As I begin to write this trade show season recap, I’m sitting in the lobby of the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana, having just taken in the 2025 ATA Show, January 8-10. Not wanting to arrive too early to the airport, I found a comfortable chair in the hotel lobby and pulled out my laptop.

For anyone who attended the 2025 ATA Show, you know it was not overly busy or large. Sure, part of the light traffic on the show floor could be attributed to the fact that the central United States was hit with a winter storm just a couple days prior to the show’s opening day. Specifically, Indy received 8 inches of snow, and low temps during the first two days of the show (January 8 and 9) were in the single digits. Cold! — and that’s coming from someone who lives in Minnesota and loves ice fishing!

The winter storm must have affected some archery shop dealers who were planning on driving to Indianapolis. If road conditions were poor and travel dangerous, I certainly don’t fault someone for choosing late in the game to stay home and skip this year’s event. That said, it’s clear the number of exhibitors were down significantly from last year (St. Louis, Missouri), as well as the last time the ATA Show was in Indianapolis at the same venue (2023). And you can’t attribute this decline to a winter storm.

The good news for those dealers who did attend the 2025 ATA Show is that representatives working in the manufacturers’ booths had plenty of time to visit. The same is true for the staff working at the numerous shooting lanes on the outer walls of the Indianapolis Convention Center. I very much enjoyed picking the brains of the manufacturers’ reps in these lanes, learning everything there is to know about new compounds, crossbows and traditional bows.

One archery industry veteran whom I respect greatly, Chris Hamm, president of HHA Sports, wrote the following in regards to this year’s ATA Show, and I think it’s worth sharing here:

Chris Hamm, Jan. 13, 2025, Facebook post:

What a week in Indianapolis! Don’t let the critics here on social media fool you. The ATA Show isn’t going anywhere and continues to be a must-attend event for those of us who make a living in the archery space.

Is the Show the size it once was? Obviously not.

Does it still provide value to the archery industry? Absolutely!

Having attended this Show since the late 1980s, I have seen every version of it over the years. Personally, I prefer the new, subdued model that we have seen since 2022. More than ever, people are there to conduct business and grow our sport.

I applaud the ATA for the work they have done to keep this show affordable, beneficial and relevant in a business climate that changes by the day. It’s easy to criticize aisles that look emptier than years past, and point out who is and isn’t there attending. Having a few days to digest it, the 2025 ATA Show was a home run for us on many levels!

Personal Favorites — 2025 ATA Show

Thinking back on my 3 days spent walking the 2025 ATA Show floor, I must admit that my No. 1 takeaway isn’t a specific new product, or even a business meeting. Let me explain.

As I was hiking from my hotel to the Show on the third day, I was in a massive hallway leading to the Show floor, but I was still at least 150 yards from a set of entry doors. I had timed my hike to arrive at those doors at precisely 8:30 a.m., which is when the Show opens. In front of me were at least 100 people, some alone, some in pairs, threesomes, foursomes, etc, spread out from wall to wall, all facing the same direction (away from me).

But everyone was stopped. Understand . . . they weren’t waiting in line at the entry doors. Some were near the Show entrance far ahead, but others were only 15 yards in front of me, still a long way from stepping onto the Show floor, and everywhere in between.

Then I heard music — The Star-Bangled Banner. Everyone was stopped, hats removed, showing their respect for the American flag, our country and our national anthem, even though there was no flag to be seen in our hallway.

I could faintly hear a young woman’s voice singing the final few lines from our anthem, and I was struck with how EVERY person had stopped to show their respect. I’m always proud to be an American, but at that moment, I was also keenly proud of our industry.

In addition to this unexpected and special moment, I would like to recap a handful of my favorite products discovered at the 2025 ATA Show.

Bowtech Virtue

At last year’s ATA Show, I was so impressed with the Bowtech Core SS that I hunted with one during the 2024 whitetail season in South Dakota. I adhere strongly to the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy, so changing to a new compound is a big deal for me. As the editor of Archery Business and Bowhunting World magazines, I have the opportunity/invitation to hunt with various new bows each fall, and I almost always say “no thank you.” Once I find a compound that I love, I use it for a few years, minimum.

I explain this history so you understand that I gave the new-for-2025 Bowtech Virtue almost no chance of impressing me more than the company’s buttery-smooth Core SS from 2024. I’ll make you wait for a deep-dive bow report from our compound guru Darron McDougal in a future issue of this magazine, but I will tease his content by saying the 32-inch Virtue is crazy light (3.7 pounds, as compared to the SS’s weight of 4.5 pounds), comfortable to draw, aims solidly, and has virtually no hand shock upon release. I made a point to visit the Bowtech shooting lane a few times during the ATA Show, and everyone who put one to the test was equally impressed. It’s a tremendous new bow. Period.

