Many factors can influence arrow placement during an intense bowhunting encounter, but confidence is a big one. Confidence in bowhunting can be divided into two sub-categories. The first is confidence in one’s abilities to perform physically and mentally under pressure, and the second is confidence in one’s equipment to perform as expected or as advertised.
I’ve been bowhunting for 25 years, and if I’ve learned anything, it’s that doubt can easily overshadow confidence when a screaming bull elk comes rumbling through the timber or a buck unexpectedly wheels out of the switchgrass hot on a doe. Our entire season and diligent preparations boil down to moments like these, and the pressure is real. If doubt overshadows confidence in that moment, arrow placement becomes unpredictable.
Obviously, bowhunters must develop mental and physical confidence on their own, but equipment confidence is the product of choosing equipment that always performs, no matter what. As far as bows go, Hoyt’s Alpha AX-3 series immediately comes to mind. I recently tested the 29, and here are the reasons why your customer will want it in their hand when a big moment unfolds.
Test Bow Specs
- Axle-to-Axle Length: 29.5 inches
- Brace Height: 6.375 inches
- Draw Length: 28 inches
- Draw Weight: 69.9 pounds
- Let-off: 75, 80 or 85%
- Bow-only Weight: 4.4 pounds
- Accessorized Total Weight: 6.5 pounds (including sight, rest, stabilizer, side stabilizer and quiver)
- Velocity: 278 fps (with 468-grain Easton 6.5mm Acu-Carbon 340 arrow); 281 fps (with 456-grain CX Maxima Triad 350 arrow); 283 fps (with 441-grain Victory VAP SS 350 arrow); 302 fps (with 388-grain CX Predator 350 arrow)
- Kinetic Energy: 80.33 foot-pounds (Easton); 79.97 foot-pounds (CX); 78.45 foot-pounds (Victory); 78.6 foot-pounds (CX Predator)
- Test-Bow Finish: Sandstorm
- MSRP: $1,499
- Contact: hoyt.com
Introducing XTS
Observing a bullet-hole paper tear or the magical arc of a perfectly tuned arrow immediately spikes my equipment confidence. Hoyt’s all-new XTS tuning system makes achieving precision a slam dunk. One by one, other bow manufacturers launched bow-press-free tuning features, and bowhunters and pro-shop bow technicians have demanded that Hoyt follow suit. Well, Hoyt has answered in a big way. Not only is XTS here, but it is different from most competing tuning features.
Here’s how it works. While most other tuning features adjust cam alignment, XTS adjustments increase or decrease individual limb tension to balance the limb load. The top and bottom limb pockets are outfitted with locking and adjustment screws for each limb, and minute adjustments can be made and tracked.
Because you can alter the lateral load and the top-to-bottom load, you’re not limited to correcting left or right paper tears. You can address high or low tears, too. And, you can also make minuscule draw-weight tweaks. The system saves you, the dealer, time, and it also puts tuning within the consumer’s reach. It’s a very user-friendly system. I was able to achieve a perfect paper tear within short order, and within an hour, my 70-yard accuracy was outstanding.
What Makes a Hoyt a Hoyt
You know a Hoyt bow when you see one because of the TEC riser. About three decades ago, Hoyt launched the first TEC riser design. Although it has released many renditions since then to improve strength, weight distribution and accessory compatibility, the TEC concept and purposes haven’t changed: Not only does it look unique, but the riser bridge behind the grip makes the riser like a fortress and directs vibrations away from the shooter’s hand.
The Alpha AX-3’s TEC riser is aesthetically flawless, delivers unsurpassed strength and stability, and balances and maneuvers like a dream, especially when rigged with In-Line compatible accessories.
Smooth, Efficient, Fast
In conjunction with the ball-bearing roller cable guard, the HBX Gen 4 Cam delivers velvety smoothness throughout the draw cycle and stops with a positive back wall. It feels exceptional. Each draw module can be adjusted only .75 of an inch to maximize efficiency, but the adjustments are in .25-inch increments. In other words, tech-savvy customers can achieve the custom comfort they’re seeking while choosing between 75, 80 and 85% let-off.
