunate enough to be able to shoot the Bowtech Insanity this year at the ATA show and I found that it had a very smooth but aggressive draw, the bow felt very light and had a good feel to it when pulled back enough to activate the entire let-off. Upon releasing the arrow it doesn’t take long to realize the true power and energy creating that gets thrown behind the arrow. I did notice some vibration within the bow, as well as a very slight kick however it’s important to note that this was a bare bow setup and I am confident that if set up with a good stabilizer this would remedy these minor issues.

All in all this is a great bow with a lot of great features, the only thing I have to complain about is that in my opinion compared to the other competing bows out there the price for the 2012 Bowtech Insanity is quite steep, and may end up hurting sales in regions where the economy is not the greatest.

SPECIFICATIONS
Velocity:	330 FPS
Power Stroke:	200 LBS
Mass Weight:	6.3 LBS
Overall Weight:	37.4″
Arrow Length:	20″
Arrow Weight(gr.):	350 Grains
Stock Type:	Thumbhole
Finish:	Black Carbon

Excalibur has released information about their new crossbow for 2012. The New 2012 Excalibur Eclipse XT is set to be released in “early 2012″ as posted on Excalibur’s website. The New Eclipse takes a look at the darker side of Excalibur with its black carbon finish and tactical look. This crossbow is based on the popular 200lb thumbhole stock platform and it built with the hunter in mind.

The New 2012 Excalibur Eclipse XT boasts speeds of up to 330 FPS with a 350 grain bolt, and deliveres pin-point accuracy and enough kinetic energy to cover the wide range of game all over North America and weighs in at only 6.3lbs. The Eclipse XT also comes sporting Excalibur’s S5 sound and vibration control system and matching cheek piece to further increase your shot conmfortability and consistency.

The 2012 Excalibur Eclipse XT will with an included package that will feature Excalibur’s Shadow-Zone scope and mounting bracket, 4 firebolt 350 grain arrows attached with field points, Excalibur’s 3 arrow quiver bracket and matching quiver. This whole 2012 Eclipse Crossbow package is estimated to run about $920.00.

It will be interesting to see how this years new crossbow from Excalibur fare’s against its competitors like the New Carbon Express CX2 or the TenPoint Carbon Fusion CLS

I came across this very interesting product at the ATA show and have been so impressed with what I have seen and read that I feel as though this is a product that I would like to share with all of my readers.  As most hunters already know, keeping your scent away from the game you’re hunting is a crucial and often hard to accomplish task especially when dealing with skittish game such as deer.

The problem with most cover scents and other cover products (soaps, clothing etc) is that no matter how much you put on or how good it is, the truth is that to the game your hunting, you stink we have a strange odor about you that spooks them.  Our bodies are constantly creating and giving off this smell.  It’s embedded into our clothes, car seats, hunting equipment and everything else we touch.

This is where the beauty of Nose Jammer comes in.  This product is not an attractant and not a cover scent it is a revolutionary idea that will certainly lead to less spooked dear and more trophy animal bagged.  The idea of the Nose Jammer product is to take natural scents from trees and vegetation that the animals are used to smelling and dealing with all the time; concentrate them and turn it into a spray that when picked up by the game’s nose will overload its scent receptors with smell essentially crashing their sensor ability thus making it nearly impossible for the game to pick up on your scent.

On top of making it near impossible for the game you’re hunting to smell you, the Nose Jammer also has the added ability to calm the deer’s reflexes with the use of vanillin.  Vanillin is a wood by-product that is present in many trees including the maple tree as well as shrubs all found in the game’s natural habitat.  Vanillin through many studies has been found to calm the startle reflex in both hunters and game, which ends in a deadly combination for your trophy animal.

At the show I was able to converse with the creator of this product and found that they had done numerous field tests wit this product and had found that deer had exhibited 3 main responses to Nose Jammer.

- The first reaction from the deer what that there was no reaction at all.  The deer seemed to ignore the smell simply equating it to a normal habitat smell.

