(Photo courtesy of Bear Archery)
September 04, 2024
By Jace Bauserman
Before you know it, the earliest whitetail seasons will open, and it’s only a matter of time before the leaves are changing and seasons are open all across the continent. If you’re looking to upgrade your setup or potentially purchase a completely new one, we’ve done the leg work for you and compiled the industry’s best archery whitetail hunting gear.
Vertical Bows BOWTECH Bowtech wins again in 2024 with a great pair of hunting bows. Dubbed the Core SR & Core SS, this dynamic duo promises speed and easy tuning without a bow press. By inserting an Allen wrench into the DeadLock System, you can walk the cams left or right to achieve a perfect, repeatable arrow flight. Another excellent technology on both rigs is CenterMass. This feature aligns the sight to create maximum stability and ensures fantastic shot-to-shot consistency. TimeLock means rapid tuning thanks to quick and easy cam position adjustments, and the GripLock allows shooters to achieve a custom grip. Both bows are available in peak draw weights of 50, 60 and 70 pounds. The Core SR measures 33 inches between the axles, weighs 4.5 pounds, is draw-length adjustable between 25 and 30 inches, and is capable of 344 fps. The Core SS is 31.5 inches axle-to-axle, weighs 4.5 pounds, fits draw lengths between 26 and 31 inches, and has an fps-max of 337.
BEAR Bear’s all-new Persist is a 31-inch axle-to-axle rig that is draw-length adjustable between 26 and 30 inches; and it hits a top-end speed of 340 fps. In-riser dampeners and a newly designed string stop with built-in dampening destroy post-shot noise and vibration. Other new features include quick disconnect sling mount positions and pull-up rope attachment loops. These are two features tree stand hunters will love. The 6.5-inch brace height promises forgiveness, and with an adjustable let-off that maxes out at 90 percent and an adjustable draw-weight range that drops 15 pounds from the peak, the Persist is hard to ignore.
MATHEWS Mathews has raised the bar with its all-new Lift 29.5 and Lift 33, incorporating cutting-edge technology to enhance your shooting experience. The inclusion of Shot Sense into the bows’ grips paired with the Mathews Shot Sense app allows for the tracking and recording of shot analytics, providing valuable insights to improve your performance. Both rigs also feature a new top-mounted axle system that maximizes the working surface area of the limbs while cutting weight and increasing stability across the entire platform. The Lift 29.5, a sub-4-pound, 6-inch brace height compound, is fitted with Mathews’ all-new SwitchWeight-X Cam; this ensures a steady stacking draw cycle that ends with a solid backwall and can propel carbon at a top speed of 348 fps. The Lift 33, weighing 4.26 pounds with a 6.5-inch brace height, hits a top-end arrow speed of 343 fps. Both bows come in multiple draw weight options and color schemes.
Advertisement
XPEDITION The XLite 29 and XLite 35 bows sport Xpedition’s proprietary alloy Magnite riser. This riser is 30 percent lighter than 6061 aluminum and noted by Xpedition to be stronger than carbon. Both bows have cams designed precisely for them — the XLite 29 features the XB29, and the XLite 35 has the XB35. Both cams maximize speed without compromising the ultra-comfortable draw system Xpedition lovers found in the popular XB1 cam system. The XLite 29 and 35 come with 17- and 19-degree grip positions to ensure a custom fit.
HOYT Hoyt impresses hunters once again with their new Alpha X 30 and Alpha X 33. The numbers following the name reflect each bow’s axle-to-axle length. The new-for-2024 HBX Xact Cams allow for draw-length adjustment in 1/4-inch increments, and archers can select between let-offs of 75, 80 and 85 percent. This type of draw-length and let-off customization is remarkable. Other cam system features include a setting for a Hard or X-hard backwall. The Drop Cord Slot ensures easy riser pass-through for a cable-driven rest cord, and noise and vibration-robbing WireWRX strings will indeed be celebrated. The Alpha X 30 has a brace height of 6 3/16 inches, weighs 4.55 pounds, and is branded with a 344 fps (ATA) top-end speed. The Alpha X 33 weighs 4.75 pounds, has an ATA speed rating of 334 fps, and has a 6 3/8-inch brace height.
