New Bow Company (MaitlandUSA)

I have been bow hunting for many years, and like most archers have gradually moved up the ladder in bow technology and equipment.

I started out with an old Browning Cobra. An all laminated "wood" riser and limb compound bow.
It has small "plastic" cams (round wheels)on it.
I cannot shoot it any more because the limbs are warped.

My next bow was another Browning. A "Timber Wolf". It to has a wood riser, but fiberglass limbs. It too has "plastic" or "composite" cams/wheels.
I hunted with the latter one a few years, but never shot a deer with it.

Then in 1993 I saw an add in an archery magazine for a new bow from XI (Indian Archery). It was called the "Flatliner", and was one of the very first bows to feature radical, or speed (also called hatchet cams). And it was a very fast bow for that time.
Well I fell in love with the look of that bow, and I had to have one.

And the next year I just happened to find one at the Atlantic Archery Center. It was the 1994 model (Myles Keller signature version). He is a well known big buck record holder, and was an endorser of these bows.
I hunted with that Flatliner for about fifteen years or so, and shot my very first archery buck with it. A 226 lb nine point at 20 yds.
I also shot a few other bucks with it in that time.

I have always been closely following the archery equipment advances up through the years, and was again very impressed when Mathews came out with the "Switchback XT".

I wanted one bad, and began plotting to acquire one. I figured I was due for an upgrade by now.
But as I studied and read reviews on bows of that year, A new company called Bowtech was just starting out and promised some real interesting bow designs. I started looking at the 2006 Tribute, and the more I looked the more I love it. Eventually it won me over, and beat out the XT in my "new bow" race.

I still love the look of the Mathews, and would still like to own one someday, just for my collection.

The Tribute is an "awesome" bow and has done me well in the four years I have hunted with it. I have taken three bucks with it. Got skunked last year(had a biggun at 15 yds twice in the same ten minutes but limbs were in the way).

Then in 2008 I fell in "bow" love again with the Bowtech "Guardian", and I also started to get a real interest in "Target bow finishes". And once again I just "had" to have one of these bows in the "Firestorm Grey finish". I also wanted a 60 lb bow to shoot all year long, without having to back off the limbs on my 70 lb Tribute. (I actually leave it at 66).

Well lately again, still following all of the new models coming out from all of the manufacturers. Especially Bowtech. I started toying with the idea of another bow in my arsenal

Now I know I don't "need" another bow. But hey.. I don't drink, or smoke. I don't even have a 4 wheeler, or a boat. Archery is the only real hobby I have except for maybe videotaping wildlife. I work a lot, and send all kinds of $$ on Mortgage, Insurance, gas, power, vehicle repairs and countless other "non" fun items. So what the heck! Ya gotta live a little. It's also nice to have a "back-up" bow in case you drop yours out of the tree etc.

I don't use my rifle for deer much any more as well, so don't have to buy ammo for it. After all, I "am" archerynutNB!

Anyway… this year I started out with the new Bowtech "Destroyer" in mind. But after reading about some problems with that bow. I went in other directions. Elite "Judge", Hoyt "Matrix"(Man I love the look of that bow) and it has been given outstanding reviews. I still want one really bad.. but at $1600 bare bow??? !!

Then it was the Strother "SR-71" that got my attention. A very fast (340 IBO) bow with great reviews, from a fairly new company. Elite is also fairly new on the bow scene.
Strother has been having a lot of order cancellations though because of not being able to keep up with production demands. People have been waiting for as long as 6 months or longer for a bow!

I also belong to another archery forum in the US, and I have been following the progress of a new bow company started by a guy in Reno Nevada. His name is Rob Maitland, and he designed two bow models from the ground up. He even asked for input from members on the forum. And he offered a few of the first production run bows to members at reduced prices.

Well I fell in love with this bow design (my weakness again), and had to own one.

So a few days ago, my new bow arrived and was added to my growing collection. The Company is called MaitlandUSA. And the two bow models are the "Zeus", and the "Retribution". The Zeus is a 38 inch axle to axle bow with a 36 inch riser, and is primarily designed as a target bow. The long riser adds to the balance and steady holding ability of the bow

The Retribution , at 33 inches is their primary hunting model. They are also promising a few more models for the 2011 lineup.

There are a few other technological advances in the design, such as using a "block" insert where the limbs mount to the riser. It is a lot more stable than the traditional "limb pocket" system for when the limbs are backed down in poundage. It also has an extended "Bridge" on the riser ends, to support the split limbs.

I chose the "Zeus" model and once again a "Polished Target finish". I can't help it…like a fancy car…bows like this …just turn my crank!

I haven't shot it yet, since I haven't had the $$ to order all the goodies for it. I do have an old whisker biscuit here that I could put on it. But I think I will wait till I get my new limb driver rest, and set it up right from the start.

These two current Maitland bow models are not "speed" bows by any means. The IBO rating are around 318. They were designed for target/hunting accuracy, and smooth easy drawing in a tree stand, even in cold weather or at extreme angles etc. But they are coming out with "fast cams as well in 2011 (for those that want that speed)

I do like speed in a "hunting" bow, but for target it isn't that critical. I would rather have a smooth draw for everyday shooting.

For anyone who wants to check out the new company and their bows, here is the web site link.

http://www.maitlandusa.com/

So… with out further a due…Here is my new "Gorgeous" arrow launching machine….my "baby" ..

Introducing one… of the very few, "first production run" models ..of the brand new MaitlandUSA "Zeus"!