On this episode of Launch One w/ Mason Springer, I sit down with my friend Jerry Payne, a retired West Virginia wildlife officer with 39 years of experience in the field.

Jerry shares stories from his career, including "undercover" operations, poaching cases, and the realities of enforcing hunting laws. We also discuss his passion for bowhunting, deer and bear hunting in West Virginia, elk reintroduction, and how wildlife populations have changed over the years.

From chasing game law violations to chasing big deer with a bow, Jerry has spent his life around the outdoors. This is a conversation filled with real stories, hunting experience, and lessons from a career most people never get to see.

Subscribe to Launch One w/ Mason Springer for more conversations about archery, bowhunting, wildlife, and the outdoors.

In this episode of Launch One w/ Mason Springer, I sit down with father-son duo Tom and William Alterson to talk competitive archery, bowhunting, equipment, and life in the outdoors.

Tom and William have taken their passion for archery far beyond the average father-son hobby. From competing at major archery events like Vegas and Lancaster to hunting elk, mule deer, whitetails, black bear and more, they have built a unique experience around archery and hunting together. 

We talk about their approach to competitive archery, bow setup and tuning, broadheads, hunting equipment, Western hunting, filming hunts, and what it's like for a father to watch his son compete at a high level. William also explains how he builds and tunes Tom's equipment and tests hunting gear in the field. 

This is a conversation about archery, bowhunting, competition, equipment, and what happens when a father and son take the sport seriously together.

In this episode of Launch One, I sit down with Eric Newman of PNL Testers to talk about the science and physics behind archery equipment. Eric has spent years testing bows, arrows, strings, broadheads and other equipment using custom-built testing equipment and real-world data.

We talk about bow efficiency, arrow spine and straightness, arrow weight, fletching, broadheads, arrow flight, and how much some of these factors actually matter when you’re shooting or hunting. Eric also breaks down his testing process and some of the surprising things his data has shown.

If you’re interested in bowhunting, archery equipment, arrow setup, bow performance, or the science behind why your equipment performs the way it does, this episode is worth watching.

Eric also shares where you can find his testing data and research through PNLtesters.com

In this episode of Launch One w/ Mason Springer, Mason sits down with competitive archer Rendyn Brooks to talk about 3D archery, tournament strategy, equipment, and preparing for the first-ever Bowhunter Games.

Rendyn and Mason break down how to get target-bow performance out of a hunting setup, including bow setup, stabilizers, sight setup, rangefinders, and shooting at long distances. They also talk about the strategy behind shooting 3D courses, when to take risks, how to approach difficult targets, and the mental side of competing at a high level.

The two also discuss their experience in competitive archery, preparing for major events, and what it takes to perform when the pressure is on. A great episode for anyone interested in 3D archery, bowhunting, competitive archery, archery equipment, and the Bowhunter Games.

Most archers spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars chasing better equipment—but what if the biggest improvement isn't in your bow at all?

In this episode of Launch One w/ Mason Springer, I sit down with Christian Williams, founder of Archery Strong, to discuss one of the most overlooked topics in archery: physical performance. We break down why archery truly is a sport, how strength and mobility affect your ability to hold steadier, shoot more consistently, perform under pressure, and even become a better bowhunter.

Christian explains the science behind archery-specific training, nervous system adaptation, core strength, draw weight, endurance, and preparing your body for everything from indoor tournaments to all-day rut hunts. I also share how working with Archery Strong helped me improve my performance and why investing in coaching has given me a much bigger return than buying new equipment. 

If you're serious about becoming a better archer, this conversation could change how you think about training.

• Why archery is absolutely a sport
• The most untapped resource in archery
• How to hold your pin steadier
• Core strength for target archery and bowhunting
• Choosing the right draw weight
• Preparing for hunting season physically
• Why coaching often beats buying new gear
• The role of strength, mobility, and endurance in elite performance

In this episode of Launch One w/ Mason Springer, I sit down with Jacob Benschjöld, one of Sweden's top compound archers and an international World Archery field competitor, to break down the technical side of field archery.

