Interview Series - Boyd Mathes

This week Bones n' Broadheads is interviewing Boyd Mathes of Buck Hollow Sports in Pella, IA.  Boyd is an avid target shooter, bowhunter, and archery pro shop owner.  Boyd is also very active in the archery community in the state of Iowa with the Iowa Bowhunters Association and Hickory Ridge Bowhunters.  Boyd's involvement in the archery community has allowed him to become a part of BowTech's Pro Staff.  Boyd is also the preferred dealer for Midwest Whitetail. 

Boyd farms in southern Iowa, so he is busy year round in the field, shop, or in a treestand.  Whether it's 300, 3D or the real thing, Boyd is successful in archery and in the archery business.

Boyd with his 2010 bow kill

I hope you enjoy the interview with Boyd!

Bones n' Broadheads (BnB):  What made you decide to open an archery pro shop?

Boyd Mathes (BM):  A local archery shop was shutting down and brought me 47 bows to help him sell.  I decided that was a good time to stock up and start selling more archery gear.  The business has grown pretty much every year since then.

Boyd's Shop

BnB:  How long has Buck Hollow Sports been in business?

BM:  I've had and FFL to sell guns since 1988, started selling a few bows here and there special order in the mid 90's, and started a full archery inventory in 1999.

20 yard indoor range

BnB:  How do you handle the demands of farming full-time and being in the pro shop?

BM:  Time management is the key.  Making lots of lists of things that need done and trying to get them done efficiently with little wasted time.  You find time to do the things you love and those that pay the bills.

BnB:  How did you settle on selling Hoyt and BowTech bows?

BM:  I initially tried to get on with Mathews back in 1999, but gave up as they kept changing the rules and restrictions on me.  I found out later that a local shop that also had Mathews was feeding the sales rep false information to keep Mathews out of my shop and eliminate competition.  Interestingly enough, he is now out of business and my shop and business is growing.

I found this brand new lineup called BowTech at the ATA show in 2000 and have been with them ever since.  I picked up Hoyt by demand from a lot of local shooters that couldn't find a good dealer around.  This will be my best year selling Hoyt ever.  I think I have a very good mix of bows with these two brands.



BnB:  A customer brings in a bow that was not purchased from you that needs work.  What is the most common setup error you see?

BM:  Rests being way out of whack for center-shot and level is most common.  Also, lots of incorrectly timed drop-away rests and bows with cams way out of time.

BnB:  Any tips or tricks for setting up a bow?

BM:  Best tip I have is if you want it done right, let a professional handle it.  You wouldn't do brain surgery on yourself because you read how to on brainsurgurytalk.com would you?

BnB:  You have been in the pro shop business for a while.  In all your years, what is your favorite bow and why?

BM:  Every year bows get better.  My current favorite is my BowTech Specialist target bow.  I've never shot a bow that shoots this well.

BnB:  What setup do you shoot for target?  Deer hunting?

BM:  Target and Field - 50 lb. BowTech Specialist with Vapor Trail Limb Driver Rest, Sure Loc Supreme Sight, Sure Loc Black Eagle Scope, and Easton X10 Stabilizers with skinny arrows for long range shooting.

3D - 60 lb. BowTech Specialist with Vapor Trail Limb Driver Rest, Sure Loc Supreme Sight, Sure Loc Black Eagle Scope, and Easton X10 Stabilizers with fat arrows for line grabbing. 

Hunting - 60 lb BowTech Invasion, Limb Driver Pro-V rest, Montana Black Gold, and TighSpot Quiver with Easton ACC Pro Hunters and Muzzy Broadheads.

Boyd with his 200 1/8" (net) buck in 2002

BnB:  You have a lot of customers come in and shoot.  What is the one thing that most customers do while shooting that needs to be improved?

BM:  Most people have a bad grip on the bow.  If they let me work with them, I can teach them a torque-free grip that will make them a better shooter.

BnB:  Who has been the biggest influence in your life from an archery perspective?

BM:  There are three guys who are some of the original founders of our archery club (Hickory Ridge Bowhunters), sadly, one has died but the other two are still active.  They mean the world to me and were a great part of getting me more deeply involved in the club and thus archery as a whole.

Hickory Ridge Bowhunters "Big Buck Contest"

BnB:  Besides working long hours in the field and in the shop, what else do you do for fun?

BM:  Time with my family is extremely important; my wife and kids are great.  I also love to go to archery shoots with my buddies and spend endless hours in a treestand.        

I hope you enjoyed the interview with Boyd.  I have never met someone with as much knowledge to share as Boyd does.  I can attribute most of my archery skills to his teaching.

Bones n' Broadheads is going to try and bring you one more interview and will let everyone know when I have my next victim locked down.

Muddyhunter