Today we’ve got a guest post from renowned hunter Tim Herald, as he shares with us his thoughts on crossbow hunting and some news on the latest bows from Carbon Express. I personally have not used a crossbow, love my compound too much, but I know they’ve been great for a lot of hunters. My dad has some serious eyesight issues, and if it weren’t for a crossbow, he would not be able to successfully bowhunt. For reasons like that, I’m definitely a supporter. If you’re looking to go this route, check out the article below for some great insights! – MK

“Crossbow hunting has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few years, and I don’t think anyone can deny that the sport is here to stay. There are more opportunities than ever, and an increasing list of states are providing special seasons or allowing crossbows to be used during traditional archery seasons. Crossbow hunting is here to stay, and after participating in the sport for the last two years, I have to say that I think it is incredibly fun.

I also like the fact that crossbow hunting brings youth into “bowhunting” at an age before they can competently use a vertical bow to harvest animals. It also will extend the hunting lifetime of older hunters who may not be able to draw a vertical bow as they become elderly.  I have seen this with my two young sons as well as my father after he had heart surgery.

So enough about the virtues of crossbows in general! I own an original Carbon Express Covert 3.5 crossbow that the company came out with a few years ago. It is a great bow, my kids have racked up a ton of deer and turkeys with it, and my dad and I have also both killed turkeys with it. I couldn’t imagine it getting much better until I learned about the new CX I and 2 crossbows that are CX’s second generation.

How are these crossbows better and why should I pick them over anything else out there I asked, so I went straight to the source to find out, and I talked to Carbon Express COO John Biafore about it. He began with, “BioSync Technology is the biggest attribute of these new crossbows that set them apart. What that technology is all about is Body-Bow- Bolt. We want the bow to fit the body, and then the bolt to work at maximum efficiency with the bow for a perfect fit all the way around. That way when someone hunts with our crossbow, he doesn’t have to be thinking about the crossbow, bolt or our equipment; he can simply concentrate on the hunt, and that’s how it should be.”

Biafore explained, “Our original Coverts were great, but we wanted them more comfortable. So we took a lot of weight out and improved the balance of the crossbow. Most of this came out of the front end of the crossbow, but it made it much more comfortable. It no longer feels like you are dragging around a log with you to a treestand or blind.”

Carbon Express now has a premium line of crossbow bolts available in their now famous Maxima line. There is a Maxima Hunter and a Kevlar coated maxima Hunter KV. What sets these bolts apart are that they have Dual Spine Weight Forward Technology just like the Maxima line of arrows, and they are properly spined for the CX crossbows. The Dual Spine Weight Forward means that the dynamic and static spine of the bolt has been considered, so this means the front end of the bolt flexes more giving forgiveness, while the back end is stiffer and recovers quicker. This is what makes an arrow or bolt perform to its maximum, and these are the most technologically sound bolts that can be bought. In short, the bolts and the crossbows being matched up will simply perform better.

So we now see what BioSync is all about. The bow is comfortable, and it shoots great. What else is so good about the CX line I asked? Biafore answered, “We really feel that not only are these great crossbows from a technical and performance standpoint, they are also the best value on the market. The CX 1 crossbow package comes in at $499 and the CS 2 at $599. The difference is the CX 1 is a 330fps bow and the CX 2 is 360 fps. These packages both include the crossbow, a 4×32 illuminated scope, a quiver, rail lube as well as three Maxima Hunter bolts. It is a package that is ready to sight in and take to the field. Also, with these bolts, we haven’t tried to bump our speeds up, our bolts perform at our published fps speeds.”

When speaking on price, John expounded, “Carbon Express is entrenched as a high quality arrow company, but that doesn’t automatically transfer over to the new crossbow market. We know we make a great product, but we also know we have to earn the consumer’s crossbow business, so making a great valued package is what we decided was the best route to begin earning that business. We absolutely want to be best in class both in performance and price.”

My last question was besides being a great shooting crossbow that sells at an incredibly fair price, what other things might a potential buyer want to consider in the CX line? Biafore said, “The package obviously offers a lot, but also consider that we cut no corners to get to that price. The crossbows are made with anodized aluminum flight rail, proven carbon infused limbs and premium strings and cables. There is an anti-dryfire mechanism that is very important for safety.”

After the fun my family and I have had over the past two years crossbow hunting, even though our Covert 3.5 is still incredibly accurate, I am going to have to consider one of the new CX 2’s. I have two close friends who bought them recently, and they are fantastic all the way around. After talking with Biafore and understanding more about BioSync, I am really leaning toward the upgrade. If you are in the market for a crossbow, you owe it to yourself to check the newest CX’s from Carbon Express.” – Tim Herald

For more info on Carbon Express crossbows, visit their website here.

I was 16 years old and brimming with excitement. Sweaty palms, shaking knees and full of anticipation, I went in to make my purchase.  Was I about to buy my first car? No sir.

