Innovation Zone Sells Out for 2017 ATA Trade Show

The ATA Trade Show’s popular Innovation Zone has filled its 36 slots reserved for new manufacturers who aren’t ready to invest in a Trade Show booth at the annual event, which runs Jan. 10-12 in Indianapolis.

The Innovation Zone debuted at the 2010 Trade Show, and each year provides scores of inventors and entrepreneurs a high-profile place to display their innovative hunting products on or near the ATA Trade Show floor. New companies can participate in the Innovation Zone for two years before they must rent a full-size booth at the Trade Show.

Twenty-eight of the 36 companies participating in the Innovation Zone in January 2017 will be making their ATA Trade Show debut. Among the eight companies returning are Sherpa Hunting, which made its Trade Show debut in January 2016 with an innovative device that converts climbing treestands into a game cart. Also returning is Guardian Hunting, which offers a variety of handy hunting accessories, including a quick, secure lock for trail cameras and treestands. The other six companies returning to the Innovation Zone are HUSHPUK, All-Blade Archery, Airmate Co., L.G. Animals 3-D Targets, FieldTorq Knives and Aero Hunter.

By visiting the 2017 Innovation Zone, dealers and other Trade Show attendees will get their first look at five new broadheads, four field-dressing aids, four new stabilizers and anti-vibration products, three new game feeds or supplements, six new treestands or treestand accessories, three new clothing manufacturers, and an array of other hunting and bowhunting innovations.

The 2017 ATA Trade Show will be held at the Indiana Convention Center, and features nearly 600 exhibitors. The exhibitors combined to rent nearly 236,000 square feet of booth space. The Show, which is the archery and bowhunting industry’s largest and longest-running trade show worldwide, is expected to draw nearly 10,000 attendees during its three-day run. It also features 80 shooting lanes where attendees can try out the latest bows, crossbows and archery accessories.

Net proceeds from the annual Trade Show are invested in ATA-sponsored programs to grow archery participation while also promoting and defending bowhunting opportunities nationwide.