Horton Archery will be moving to a new and larger facility soon. This facility will allow expansion of manufacturing and additional staff. Through this expansion Horton Archery will be positioned to better serve all of our valued customers. Please be sure to change your Horton Archery contact file at once. The details of our new address, contact information and a timeline of our move are as follows.

New Address:
Horton Archery, LLC
4430 Crystal Parkway
Kent, Ohio 44240

New Phone: 330-474-5710
New Fax: 330-673-1476
Toll Free800-291-3649 (same)

Due to this relocation, all operations at Horton will be closed on 12-17 and 12-18. All messages from those dates will be reviewed and responded to as soon as possible after our offices reopen on 12-21.

The first day of manufacturing, shipping & receiving at the new location will be 12-21-2009. If you are shipping product to Horton please be sure it arrives to the current location no later than 12-16-09. All shipments to the new Crystal Parkway location should not arrive before 12-21-09.

If you have any further questions in regard to our relocation please contact us at 800-291-3649.

Horton Archery, LLC

CROSSBOWS TO BE LEGAL FOR 2009-10 ARCHERY DEER AND BEAR SEASONS HARRISBURG

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today voted down a proposal that would have placed restrictions on crossbow use for the 2009-10 seasons.  The 4-4 tie vote is not sufficient to give the proposed rulemaking the final adoption needed, so the previously approved regulations governing the use of crossbows for the 2009-10 seasons – as outlined in the 2009-10 Digest – will remain in effect.

On July 9, by a vote of 4-3, the Board gave preliminary approval to regulatory changes to restrict the use of crossbows for the upcoming fall hunting seasons. Following the July 9th vote, the proposed rule-making was reviewed by the state Office of Attorney General and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on Aug. 22.

Those voting today in favor of the proposal were Game Commissioner Ron Weaner, who requested that the proposal be placed on the July meeting agenda; as well as Game Commissioners Tom Boop, David Schreffler and Jay Delaney.  Those voting today against the proposal were Game Commissioners Greg Isabella, David Putnam, Robert Schlemmer and Ralph Martone.

Based on today’s action, crossbows may be used by hunters participating in the archery deer and archery bear seasons for the 2009-10 seasons, as well as turkey seasons and the two-week firearms deer seasons.

Under the regulations, a crossbow must have a minimum drawn weight of at least 125 pounds, and a bolt must be equipped with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 inches with at least two cutting edges on the same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface, and shall not exceed three inches in length.

Hunters participating in the October muzzleloader antlerless deer season or late flintlock muzzleloader season are not permitted to use the crossbow in place of their muzzleloader.  Hunters participating in the overlapping archery deer seasons may use a crossbow.

A sunset date for this expanded crossbow use will require a future Board to vote on the measure again before June 30, 2012.

Horton’s Hunter® Knee Pod™ is ideal for the crossbow hunter, the shot gunner after turkey, the rifle shooter needing to steady a long shot or the muzzle loader hunter wanting good follow through on the shot.

Lightweight, fully adjustable to fit any size or situation, durable, easy to use, and inexpensive.

Horton’s Hunter Knee Pod simply is a hunter’s must have product!

Read the full Hunter Knee Pod Review

Purchase a Knee Pod Today!

“As I suspected, thoughts of a notional comparison with Excalibur bows evaporated as soon as I opened the box and laid eye on the Legacy 225.” These were the words of author Geoffrey Toye in his article called Legacy 225 Crossbow Critique in the Horizontal Bowhunter Magazine.

He further presents impressive findings within his article.

• “Initial impression of the bow mainframe as I took it in my hands was of solidity, not by any means excessively heavy, but rather the sort of weight that suggests quality.”
• “Overall an agreeable impression of care and precision in the engineering.”
• “Horton has included this feature on their bows for some years, and that they know what they are doing shows.”
• “Giving an impression of strength and solid engineering.”
• The Legacy 225 “proved to be fast with predictable recoil characteristics. Certainly nice to shoot than one might expect of a bow of this draw weight.”
• “In all, Legacy 225 sent for review was pleasing to the eye, good to shoot, accurate and of an interesting styling with a feel of quality.”