In addition to proven Bowtech technologies such as DeadLock, TimeLock, GripLock and more, the Virtue also includes these features: AeroMag magnesium riser, weighing less than aluminum but outstanding strength and stiffness; premium, lightweight titanium fasteners throughout for strength and durability; and Cerakote protective coating for durability, hardness and scratch resistance. Virtue specs: mass weight, 3.7 pounds; axle to axle length, 32 inches; speed, 341 fps; brace height, 6.19 inches.

Pricing for the Virtue starts at $1,999. FYI: Due to the Cerakote finish, the Virtue isn’t available in camo. Solid color options include black, green, stone, grey and blue.

Barronett Insight

I’ve owned a wide variety of hub-style pop-up blinds through the decades, dating back to an original Double Bull T5 model I bought in 1999 that features a handful of tiny porthole shooting windows. Without exception, the biggest problem with a hub-style blind is the zipper. Because it’s usually placed in a sideways “V” pattern on the back wall, the zipper itself is under a lot of tension when the blind is opened and staked in place. Over time, the zipper often tears somewhere along its length, and I’m not skilled enough to mend it. Also, the tension can be so extreme that it’s impossible to slide the zipper into the full closed position, so light enters through the back of the blind, which is less than ideal.

The new Barronett Insight pop-up blind solves the zipper problem. Check out these photos and you’ll see what I mean. The blind’s back wall is bookended by two vertical zippers, and these zippers glide up and down with ease because they aren’t under tension. I also like the fact that because the entire back wall will flip up and come to rest on the roof, you can climb in and out of the blind without trying to squeeze through a tiny doorway. Sometimes hunters struggle with collapsing a hub-style blind for packing (again, due to high tension), but the “free” back wall should eliminate the problem. The design is brilliant.

Other features on the Barronett Insight include: View-Through Fabric from floor to ceiling on three walls; silent and adjustable panoramic front shooting windows provide outstanding visibility; water-resistant, 150 denier fabric with a black interior coating; set of detachable blaze orange safety panels for use during gun hunting season ensuring you are visible to other hunters while remaining hidden from your prey; brush holders for optional added concealment; carry bag, with eight ground stakes and tie-down ropes. Dimensions: 55x55-inch footprint; shooting width, 71x71 inches; height, 68 inches.

And I’ve saved perhaps the best for last: The Insight weighs only 14 pounds, and the MSRP is only $179.99. This lightweight, full-feature pop-up blind is an incredible value!

Rivers Edge Duralite

I’d just finished checking out the Barronett Blind Insight and the gentleman who had been answering some of my questions asked if I’d seen the Rivers Edge Duralite. (FYI: Barronett Blinds and Rivers Edge Treestands is owned by the same parent company, Ardisam, so the two brands had adjacent floor space at the Show.) After a short walk to the opposite side of the large booth, I was learning about the new Duralite.

The heart of the Rivers Edge Duralight is the Next Level Treestand Bracket, which allows for easy and secure treestand installation. You attach the bracket to the tree first — not the treestand — and then the stand slips into the bracket. Next, you secure the stand with the company’s unique Forever Strap, a TPU coated polyester strap with a stainless-steel ratchet. Both the strap and the ratchet are built to be impervious to the elements. In fact, no matter how long you leave the Forever Strap in the elements, it will not deteriorate or corrode.

Other features of the Duralite include: ultra-durable, one-piece cast aluminum construction; platform and seat can be adjusted for leaning trees; generous platform, measuring 21 inches wide and 28 inches deep; flip-up, TearTuff mesh seat; weight capacity 350 pounds. The stand itself weighs 14 pounds, and the included bracket is 2 pounds, so total weight is 16 pounds. But as I explained earlier, you hang the bracket first, then the stand, so weight won’t be an issue. The Duralite is a great value, too, with an MSRP of $249.

Nilch’i Wind Detector

Nilch'i is a Navajo word that translates to “wind” or “holy wind,” which I think is a great name for this wind detector. The squeeze bottle is small, 1.25 inches in diameter, but it carries 3 to 4 grams of finely milled odorless powder. When you squeeze the bottle, the powder reveals the slightest wind or thermal.

