The Perfect Bow: Mathews' No-Cam HTR Review
"The perfect hunting bow."
Those four words are powerful enough that they can spark heated debate amongst even the closest of hunting partners. It isn't because one of them is necessarily right and the other obviously wrong, but rather that we have more options available to us today than ever before.
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I've been a loyal Hoyt shooter since 2008 and in that time have owned several different models, most recently an AlphamMax32 that, until a few weeks ago, I thought was the epitome of the "perfect hunting bow." My perfect bow needs to be a combination of three things; quiet, accurate, and above all, forgiving.
Enter Mathews' new NO CAM HTR.
No bow that I have shot in recent years has so effortlessly checked all the marks off my "perfect" list.
With an IBO speed listed at 330 FPS (with 65% let-off modules), Mathews' newest offering is by no means a speed demon. However, what the No Cam lacks in speed, it makes up for in spades with accuracy. This is due in part to the two concentric wheels that have replaced the cams found on virtually every other bow on the market. The 4.82-inch-diameter wheels allow for perfectly level nock travel, while two smaller wheels, offset on the axels, create the "camming" action that generate the bow's speed.
The 6 5/8" brace height bow shoots like a dream. I typically prefer a 7"+ brace height to accommodate bulky winter clothing and more importantly hide flaws in my poor shooting form, yet something about this bow allows me to shoot groups at extended distances that I've only ever been able to do inside of 40 yards.
At the shot there is absolutely no noticeable sound or vibration coming from the bow. Granted, I shoot a moderately heavy arrow at 432 grains which will absorb most noise and a lot of vibration, but even shooting lightweight, sub-400 grain arrows yields the same lack of both sound and vibration. The local whitetail population literally won't know what hit them.
The No Cam HTR really is a bow that needs to be shot to be believed. I had no expectations when ours showed up in the shop, as online reviews were all over the board; some hated it, some loved it, most didn't know what to think about it. If you're in the market for a new bow or are simply curious to try the latest and greatest, I strongly suggest heading into your closest Mathews dealer (preferably your local North40 Outfitters!) and giving the new No Cam HTR a shot for yourself.
Can you tune your bow by yourself?
You can find Mathews bows at our locations in Washington (Mead, Omak) and Lewiston, Idaho. Check out our online selection of archery supplies here.