Read the full Legacy 225 Review by author Geoffrey Toye.

Go to Legacy’s product specification page for details.

*Note: The newer models no longer have stumpers protruding from the riser.

On Tuesday, June 16, the New Jersey Fish and Game Council voted on adopting proposed amendments to the 2009 – 2012 Game Code. The Council voted to adopt all the proposed amendments except amendment 29, which proposed boundary changes to Deer Management Zones 19 and 23. The full proposal containing the amendments can be viewed at www.nj.gov/dep/rules/proposals/040609b.pdf (PDF) on the NJ DEP website.

The most significant amendment adopted expands the definition of “bow” by removing the prohibition on all draw locking and draw holding devices and by including crossbows in the definition. This allows the use of crossbows in any bow and arrow hunting season and other hunting seasons for all species where the use of bow and arrow is allowed. Crossbows must have a minumum draw weight of 75 pounds and a minimum stock length of 25 inches.

This amendment, in addition to the recently passed law allowing Sunday bow and arrow deer hunting on Wildlife Management Areas and private property, is expected to increase participation in New Jersey bow and arrow hunting seasons. Hunters who have never purchased a New Jersey bow and arrow hunting license or have not purchased one prior to the implementation of the electronic licensing system must present one of the following to purchase a license: 1) a hunter education archery certificate, or 2) a prior year resident bow and arrow license (from NJ or any other state), or 3) a prior year nonresident NJ bow and arrow license. Information on hunter education requirements for bow and arrow hunting and hunter education session schedules can be obtained at www.njfishandwildlife.com/hunted.htm.

The 2009 – 2012 Game Code becomes law five days after it is published in the New Jersey Register. Hunters are advised to consult the NJ Division of Fish and Game website for updates on the Game Code publication date and effective date of the amended Code.

COVINGTON, GA, June 15, 2009 – Gregg Ritz’ Wild Communications and the private equity firm TGV Partners today announced the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Horton Archery, the Outdoor industry’s oldest and leading producer of premium crossbows and archery equipment.

WildComm is the Outdoor marketing and media production company that Gregg Ritz, noted professional hunter and producer of Outdoor hunting TV shows, established after the former President of Thompson/Center Firearms and his private equity backers, TGV Partners, successfully sold T/C to Smith & Wesson in 2007.  TGV Partners, a 20-year old private equity firm focused on middle-market buyouts of Outdoor & Consumer brands, originally backed Ritz in the buyout of T/C.

Horton Archery, located in Tallmadge, Ohio, manufactures and distributes crossbows recognized by hunting enthusiasts for their precision, performance, and reliability.  The transaction will provide Horton Archery access to the significant capital resources of Ritz and TGV Partners and to the product development and strategic marketing capabilities of the WildComm management team.

The purchase includes both of Horton Archery’s Tallmadge, Ohio and Changzhou, China facilities, which produce all of the company’s products.  Gregg Ritz, will be joining the Horton Archery team as CEO.  Noted Ritz, “Horton is a legacy brand that has championed the use of crossbows in the archery seasons for over 50 years.  We believe crossbows are a platform to introduce gun hunters to the sport of archery that will increase the number of days our hunters spend in the field and help to keep our hunting heritage and industry healthy.”  Brad Cousins, COO of Horton Archery added, “The team at WildComm is known industry wide for their development of the iconic Thompson/Center brand and their ability to execute dynamic new products and marketing strategies that excites the consumer to participate in the sport.”

About Horton Archery, LLC
Horton Archery, headquartered in Tallmadge, Ohio, is a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of crossbows and archery accessories under the Horton brand.  For more information, log on to http://www.crossbow.com/.