Crossbows EXCALIBUR The REVX is new from the innovative minds at Excalibur . This horizontal rig measures 33 inches long and weighs between seven and nine pounds. This recurve crossbow can hit a top speed of 400 fps. The crossbow comes with an Advanced ChargerX Integrated Crank, which reduces draw effort to a mere 16 pounds, meaning any shooter can load, draw and fire this feature-rich crossbow. The trigger breaks like a dream, and the four-component Sound Deadening System squelches noise and vibration. The REVX comes field-ready with a Rebolt quiver, Overwatch Illuminated Scope and four ProFlight 16.5-inch arrows.
Advertisement
MISSION Sending bolts downrange at 410 fps, Mission’s Sub-1 XR is sure to make an outstanding field companion. The sub-eight-pound crossbow has a light, crisp, 3-pound trigger, and its 30.5-inch length makes it ideal for tree stands, ground blinds and spot-and-stalk missions. Only 9.1 inches wide cocked, the Sub-1 XR features Benchmark Fire Control technology, which allows the shooter to de-cock the crossbow with the push of a button. The high let-off, fully synched cam systems prevent horizontal nock travel and ensure your bolt is on target.
TENPOINT Crossbow manufacturer TenPoint is raising plenty of eyebrows with its TRX 515 Xero. Fast, accurate and dripping with technology, this bow hits a top speed of 515 fps and comes equipped with the Garmin XERO X1i Rangefinding Scope to ensure precision accuracy. The TRX is a reverse-draw crossbow and showcases new-for-2024 Twin-Riser Technology, which minimizes riser flex and limb torque to ensure carbon hits the mark at extended ranges. The 6-inch-wide (when cocked) crossbow is 29 inches long, sports an AR-Style ambidextrous safety, TriggerTech Precision Trigger and comes with a trio of CenterPunch HPX carbon arrows.
WICKED RIDGE Only nine inches wide when cocked, 29 inches long and branded with a 410-fps speed rating, Wicked Ridge’s RDX 410 is sure to make your whitetail dreams come true. The no-click ACUdraw Silent System promises cocking stealth, and the new 70-yard Pro-View Scope is pre-calibrated for the crossbow and ensures maximum accuracy. With the ACUdraw Silent, cocking weight is reduced to a mere five pounds. The crossbow is balanced, shoulders like a dream and has a field-ready package.
BARNETT Part of Barnett’s all-new Hyper Raptor Series, this 7.3-inch axle-to-axle crossbow has a draw weight of 214 pounds, hits a top-end fps of 410 and produces 142 foot-pounds of kinetic energy. The composite riser boosts strength while reducing weight, and the pivoting limb pockets put less weight at the front of the crossbow to further eliminate noise and post-shot vibration. Barnett’s new Halo System eliminates cable crossing and makes accuracy-robbing cam lean a thing of the past. The crossbow comes with three 20-inch, .204-inch diameter Hyperflight arrows that, according to Barnett, provide more than 25 percent deeper penetration over standard small-diameter arrows.
Accessories SEVR SEVR has earned a massive following, and it’s new-for-2024 whitetail wrecker — the Titanium 1.75 — will surely fuel the SEVR-Nation fire. Optimized for penetration and cut diameter, the 1.75 will work when fired from all of today’s vertical and crossbows — it has no speed limit rating. It is assembled with a machined one-piece titanium ferrule with a precision-ground tip. The patented Lock-and-Pivot non-barbed blades lock open on impact and pivot around the bone as the broadhead carves its impressive wound channel. Practice Mode means the insertion of an included set screw into the second hole in the ferrule locks the blades in place, so you can practice with the same broadheads you hunt with.
RAGE As good as tested-true products are, sometimes those products need an upgrade. That was Rage’s 2024 mission. Enter Rage’s original 2-Blade, 2-Blade Chisel-tip and Crossbow X broadheads, now sporting NC (No Collar) technology. All heads will be available in 100- and 125-grain models. The brilliance behind NC Technology is the finger-like tabs on the blades’ pivot point. These fingers anchor the blades in place while in the closed position and keep them contained, even when fired from today’s high-speed bows and crossbows.
