Bear Species EV Compound Bow

The Bear Species EV was the quiet, simple, made-in-USA single cam in the budget ready-to-hunt field, launched at $449.99 and aimed at the hunter who would rather have a hushed, dead-in-hand shot and a comfortable 80% hold than the last few feet per second. Its 320 fps IBO translates to a real-world mid-260s with a 400-grain arrow and low 230s with a heavy hunting shaft - enough for whitetails at sensible ranges, not flagship velocity - but the numbers were never the point. What I keep coming back to is how little noise it makes and how still it sits at the shot, backed by KillerWave dampeners, a tall forgiving brace, and durable aluminum limb pockets that undercut the usual budget-bow compromises. The wide 23.5 to 30.5-inch draw and 15-lb weight spread make it one bow that fits a short-draw woman, a growing teenager, and an adult hunter alike. It has now been discontinued in favor of the 2026 Species XT, so it is a closeout-and-used proposition rather than a new-shelf buy. An excellent bow for the value-minded, mobile whitetail hunter who prizes a quiet, compact, easy-to-tune single cam, and particularly strong on a long, still treestand sit. Buyers who instead want the widest grow-with-you adjustment range should also look at the Diamond Edge 320... read full review