About WildComm
WildComm is a recognized leader in outdoor marketing and media.  In addition to developing dynamic marketing programs for professional hunters, the company produces, manages and represents several top rated hunting television shows on the Outdoor Channel and ESPN networks to include the Bone Collector, The Crush, ProHunter Journal and Whitetail Freaks.  The Company is based in Covington, GA and is focused to building dominant brands.  For more information, call (603) 610-8406 or log on to www.wildcomm.com.

About TGV Partners, LLC
Founded in 1990, TGV Partners is a private equity firm focused on middle-market buyouts and growth capital investments in Outdoor and Consumer branded companies.  Based in Newport Beach, CA, TGV Partners concentrates on building long-term strategic value in brand-driven businesses.  For more information, log on to www.tgvpartners.com.

Texas hunters for the first time will be able to hunt with crossbows in the 2009 October archery season. This crossbow hunting expansion will give all Texas hunters yet another way to enjoy the hunting opportunities that Texas has to offer.  This new hunting opportunity will allow Texas hunters to consider using a crossbow to start their hunting season earlier as compared to the past when crossbow were only legal during the three month November through January general hunting season.

HB968 will go into effect September 1st 2009 with the season to open the first day of archery season in October. Crossbow hunting will not be allowed in Grayson County in N.E. Texas, were currently gun hunting is also not allowed.

If you have any further questions be sure to check with your local TPW office.

View Printable May 2008 InSider- link coming soon View Printable June 2008 InSider- link coming soon

Go to Newsletter Signup in the upper right corner of this page. Receive our next issue of InSider.

Packed with revealing tips, technical details, safe best practices, community news and much more. This is one newsletter you’ll difinetly look forward to getting in your e-mail inbox every month!!!

InSider’s Unique Topics Cover:

• Success Stories and Hunting Secrets
• Current National and Local Competition Results
• Technical Data from Horton’s Very Own C.E.O. & C.O.O.
• Awesome Recipes from Ottie’s Personal Camp Kitchen
• Free NACF Training Resources and Video Access Links

Watch For Hot Topics in the Next Issue:

• Free Videos on Demand Links for Crossbow Safety
• Rear Peep and Front Combos Technical Tip
• Cheeks in Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe
• Latest IBO National Triple Crown Competition Results

Go to Newsletter Signup in the upper right corner of this page. Receive our next issue of InSider.

View Horton’s Current InSider Issue for July 2008 – link coming soon

You’ll need:

• Enough walleye cheeks to feed your group – 6-8 for each (scallops may be used if cheeks are not available)
• ¼ pound butter sticks to cover contents (for 8 plus hunters I use 4)
• 1 cup of minced garlic out of jar
• One bunch of green onions
• One quart box of sliced mushrooms
• 2 packages of imitation chunk crabmeat
• One pound large cooked tailed/devained shrimp
• Pasta (for 8+hunters I use 2 pounds)
• Serve with salad and garlic toast
• Plan on seconds

Chop onions (including much of the green tops for color and flavor) and shrimp. Melt butter in skillet large enough to hold all ingredients (start the oven for garlic toast, have the salad ready and put on the pasta water first – it will take longer to fix the pasta than the topping). Add garlic, onions and mushrooms to hot melted butter. Stir often and simmer for three minutes, add cheeks (or scallops) stir for another two minutes and then add imitation crab meat and cooked shrimp. Stir all until crab meat and shrimp has heated through. Salt and pepper to taste and serve with ground (I like fresh, but it is okay out of one of those shaker jars) parmesan cheese as an option.

If you weren’t a fisherman before having this meal, you may be after!

About the author: Ottie Snyder entered print communications with the United States Marine Corps in early 1962, and has remained in communications since. He was the editor of three popular fishing and hunting magazines for years, an award winning freelance outdoor writer, and has headed up Horton’s crossbow education/hunting opportunity expansion program since early 1990. Snyder scripted, edited and produced Horton’s three Crossbow Chronicles DVDs, and continues to serve as Director of Communications for Horton.