HELIX In 2023, Helix took its original single-bevel design and added a pair of bleeder blades. Helix slugged the broadhead as the FJ4, and once again this broadhead gets our nod for 2024. These right bevel fixed-blade heads come in 100, 125, 150, 175, 200 and 225 grains, each weight sporting a cutting diameter over two inches. The heads fly like darts, are ultra-durable and carve exceptional wound channels.
BLACK GOLD A two-pin sight with single-pin visibility, Black Gold’s Dual Trac features the Pro Pin design to provide shooters with a more defined aiming point and less target obstruction. The Dual Indicator System reduces dial-to-the-yard time and movement by providing a needle for shorter yardages blended with a second needle for longer-range shooting. Both needles are independently adjustable to fine-tune setups, and the Dual Trac showcases micro-adjustable windage and elevation to ensure precise and accurate shooting. The tried-and-true Pro Pin features include a narrower pin throat ending in a round pinhead to ensure less target blackout and a more defined aiming point.
BEE STINGER Now available in a plethora of new color options and lengths of 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 inches, Bee Stinger’s MicroHex Hunting stabilizers come with a trio of one-ounce weights and fill all current Bee Stinger hardware mounts. The stabilizer’s slim, sleek design allows the wind to slice over it, keeping you steady and on target. Quicker dampening and reduced post-shot recoil are compliments of Countervail technology.
TIGHTSPOT You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better mount-to-your-bow arrow holder than TightSpot’s Air Lock 4-Arrow Quiver. Available in multiple solid color and camo options, this quiver pushes the scale to just 8.75 ounces, and the BullDog Gripper system allows you to adjust arrow wedges to ensure a custom arrow fit. The large hood design protects your broadheads — even long mechanicals — and a HexRod Carbon spine promises exact hood-to-gripper alignment that will never move.
SPOT-HOGG Spot-Hogg sights are renowned for their durability, functionality and no-slop precision. For 2024, this bow sight kingpin once again raises the sight bar. Called the “Boonie,” this sight features an improved sight-wheel lock/unlock, and the sight wheel detaches via a pair of set screws for easy sight tape installation. The windage bar also got an upgrade. Laser-engraved marks and an improved micro-adjust windage nob ensure maximum precision and absolute lockdown. The Boonie is available in all Spot-Hogg sight housing options and mount options, which includes Boonie DT (Dovetail), Boonie PM (Pic Mount), and Boonie HM (Hard Mount).
EASTON The latest member of Easton’s coveted X10 family is the 4mm X10 Parallel Pro. This easy-to-tune and lightweight arrow flies with impressive precision and packs a powerful punch. Crafted with advanced A/C (aluminum/carbon) technology, this arrow is available in 15 spine sizes from 250 to 1150, and weight-coded shafts pair perfectly with Easton’s 4mm nocks, points, pins and collar systems. Easton has also introduced new premier Half-out Components for all its 4mm arrows in 55-grain aluminum, 75-grain half-steel, 100-grain titanium-steel and 150-grain full-steel.
GOLD TIP Still hot and filling the quivers of serious whitetailers is the lightweight, micro-diameter F.O.C. Hunting Arrow. The +/-.5-grain weight tolerance shaft ensures exceptional and absolute accuracy. Smart Carbon Technology means no fillers, and brass and aluminum inserts are included to increase shooter customization. Gold Tip Force F.O.C. Hunting Arrows are available in 250, 300, 340 and 400 spine sizes.
CARBON EXPRESS Carbon Express blanketed its popular Maxima Red and Red SD Tri-Spine arrows in all-new earth-tone colors to match most flagship bow makers’ solid color options. Of course, bowhunters still get Dynamic Spine, a top-end technology that boosts accuracy. Tri-Spine Technology blends carbon sections with stiffer sections on each distal end to ensure a more forgiving center section that allows faster arrow recovery out of the bow. Precision sorted and matched by weight and spine, arrow-to-arrow consistency is guaranteed, and the robust Bull Dog nock collar system, uber-accurate Launchpad nocks and precise inserts promise performance. Both arrows are available in 12-pack shafts or six-pack fletched options.
