Hard work, determination and a deep passion for bowhunting and competitive shooting spurred Nibal Achkar with his small basement archery shop. He worked on compound bows for his friends and tinkered with ideas for improvements. That led to opening a larger archery shop — Al’s Precision Archery — in Biggar, Saskatchewan, which became successful enough for more expansion into a manufacturing business called APA Archery.
Al’s Precision Archery still stands by APA Archery, both of which today still are located in Biggar. You’ve heard of Biggar, of course. It’s where Milo Hanson killed the 213 5/8-inch Boone and Crockett world record typical whitetail buck in November 1993. Hanson’s stunning buck created a surge of interest and Saskatchewan became a prime destination for deer hunters.
APA Archery produces innovative products based on years of trial-and-error in the field and at the range. Many of the employees hunt and shoot, providing constant feedback. Customer feedback is critical, as well. APA’s motto is, “We are Not the Same.”
For this issue we’re talking with Nibal Achkar, the owner and CEO of APA Archery, about the company and its innovations.
AB: Thanks for taking some time to talk with Archery Business. Can you tell us a little bit about APA Archery, the company’s history and how you got started?
Achkar: APA Archery originally stood for Al's Precision Archery. This is still the name of my pro shop, which is attached to the APA factory and was built in 2001. My journey in the archery business began in my basement, where I serviced bows for friends and operated a small archery retail business. As my customer base grew, I realized it was time to expand and build a dedicated shop. My curiosity and knowledge about archery equipment increased as I constantly tinkered, modified, and improved everything I touched and shot.
I soon realized the shortcomings of dual-prong shoot-through arrow rests, and in 2002, I unveiled the APA Ultimate Rest, which fully enclosed the arrow and improved accuracy through minimal contact with the fletching. This arrow rest is what turned us into manufacturers, and the APA Ultimate Rest actually won the award for Top 10 Products of the Year at the AMO show in 2002 (now known as the ATA show). However, we hit a roadblock when attempting to license this rest to bow companies. This is what motivated me to make bows that would not be confused with any other bows in the industry. By 2009, APA Archery held the record for producing the fastest firing bow in the world, generating speeds of up to 362 feet per second. This was when we knew it was time to expand our facility and our bow line. We have experienced great success in revolutionizing the archery industry since then and have gained a loyal following that we cannot express enough gratitude for.
AB: What is your background? Did you grow up shooting competitively or hunting? How did APA end up in Saskatchewan, and especially in Biggar?
Achkar: Yes, I began hunting around the age of 14. While I participated in both hunting and competitive shooting, I dedicated approximately 90 percent of my time to hunting and the remaining 10 percent to target competitions. It's an interesting story, actually. I was passing through Biggar with a friend on our way to a bear hunt and we stopped for coffee. At the time, my family and I were in the restaurant industry, and we ended up purchasing the very restaurant where we had that coffee. We've been in Biggar ever since. My family still runs the restaurant, which is conveniently located across the parking lot from the APA facility.
AB: APA produces several hunting bows, one competition bow and arrow rests. Tell us a little bit about your decision to focus on offering more hunting bows, and what makes your one competition bow special.
Achkar: We put more effort into the research and development of the hunting bow line as we strive to continue pushing boundaries in our quest to build the ultimate backcountry bow. The target bow is unique, as it features a lot of the exclusive APA technology developed for our hunting bow line with added forgiveness through a longer axle to axle and a longer brace height. This bow has proved itself on the podium in winning the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic gold medal and the Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medal.
AB: There seems to be a great passion involved, among all bowyers, with the symmetry, engineering and technology. The materials have changed over centuries, but at the heart, the action is the same: nock an arrow, draw, release. What do you enjoy most about building bows?
Achkar: APA continues to be my life's work. The opportunity to be creative and contribute to the advancement of the bow industry is truly invaluable. It's always a pleasure to hear from our customers and partners. I find it most rewarding when I’m able to witness the positive reactions and expressions from customers when they experience the functionality of APA technology firsthand. That’s what makes it all worth it.
AB: Your bows have some cool innovations. The Black Mamba Pro is touted as your most technologically advanced in the APA lineup. Among the more than two dozen techno touchpoints on the bow are the Carry Handle, Riser Fang, Tool Center, Integrated Bow Winch, Multi-position Balancer and Cam-Lock Technology. And the bows are only two inches wide? How do you get all of this into such a compact package?
Achkar: One of the challenges I often face as an inventor is incorporating advanced technology into a bow while keeping it compact. However, I remain committed to keeping the APA bows sleek and lightweight, as this design is essential for our target audience which is backcountry bowhunters. After careful consideration, we have determined the potential drawbacks of widening the bow outweigh the potential benefits.
