Early spring probably isn’t your busiest season in your bow shop, so it’s a good time to step back and think about whether you’re stocking those products most in demand by today’s bowhunter. Of course, this is a complex topic with no easy answer. That said, I’m confident that unless you or someone on your staff is a regular viewer of bowhunting content on YouTube, then chances are good you’re missing some sales.

Let me give you an example. As a regular viewer of The Hunting Public on YouTube, I watched intently last fall as the hosts talked about the arrow penetration increase on whitetails gained by switching to heavy cut-on-contact broadheads matched with front-heavy (high FOC) arrows. In particular, they mentioned a YouTube hunting personality with a channel called Ranch Fairy. The host of this channel, Troy Fowler, works as a Jack-of-all-trades for a ranch in Texas, and his nickname around the property is Ranch Fairy because he’s on call for everything that needs fixing.)

Ranch Fairy believes strongly in heavy cut-on-contact broadheads and arrows with high FOC (front of center) numbers. Not only do the hosts of The Hunting Public share his opinion, but if the crowd gathered around these guys (Ranch Fairy plus The Hunting Public hosts) at the 2020 ATA Show is a barometer, then you need to pay attention, too. 

Note: The Hunting Public uploaded their podcast video of this ATA Show meeting with Ranch Fairy on their YouTube channel on Feb. 5, 2020. At the time of this writing, it’s been viewed nearly 70,000 times. Think about that — a 27-minute-long video with four guys sitting around a table talking about arrow inserts and broadhead weight has been viewed close to 70,000 times in two months! Click here to check it out.

The hosts from The Hunting Public joined Ranch Fairy during the 2020 ATA Show for a podcast to talk about arrows, broadheads and FOC. The podcast has been viewed nearly 70,000 times since it was uploaded to YouTube on Feb. 5, 2020.

I understand you might not be a big fan of Ranch Fairy; there’s no doubt his online persona will rub some the wrong way. That’s okay — regardless, you need to admit that many bowhunters around the country are watching his YouTube content and then purchasing products — namely heavy field points for testing arrow flight, and then heavy broadheads with heavy arrow inserts for hunting — based on his recommendations. 

This is only one example. How do you stay up to speed on which YouTube shows are driving the most traffic and gear purchases? Simple. When you visit The Hunting Public page on YouTube, you can click on the tab that says “channels.” (See screen-shot below). That opens up “Our Favorite Channels” and “Subscriptions”; these are the channels the guys from The Hunting Public like best. You can click on the right-pointing arrows to reveal more YouTube channel suggestions, hunting content producers such as Hushin, Born and Raised Outdoors, The Hunting Beast, DIY Sportsman, and yes, Ranch Fairy.

Viewers who tune into The Hunting Public are likely to watch those other YouTube channels listed under the group’s “Our Favorite Channels” and “Subscriptions” tabs.

YouTube is massive, but like-minded individuals (read avid bowhunters) find each other because of shared interests. The men and women who regularly consume this bowhunting content online are willing to learn and hungry to spend money on gear that will help them be more successful. The only question is whether you’re stocking the items they desire.