The Indiana Convention Center once again opened it's doors to host the annual Archery Trade Association (ATA) show. Again, the weather in Indiana played a factor in this show for the industry professionals, dealers, and press. Despite the delays caused by weather, the show did go on and was another stellar success.
Covering the show for WomenHunters, I was talking to many of the industry professionals to view new products for your home and to see what is new and hot for all your hunting needs. The WomenHunters booth was creatively designed and constructed by Linda Thompson. Executive Director Sue Burch, her husband Danny, Linda Thompson along with her husband Pat, Alyssa Haukom and her husband Brian represented the WomenHunters at the booth and did a great job of promoting our organization to the masses. A steady flow of traffic kept those in the booth busy. Tommy Garner from Steppin' Wolf Production also helped at the booth and provided the video of the WomenHunters Outdoors television show. It was obvious that people are interested in seeing women promoted in this industry through organizations such as WomenHunters and many were excited to see a television show featuring nothing but women hunting.
Industry giants such as Mossy Oak ¨, Realtree ¨, Hoyt¨, Muzzy¨, and hundreds of other companies were well represented with spectacular display booths. Elaborate state of the art booths with seating and refreshments available, to the simple information type booths, proved that the industry is alive and hotter than ever.
The WomenHunters booth was one of a handful of booths that were not promoting a specific product. WomenHunters was there to promote the club which has been designed to provide women who share a love of the outdoors and a passion for hunting a place to come together with others that have a similar interest.
Let's take a closer look at some of the new products that were presented to the industry this year. As a mother of a teenage football player I was well aware of the clothing line known as Under Armor¨. It was about time that Under Armor developed a line of camouflage under clothing. Their "cold gear" now in Realtree¨ Camo will no doubt be very useful for hunters. Talking with a representative from Under Armor¨ they told me that as of now the only camo pattern available is Realtree¨, but they hope to add Mossy Oak¨ to their line soon. The Hunter Safety Vest System¨ which has been very popular for a few years introduced a new "mesh" safety vest which should be more comfortable for those early season hunts. Mossy Oak¨ showcased its new APX line and their new Berber line of clothing with burr resistance fabric and is sure to become a favorite staple in many hunters' wardrobes. ASAT¨ Camo showed the public that they are back in business better than ever with some new garments featuring the effective camo pattern of ASAT¨ Mathews¨ premiered their new Heritage Longbows, these beautiful works of art are sure to get attention from the traditional crowd. Mathews¨ also premiered their new compound bow the Switchback¨. Marshall's Outdoor Products¨ launched a new line of home decorating products that I particularly enjoyed seeing. New home decor item such as table lamps, wooden blinds and ceiling fans that were tastefully designed were some of my favorite new items. Most of their items featured specific logos such as NWTF ¨and DU¨ to name a few. Additional product that I loved was the custom picture mats and frames specifically designed to display your hunting photos and the furniture designed with the hunter in mind. It is obvious that camo patterns have taken over and are now being used on every imaginable surface. Numerous broadheads, rests and nocks along with fletching, cresting and every other possible item you need to head into the woods with a bow and arrow were represented at the show.
The ATA show was a constant flurry of activities and seminars and is an exciting place to be for those of us that love to hunt and love the sport of archery. The ATA show packed up its belongings and counted this year another success for the archery industry. The ATA show is headed to Atlanta, Georgia for next year's showcase
