New Bows for 2011

June 30, 2011 By Doug Howlett

Everyone knows bowhunters get the first crack at the new crop of monster bucks roaming the woods of North America each fall. While bows will never rival the efficiency and range of a modern firearm, there's no question that bow season offers diehard hunters a special opportunity to take a heavy-racked monster in its most natural state — unpressured and unafraid. Combine this opportunity with all of the technologically advanced archery gear at the bowhunter's disposal, and it's hard to understand how every deer hunter isn't also a bowhunter.

Here's a look at some of the new bows for 2011 that could help you hang a trophy on the wall before the gunslingers ever hit the woods!

*titles in italics are web-exclusives

**please click on any image for an enlarged version

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The Carnage is billed as Bear's fastest bow to date, with a reputed arrow-launch speed of up to 345 feet per second. This 4-pound, 32-inch axle-to-axle bow boasts some of the com-pany's most technological offerings. To start, the new Skeleton Cam and Idler, machined from 7075 aluminum reduces weight while maintaining rigidity that is aided by a tungsten carbide perimeter weight to power this single-cam bow.

Additional features include Bear's Contra-Band HP strings and cables that are pre-stretched to limit stretching from use, a 7 1/4-inch forgiving brace height, dual arc offset spring suppressors, and their Max Pre-Load Quad Limbs for maximum energy transfer.

Bear Mauler

For a bow that cruises in under the $500 mark, the Mauler is long on performance.

Capable of arrow-launching speeds up to 328 fps, the Mauler delivers 80 percent let-off, has a brace height of 6 3/4 inches and axle-to-axle length of 31 1/4 inches.

The bow weighs a mere 3.9 pounds and draw length is adjustable between 26 and 31 inches.

Bear Home Wrecker

The Home Wrecker is built specifically for female shooters and features a super lightweight and compact pack-age, is fast and delivers a smooth draw cycle.

Axle to axle, the bow is only 29 3/4 inches, has a 6-inch brace height and weighs 3.2 pounds. Capa-ble of shooting arrows at speeds of 280 fps from a peak draw weight of 50 pounds.

Diamond Dead Eye

Billed as Diamond's fastest bow to date at 343 fps, the Dead Eye employs Diamond's single-cam Throttle Cam technology for reduced weight and precise tracking geometries, FLX Guard cable containment system designed to flex with the extreme string tensions generated at draw, seven-layer laminated limbs for durability and even stress distribution, a fully machined riser and a twin-machined center-lock limb pocket system for absolute alignment between the riser and limbs.

Brace height is a short 6 1/8 inches, axle-to-axle distance is 32 inches and a let off is 80 percent. This bow is a super-light 3.95 pounds.

Diamond Fugitive

Looking for a bow with Bowtech's top-shelf features but at a mid-level bow price?

Check out Diamond, which is made by the folks at Bow-tech. The Fugitive shoots arrows at an impressive 337 fps on a 6 1/2-inch brace height platform.

The bow is also R.A.K. package-equipped for instant set-up and use right out of the box — all for under $650. No need to purchase additional accessories. Axle to axle, the bow is 32 inches and weighs just 3.8 pounds.

BowTech Invasion CPX

BowTech's flagship model of their 2011 line-up is the Invasion CPX. The bow combines the company's leading technologies with their Hard-Core Limbs, OverDrive Binary cam and FLX-Guard cable containment system.

Capable of launching arrows at 343 fps, the Invasion CPX can be adjusted for draw weights from 50 to 80 pounds with 80 percent let-off. Axle to axle, the bow is only 31 1/32 inches, and the riser is 7 inches. Weight slips in at just under 4 pounds.

BowTech Assassin

The Assassin comes complete and ready to shoot out of the box with Bowtech's R.A.K. (Ready, Aim, Kill) system.

The R.A.K. includes a four-pin TruGlo Apex Sight, one-piece Ultra-Lite Quiver, Octane Hos-tage XL arrow rest, 4-inch stabilizer, Comfort Wrist Sling, BCY String Loop, alloy peep and Dura-Flx string dampening components.

The Binary Cam System has rotating draw length modules for improved symmetry and synchronization.

The Assassin tips the scales at a light 3.8 pounds (4.8 pounds when equipped with the R.A.K.) and launches arrows at an impressive 333 fps.

Darton DS-3800

The Darton DS-3800's Progressive Torque Reduction cable guard rod permits the use of the larger shaft arrows and higher profile vanes that are gaining popularity these days.

The bow offers a smooth draw cycle while maintain-ing the power to generate 345 to 350 fps. Draw weights are adjustable from 40 to 80 pounds, and let off is 80 per-cent.

Axle-to-axle length is 33 13/16 inches, the riser is 6 inches and the bow tips the scales at 4.1 pounds.