Even more exciting, I was about to buy my first new bow! That fateful day at Cabelas I purchased a ready to shoot package from PSE, a basic velcro release, and a dozen Carbon Express Arrows. At the time I didn’t know much about those arrows, but little did I know that nearly 10 years later I would still be shooting the same brand.

Now obviously over that time span the Carbon Express offerings have changed, but the quality and wide selection of choices is still much the same.  I believe it is that consistent quality, with numerous options that has kept me with Carbon Express for so long.  Over the years I have shot Carbon Express models such as the Terminators, Mayhems and now the Maximas and with each new arrow I was able to shoot better and evolve as an archer. And as I’ve progressed in my journey as a bowhunter, I have been able to better understand what kind of performance I need in an arrow and what specific brand or model of arrow will fulfill that.  That being said, I certainly can see how it can be confusing and even intimidating for someone new to bowhunting or Carbon Express arrows to try and figure out what arrow they should purchase. No matter what brand arrow you choose to shoot, it’s important to look at the specific goals you have in mind for your arrows and choose accordingly. So with that in mind, I wanted to share a few thoughts on why there are so many options from Carbon Express and if you choose to use CX, how you might be able to determine which one is right for you. In this article I speak to Carbon Express arrows, because that’s what I have experience with. But if you have any questions about another brand and need help determining the right arrow, let me know and I’ll do my best to find a good resource for you!

As I mentioned before, I’ve been able to grow up with Carbon Express arrows over the past decade for one simple reason. They have arrows for every situation, price range and need. As I understand it, it’s CX’s goal to provide the most options for the most demanding of bowhunters, to help them do one thing. Shoot better. Whether you specifically want to get the most penetration possible or have the most accurate arrow you can find, there is a Carbon Express arrow made specifically for that. And these arrows aren’t just thrown together with a label that says “great penetration” or whatever. They are designed and manufactured to the most exact standards, to ensure they do exactly what they’re meant to do. So with that in mind, lets look at several of Carbon Express’s premier lines of arrows and explain just what they are made to do.

When it comes to top of the line hunting arrows, few are as well known and renowned as the Maxima series. These are my arrows of choice and for good reason. They’re incredibly fast, yet still strong and forgiving. Within the Maxima line, there are several variations including the Maxima Hunter, KV, Blue Streak and Blue Streak Select. All Maximas have dual spine weight forward technology, which essentially helps with energy transfer and allows your arrow to recover faster, leading to better accuracy. In addition to the dual spine technology you’ve got incredible straightness and weight tolerances that ensure that these arrows are as consistent and finely crafted as possible. Within the Maximas you’ll get the best penetration with the KV, most accuracy with the Blue Streak, tightest straightness specs with the Blue Streak Select and the most speed from a camo arrow with the Maxima Hunter. On the high end here, you’ve definitely got a lot of options, but it’s hard to go wrong with any of these.

As you go down the line you’ll get into the Mayhem series next, which I shot last year with great success. Another line of terrific shooting, well rounded arrows that are designed in fact to be a perfect trifecta of speed, accuracy and penetration. With a technology called K-360 weave, the Mayhems are able to achieve great durability and penetration without sacrificing speed. These are truly a great all around arrow.

If you’re focused strongly on getting the best penetration possible, the Piledriver series is for you. With a heavy grain per inch ratio, these arrows are incredibly durable and pack a lot of kinetic energy! You can plan on getting a lot of pass throughs with these bad boys.

Rounding out the line-up you’ve got the Mach 5, which is the lightest and fastest of the CX arrows and the Mutiny a high velocity, super consistent arrow. Both offer great benefits that fulfill unique needs.

Choosing a brand or specific model of arrow is certainly an important decision as a bowhunter. For me, it was made by chance early in my life, but luck had it that I made a good call. I’ve been able to progress through the CX lineup throughout my life and have been impressed every step of the way. So while I can’t tell you one way or the other in regards to what arrows you should shoot, I can say with complete certainty that if you decide to shoot Carbon Express, they will have an arrow that can fit your specific needs perfectly. When it comes to choosing an arrow, look at your price range and needs and then study your options carefully. There are plenty of good options out there, but for me Carbon Express has been the best!

For more information about selecting new arrows, check out Tim Heralds article on choosing arrow weight and size here.

The Archery Santa dropped off a couple boxes this past week that brought me right back to my days as a child on Christmas morning! I tore off the wrapping (aka cardboard box) and stared in awe at a true sight to behold. Dozens of gleaming, precision forged, carbon arrows…just itching to be flung at a tall tined whitetail buck. And in a handful of months, I aim to be doing just that.

I have shot nothing by Carbon Express arrows my entire life and last year I took a step into the higher tier of CX arrows, when I began shooting the Mayhem Hunters. Absolutely loved these arrows and I still am slinging these sticks at targets today. But soon I’ll be stepping into a whole new arena of arrow quality as I begin using the Maximas, truly the crown jewel of hunting arrows. Lighting fast, pinpoint accurate and tough as nails. Needless to say, I’m stoked to take these bad boys for a spin. Once we get them on the range, I’ll be sure to report back to you all on my thoughts.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Carbon Express Maxima Hunters, check out the video I posted earlier this year, featuring the new technologies in these arrows.