- The second reaction was that the deer upon coming into range of the scent quickly looked up smelling the air, after a couple minutes they calmly resumed what they had been doing before they smelled the Nose Jammer product.

- Thirdly the last reaction exhibited by the deer were that the dear raised their head sniffing the air and then started to bolt the other way, only to stop after 30 yds looking back and realizing there was nothing to be scared of and then walking back to their original spot to continue what they had been doing before.

If you want more information about this revolutionary product that is sure to be apart of most bowhunter’s arsenals learn more about it here – Nose Jammer – Scent Overload.

The 2012 ATA show has been a great experience so far.  Although many of the products are upgrades or returns from previous years, the ATA show did not disappoint.  There was a lot to go through and we did spend a lot of time talking with the vendors and had some fun.  We were however able to get some good pictures of the show and of some new and upgraded products that will be hitting stores this year for 2012.

We start of with a picture from the outer floor area. This is just a general picture of some of the ATA Exhibits that were present this year.

X-Press came out with their new updated model of their bowpress as seen in the pictures below.  As you can see one of the major differences is the wheels that have been attached to the bowpress.  This along with a bunch of new features and upgrades makes this bowpress a must have for all shop owners this year.

What kind of Archery show doesn’t have cool realistic looking taxidermy animals.  This is a picture of my Dad and brother posing with a stuffed bear.

Again some very well done taxidermy of some deer.

This is a picture of the long anticipated Bowtech Insanity.  I was lucky enough to be able to shoot it and aside from a very mean draw (hard not rough), it is an excellent bow; very smooth, quiet and quick.  This will definitely be one of the possible top contenders in the 2012 bow lineup this year.

This was really really cool, it was a poster of a record sized moose that had been shot and stuffed.  Below is the poster of the moose’s score and weight along with a picture of my dad standing next to it for a look at just how big this beautiful creature is.

This is the SABO sight from the company “Tactical Archery Systems”  The sight works off the same type of technology used in the military for rapid target acquisition.  The superimposed dots for the sight are generated by ambient light gathered through fiber optics and does not use any electronics.

These are just a few shots from the Rocket Broadheads booth that I thought were pretty neat.

A motorized trailer that you can go into the bush and can help you drag your animal out.  It seemed to have a solid design with some decent specs and capabilities on paper, however in reality I’m not so sure how it would stand up it’ll be interesting to put one to the test.

A new Broadhead from HartCraft was introduced this year at the ATA show.  The reason I included it in my pictures was that its a single broadhead that can fit 5 different types of blades depending on the game your hunting.  The ferrule  and the blades are all 100% stainless steel and all blades have one point of impact so that you can easily change out each blade set without having to re sight in your bow.

Just a picture of a truck that looked pretty cool suped up with all of the camo print and accessories.  Unfortunately this was not a film diping company or a camo truck decal company, however I did think it was worth the add into this post.

This is a really neat looking crossbow from KodaBow.  They specialize in making hunting and tactical crossbows for the serious archers out there.

Personally I have never seen this before, however what this is is an archery skeet shooting set.  The first picture shows the target launching machine that launches foam discs into the air.  The second picture shows the arrows that are used to shoot at these targets.  This definitely was a neat idea and hey definitely something I wouldn’t mind trying myself.

That completes the pictures from  days 1 and 2  I am hoping to continue to get a few more pictures tomorrow for the last day.

That time of year is almost here, the 2012 ATA show is just around the corner starting Jan 10. This is one of the, if not the biggest archery show of the year where archery companies new and old flock to show off they’re latest and greatest for merchandise for the upcoming year to all of the retailers and private vendors. This year the 2012 ATA show is being held in Ohio and is promising some big names with some incredible products that archers and bowhunters from all over can’t wait to get a chance to see and get their hands on.

This year we have our tickets and will be going to cover this incredible archery event. We will be taking pictures and making posts of our day to day adventures and products we see and will be giving you an inside look at the latest products itching to hit the stores for your entertainment this year.

We will also be posting some pictures and some information on our new forum so be sure to check it out here Archery Buff Forum.

