Interactive Bowfishing Experience Introduces Hundreds of Youths and Families to the Excitement of Bowfishing
FeraDyne Outdoors proudly partnered with the NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) National Championship by bringing the Muzzy® Bowfishing Experience to competitors, families, coaches, and spectators during the 2026 National Championship held July 20–25 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
The 2026 NRA YHEC Nationals welcomed 183 competitors representing 21 teams from 10 states including Arkansas, Alaska, Florida, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wyoming. Participants competed in both Senior (High School) and Junior (Middle School) divisions while being supported by dedicated coaches, volunteers, and family members from across the country.
Throughout all four days of the shooting events, FeraDyne Outdoors provided an interactive bowfishing experience designed to introduce participants of all ages to one of the fastest-growing segments of archery. The attraction featured the Muzzy Bowfishing boat, allowing participants to shoot from a realistic elevated bowfishing platform, while two custom-built 1,000-gallon stock tanks lined with wood and foam created an authentic bowfishing environment complete with realistic fish targets of various species and sizes.
The hands-on experience gave hundreds of first-time participants the opportunity to safely learn the fundamentals of bowfishing while enjoying one-on-one instruction from FeraDyne Outdoors staff.
Gary Jobe, National YHEC Coordinator, praised the addition of the Muzzy Bowfishing Experience to this year's championship.
"As our name implies, Youth Hunter Education Challenge, our goal is to educate and expose young boys and girls to the challenge of hunting, shooting, and enjoying the outdoors. At the National Championship our youth compete in nine separate skills events that include both shooting and non-shooting competitions. As the competitions are completed each day, our youth are always looking for something new and exciting to do. The FeraDyne Bowfishing Experience provided that! It was fun, challenging, and for many youths a learning experience. Shooting fish with a bow is something that many of these youth had never experienced before, and whether you are stalking a white-tailed deer with a rifle or a grass carp with a bowfishing rig, many of the same skills are needed to have a successful harvest. Our thanks to Chris James with FeraDyne for introducing and exposing our youth to a new skill set in hunting. Even after long and hot days in actual competition, the kids found this fun and exciting and, as one young man stated, 'It's addicting.'"
Chris James, General Manager of the Archery Division for FeraDyne Outdoors, was onsite throughout the event leading instruction and introducing youth and families to the sport.
"Being a volunteer coach for a youth shooting team, I know the passion that kids participating in the YHEC program have for the outdoors," said James. "It is incredibly rewarding to see the smiles on these kids' faces when they discover another outdoor activity that is both exciting and something they can enjoy with friends and family. Programs like this are an important part of our commitment to growing the sport of bowfishing, and we're already working on plans to expand our partnership with YHEC and other youth organizations next year."
The Muzzy Bowfishing Experience remained one of the most popular attractions throughout the week, providing a fun, safe, and memorable introduction to bowfishing while reinforcing the values of safe shooting, conservation, and outdoor recreation.
"Our goal extends far beyond introducing someone to a new product," James added. "We want to introduce people to a new passion. Every new bowfisher represents another opportunity to build lifelong memories outdoors, strengthen family traditions, and ensure the future of our sport."
FeraDyne Outdoors remains committed to supporting organizations like NRA YHEC that inspire the next generation of hunters, archers, and conservationists through safe, educational, and engaging outdoor experiences.
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About Muzzy Bowfishing: Muzzy Bowfishing® is a subsidiary brand of FeraDyne® Outdoors located at 1230 Poplar Avenue Superior, WI 54880. Founded in 1984, Muzzy was a pioneer in modern broadhead and bowfishing designs, leading the industry in the innovation.
About FeraDyne Outdoors: Headquartered in Superior, Wisconsin, FeraDyne Outdoors is a U.S.-based leader in the manufacturing and marketing of an ever-growing assembly of category-leading archery, hunting and outdoor brands. Through the design and development of industry-changing technologies, each brand supports a constantly evolving global marketplace of outdoor enthusiasts with one goal in mind — success in the field. Fueled by an unwavering commitment to the satisfaction of sharing in each customer's accomplishments FeraDyne brings together a series of iconic, award-winning and performance-oriented companies that include: Axe® Crossbows, Rage® broadheads, Muzzy® broadheads, Muzzy® Bowfishing, Carbon Express® arrows and accessories, Nockturnal® lighted nocks, TruFire® releases, Block® targets, GlenDel® targets, Shooter™ 3D targets, Black Hole™ targets, Hurricane™ bag targets, IQ® Bowsights, Sure-Loc® Archery Products, S4Gear™, Eastman Outdoors®, Apple Archery®, Rocky Mountain Archery, Wac'sm® Archery, Covert Scouting Cameras, Covert Optics, Scent Crusher® Rhino Blinds, Rhino Tree Stands, Wicked Tree Gear®, Capsule Feeders™ LidCAM and LegCuff. For more information, please visit www.feradyne.com.