Okay, wind detectors aren’t new; in fact, I own several from different manufacturers. What makes the Nilch’i version different — and in my opinion, superior — is you can easily attach it to your quiver hood with the company’s Bottle Holder, which features adhesive backing. Other options for carrying/transporting the squeeze bottles include a holder that attaches to a bow’s riser with a simple ziptie, or a hat clip, which also will carry a mouth call for elk.

Because you don’t have to dig in a pocket to find the Nilch’i squeeze bottle, you’re more likely to test the wind more often. I love this product, and the cost is a home run, too: MSRP for five bottles (no holder) is $9.99; two bottles w/holder is $9.99; and three holders w/no bottles is $7.99. This would be an outstanding impulse buy in any archery shop.

Malta Hunting Safety Ultralight Harness

I’m always happy to see new exhibitors at the ATA Show, and one of those this year is Malta Hunting Safety. This company is a division of Malta Dynamics, which has earned a tremendous reputation in the workplace safety world, keeping men and women safe in a wide variety of difficult and potentially dangerous environments. For more than 30 years, Malta Dynamics has designed, engineered and manufactured safety products to serve its customers in construction, aviation, manufacturing, warehousing, masonry and more. To give you an idea of the size/scope of this workplace safety company: It has more than 600 employees in the field. Because Malta is an expert in full-body safety harnesses in the workplace, it only makes sense that they offer proven products to hunters.

Malta Hunting Safety manufactures three hunting-specific harness kits — Hunter’s Elite, Ultralight, and Youth Ultralight — as well as a 30-foot Reflective Lifeline, Dual-Action Twist Lock Carabiner, and various straps. MSRP for each of the three harnesses is $119.99.

I was most impressed with the Ultralight Harness Kit, which weighs only 2.4 pounds. Its features include: lightweight quick-connect chest and leg buckles; sewn-in lineman’s climbing strap loops; quiet, comfortable, breathable padded material on the back, shoulder and legs; and attached stretch shock-absorbing tether.

This kit contains the harness, tree strap, lineman’s climbing strap and deer drag/suspension relief strap. Maximum capacity is 300 pounds. It’s available in two TrueTimber camo patterns, Kanati or Strata, and one solid color, forest green. Sizes are S-M, L-XL, 2XL and 3XL.

One note regarding the Hunter’s Elite Kit: In the 2X and 3X versions, it is certified for hunters up to 350 pounds. That’s 50 pounds more than required from the company, which clearly demonstrates Malta’s commitment to safety.

Personal Favorites — Archery Business Pavilion, 2025 SHOT Show

2025 marked the second year for the Archery Business Pavilion at SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 21-24. The Pavilion is a collaboration between the National Shooting Sports Foundation (owners of SHOT Show) and Grand View Outdoors (this magazine is part of the GVO family of brands).

If you’ve ever attended the SHOT Show, then you know it’s massive. The 2025 version contained nearly 14 miles of aisles, and like last year, was spread between The Venetian Expo (multiple floors) and Caesars Forum.

The Archery Business Pavilion is located in Caesars Forum and features leading manufacturers in the archery and hunting industries. Thankfully, it’s easy to find your way to Caesars Forum, and specifically the Pavilion; it’s clearly marked on the SHOT Show overview map, and once you’re on the show floor, you can’t miss all the signage pointing you in the right direction.

I spent considerable time in the Pavilion, visiting booths from companies that returned for a second year, as well as at least a dozen new exhibitors. I was encouraged to see the growth this year, and look forward to seeing where its momentum takes it in 2026 and beyond. Here, I’d like to review three products that caught my eye in the Pavilion.

APA Archery Summit Compound Bow

I’ll begin with a confession: When it comes to compound bows, I’ve often thought of the few biggest players in the space and didn’t give much attention to the rest. What a mistake. During SHOT Show 2025, I was treated to meeting the founder/CEO of APA Archery, Nibal Achkar, and the story of his company is so incredible that we’ll bring it to you in the pages of Archery Business sometime in the future with an “In the Spotlight” column.

APA offers several top-notch compounds, but the one that impressed me most was the 3.4-pound (not a misprint) APA Summit. This bow is the definition of compact: In addition to being lightweight, it measures only 28 inches axle to axle. The Summit is built on the company’s new Pro Lite riser, and again this is not a misprint: The brace height is 7 3/8 inches. The let-off is 80 percent and has an IBO speed rating of 340 fps.