NAP ArmorRest Capture Rest

The NAP armorRest is a full capture drop away rest for those hunters and shooters that enjoy a capture rest that can hold your arrow at literally any angle you have it at. Numerous tests and studies have concluded that the NAP ArmorRest gets fletching clearance every time whether you are using vanes or FOBs. With this full capture drop away rest you get no bounce backs and because of the rubberized coating that covers the rest you get a quiet yet rugged rest that performs every time you shoot. Unlike the competition the NAP ArmorRest features titanium arms which greatly reduces weight and adds an added boost of durability. The ArmorRest is sure to turn heads this year.

Bowtech Insanity CPX and CPXL

The Bowtech Insanity is the much anticipated bow that has been held under wraps by Bowtech for the last few months. The Bowtech Insanity comes in two models; CPX and CPXL both featuring Dual Overdrive Binary CAMS. This bow is an extremely smooth, quiet and fast bow, however in my opinion the draw cycle as compared to other bows on the market is a bit tougher. Regardless the Bowtech Insanity is definitely going to be a strong player this upcoming year.

Archer Xtreme – Titanium Xtreme

The Archer Xtreme Titanium Sight is the first titanium sight to hit the market ever. The benefit of titanium is that it is twice the strength of steel while being 45% lighter. Archer Xtreme has used this to build one of the lightest yet most durable sights hitting the market to date. The titanium Xtreme features a 2 inch sight housing for max FOV in low lighting conditions, laser marking for horizontal and elevation adjustments, and rear LED deployment for easy access and concealment. The Titanium Xtreme sight is definitely going to come out swinging this year.

Carbon Express CX2 Crossbow

The Carbon Express CX2 Crossbow is the newest addition to Carbon Expresses crossbow lineup. The CX2 was engineered to produce lightning fast speeds and bone crushing power without sacrificing overall bow comfort. The CX2 features an anodized aluminum rail, carbon infused limbs and premium strings and cables for a quality accurate shot every time you shoot. The Carbon Express CX2 also sports an adjustable forearm and foregrip to accomodate any shooting style and also includes a 3 arrow quiver, 3 Maxima Hunter bolts and a deluxe lighted scope with red/green illuminations for variable lighting conditions.‘

Altus Brand Target Tarps – 3D target Protection

Altus Brand has signed an exclusive worldwide distribution agreement with Glenrock archery who is the maker of the target tarps. The target tarps are a simple yet very effective solution to extending the life of your 3D targets and regular targets. The target tarps are the only protective cover that will accomodate most deer, goat, bighorn and antelope targets. On top of the tarps for 3D archery there are also 6 other tarps to accomodate different sized regular targets as well. The target tarps feature UV and water resistant material, while still allowing moisture to escape from the inside keeping your target dry. Multiple tie down options and ultimate ease of use makes this product a sure fire way to protect your target investment(s)

Spot-On Laser Broadheads

The Spot-On laser broadhead from Clean-Shot although not really new for this year is still IMO worth a mention for this product list. These broadheads feature a hollow center tip which houses a small laser which is automatically activated when the bow is drawn. The benefit of these broadheads is that they eliminate parallax Error which is common with the use of a peep sight. The Spot-On broadhead laser beam can be adjusted via set screw, and comes with a disposable battery pack that is good for up to 100 shots.

NAP Big Nasty D6 Broadhead

NAP Big Nasty D6 Broadheads are the first “over-the-shaft” broadheads. This broadhead design allows for a much better broadhead to arrow alignment which translates to field point accuracy and great penetration. With NAPS D6 broadheads the arrow shaft acts as the ferrule which increases durability on top of the already durable stainless steel construction. These Broadheads have been made to fit the Easton Injexion arrows or arrows fitted with the Deep Six insert.

Check out more pictures and products from the ATA Show here – ATA PICTURES

Well here at ArcheryBuff.com we have finally made our new archery / bowhunting forum live for our blog readers and fellow archers and bowhunters to post on and ask questions.  Registration is completely free and takes only 2 minutes.