The HBX Gen 4 Cam also packs a heavy wallop, especially for how smoothly it draws. A reputable arrow manufacturer suggests 42-65 foot-pounds of kinetic energy for elk. The AX-3 29, set to 69.9 pounds and 28 inches, shot a 388-grain arrow at 302 fps, producing 78.6 foot-pounds of kinetic energy — more than enough punch for elk and moose while minimizing pin gaps.
Like a Whisper
Despite the hard-hitting character, the AX-3 29 is one of the quietest and most vibration-free bows I’ve recently tested. The In-Line System, which mounts accessories directly to the riser without conventional mounting brackets, is largely responsible for this. Tighter connections and fewer joints equal less slop and less noise. Besides that, the bowstring cushion halts the bowstring at brace height, reducing twang and oscillation. And, Hoyt outfits the AX-3 with the Holeshot V2 bowstring dampener. This bow is so smooth and vibration-free; it’s a pleasure to shoot.
A Few More Things
An attribute that always stands out with Hoyt bows is they just feel bombproof. That’s exactly what you want when you’re miles from the trailhead amidst unforgiving mountain terrain. The riser, cams and limbs are designed to be robust so the user gets uncompromising dependability — a confidence booster when the challenges of the hunt rise up on every side. The AX-3 isn’t as light as some of the market’s other bows, and it isn’t designed to be. It’s designed to be rock solid and withstand the backcountry knocks and blows.
The dependability isn’t skin-deep. Hoyt’s rigorous testing protocol proves that every bow it launches can overcome extreme torture. Hoyt bows undergo 1,500 dry-fires before they’re released. The test is conducted inside a machine (for safety) with an 80-pound bow set to a 30-inch draw length. The riser must withstand 1,500 dry fires, and the limbs must withstand 1,000 dry fires, although they usually endure all 1,500 dry fires.
The AX-3 features a WireWRX bowstring and cables, which harmonize with Hoyt bows to maximize speed, minimize noise and vibration, and hold a tune all season long. Stretch, serving separations, and peep-alignment failures all can rob equipment confidence, but those won’t be issues with the WireWRX system.
Speaking of bowstrings, short and maneuverable hunting bows often feel less comfortable than longer bows while acquiring the peep sight and aiming. That’s because string angles are typically very sharp. But Hoyt’s Optimized Geometry solves this, yielding the effective string angle of a 31 1/16-inch bow, not a 29.5-inch bow. I’ve shot a lot of different short bows, and I immediately felt the difference here.
While we’re discussing comfort, this is a good spot to highlight the grip. Hoyt has long had one of the most naturally contoured grips there is. Everyone is entitled to their own preferences, but the AX-3’s grip fits my hand like a glove. Amazing, as always.
Finally, the AX-3 29 gets a 10 in aesthetics. I love the limb graphics and the solid finishes, especially the Sandstorm finish on my test bow. And the finish is super durable, too. I believe your customers will love the color palette Hoyt offers for the AX-3 29.
Confidence. It can largely influence arrow placement during an intense bowhunting moment. With the Alpha AX-3, the only confidence your customer has to worry about is their mental and physical confidence, because Hoyt has the equipment side of things nailed down.
Additional Notes: The Hoyt Alpha AX-3 29 was set up using a Last Chance Archery EZ Green Bow Press and EZ Green Bow Vise, and the draw weight was calculated using Last Chance Archery’s Digital Bow Scale. A Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph measured the arrow velocities. Other products used were Easton’s Nock and D-Loop Pliers and Pro Hex Fold-Up Allen Set. Arrows were weighed on Last Chance Archery’s Pro Grain Scale.
In-the-field images by Becca and Darron McDougal
