Hoyt Altus Compound Bow

The Hoyt Altus is the target bow that brought flagship engineering down a price step without losing the line. For the 2021 season Hoyt put the same DCX and SVX cams and the same hand-shock-killing 13-inch hybrid limbs as the Invicta onto a simpler dual-bridge aluminum riser, and the result holds remarkably still: shooters report it settling the pin at 18 meters and staying solid through the shot, with the in-hand buzz of older Hoyt target bows finally gone. The real decision is the cam - the round DCX at 322 fps with a selectable 65 or 75 percent let-off for the easiest, most adjustable, most forgiving draw, or the oblong SVX at 328 fps with a fixed 65 percent wall for a shooter who wants it firm and a touch faster. Real-world it reads honest target-bow numbers, the DCX at 272 fps with a 390-grain arrow at 60 pounds and a 29-inch draw, slower than the IBO figure as every target bow is at a real shooting setup. What I keep coming back to, after my own time on the line with it, is the hold and the quiet: a long, stable platform that lets me focus on aiming rather than steadying the bow, a low-torque machined grip that indexes the same way every shot, and a riser that sits dead through release. At roughly $1,599 at launch it asked the buyer to give up a few flagship extras - the adjustable grip, the roller cable guard, the locking limb pockets - in exchange for the same cams and the same stability for less. An excellent bow for the freestyle, field, and 3D competitor who wants flagship target performance at a more accessible price, and it is particularly strong on the indoor spot, the field course, and a 3D twelve-ring at distance. Buyers who prioritize Elite's draw and a higher let-off ceiling should also look at the Elite Echelon 39, and those who want a shorter, lighter, faster freestyle frame should look at the Bowtech Specialist... read full review