Plenty to see, try out at the ATA Trade Show

I’m sitting in the middle of among the archery industry’s biggest events, the Archery Trade Association Trade Show, held this year in Indianapolis. The show introduces most of the new products that will be for sale this upcoming year to dealers and outdoor writers. Wherever I look, various outdoor celebrities stroll by, headed to and from their sponsor’s booths. Chuck Adams, the legendary bow hunter, just walked by wearing his toboggan that seems to be his trademark symbol. It’s much like bass fisherman and TV personality Bill Dance, who is usually wearing his Tennessee ball cap. Adams was inducted into the Archers Hall of Fame during the 25th Annual Archery Hall of Fame inductee ceremony held Thursday night that hundreds attended. On January 4, 1990, he became the first archer in history to harvest all recognized varieties of North American big game, and, at last count, had more than 120 entries in the Pope and Young Club bow hunting records. Five of Adams’ largest animals — Sitka blacktail, Coues whitetail, mountain caribou, American bison and American elk — have been recognized as bow hunting World Records. His giant elk also earned the Ishi Award, Pope and Young’s highest honor. Meanwhile, over the past three decades, he has written more than 5,000 magazine articles and 10 full-length books. As I walked through the show floor, passing by hundreds of archery dealers and a few celebrities, I wondered just how much new stuff can be invented at this stage of the game. Really, how much further can a compound bow be pushed? What more can really be done to improve archery equipment? Walking around and looking at tree stands and all of the other equipment just makes me curious. Are the companies improving their products or just changing it in some way so they can use the term new and improved? The one section off to itself at the show is the featured products area, This includes all the new or improved items to be introduced. Honestly, I saw nothing that really excited me. It was pretty much the same old song and dance. With the interest in coyote hunting in our area rising, I did put effort in locating some electronic game calls. Phantom Game Calls seems to have a real good product and is in the middle in price. They offer a wireless system that lets your fingers do the talking with the all-new mini Phantom Digital call. This call is chock full of advanced features not normally found in an affordable compact call. The mini Phantom is the smallest call in its class, with undistorted 8-bit sound quality and up to 110db of volume. And, of course, it can play two sounds simultaneously and overlap the same sound. The mini Phantom is the size of a flashlight with a built-in, forward facing speaker, and boasts interchangeable sound sticks. Each sound stick holds five sounds and even has a mute button. The mini Phantom Whitetail, Predator, Gobbler, Moose, Crow and Duck are sold as complete units. All sound sticks are sold as accessories; Whitetail, Predator, Gobbler, Moose, Elk, Bear, Snow Goose, Deer 2, Predator 2, Predator 3, Moose 2, Duck and Crow. Pull one sound stick out and slip in another; one call unit can be used for a variety of game species. Cass Creek game calls may have the best-priced game calling system I saw at the show. For around $50, you can get a single unit that will handle your coyote hunting needs. Two-speaker units, meanwhile, are priced around $70. That will allow you to place two speakers in different areas, making it seem the distressed animal is moving to the coyote. Also, if you’re looking for a new target for you bow or crossbow, take a look at the Spyderweb target. I shot a couple arrows into the target at a testing area and it’s awesome. The arrow penetration and target recovery is amazing. I think you will like this one; it’s not cheap but it seems to be a winner. As I’ve mentioned before, don’t forget to check out my Web site and my blog for photos from the ATA show at www.dannysnyderphoto.com. E-mail Danny Snyder at dsnyder@timeswv.com.