Innholdsfortegnelse for March/April 2026 i Bowhunter

TENPOINT TRX Ultra During my Newfoundland moose hunt last fall, my guide decided to investigate a small bog he’d never visited. When we walked into the area, I immediately became uneasy, since it was filled with thick alder shrubs. Given the dense vegetation, any shot over 20 yards would need to be done with pinpoint accuracy to avoid hitting bushes and branches. I was confident I could do the job if a moose showed up, thanks to the TenPoint TX 28 I was toting. I’d practiced for weeks with the crossbow and was comfortable shooting out to 60 yards — perhaps even 70 — using a shooting rest. After only 20 minutes of calling, a bull appeared. We waited patiently as it walked toward us, with only one small shooting…

TETHRD Phantom XP There isn’t a brand that’s done more for the current saddle surge than Tethrd. The company — founded in 2018 by a group of hardcore saddle-hunting enthusiasts and gear junkies who met in an online chat room — has taken off since that unlikely origin and become a powerhouse in the saddle game, thanks to a deep connection to the mobile-hunting community and a steady stream of innovative, top-quality products. The Phantom is Tethrd’s best-selling saddle of all time, so you know that if the company is tweaking it for 2026, it’s got to be a big deal. The all-new Phantom XP is just that, staying true to the classic, original Phantom design yet adding an expanding pleat to the back of the saddle that stays closed…

WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER Calming Scent Stick and Spray For more than four decades, Minnesota-based Wildlife Research Center has been producing scent and scent-control products for hunters. So, with two generations of lab and field testing under its belt, you know when the company rolls out a new product, it is something good. Enter the new Calming Scent designed to relax and attract deer by dispersing scent associated with whitetail bedding areas. Made with urine and other scents found in real deer bedrooms, Calming Scent creates a “safety in numbers” effect by replicating the aroma of multiple deer, encouraging whitetails to linger longer and provide more shooting opportunities for bowhunters. Available in a 2.5-ounce stick and 3-ounce aerosol spray, Calming Scent can be used all season — simply apply it to…

SPYPOINT FLEX-RANGE Every year, there are a few new product introductions that stand above the rest. For 2026, Spypoint’s FLEX-RANGE — the first wireless trail camera to incorporate satellite data coverage — is among them. Just as the introduction of cellular trail cameras changed the bowhunting game forever, the FLEX-RANGE promises to usher in a whole new era of remote scouting, making it possible to keep tabs on just about everywhere from just about anywhere. Available starting later this year, Spypoint is promising total North American data coverage with the FLEX-RANGE, thanks to the satellite connection that works in tandem with familiar cellular connectivity also built into the unit. Think about that for a moment; from the deepest Western backcountry to the most remote Alaskan bush to the craggiest peaks…

EASTON FMJ Max I’m an Easton FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) junkie. The FMJ — an industry icon that melds an Acu-Carbon core shaft with a 7075 aluminum outer sleeve — was my go-to years ago, when I finally gave up my quiver of XX78 all-aluminum arrows. After killing more than two dozen big-game animals with the original, 5MM FMJ, I made the switch to the 4MM FMJ. These thinner projectiles reduced wind drift, penetrated like crazy and pulled from foam with ease. For 2026, Easton gives bowhunters the 5MM FMJ Max, featuring the same hybrid carbon/aluminum construction as the original but in a lighter weight configuration that allows shooters to gain some extra speed when desired, along with the ability to add additional weight as desired to boost FOC and…

CODE OF SILENCE VTS Systems1 Anorak Think about it. Tons of bowhunters get cold and leave their stands when the deer movement is just getting good. Or their bowstrings slap their bulky jacket sleeves at the moment of truth, diverting arrow flight and yielding poor hits or misses. If not that, they get caught drawing back due to noisy fabrics. Typically, you get out of bowhunting what you put into it, and that includes your time, effort and gear. Successful hunters often log arduous hours afield, requiring apparel that matches their grit and determination. Further, drawing and shooting a bow accurately — especially while elevated in a treestand or saddle — requires a substantial range of motion. Not all apparel is created equally when measured against these metrics. Code of…

BOWTECH Alliance & Alliance 33 With an all-new riser design, the next generation of DeadLock cam-tuning technology and a host of other innovative features, the Alliance and Alliance 33 from Bowtech Archery are designed for bowhunters who demand the best from their rigs. “The Alliance represents everything Bowtech stands for,” said Bowtech Brand Manager Todd Snader. “We set out to build a platform where performance, balance and confidence come together in a way that feels natural the moment you draw it. Hunters expect more today, and the Alliance delivers more in every aspect, with no compromises.” Both the Alliance (pictured) and Alliance 33 feature new, caged risers that maximize strength, balance and shooting stability while also minimizing excess weight. The Alliance weighs 4.09 pounds, measures 30.5 inches between the axles,…

QAD Ultrarest Integrate MX2 Quality Archery Designs, the inventor of IMS (Integrate Mounting System) technology, gives its iconic, top-of-the-line drop-away Ultrarest Integrate MX2 a touch of backcountry style via new-for-2026 Kodiak Brown and Georgia Clay damper kits, designed to match perfectly with new bow colors being offered by Mathews and Hoyt, respectively. QAD replaced its long-time felt launcher arm wraps with new, skeletonized launcher arms that accept rubber dampeners. The new dampeners last longer than felt and further squelch noise and vibration. Aside from the new earth-tone color-dampening options, the MX2 remains the same: a top-tier, cable-driven arrow rest that eliminates the need for the Berger hole thanks to streamlined IMS that creates a rock-solid, auto-leveling connection with the bow riser. Other great features on the MX2 include: toolless, micro-adjust…

VORTEX Ranger HD 3000 Priced right and eliminating the need for a bino/rangefinder duo, Vortex’s Ranger HD 3000 is an all-in-one rangefinding binocular engineered with an ergonomic profile that keeps it tight to the chest and increases handling in all weather conditions. While lesser rangefinding binos compromise optical clarity and effectiveness, the Ranger HD 3000’s high-definition optics ensure precise color fidelity, edge-to-edge sharpness and maximum light transmission, whether the sun is crawling over the eastern horizon or inching under the western skyline. Built for bowhunters and those who tote rifles to the field, the Ranger HD 3000 10x42 Rangefinding Binoculars have a maximum effective range of 3,000 yards on reflective targets and provide a right-now yardage readout on deer-sized game to 1,500 yards. The internal, red LED display is optimized…