The Archery Project

What if the pack on your back is costing you shots? We bring on Jake Roberts, retired Green Beret and founder of Wayward Ridge, to rethink bowhunting from the ground up: less weight, less noise, more purpose. Jake came to archery at 30 with a clean slate and a Special Forces mindset—focus on what matters, remove what doesn’t, and test until you can’t get it wrong.

We dig into minimalist hunting that still boosts performance: silencing every metal touch point with tape, ditching snaggy stabilizers, and carrying only the pieces that earn their place. Jake explains why he often hunts low rather than high, prioritizing concealment over height for better shot windows and less skylining. He makes a strong case for white light on max during entry—quieter feet, safer public walks, and deer that spook more from scent and sound than visibility. We get hands-on with face paint that actually works in the woods—dark on high points, light in recesses—to flatten shine and hide movement.

On gear, Jake shares how 3D-printed accessories can be stronger, lighter, and more adaptable when you build them right, back them with a lifetime transferable warranty, and prove them with destructive testing. His bow hanger sits close to the tree, packs smaller than a phone, and has passed real pull-up tests. His patent-pending phone mount tracks with your saddle so you can watch wind shifts, map access with OnX, and see how your shot breaks under pressure without fidgeting. We also cover shop-first business ethics: fair dealer margins, a 90-day buyback if products stall, and marketing that educates so customers walk in asking for the right gear.

If you’ve been meaning to trim your kit, quiet your setup, or push closer on the ground, this conversation gives you a blueprint. Subscribe, share with a hunting buddy who carries too much, and leave a review with the one piece of gear you’d remove first.

Check out Wayward Ridge: https://waywardridge.com/

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Looking for flagship performance without the flagship price tag? We put five mid-price compound bows through their paces and found real standouts that deliver speed, tuning ease, and shootability for hunters and 3D shooters alike. From the steady Prime Ronin to the surprising Hoyt Enduro, the feature-packed Bowtech Ascend, and Bear’s Alaskan Pro and Adapt 2 HP, this guide helps you pick the right bow for your draw length, style, and budget.

We start with the market shift: rising flagship costs and better engineering have made sub-$1K bows compelling. Then we get specific. The Prime Ronin leverages the smooth Core cam and a proven shim system on a 34-inch ATA frame that doubles as a target crossover. The Hoyt Enduro brings a forgiving seven-inch brace height, HBX lineage, full inline accessory compatibility, and shop-friendly shimming—ideal for tree stands and ground blinds. Bowtech’s Ascend earns “best package” with DeadLock Light no-press tuning, FlipDisc comfort vs performance, IMS integration, Picatinny sight options, and accessories that need no immediate upgrades.

Bear Archery steps up with two winners. The Alaskan Pro pairs a fast, smooth EKO^2 cam with adjustable 80/85 percent let-off, a dead post-shot feel, and smart package options that keep costs down. The Adapt 2 HP adds the DHC hybrid cam system and a draw range up to 32 inches for long-draw shooters who want a mild, consistent cycle. Along the way we share chrono speeds, valley and back-wall impressions, and practical “best-of” picks: best value (Alaskan Pro), fastest on paper (Ascend), most forgiving (Enduro), target crossover (Ronin), and top turnkey package (Ascend).

If you’re weighing whitetail setups, western spot-and-stalk, or a bow you can take to 3D, this walkthrough breaks down specs, tuning systems, and accessory compatibility in plain language. Ready to shoot before the season? Try these bows at your local shop, or visit Extreme Outfitters for setups, tuning, and shipping. If you enjoyed this breakdown, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a buddy who’s bow shopping this year.

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Forget marketing numbers—let’s talk verified speed you can actually shoot. We put PSE’s 2026 bows on the line and dig into the two big stories: the new FDS cam and the Sicario’s shockingly manageable velocity. We share real chrono data, how the draw force is front‑loaded to your strongest range, and why dynamic brace height at full draw matters more than the spec on the limb sticker. If you’ve ever wondered how to get heavy arrows moving fast without turning tuning into a chore, this one’s for you.

