New Damon Howatt Hunter finally came! 💥 I will be doing a YouTube review of this bow. I’ve shot Howatts now exclusively for 40 years and I’ve even written articles on them for Traditional Bowhunter Magazine.. This is the 29th Damon Howatt Bow I’ve owned and if memory serves me right the 14th Hunter. I’ve had Hunters from 1966 Brazilian rosewood knife edges to early 90s semi customs of which I still own and shoot a 62# Hunter my dad gifted me that I took my last 🫎 moose with as well. First impressions are excellent. Shedua and Bubinga riser.. The finish and customization is evident and lives up to the Damon Howatt name and that it was handmade by one individual. 🪚 These are much less factory bows whether anyone wants to admit it or not they are individually made. They are not a line production type of bow and they’re all individually hand shaped and finished as well. 🏹 I will say that this Hunter is a throwback to the shape and design of the 60s bows that I was shooting when I was younger and I’m very impressed and looking forward to testing it out I’ll be doing a full YouTube video on it as well as some performance testing with some arrow build’s I already have set up for it. More to follow!

A Happy New year! Happy Hunting in 2026 all!

What are your thoughts about this? I know there was a short time that I thought maybe better gear makes a better archer, but now I think as long as you have a decent bow and set of arrows, you can get great results just putting the time in and making them an extension of yourself.

Does anyone set archery goals for there year. For me it’s continue to focus on my shooting quality shots daily. Get into shooting wood arrows and old school aluminum as I would like to get a heavier set up. Fill my tags in late season in January. Try spring turkey. Continue to get more knowledge through this group and experience.

Has anyone ever used the trad vanes? I have a moose hunt book for next fall and am considering using some just in case we get some nasty weather. I have tried just about everything there is to keep feathers from getting soaked and laying flat. But hunting heavy cover when it is soaking wet is hard on them. So I was thinking about having some vanes in my quiver. Just in case.