QAD QAD continues expanding its Integrate Arrow Rest options lineup with the Integrate MX2. Sleeker and more streamlined than ever, this fancy-to-do arrow rest features a rugged capture bar and bulletproof 7075 aluminum launcher. The most significant advancements are the replaceable (offered in multiple color options) launcher arm dampers and the Berger hole damper button. Felt, other than a single piece for the cradle of the launcher arm, is gone, and easily insertable and interchangeable rubber is in. The new dampening system looks great and allows archers to color-customize, but it further prevents post-shot noise and vibration.
RIPCORD Available in multiple mounting options, including Standard Micro, Standard Non-Micro, IMS Micro and IMS Non-Micro, Ripcord’s Ratchet comes in both cable drive and limb driven models. And the user-friendly design makes tuning a breeze. Speed Set Technology allows for quick cable take-up without needing a bow press, and tried-and-true Ripcord innovations mean this rest will perform in any environment in any weather condition. Sweetening the pot is the Anti-Bounce-Back Launcher, which stops the launcher when it falls to eliminate accuracy-robbing bounce back.
TRUFIRE An innovative index-finger release, TruFire’s Expert Flex maximizes shooter adjustability while stopping accuracy-robbing torque. The nylon webbing connection system pairs brilliantly with this tried-and-true head design to make the entire shot process flawless. The TrapTab buckle combines with the soft leather strap system to ensure a comfortable custom fit, and the release comes with a standard trigger and a knurled peg trigger.
FLAMBEAU Flambeau’s Formula Bow Case packs incredible durability and protection in a convenient-to-maneuver mid-weight package. This bow case utilizes a revolutionary Adjustable Bow Security System, which contains a foamless chassis with shock absorbing rubber. The weatherproof gasket and automatic pressure release valve put this case at the top of the market, and the internal arrow rack, external tie-down slots and six over-cam throw latches make this lockable case perfect for airline and vehicular travel.
MOSSY OAK Early season bowhunts can be hot, especially in the South, and Mossy Oak’s Tibee Flex Long Sleeve Hunt Tee is designed to keep you comfortable and concealed on those early archery hunts. Available in six different camo patterns, this shirt is made from lightweight, four-way stretch material that’s powered by Hydroplex cooling fabric. This material provides advanced moisture wicking, keeping you dry and cool as you wait for your target buck to come walking down the trail.
ULTRAVIEW Ultraview says that their UV Slider sight is “the ultimate sight for those ready to elevate their hunting game,” and many die-hard bowhunters would agree. One of the UV Slider’s most impressive features is DualDial technology. Extremely user-friendly, DualDial allows hunters to make effortless adjustments by simply turning a single dial. Not to be overlooked, TripleMark allows each pin to be free floating, which guarantees accuracy at all distances.
OCTANE A solid arrow holder is worth its weight in gold, and by all indications, Octane’s Vault is a winner. The oversized Quick Detach Lever Lock makes for easy one-handed on/off, and the quiver’s build helps keep overall bow weight down. Compact and rigid, this quiver allows for multiple mounting positions and can be quickly converted from a right-hand mounting position to a left-hand. The rubber hood liner protects arrows and broadheads, and the quiver sports a pair of removable arrow grippers. (octanearchery.com)
LEUPOLD Leupold’s BX-4 HD Rangefinding Binocular is perfect for bowhunting whitetails. Nothing beats a single set of optics that allows you to glass game and get an accurate range. These binoculars pair precise optical performance with Leupold’s DNA engine, allowing deer hunters to glass their quarry and get an accurate range simultaneously. The yardage readout is immediate, and the high-contrast OLED display provides easy-to-read yardage no matter the lighting conditions. Built around Leupold’s Elite Optical System, light transmission is boosted, and glare is reduced. The BX-4 HD ranges reflective targets at 2,600 yards, trees at 1,600 yards and deer-sized game at 1,100 yards.
