Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Carolee Anita Boyles Making Money Selling Crossbows G un dealers can make a small fortune selling crossbows, even in this economy. Just ask Marlin Dance, one of the owners of Dance’s Sporting Goods, a full-line shop for firearms, fishing gear, paintball and crossbows in Colonial Heights, Va. “The first year crossbows were legal in Virginia, we sold 504 crossbows,” Dance said. “Now in the fourth season, we’re selling 200 to 250 each season.” Dance and his brother, Forest, are a major reason Virginia now allows crossbow hunting. “Before crossbows were legal in Virginia, I called the game commission and asked why we couldn’t get them legalized,” Dance said. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries encouraged the Dances to pursue the idea. “Forest got in touch with a friend of ours who’s a state delegate, and he wrote the law,” Dance said. Once the Dances got the ball rolling, they received major support from TenPoint Crossbow Technologies and other crossbow companies and the legislation passed. Ten- Point continues to be a strong advocate for legislation to legalize crossbow hunting. In 2008 Michigan implemented a new, less restrictive crossbow regulation for disabled hunters; Louisiana added an archery and crossbow season; and South Carolina made crossbows legal during regular archery season. In late January, the Pennsylvania Game Commission voted in favor of expanding the lawful use of crossbows during deer and bear archery seasons. The increase in crossbow hunting means additional sales opportunities for dealers. “This year may be the best ever for crossbow hunting,” said Richard L. Bednar, TenPoint CEO. “All this interest in easing crossbow regulations is no accident. Most state wildlife officials are looking to harvest more deer, recruit more hunters and find ways to retain existing hunters. In addition, they have come to understand that the state and national bowhunting organizations’ exclusionary opposition to crossbows cannot be supported by facts or data of any sort.” An Open Door For Gun Dealers W hat does this mean for gun dealers? It’s time to wake up and smell the profits. First, consider that you don’t have to handle Form 4473 to sell a crossbow, even though one of the main selling points is hunters shoulder crossbows like a rife — and crossbows have triggers. This greatly reduces the “learning curve” in introducing hunters to crossbows. Plus, many of your customers are looking for a way to extend their hunting season. In addition, despite rumors and controversy to the contrary, crossbows are no more efficient than compound bows, according to Dance. “The hunter has to do everything he has to do when he uses a compound bow. No more deer are being taken with crossbows than with compound bows, and hunters don’t get any unfair advantage. The only difference between a compound bow and a crossbow is that the crossbow is already cocked,” Dance said. Many archery dealers, however, refuse to sell crossbows. “There are still many archery dealers that resist selling crossbows at a time when it would be a huge economic boost to them,” said Dave Robb, TenPoint’s director of marketing. This leaves the door wide open for gun dealers to reap the MARCH 2009 profits. Not only will you pick up older bowhunters whose shoulders no longer will let them pull a compound bow, you’ll also get younger hunters who want to hunt with every kind of weapon they can. “We have one customer who hunts New for 2009, the Defender with a recurve bow, a compound bow TenPoint and a crossbow,” Dance said. “He said, CLS’s newly engineered ‘I live in the state of Virginia and I pay lightweight Compact my taxes, and I want to hunt with what I Limb System (CLS) bow assembly mounts want to hunt with.’” Obviously, your sales will begin with in a 175-pound draw weight fixed position crossbows themselves. But it won’t end and generates speeds in there — you’ll have an opportunity to excess of 330 fps. sell everything regular bowhunters buy, including many things your gun hunters already use. “You can sell tree stands, camo clothing, scent elimination 20 Read SI DIGITAL www.shootingindustry.com