We break down the feel differences between the FDS and EC2 cams, explain why the Mach 33 still sits in the sweet spot of forgiveness and stability, and show where the Sicario stretches the envelope without punishing your shoulders. You’ll hear our exact setups, including vane choices to avoid contact on the Sicario’s 5.25‑inch brace height, limb-driven vs cable-driven rests, and arrow weights that keep broadheads flying straight in the 280–295 fps “tunes easy” zone. We also talk stabilizer weighting to tame post‑shot pop and how the larger bearings and recessed posts on the new FDS cam boost longevity and consistency across the lineup.

Beyond specs, we zoom out to what actually helps you shoot better: honest fits, reps, and access. We cover dealer realities, why demo days and TAC presence change minds, and how PSE’s carbon durability and repeatable EZ.220 shims cut downtime. If you’re choosing between the Sicario for raw speed or the Mach 33 for everyday confidence, we lay out who benefits most from each, plus a practical gear build for both hunting and TAC.

If this helped you dial your next setup, follow and subscribe, share the show with a bow buddy, and drop a review with your arrow weight and speed—what’s your sweet spot?

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Ever feel like your trail cameras are running you, not the other way around? We sat down with outfitter and taxidermist Joe Kolaszewski to turn scattered photos into a system you can trust. Joe runs 65 cameras in Kentucky and spreads more across the Carolinas and Virginia, so we dug into what actually moves the needle: e-scouting smart, placing for terrain, and adjusting with intent.

We start with the map—pinch points, funnels, hard transitions, inside corners—and use cameras to confirm the plan instead of chasing random pics. Joe explains why community scrapes matter in pre-rut, how to spot them at trail intersections, and why offset angles beat “in-your-face” placements. We unpack height vs. angle tradeoffs, false triggers from sun and brush, and the small tweaks that change everything: facing north/south, micro-moving five to ten yards, and shortening delays as chasing heats up so the buck doesn’t get missed behind the doe.

If you’ve ever bumped a deer and bailed, you’ll like Joe’s aggressive but thoughtful approach—kneel, wait, sometimes call, and keep wind, entry, and exit routes tight. We walk a real 69-acre scenario with a hidden field and a deep ditch to show how to prioritize ditch ends, crossings, inside corners, and clear-cut edges. We also cover brand reliability, battery life, resets, and note-taking to turn images into patterns you can hunt. The takeaway is simple: cameras are scouts, not oracles. Woodsmanship is still the edge.

If this helped you see your camera strategy in a new way, follow the show, share it with a hunting buddy, and leave a quick review so more hunters can find it. Got a question or a tricky setup you want us to map out? Send it in and we’ll tackle it on a future Q&A.

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Bowhunting feels different when your season stretches from North Carolina’s vine-choked swamps to Kentucky’s rolling hills and straight into Ohio’s ag edges. We open with the truth about why NC forges better woodsmanship—tight cover, fickle wind, and micro terrain that forces clean access and constant adjustments. Then we rewind to a velvet Kentucky buck and unpack why a risky wind still produced, what heavy camera intel can and can’t do for you, and how thermals, ladder-stand trees, and a saddle platform turned a narrow window into a clean shot.

From there, we map out an Ohio game plan with almost no history: lean on wind mapping in the field, prioritize travel corridors between bedding and food, and observe just long enough to move in hard. Beans getting cut? We talk about how harvest flips patterns overnight, why hard scrape lines in thick cover can beat field edges, and how to place and camouflage cell cams high and angled to catch skirting bucks without educating them. We also address EHD headlines—what’s confirmed, what to watch locally, and how to make smart decisions without losing the hunt to rumor.

Gear arguments get real-world answers. We compare mechanicals and fixed heads through the lens of tuning and forgiveness, share on-animal results with Easton 5.0 arrows, and explain why flatter trajectories widen your margin under 40 yards—if you tune well and shoot within your comfort. We round it out with practical systems: saddle height in open timber vs canopy cover, reliable headlamp setups for dark exits, release choices that match the hunt, and the mindset to push in without fear of “ruining” a spot when time is short.

