Whether they’re in the woods or on the podium, Hoyt’s Pro Shooters represent Hoyt to the fullest. And Hoyt.com is the only place where you’ll find behind-the-scenes info about their recent success stories, their travels, their favorite Hoyt bows and accessories, and other details that any true Hoyt fan needs to know.
With all the excitement over the 2010 Hoyt Maxxis, we thought we'd share what our Pro Staffers have to say about this awesome new bow! Enjoy these conversations with Team Hoyt's Ralph Cianciarulo and Michael Waddell. Armed with the brand new Maxxis, both Ralph and Michael have been rocking the whitetail rut and enjoying some sweet Maxxis mojo!
Ralph's interview ...
HOYT: What do you think of Hoyt’s 2010 bow lineup?
RALPH: You know, just when you think Hoyt can’t top what they did last year, they rock our world once again and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are truly listening to the bowhunters. Thanks, Hoyt, you guys rock! Maxxis, Carbon Matrix, Viczen, and on down the line ... I can say I might be a little bias, but between the Maxxis and the Viczen, there’s going to be some major competition between Vicki and me this year!
(Editors note: The 2010 Hoyt Vicxen is an exciting new signature series bow endorsed by – and named after – Ralph’s wife: Hoyt Pro Staffer Vicki Cianciarulo. Stay tuned to Hoyt.com for an exclusive interview with Vicki!)
HOYT: You’ve had opportunities to hunt – and fill tags with – the Maxxis. Tell us about that. Where were your first hunts with it?
RALPH: We got my new bow and wasted no time setting it up. As usual, I took it into my “man cave”, and it took no time at all to get it dialed in. Next, I packed it up and headed back to North Dakota with Double B Outfitters. After four days of great deer hunting, I put my tag on a super buck. Next, while hunting back home in Illinois, I rattled in a great buck and let the Maxxis do its job at 23 yards. We got it all on film. The buck ran out into the food plot and piled up on camera! YES, I am loving my new Maxxis 31!
HOYT: What are your initial thoughts about the Maxxis and its design and performance?
RALPH: When you first look at the bow, you can’t help but notice its radical new design. The bow draws super smooth! Once you shoot it, you’ll be pulling out the checkbook and signing it! It’s quiet, fast, smooth and accurate … everything serious bowhunters expect from Hoyt!
HOYT: What hunts are you looking forward to next?
RALPH: All of them! We just got back from Iowa, where we hunted with Chris and Brad from Realtree and fellow Hoyt Pro Staffer Cameron Hanes. Our guys got some great footage, and Chris, Cam and Joe all took bucks. Vicki and I are heading back really soon to hopefully put our tags on some of those Iowa monster bucks. We did shoot a few does, and we donated them to Iowa’s "HUSH" program. That stands for “HELP US STOP HUNGER”. It’s a really great program. We’re taking our Hoyts to Mexico soon, and we can’t wait for that. After that, we'll be hunting in Ohio, Illinois, Texas and maybe some other trips I haven’t told Vicki about yet!
HOYT: You’re a huge part of the newly-redesigned Hoyt.com - especially the new HD video player. What can Hoyt fans expect to see next?
RALPH: You haven’t seen anything yet! The “Hoyt in the House” series is just the beginning! We have a lot of plans for future content on Hoyt.com, and we want to bring you all the best online hunting, education and entertainment that you would expect from all of us at Hoyt. What videos should Hoyt fans be on the lookout for? Bowhunting at it’s BEST! We want to show everyone around the world why living this lifestyle is such a blessing. Hunting with our Hoyt’s ... there’s just nothin’ like it!
Michael's interview ...
HOYT: What was your first impression of the Maxxis?
MICHAEL: I was very impressed with its stealthy speed! True to the Hoyt name, Maxxis is very balanced and smooth, and it shoots like a hot rod!
HOYT: How much time did you have to dial in your Maxxis before you hunted with it? How did the bow perform?
MICHAEL: Of course, Travis "T-Bone" Turner is a great help when it comes to setting up bows. He set up my Maxxis, and it only took a few shots for me to feel confident enough to take it out for an awesome Kansas rut hunt. It's just one of those bows that feels like you’ve had it for a couple years - even after just the first 10 shots! I never got a shot on the Kansas hunt, but five days later in Indiana, I hammered a nice Pope & Young 8-point at 36 yards. What a way to break in my new Maxxis 35! With the Bone Collector Edition color package, I don't know what looked better in the pics … my deer or my bow!
HOYT: What hunts do you have coming up next? Any new destinations?
MICHAEL: I have a few bowhunts coming up that I’m really looking forward to. I'm going to try to go back to Kansas to get some revenge with my Maxxis, then in December, I'm headed to Mexico for big whitetails south of the border. My last hunt this year is a late-season hunt in Ohio in early January. It’s going to be cold and the hunting conditions will be tough. It’ll really put my Maxxis through the gauntlet. But, as always, I'm betting on my Hoyt!
HOYT: Anything else you want Bone Collector fans to know about?
MICHAEL: All the Bone Collector fans this year have been awesome! Together, we’re working hard to promote a positive, no-excuses approach to being hunters. It was really flattering that Hoyt helped in this celebration of the brotherhood by offering the Bone Collector Edition on its bows. Nick, T-Bone and the whole crew are all diehard Hoyt supporters and shooters. And we just added long-time veteran of the industry Kenneth Lancaster to our staff. Kenneth will also have a Hoyt in his hands.
I couldn't be happier with the way things are going. I'm really enjoying every camp and every hunt, and meeting people around the country who love to bowhunt and talk to new hunters. The biggest, most important factor of the Bone Collector TV show is that it’s about hunting and hunters … it highlights just how much fun the hunting culture is. We’re not trying be hunting celebrities, but we feel it’s the show and the cast’s responsibility to help grow and promote hunting and the outdoor lifestyle. Hopefully people will see how much fun we have shooting and hunting, and they’ll be moved to become part of the best fraternity in the world … the brotherhood of hunters everywhere!
Be sure to tune in to The Outdoor Channel to watch Archer's Choice with Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo, and Michael Waddell's Bone Collector with Michael Waddell, Travis "T-Bone" Turner and Nick Mundt.