Over the next while we will be adding some great How-To articles, and will be posting other great tips and information on archery or bowhunting related information. We would encourage you to sign up to our new Archery Buff Forum, and talk with fellow archers or bowhunter, share stories, tips and tricks.  Show off your trophy animal or just shoot the breeze in our general talk section.

The new IBowSight Iphone 4 or Iphone 4S app that was recently released by Firenock is unique and ingenious application that uses both software and hardware to turn your Iphone 4 or 4S into an archery sight for your bow. The IBowSight app is fully customizable and your Iphone can be attached to your bow through Firenocks’ secure 8 point bracketing system which supports a wide range of bow models.

The IBowSight Iphone App is a fantastic innovative bow sight that comes packed with a lot of features that include but are certainly not limited to:

Features
- Adjustable sight ring from 0.3″ radius to a larger 2.1″radius
- Adjustable pin size allows adjustments from 0.012” to 0.240” in radius
- A choice of up to 2.6 million pin colors and many different pin shapes
- Add up to 7 pins to the IBowSight
- Has digital zoom from 1.0X base on internal optics to 4.0x in increments of 0.01X
- Built in water level for visual bow leveling

Along with all of the built-in programmed features of the IBowSight Iphone app, the bracketing system comes with a pre-drilled hole for a screw mount lens system that can be used to enhance the visibility and clarity of the IBowSight application. These lenses are set at this point to include: wide angle, fish eye, telephoto, optical correction lens.

The IBowSight also allows for up to 20000 different profiles and settings so that no matter where you hunt or which bow or arrows you use you will always be able to pull up the appropriate sight for your current configuration. The IBowSight App system also comes with a usb rain hood that will protect your Iphone should you be hunting in conditions of rain or snow.

All in all this Iphone app looks to be an incredible innovation in archery technology. It will definitely be interesting to do some field testing on this setup and see how the IBowSight performs. If you would like more information or would like to get this application and try it for yourself you can visit Firenock’s IBowSight Website.

If you have tried the IBowSight and would like to let other bowhunters know your thoughts, we would love to have you tell us your opinion below.

What is Archery?

Overview
Simply put archery is the process or skill of shooting or launching a long straight wooden, aluminum or carbon shaft called an arrow from a bow, hence the popular term “bow and arrow”. The word “archery” is derived from the latin word “arcus”, and was originally used as a means of both hunting and combat. A person who practices archery is referred to as an archer and one who is an expert at the art of archery is considered to be a “toxophilite”.

History
The invention of the bow and arrow is not exactly clear but through artifacts, drawings and other historical evidence it is believed they were invented around 10,000 – 9000 BC. The arrows were made of pine and consisted of 2 parts, the mainshaft and foreshaft. The mainshaft made up most of the arrow with the foreshaft being about 6-8 inches long and had a flint or rock type tip fastened to it.

Bows and arrows have been present and have been being used in war by many known civilizations such as:
-Assyrians
-Persians
-Parthians
-Indians
-Chinese
-Japanese

Although archery became a well practiced art in many civiliazations it was the Asian civilizations that really developed the art of archery and became very well known for their regiments of highly skilled archers. Once the domestication of the horse had set in the asians and the indians began practicing the art of archery on horseback which helped to gain mobility within war and hunting situations. Later on when the invention and guns came into play archery became an obsolete as a war or even hunting method as guns delivered more accuracy, range and effectiveness against game and foes.

Today
In terms of technology archery has come an incredibly long way since the art was invented. Archery is now becoming popular again as a way of hunting as well as for recreational sport. The Bow and arrows are nothing like they used to be, consisting of carbon, aluminum, graphite, metals and many other materials that have made it possible for the invention of new designs, increased accuracy and stability.

Today arrows are made of one single shaft with a knock at the back and a tip at the front. The shafts are most commonly made of aluminum or carbon and the tips have been re-invented to include field tips, broadheads and blunt tips all consisting of hardened steel or hard plastic.