Before I detail the features, let me tell you about how it shot — outstanding! The Archery Business Pavilion includes an archery shooting range with targets set close, about 7 yards, but you can still get a feel for any bow. I took advantage of the opportunity and put many arrows through the Summit. Understand, the bow I tested was stripped — no stabilizer, no sight, no quiver, just a QAD Integrate arrow rest. I expected a 28-inch, 3.4-pound, two-cam bow to feel a bit jumpy upon release. Wrong! I was stunned at the bow’s stability. There’s nothing I can write here to convey the feeling, so I’ll simply strongly encourage you to test one for yourself.

The Summit is packed with innovative features. If you’re not familiar with the bow or brand, those tech names won’t mean anything to you, so let me skip the names and explain them. You can replace cables or strings, or make adjustments, and install accessories, without a bow press, and no tools required. You can adjust the tune by shifting cable yokes left or right, no tools required. You can have an integrated winch installed in the riser to hoist your bow into a treestand. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The company’s website does a great job of highlighting all of this bow’s technology, with videos, so I recommend you check it out.

Dead Down Wind BLACK Premium Laundry Detergent Sheet/Dryer Sheet Combo

As a whitetail bowhunter, I understand that odor control is key to my success, and certainly a big part of any scent control routine is proper washing of clothing, including base layers, mid layers and outer garments. The BLACK Premium Laundry Detergent Sheet/Dryer Sheet Combo ($19.99) from Dead Down Wind checks all the boxes for me.

This combo pack contains enough innovative washing detergent sheets and scent-free dryer sheets for 60 loads of laundry. No longer do you have to pack messy liquid laundry detergent for a trip; simply put a few detergent sheets and dryer sheets in a zip-closed bag and you’re ready to roll. According to the person at SHOT who explained this product to me, the advanced enzyme technology in the detergent sheet tackles mud, sweat, stains and odors, while still being gentle on fabrics and free of harsh chemicals (i.e. safe for sensitive skin). And I love this feature: The detergent is effective in cold water, too.

Note: This combo pack includes one of the company’s Black Premium Washing Machine Clean-Out Treatment packs. This ensures that you kick off your laundry routine with a clean slate, regardless of the detergent used prior. These treatment powder packs are also sold separately (box with six packs is $14.99).

Moultrie Mobile Edge 2 and Edge 2 Pro Trail Cams

As you know, there’s no shortage of trail cam manufacturers these days, so deciding which brand or brands to carry in your store can be daunting. For that reason, we recently published a story called “Cellular Camera Tech Support” to help you make a smart decision. You can check it out in the January/February 2025 print issue of Archery Business.

Certainly, any store that sells or is thinking of selling trail cams must give serious consideration to Moultrie Mobile. This brand has a solid reputation for quality and customer service, and in my opinion and experience, the cams are an excellent value.

In the Archery Business Pavilion, I learned about the company’s Edge 2 (MSRP $99.99) and Edge 2 Pro (MSRP $139.99) models. The Edge 2 includes nationwide coverage Auto Connect Technology, and a new On-Demand feature enabling users to trigger a photo or video, which will be available shortly thereafter in the app. The Edge 2 captures 36MP photos and FHD 1080p video with audio, and has an advanced low-glow IR LED array for improved night images, and .4-second trigger speed.

Like the Edge 2, the flagship Edge 2 Pro has Auto Connect Technology, and On-Demand to trigger a photo or video. What sets it apart, however, is the Pro has on-board Moultrie AI, which can eliminate up to 99% of false triggers. It also has GPS, a .3-second trigger speed, and with a no-glow flash, it captures 40MP images and QHD 1440p video with HD sound. Finally, the Edge 2 Pro has Bluetooth-enabled Live Aim, and an included Easy Aim Mount for precise camera mounting (no more jamming a small stick behind the cam to achieve the correct angle).

Both the Edge 2 and Edge 2 Pro are powered by the Moultrie Mobile App, which allows users to view deer activity data, and access powerful features for hunt planning and mapping. Example: the app offers industry-first deer activity forecasting with Game Plan, providing up to nine days of deer movement forecast based on local deer movement data. In addition to monitoring the cams via the app, users can also control the company’s new Feed Hub cellular feeder timers. Impressive!

Important Update for SHOT Show 2026

Now is the time to begin planning for the 2026 SHOT Show, and with that in mind, here’s some breaking news: NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, recently announced that Hunting Retailer magazine is joining Archery Business magazine to co-sponsor the newly renamed Archery Business & Hunting Retailer Pavilion for the 2026 SHOT Show. Click here for more information.