Darton DS-4500

With a configuration that offers a re-duced string angle as a plus to finger shooters, the DS-4500 has a longer 38 1/2-inch axle-to-axle length with a 7 1/2-inch brace height and long draw lengths of up to 32 inches.

The design promotes reduced finger fatigue for extended practice sessions and tournament shooters who prefer the feel of going "releaseless."

Darton's new Progressive Torque Reduction cable guard rod allows for use of larger shaft arrows and higher profile vanes. Capable of delivering speeds of up to 320 fps.

Hoyt Carbon Element

Thirty-two inches axle to axle, Hoyt's Carbon Element utilizes a hollow carbon tube design to remain super-lightweight (3.6 pounds) without sacrificing strength.

Eighty percent let-off is achieved, and the bow's design allows for incredible balance.

More features of the Carbon Element in-clude an in-line roller guard for reduced friction and torque, a riser shelf designed for minimal noise upon arrow release, an offset stabilizer to enhance balance, FUEL Cams and XTS ARC limbs.

The Carbon Element has a 7-inch brace height and produces speeds upwards of 323 fps.

Mathews Z7 Xtreme

Boasting blistering speeds of up to 330 fps and a generous brace height of 7 3/8 inches, the Mathews Z7 Xtreme is a forgiving bow for being so extremely compact.

Archers will find the down-range ability of this bow impressive as they get more range out of their own shooting abilities. The Xtreme is equipped with a ZX cam and Mathews' Reverse Assist Roller Guard, a ball bearing idler wheel, Grid Lock riser, Harmonic Damping System for reduced vibration, a Slim-Fit inline grip and the SphereLock Pivoting Limb Cup System.

This bow is compact at 28 inches axle-to-axle, and light, weighing a feathery 3.98 pounds.

Mathews Z9

Mathews' famed Z-Series of bows grows in performance and technology, even for longer-armed or larger bowhunters in need of a bow with draw lengths up to 32 inches.

The Z9 boasts an axle-to-axle length of 30 inches and a brace height of 8 3/4 inches for long-draw shooters. Other features include the company's Dead End String Stop, Grid Lock Riser, Harmonic Damping System and Sta-bilizer, Limb Turrets and more. Mathews introduced several addi-tional versions of the Z-Series in 2011.

Be sure to check them out on the company's website.

Mission Venture

Even with a price that will please archers, the Venture doesn't scrimp on features or results. Delivering 321 fps of performance, the Mission Venture has a roller guard for a smoother draw, Dead End string stops for extra vibration dampening and a newly designed riser for weight reduction.

The single-cam Venture is only 30 inches axle-to-axle, with a 7 3/8-inch brace height.

It's light too, coming in at just under 4 pounds. Draw weights are adjustable from 35 to 70 pounds.

Mission VXT

Features abound in this Mathews-owned company's bow, which is capable of speeds of 330 fps. The VXT tips the scales at 4.23 pounds, measures 34 inches axle to axle and the brace height is 7 inches.

Adjustable to draw weights between 35 and 70 pounds, while the draw length is adjustable from 26 inches to 31.5 inches. Other features include String Grub silencers, Dead End string sup-pressors, a Voyager Single Cam and Zebra Hybrid strings.

Several optional packages are available to make customization of your VXT easy and to your complete satisfaction.

Mission Craze

The wild popularity of this super affordable bow proves that many rank-and-file archers want bows that are easy on their wallets without scrimp-ing on performance.

The Craze is a light 3.6 pounds, measures 28 inches axle to axle and has a brace height of 7 1/2 inches. The draw weight is adjustable between 15 to 70 pounds and the draw length has a huge range of 19 to 30 inches.

Features include D-Amplifier silencers, an MA-2 cam, carbon rod cable guard, and Zebra Hybrid strings. Suggested retail on this bow rings in at under $300. That's a number less than the 306 fps that the Craze is capable of shooting.

PSE Dream Season Evo

Utilizing PSE's fourth-generation X Tech Split preloaded limbs, the new Centerlock limb pocket system, planar flex riser for reduced deflection and twist and their new Axe Plus hy-brid cam and Vibracheck limb bands for more dampening.

Speeds are gen-erated up to 345 fps from a 32 1/2-inch package. Brace height is a short 6 inches, and the weight comes in at 4.4 pounds.

Draw weights are adjust-able from 50 to 70 pounds and let-off is achievable up to 75 percent.

RedHead Blackout

For 2011, Bass Pro Shops' Redhead hunting brand introduces its Blackout bow package. The new Blackout bow is a smooth-shooting bow with a 7-inch brace height and overall compact axle-to-axle length of 32 inches.

It also features a new cam design from Redhead, limb mounting bearing assemblies and a fully machined riser.

The package combines the bow, a Hostage Pro rest, a 3-pin sight, a 7-inch Octane stablilizer, a one-piece Diamond 5-arrow quiver, peep sight and a sling — all for less than the price of most bows without accessories.