If you’re chasing early season whitetails and want a clear, honest blueprint—wind, access, thermals, sign, then action—this one’s for you. Listen, steal the tactics, and tell us what you’re seeing in Ohio this week. If this helped, follow, share with a hunting buddy, and leave a quick review so more bowhunters can find the show.

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A pricier bow won’t fix a shaky shot, and that’s exactly where we go today. We unpack why fundamentals—not accessories—decide whether your arrows fly clean or drift off, and we break the process into three pillars you can master: a torque-free grip, a repeatable anchor tied to proper draw length, and a calm, shot execution that kills target panic instead of feeding it. Zakk brings shop-floor experience to common problems like white-knuckling the riser, overlong draw lengths that fake consistency at 20 yards, and the classic karate-chop trigger that ruins groups once you stretch to 40 and beyond.

We get practical fast. You’ll learn how to seat the grip along the lifeline at a 45-degree hand angle, relax the fingers while keeping pressure consistent, and use the “tip of the nose, corner of the mouth” cue to build a stable anchor. We walk through starting draw length from wingspan/2.5, then show how posture reveals whether you’re too long or too short. For release execution, we cover deep trigger placement around the second knuckle, keeping the rear elbow in line, and pulling through the shot for a true surprise break. We also talk about training with a hinge to reset timing habits, using distance to expose flaws, and filming your shot cycle to catch what you can’t feel.

If your bow is tuned but your groups won’t tighten, this is the blueprint to turn confusion into control. Expect cleaner paper tears, steadier pins, and confidence that holds up in trees, on uneven ground, and across 3D courses. Invest in your form, build your woodsmanship, and let the gear serve your process—not the other way around. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s chasing gadgets, and leave a quick review with the one fundamental you’re working on next.

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The question isn’t just “Is a crossbow a bow?”—it’s what archery season is supposed to mean. We sit down to unpack New York’s decision to allow crossbows throughout the entire archery season, why the change matters, and how it collides with tradition, ethics, and the rapid march of hunting technology. From shop stories about blown limbs and mis-cocked rigs to real talk about broadhead tuning, safe handling, and shot selection, we focus on the one thing that truly decides outcomes: preparation.

We explore who benefits most from crossbows—new hunters, kids, seniors, and those with shoulder injuries—and why access can strengthen the entire hunting community. At the same time, we challenge the idea that “easier” always means better. Do faster bolts and crank systems encourage risky long shots? Are electronic ranging sights, live trail cams, and blood-tracking apps pushing fair chase too far? We compare the realities of drawing a compound at 20 yards to flipping a safety on a crossbow, and ask whether season structures should evolve—separate windows, tech limits, or combined seasons guided by hunter input and biology.

Our take lands on balance: welcome more people into the woods, raise the bar on education and ethics, and draw lines where technology undermines the hunt rather than where people find a way back into it. If you’ve got strong feelings about crossbows diluting the spirit of bowhunting—or you see them as a vital on-ramp—this conversation is your place to sharpen the argument, not just repeat it.

Enjoy the episode, then tell us where you stand. Subscribe, share with a hunting partner, and leave a review with your best case for or against crossbows in archery season—what line would you draw?

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A sobering wake-up call strikes the hunting community as we examine the tragic loss of two young bow hunters in Colorado's backcountry. When lightning claimed the lives of Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko—both experienced outdoorsmen—it highlighted a danger many of us never consider when planning our hunts.

The mountains of Colorado host nearly half a million lightning strikes annually, creating a deadly scenario where afternoon storms can build with frightening speed. Through this tragedy, we uncover critical safety lessons every hunter should implement before heading into remote terrain. From proper positioning during storms (avoiding ridgelines and isolated trees) to spreading out from hunting partners by at least 50 feet, these simple tactics could mean the difference between life and death when lightning threatens.

