Cameron Hanes - Keep Hammering Collective

KHC 168 - Greg Poole

Jan 8, 2026

Greg Poole, founder of BowJunky Media and a seasoned professional archer, dives into the intriguing world of competitive archery and bowhunting. He discusses the heated debate around 'speed bows' and their impact on hunting accuracy. Greg explains the importance of gear optimization, contrasting hinge vs. thumb-button releases. They also touch on the evolving hunting industry landscape, the significance of rigorous gear testing, and the potential of social media over traditional TV for content creators. Expect insights that challenge conventional wisdom!

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INSIGHT

Speed vs. Forgiveness Tradeoff

Modern hunting bows optimized for tournament speed often sacrifice forgiveness important in real hunting scenarios.
Greg Poole and Cameron Hanes emphasize that most hunters won't benefit from ultra‑fast, short‑brace rigs in real backcountry shots.

ADVICE

Optimize Gear For Lethal, Forgiving Shots

Prioritize equipment choices that increase the odds of a lethal, ethical hit in hunting, not tournament tack.
Choose heavier arrows, taller brace heights, and stable setups to maximize penetration and forgiveness in the field.

ANECDOTE

Switching To A Hinge After Misses

Greg Poole missed on an Oregon hunt using a wrist‑strap release and switched to a hinge after two painful misses.
He now trusts the hinge release for hunting because it made his on‑animal shots reliable under pressure.

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Greg Poole - a prominent figure in the archery and bowhunting community, best known as the founder, owner, and host of BowJunky Media.

Greg’s a longtime professional archer who has competed at high levels for many years. Beyond competing, he's an industry insider with deep experience working in (and continuing to engage with) the archery world, covering everything from equipment, competitive shooting formats (like 3D, target, and field archery), to bowhunting ethics, gear optimization, and the business side of the sport.

Join Cam and Greg for a deep dive into the world of competitive archery, bowhunting, modern hunting industry in 2026, controversy surrounding “speed bows”, up-and-coming names in the industry and more!

Follow along:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameronrhanes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cameronhanes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camhanes/

Website: https://www.cameronhanes.com

Follow Greg:

https://www.instagram.com/biggregpoole/

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Controversy on the Internet About “Speed Bows”

00:07:31 – Everything Matters: Variables in Bowhunting, Speed, and Energy in Bow

00:18:36 – Hinge vs Thumb Button Releases

00:27:19 – Big Bucks, Trail Cameras, and Paying for Opportunity & Time

00:36:56 – Competition & What it Takes to Be the “Best Bowhunter” in 2026

00:46:59 – The Pinnacle of the Hunting Industry: Your Own Television Show

00:55:58 – Winning vs Competing, Social Media, Sponsors, and Marketing Yourself

01:06:09 – Testing & Optimizing Equipment and the Marketing Game

01:23:21 – Community Aspect in Bowhunting (Crossbows & Recreation)

01:30:34 – ATA (Archery Trade Association Show)

01:35:26 – Black Rifle Coffee, Evan Hafer, and Cutoffs

01:38:52 – Up-and-Coming Hunters, “Character Burnout”, and Bad Hunting Marketing

01:52:55 – Controversy with The Bowmar’s Hunting Strategies

02:06:56 – Not all Publicity is Good Publicity: Setting a Good Example

02:22:19 – The Value of Professional Bowhunters & Earning a Name in the Industry

02:49:41 – Competition from Hot Girl Hunters

02:55:24 – Continuing to Evolve to Hold Value and Credibility

03:06:51 – QA: F**k, Marry, Kill: Fast Bow Speed, Light Arrow Weight, Short Brace Weight

03:09:28 – QA: How Important is it for New Archers to Absorb the History of Hunting

03:13:29 – QA: Greg’s Calorie Count in the Backcountry

03:18:27 – Final Thoughts

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