HUNTING CROSSBOW EVER

Kennesaw, Ga.— A hunting crossbow that fires arrows at 440 feet per second — far and away the fastest crossbow on the market today — is among new bows reviewed in the current issue of Crossbow Revolution magazine.

"We were impressed that the Ventilator Extreme lived up to its advertising promises," said John Geiger, editor of Crossbow Revolution, an annual newsstand publication that covers the rapidly changing world of crossbow hunting. "A lot of bows claim high speeds but need very light arrows to achieve them. Not so with the Extreme."

The magazine staff tested nine of the latest bows and reported their results. Other crossbows that earned high marks were the TenPoint Stealth FX4 and Barnett's Raptor Reverse. Horton's new Storm RDX also caught the attention of testers, who noted the light trigger and compact width.

Overall, the magazine staff said this year's crossbows and accessories have turned a corner.

"These bows have finally evolved into hunting tools that do the job effectively and without a lot of fuss and drama. They are easier than ever to use in the field, in a ground blind or in a tree stand," said Geiger. "We hope this translates into more people — young and old, men and women — getting outside, practicing with their bows and hunting across this great country."

The magazine covers all aspects of modern crossbow hunting, from the basics of buying a new crossbow to the latest new gear, extreme hunts, news about liberalized state regulations and a fun article about crossbows' portrayal in pop culture.

Crossbow Revolution is available at newsstands across the country. Digital editions are available at iTunes, Google Play and Windows Store. The newly redesigned web site at www.crossbowrevolution.com also shows the magazine's commitment to crossbow hunters and the growing importance of crossbows in recreational hunting.

Crossbows are getting more popular. They went from 15 percent of the total archery sales in 2007 to more than 30 percent just five years later, according to the Archery Trade Association.