Archery today is enjoyed by many including men, women and children who participate in the art for hunting and for competitive sport. Archery as a competitive sport has really become popular over the last few years and includes tournaments, olympics and variations of competitive target events such as 3D archery.

Whether you are young or old archery is a very fun and exciting sport and is well worth getting into.

” Eeeeeeee…” As a bowhunter, I am sure you have heard that annoying hum of mosquitos buzzing by your ears, as they look and feel for that spot on your body where they can grab a quick meal. I know I certainly have. It has been an issue that has plagued me every time I have gone hunting. It seems as though you start out with just a few buzzing around you, but within minutes it’s like a broadcast went out and the entire population of mosquitoes in the area are buzzing around you. Which leaves you itchy and looking like a swollen golf ball. Not to mention, you have what seems like 1 or 2 less pints of blood in your body.

I had a problem finding a mosquito repellent that not only works well but is safe. Trust me, I have tried it all: Ben’s, OFF, Repel, Cutter, Muskol, Natrapel and many others. Of these products mentioned, some of them didn’t work at all, and others worked moderately well. Many of them contain deet which is toxic and can make you sick. Not to mention, these products tend to have stronger smells. As a bowhunter, you have to be aware of strong unnatural smells that could be caught by the game you are hunting. It was only a year and a half ago that I was introduced to the ThermaCell Mosquito Repellent. This product really changed my hunting experiences for the better, and I would like to take the time to tell you a bit about my experience with it.

What is the ThermaCell Mosquito Repellent

The ThermaCell is a compact revolutionary mosquito repellent lantern that works off of heat generated by a small butane canister. It’s very light weight and can attach to your belt, pants, hunting bag, or whatever you prefer to use. This small yet powerful mosquito repellent will protect a 15×15 square foot area within minutes of being turned on. It blocks over 80% of mosquitos with no odor, messy creams, or oils.

My experience with the ThermaCell Mosquito Repellent

As stated above, I was introduced to the ThermaCell a year and a half ago and have been using it ever since. My first experience with it wasn’t even while hunting, it was during a family BBQ near the end of July. As evening crept in, the mosquitos started becoming a real nuissance. The sprays and lemon scented sticks came out, but none of them alleviated the mosquitos’ fierce attacks. I suddenly remembered the ThermaCell I had purchased and went and to dig it out of my hunting equipment to give it a try.
I put it together, turned it on, and attached it to the folding chair I was sitting in. Within minutes I began to notice less mosquitos buzzing around me. After about 6 or 7 minutes, the mosquitos were so scarce that I barely noticed the few that were buzzing around the area. And best of all, there was no strong odors coming from the ThermaCell. I couldn’t believe it, I had never experienced results like this before. I was both impressed and excited about this mosquito repellent. I ended up using the ThermaCell several more times that summer for BBQs, Bonfires, and outside get togethers. Each and every time I used it, it performed like a charm. I had people asking me where they could get one. I couldn’t wait to try it out hunting where I could really put it to the test.

The ThermaCell’s Performance in the Field

The beginning of September rolled around, and I headed north for my annual moose hunting trip north of Thunder Bay. The temperatures were moderate, hanging at around 65-70 degrees. Just before entering the bush, we stopped at a local shop for supplies and food. We discovered that because of the abnormal temperatures that area had experienced, there was a triple hatching of mosquitoes and a double hatching of black flies. Normally this would be terrible news. However, I was excited to see how well the ThermaCell would hold up against this barrage of mosquitos and black flies.

It was mid afternoon when we headed into the bush, so by the time we got to our camp it was around 5 O’clock at night. We stepped out of the truck and within 10 minutes clouds of mosquitos and blackflies engulfed the area. I quickly tore through my gear and got my ThermaCell. I turned it on and hung it on a nearby tree. It was hell waiting the couple of minutes for it to heat up. Dozens of swollen bumps littered our bodies as we worked furiously setting everything up.