With these partnerships we’ll be able to showcase some of the absolute best products on the market for the whitetail obsessed, as we test their gear throughout the entire year and give you the 411 on how it performs! That being said, keep in mind that while we’ll be using many of our partners products this year, we’ll still be bringing you the scoop on all sorts of other deer hunting gear from every brand, make and model.  Just like always.

2011 will be a year of incredible growth and excitement for Wired To Hunt and these partners will be a big part of us doing that! Please join me in welcoming our partners on board and keep an eye out for more great things to come in the future!

This past year I hunted with the Carbon Express Mayhem Hunters and I was really happy with them, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to get my hands on these Maximas. Check out the video below to learn more about the new dual spine weight forward technology that makes this year’s series of Maxima arrows possibly the best ever.

Wired To Hunt: Carbon Express Mayhem Review from Mark Kenyon on Vimeo.

For more information about the Mayhem or other Carbon Express products, check out the Carbon Express Website.

Just got my new Mayhem Hunters from Carbon Express today and these are some niceee arrows. Supposedly the Mayhems offer a great blend of speed, accuracy and penetration due to something CX is calling the K-360 weave. I’m definitely excited to try them out and see if they can live up to the billing. The key here with this new technology seems to be the ability to achieve 100% spine consistency. Also built into these arrows are great Carbon Express features like the “built in weight forward technology”, bulldog nock collars and blazer vanes. I’m pretty pumped to get out and shoot them next week. As soon as I do, I’ll put together a video review to loop you all in on how they performed. Until then check out a few pics I snapped in my fit of excitement and a sweet video for the Mayhems.

Looks like Carbon Express has a new line of ultra-affordable arrows, definitely worth checking out! Here’s the press release with further details.

Flushing, Michigan – Carbon Express^®, a leader in arrow technology and innovation, announced the launch of it’s new Amped-XS Arrow. With its unique composite construction, the Amped-XS arrow will not bend or break even under the most extreme conditions, making it perfect for shooters young and old.

The composite Amped-XS comes in a standard 30” length, has a straightness of plus/minus .006” and features a 70 gr. Cone tip installed.  In addition, the diamond coat finish provides greater durability and stealth performance on the arrow rest.  With its durable construction, this arrow is perfect for shooters of all ages.  Available in 6 Pack, suggested retail $39.95.

About Carbon Express^®

Carbon Express^®, an Eastman Outdoors Inc. brand, is the leading manufacturer of high performance carbon hunting and target arrows and arrow components for hunters and target shooters. For more information or customer service visit www.carbonexpressarrows.com, or call 800.241.4833.

Mutiny-$80: “The Mutiny is selectively engineered for higher velocity to create a flatter trajectory and increased accuracy. The advanced carbon composite design is exceptionally durable and is laser sorted for greater consistency and all around performance. The Mutiny features Carbon Express’ unique Diamond-coat finish that provides greater durability and a smoother, slicker surface for easy target removal. Each Mutiny arrow is fletched with compact Predator vanes for higher arrow velocity and utilizes tunable nocks for precision accuracy.”

PileDriver-$100: “The PileDriver series is engineered for the hunter who wants ULTIMATE penetration. The PileDriver Hunter is the heaviest arrow in the Carbon Express line to create maximum kinetic energy and greater knock down power. Built-in Weight Forward technology delivers superior down-range accuracy while compact Predator vanes allow for extra arrow velocity.”

Mayhem-$120-$125:  ”The Mayhem series is engineered to deliver the ultimate combination of speed, accuracy, and penetration – setting a new standard for all-around Hunting performance. It’s like getting 3 arrows in 1. The secret weapon is the K-360° Weave Technology that provides 360° spine consistency and delivers the ultimate combination of speed, accuracy and penetration. The Mayhem Hunter also features our exclusive Carbon Express Built-in Weight Forward technology for superior down-range accuracy with a broadhead. Equipped with Blazer or Fusion vanes for precise broadhead placement and BullDog nock collars for added strength.”

2010 was another great year for the Michigan Deer & Turkey Spectacular and it was particularly exciting for us this year at Wired To Hunt. Not only did I get to browse the usual new products, outfitters and seminars, but I also was able to record a number of great interviews to share with the Wired To Hunt Nation. We had the chance to speak with a couple great crews that are creating terrific whitetail hunting dvds and learn about some new products coming from companies such as Carbon Express and G5. We’ve got a couple of great video interviews with Real Hunting Productions “Work’N Class Whitetails”, White Knuckle Productions and Midwest Whitetail and I’ll be posting DVD reviews for all three shortly. At the show I also got to shoot the Hoyt Maxxis for the first time and oh boy is that a sweet bow.

Overall it seemed like the show was a great success, full of excited hunters and terrific companies and outfitters. Keep an eye out for video interviews, product updates and reviews coming soon!

For anyone that was at the show, what did you guys think?