Beyond weather awareness, we dive deep into the communication and gear essentials that form the backbone of backcountry safety. Satellite communicators only work when you've properly set them up before your trip—not when you're frantically reading instructions during an emergency. Quality rain gear isn't just about comfort; it prevents potentially fatal hypothermia after storms pass. Most importantly, we discuss knowing when to retreat and how to establish check-in protocols with loved ones back home. While hunting stories typically celebrate success and harvests, this powerful reminder shows why safety planning must be the foundation of every hunting expedition.

Share this episode with your hunting partners and start the conversation about your lightning safety plan today. What's in your emergency kit? How would you respond if caught in a sudden storm? These discussions aren't just interesting—they could save your life on your next backcountry adventure.

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Choosing the right broadhead might be the most crucial gear decision you'll make as a bowhunter, yet countless hunters struggle with this selection. With North Carolina's archery season opening tomorrow, host Zakk Plocica tackles the confusing world of broadhead selection with clarity and practical advice based on scientific testing.

Recent ballistic testing by James Yates and Easton reveals what many experienced archers have long suspected: mechanical broadheads fly significantly truer than fixed blades for most hunters. At 70 yards, mechanicals grouped at 4 inches compared to fixed blades' 7-inch groups in controlled testing. This difference becomes even more critical when you factor in the pressure and adrenaline of an actual hunting situation.

Zakk makes a compelling case that most hunters especially those who don't shoot year-round or lack advanced tuning knowledge should choose mechanical broadheads. Popular options like Sevr, G5 Mega Meat, Grim Reaper Whitetail Special, and Schwacker consistently demonstrate field-point accuracy while creating devastating wound channels. The common fear of mechanical failure is largely overblown, especially when weighed against the accuracy advantages they provide.

For those committed to fixed blade broadheads, Zakk emphasizes the importance of proper bow tuning, extensive practice, and thorough testing. The Evolution Jackal and Iron Will 100 performed best among fixed blades in testing, but still require more technical knowledge to shoot effectively. Additional considerations like noise (vented versus solid heads), vane configuration, and blood trail production should factor into your decision based on your hunting environment.

The most critical takeaway? You must test before you hunt. Sacrifice one broadhead from your pack to thoroughly understand how it performs with your setup ideally weeks before opening day, not days. Your confidence in the woods directly correlates with your familiarity with your equipment's performance. Simplicity and reliability trump marketing claims every time.

What broadhead are you running this season, and what led you to that choice? Share your experiences and join the conversation about this crucial piece of bowhunting equipment!

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When Kolby Hanley started 3D printing archery accessories in his Georgia Tech dorm room, he never imagined he was building what would become one of the industry's most innovative brands. In this candid conversation, the 28-year-old UltraView Archery founder shares the remarkable journey from selling water bottles at tournaments to fund his first equipment to partnering with industry giant Mathews in just five years.

Behind UltraView's polished exterior is a story of bootstrapped growth, relentless innovation, and deep industry relationships built long before the company existed. "Most people think we're backed by private equity or daddy's money," Hanley reveals, "when actually we're just a couple dozen freakishly passionate young guys trying to make something cool." This transparency extends to his business philosophy "If your product sucks, your marketing is a lie" and his approach to dealer partnerships, which he considers critical to the company's success.

Particularly valuable for archery retailers is Hanley's insight into what makes dealers successful in today's market. He identifies key factors including inventory management, community building, and effective e-commerce strategies. "Our best dealers are able to draw people to them," he explains, noting that shops must extend beyond physical retail to thrive. The conversation also explores product development, balancing direct sales with dealer support, and the entrepreneurial mindset required to build something meaningful in a niche industry.

Whether you're a dealer looking to strengthen your business, an industry professional curious about UltraView's meteoric rise, or an archer interested in the stories behind your favorite gear, this episode offers rare insight into the realities of building a successful archery brand. Follow Kolby's personal journey on Instagram @kolby_hanley for behind-the-scenes glimpses of what's coming next.

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