Post by Admin on Jan 10, 2021 21:45:34 GMT
What About Airbows?
A relative newcomer to the air-powered category, airbows can be described as “air archery” and are used for a variety of game — including hogs, bear and whitetail deer. Instead of pellets, airbows shoot full-length arrows and broadheads, driven by air instead of the release of a string the way a crossbow or vertical bow operates. Several companies are producing airbows, including Crosman and Umarex. Launched Jan. 2016, the Crosman Pioneer kick-started development in the category.
Some of these airbows are quite lethal for big game. The new-for-2020 Umarex AirSaber, for instance, can deliver a broadhead at 450 fps with more than 165 foot-pounds of energy.
The category hasn’t quite caught on in either store interviewed for this story.
“We haven’t had any requests from customers,” Piccinini said. “We just haven’t had enough interest in them to really start pushing them.”
Sprague has spent some time researching airbows, but has not noted significant interest from customers.
“I’m into all things that shoot, so I checked them out,” he shared. “But for our area, I really don’t think we fit the niche. I haven’t had any customers come in and ask about them. From what I understand, a lot of guys are using them for varmints, and in our area most people don’t have that kind of a problem in their backyards.”
How well airbows will be accepted for hunting by state game and fish departments remains to be seen. Crosman has an interactive map on its website (crosman.com/airbow) identifying states that allow hunting with airguns, and for which species. The map is accompanied by this statement: “Based on the Pioneer’s powerplant, we believe it is legal for use in those states in which Air Powered Guns are eligible. Confirm local regulations.”
In other words, nobody knows for sure what the regulations regarding airbows will be in the long term. Is this the case for your store?
