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Author Topic: Best tradeshows for checking out bows  (Read 1928 times)

Offline jvs9932

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Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« on: November 24, 2018, 06:52:22 PM »
Hey guys,

It's taken me years to realize that despite being able to fall in love with how a bow looks online, I need to actually shoot it before I buy it. With that in mind, I would love your input on your favorite trade shows to check out bows firsthand. Some makers I need to check out include: Holmmade, Javaman, Wagstaff, Wengerd, Blacktail and Toelke to name a few. I visited Kalamazoo last year for the show there but have not been to any others. Which ones do you guys like and why?

Thanks!
John
-- Pain is part of life. Misery is optional.

Offline bear mike

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2018, 06:57:08 PM »
Kalamazoo and Compton are 2 of the very best

Offline sneakybow

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2018, 06:59:38 PM »
ETAR

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Offline Todd McDiffitt

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2018, 08:43:58 PM »
Kalamazoo and ETAR are great.

Offline jvs9932

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2018, 05:49:33 PM »
Thanks gentlemen. PA is too far but I'm hoping to make Kalamazoo and Comptons this coming year!

Hope to meet some of you there!
John
-- Pain is part of life. Misery is optional.

Offline JohnV

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #5 on: November 26, 2018, 10:25:15 AM »
I think the Compton shoot is the best place to test drive a new bow.  At Kalamazoo you are shooting maybe 5 yards from a target.  Can't tell a whole lot about a bow if that is as far as you can shoot.  At Compton you can easily test drive a bow at 20 yards and even further if they let you take the bow out on the range.
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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #6 on: November 26, 2018, 11:03:55 AM »
The 3 mentioned are the best with Kalamazoo and ETAR Having the most choices and The Compton Rendezvous a close third for number of Bowyers. Hope to see you at one of them
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Offline jvs9932

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #7 on: November 26, 2018, 11:25:00 AM »
Thanks guys!
-- Pain is part of life. Misery is optional.

Offline mec lineman

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #8 on: November 26, 2018, 12:41:42 PM »
head to Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear in Colorado. More bows than a little bit.
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Offline jvs9932

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #9 on: November 26, 2018, 06:15:45 PM »
I've been to RMS Gear a few times to train with Tom Sr. I love those folks and buy everything I can from them. Last time I was there over the summer I bought a used left-handed Chastain Wapiti from them. Awesome bow. I'd like to check out Comptons and Kalamazoo just for the volume of bowyers and their bows available to check out. As a lefty it can be difficult to find.
-- Pain is part of life. Misery is optional.

Online Roger Norris

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2018, 06:54:56 AM »
Kalamazoo and Compton are 2 of the very best

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Offline wingnut

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2018, 11:58:55 AM »
ETAR is by far the best opportunity to see and try the largest number of bows.

Mike
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Offline jvs9932

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2018, 10:29:17 PM »
Thanks Wingnut. I'm sure it's great, but getting to PA from CA makes that trip likely to never happen for me.
-- Pain is part of life. Misery is optional.

Offline wingnut

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #13 on: November 29, 2018, 04:07:40 PM »
Heck I make it from Texas every year with a trailer full of stock.

Mike
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Offline MMW

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Re: Best tradeshows for checking out bows
« Reply #14 on: November 29, 2018, 04:58:03 PM »
Bummer. All of these suggestions are too far for a guy that lives up against the Pacific Ocean.

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