Jacob shares how Europe's club-based archery system develops elite shooters, why field archery is so much bigger overseas than it is in the United States, and the judging systems, practice methods, and preparation that allow the best field archers to consistently perform at the highest level. 

We also discuss:

• How to judge unmarked field targets
• Building an accurate ranging system
• Uphill and downhill shooting techniques
• Why 50-meter target archery builds better field archers
• Training volume and practice structure
• Mental preparation and visualization
• Strength training and physical fitness for archery
• Why hunting can improve tournament performance
• Competing internationally and representing Sweden

Whether you're interested in World Archery field, target archery, or simply becoming a more complete archer, this episode is packed with practical insights from one of Europe's top competitors.

Subscribe to Launch One w/ Mason Springer for conversations with the best archers, bowhunters, and industry leaders from around the world.

In this episode of Launch One w/ Mason Springer, I'm joined by two of my biggest competitors and good friends, Leo Ryals and Brody Wonch. We've spent years competing against each other at national tournaments, so this conversation goes beyond a typical interview.

We break down what it's really like competing at the highest level of compound target archery, from tournament preparation and the mental game to equipment setups, bow tuning, practice routines, and the lessons we've learned through years of chasing podium finishes.

In this episode we discuss:

• Competing against each other at the national level
• Tournament strategy and the mental side of archery
• Bow setup and equipment preferences
• Practice routines that produce consistent scores
• Major events like Vegas, Lancaster, USA Archery, and World Archery
• How we approach pressure and high-stakes competition
• The future of competitive compound archery

Whether you're a competitive target archer, bowhunter, or simply passionate about archery, this conversation offers an inside look at how three archers approach the sport from years of competing together.

Subscribe for more conversations with the biggest names in archery, bowhunting, and the outdoor industry every week on Launch One w/ Mason Springer.

What makes the Axcel Driver one of the most advanced slider sights on the market? In this Bow Equipment Breakdown, I sit down with Brandon Reyes of TRU Ball Axcel to go behind the design of the Driver sight and the engineering that sets it apart.

We cover the different mounting options, scope configurations, sight light compatibility, micro-adjust features, weight savings, and why many of the Driver's technologies come directly from Axcel's top-level tournament sights. If you're building a hunting bow, preparing for the Bowhunter Games, or just looking for your next slider sight, this episode explains exactly what makes the Driver unique.

Tristan Litke is the founder of Precision Cut Archery and a key contributor to the Arrow Ballistics Study. In this episode of Launch One, we dive deep into arrow flight, bowhunting ballistics, sight tape accuracy, penetration myths, broadhead selection, and the science behind modern archery equipment.

We discuss how Precision Cut Archery is changing the way archers build sight tapes, what the Arrow Ballistics Study is revealing about arrow performance, and whether heavy arrows really provide the advantages many bowhunters claim. Tristan also shares the story behind building Precision Cut, working with some of the biggest names in archery, and using data to challenge long-held assumptions in the bowhunting world.

If you're interested in bowhunting, target archery, arrow tuning, broadhead performance, or the future of archery technology, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Follow Launch One for more conversations with top archers, bowhunters, coaches, and innovators from across the archery industry.

In this episode of Launch One, I sit down with professional archer Roland Deason to talk about the details that can make or break a target archery setup. We dive into everything from stabilizer configurations and nock height to group tuning, bare shaft tuning, arrow selection, and why some of the best setups don't always look perfect on paper.

Roland shares his approach to building forgiving bows, preparing for major tournaments like the Buckeye Classic, and the lessons he's learned from years of competing across multiple disciplines. We also discuss holding steadier on target, bow setup trends, Bowhunter Games equipment rules, and the constant process of testing and refining gear.

If you're serious about target archery and want to understand the small adjustments that can lead to bigger scores, this episode is packed with practical insights from one of the sport's most knowledgeable shooters.