After about 10 minutes, it was like night and day. The clouds of mosquitos and blackflies had dispersed and were being kept back by what seemed like an invisible shield. And although we were still getting attacked by a few groups of mosquitos and blackflies, in my opinion, the ThermaCell did a fantastic job. Especially for the incredible amount of insects that had hatched that year. During the rest of the hunting trip, the ThermaCell worked its’ magic. And while that year the ThermaCell had a harder time keeping up with the incredible amount of mosquitos and blackflies, it worked phenomenally.

My Recommendation for the ThermaCell

I now own 3 ThermaCells and have purchased a few as Christmas gifts for friends and family. I strongly recommend the ThermaCell to anyone who hates being bothered over and over again by pesky mosquitos and blackflies. I know one thing is for sure, I won’t go anywhere outside without it. And I know that once you try it for yourself you’ll feel the same way.

If you would like to be rid of mosquitos forever with a method that is very safe and effective, I would encourage you to get more information on the ThermaCell Mosquito Repellent.

 
As an avid bowhunter I have had the pleasure of experiencing that thrill and exhileration of discovering a new hunting area that shows tremendous sign and potential. However; as any bowhunter knows, hunting a new area usually means hours and hours of prep work during the summer months will be needed in order to get your new hunting spot ready for hunting season in the fall. This of course can be a daunting task especially when you think about the hellish 90+ degree temperatures, cuts, scratches, mosquitos feasting on what seems like every last drop of blood in your body, dense thick brush needing to be cleared and a whole heap of hard tiring work ahead of you.

Any bowhunter that has ever had to do prep work on a new hunting spot will tell you that one of the most important and crucial tools is a good quality hand saw that will be able to rip through small branches, dense brush, and vines. Today I want to give youmy opinion about this hand saw as well as some detail about my experience with Wicked Tree Gears’ Wicked Tough Hand Saw in the field.

Wicked Tough Hand Saw – Description and Specifications
The Wicked hand saw features a rugged cast aluminum handle with a non-slip rubber over-molding designed for an ergonomic comfortable feel in your hands. The blade is an impulse hardened high carbon steel which delivers a fast smooth cutting blade that has been designed to eliminate binding. This tough blade will not bend or break like a lot of the other competition out there today. The Wicked Tough Hand Saw has an overall length of about 8.25″ closed and 14″ open and weighs only about half a pound.

Wicked Tough Hand Saw – My Experience

Simply put I brought the Wicked Tough Hand Saw out to the area I planned on hunting later that fall and started clearing out some hunting lanes and preping a few trees for my tree stand. This area was older and had become overgrown with thick dense brush that I was certainly not looking forward to tackling in the sweltering heat of July. I opened the saw up and began tackling the daunting task of getting rid of a lot of tree branches, vines and thickets that were littering my shooting lanes. The first thing I noticed about the Wicked Hand Saw was that the grip and shape of the handle felt really solid and comfortable in my hands, like it had been designed to fit my hand and was by far the most confortable hand saw I had ever used hands down.

It didn’t take long for me to realize I had stumbled across a rare hand saw. Whether cutting through smaller or larger tree branches the Wicked hand saw took them down with barely the effort I had been so used to using with other hand saws. When I came to areas thick with vines I swung at them with the Wicked Hand Saw like a machete and it cut through them like a hot knife in butter. I was both impressed and thrilled at how quickly the Wicked Tough Hand Saw was making it through the thick brush and most of all that it hadn’t broken or failed after all of the abuse I had put it through.

After 100′s of cut branches, vines and twigs the Wicked Tough Hand Saw was still as sharp and cut just as well as it did when I took it out of the package. This truly is a remarkable hand saw that in my opinion blows the competition out of the water. The bottom line is that the Wicked Tough Hand Saw is extremely comfortable, durable, and sharp. I woul strongly recommend to any bowhunter out there looking for an easier more comfortable way to clear out shooting lanes and trees for tree stands.

Wicked Tough Hand Saw – More Information

If you would like some more information on this incredible hand saw you can vist the Wicked Tree Gear website. You can also take a look at the video below to see the Wicked Tough Hand Saw in action