AB: The Twin Flex Limbs are interesting, as well. What made you think about flexing the split portion at the end of the limb to help distribute load and store more energy? That seems like a tiny thing that would be overlooked or considered inconsequential.
Achkar: Until now, traditional solid limbs stored energy in only the solid portion of the limb, leaving the forked end rigid. The APA Twin Flex Limbs are engineered to allow the forked section to flex, distributing the load amongst two separate working areas, ultimately enabling the storage of more energy. I've always been passionate about crafting high-performance bows. It was essential for me to find an innovative way to channel that energy in another way that didn't result in a split limb configuration. With the Twin Flex limbs, APA can regularly produce limbs of up to 100-pound draw weights.
AB: How big is your staff and what kind of culture does APA Archery have? If someone has an idea or suggestion, does it get a hard look?
Achkar: While APA is still a growing company with a relatively small and close-knit team, we still manage to produce some of the most amazing bows on the market today. At APA, we pride ourselves on our customer-centric approach. Our team is committed to maintaining high standards and always prioritizing the needs of our customers. This is a core value that will remain at the heart of APA for as long as we're in business. My commitment to improving efficiency and streamlining processes means that I always value input from my staff. I’ve never had that mentality where I believe my glass is full. At APA we are a team, and I could not do what I do every day without their hard work and effort.
AB: You’re in the land of big deer! Do a lot of your employees hunt, and do you get ideas or suggestions from them?
Achkar: We sure are! I was actually one of the two taxidermists who worked on the famous Hanson Buck. The majority of our employees and factory staff are bowhunters. I consistently make it a point to ask them about their experiences with their equipment, including any areas for improvement or features they wish were available. This valuable feedback directly influences our product development and innovation. Nothing beats first-hand experience in the field, no matter how you slice it.
AB: What is one of the best business lessons you’ve learned while working in the archery industry?
Achkar: That’s a great question. I would advise not to be afraid to forge your own path. It is important to be distinctive and continue to persevere through challenges. Additionally, listening to customer feedback is crucial for success.
AB: A lot is going on politically and economically in the world. What’s your outlook for the archery industry in the next 5-10 years?
Achkar: You've raised an excellent point. While the current situation presents many challenges and uncertainties, I've found that focusing on what I can directly control is crucial. Adapting and adjusting to these obstacles is the best approach under these circumstances. I believe the archery industry will experience continued growth. The demand for sports that offer both a challenge and a sense of peace is likely to increase, drawing more people to archery.
AB: Tell us about your Test Drive Program. That sounds quite interesting.
Achkar: The APA Test Drive Program was designed to serve those who are interested in experiencing APA bows but do not have an authorized dealer within driving distance. We want you to be completely satisfied with your new equipment, and that’s why APA offers a five-day trial period upon receiving your bow when purchasing it directly from the factory. Should you need to return the bow for any reason once the trial period is over, you can simply contact APA Archery to obtain a return authorization number. Once you have this number, you may proceed with the return.
AB: As well, the APA Twister 360 looks like an innovative arrow rest. Tell us about it and the other APA rests.
Achkar: Our primary focus for arrow rests like the APA Twister 360 has been eliminating fletching contact, protecting cam timing and ensuring a whisper-quiet shot. The Twister 360 achieves this via a limb-driven arrow rest. The Twister 360 accommodates side loading, works with any fletching configuration, and can be used with three or four vanes.
AB: Give me the 2-minute elevator pitch on why my retail store should carry APA Archery bows and products.
Achkar: APA bows have gained international acclaim to be the most field-ready bows within the archery industry. We are known to produce bows that are fast, smooth, shock free and accurate. We have developed and incorporated exclusive features not found on any other brand bow. Making our product unique and remaining true to our slogan “We are Not the Same.” APA is the top choice if you are searching for the most technologically armed bows available. Once the customer understands the capability of these bows and how it serves them in the field, it’s an easy sale. APA bows have their own distinctive look, customizations and features that set them apart from the crowd.
AB: Is there anything else that we need to know about APA Archery?
Achkar: APA will continue to cut its own path and push the limits of compound bow technology. We're proud to have played a role in shaping the archery industry and look forward to continuing to do so for many years to come. We are far from finished yet!
Retailers wanting more information about APA Archery may contact me by email at info@apaarchery.com, by phone at 1-306-948-5101 or 1-866-353-7378, or by Website Chat via the chat bot on apaarchery.com.
