New inventions hit target with archers

By Jill Bock

Special to Business Today

MOREHOUSE -- Allen Payne took aim at a problem and hit the bull's-eye. The owner of Buck Shot Archery, Payne is also the inventor of two devices designed to enhance a bowhunter's accuracy.

Payne describes himself as a long-time archery enthusiast, who turned his hobby into a business. In 1992 he opened Buck Shot Archery.

As a businessman dealing in a range of archery equipment, he would listen to those using equipment and their complaints about various sights on their bows. He realized there was an archery problem that needed to be solved.

"I'm an ex-chemistry and math man and I'm used to solving a lot of problems, so I got working on trying to solve this one," said Payne. He described numerous sketches and designs as he worked to develop a peep sight.

The problems to overcome included the fact that the small aperture of a sight provides better accuracy for the archer, but does not permit aiming in low-light conditions. A larger aperture, which makes it easier to sight a target in low light, doesn't provide good, consistent accuracy.

Eventually he created a prototype, which came in for more testing and redesigning. Finally, Payne approached an area manufacturer, who helped him create the first Buck Eye Peep. The device fits on the bow string allowing the archer to sight a target, using a small aperture for consistent aiming yet providing increased visibility for use in low-light conditions.

"It's really the best of both worlds," said Payne.

And apparently it is working. Buck Shot Archery's two staff shooters, Darrell Beyer and Jeff Long, tested the sights. Long placed fifth out of over 100 shooters with the Buck Eye Peep at the Arkansas NEA Bowhunters 2002 Tournament. Beyer won the 2002 Missouri State ASA Championship using the Shadow Light No Peep Sight, another of Payne's inventions.

With the confirmation that the devices were effective, Payne began to seek a manufacturer for the Buck Eye Peep and the Shadow Light No Peep. He found them just down the road from his Morehouse business at B&W Tool and Die, located on Malone Avenue in Sikeston

"Right off bat they got interested. It just all clicked," said Payne.

B&W employees, who include several bowhunters and archery enthusiasts, assisted Payne to refine the design on their computer and perfect the production.

Since advertising the product in June, Payne said the response has been positive. He has sent sights to buyers throughout the Midwest, found a distributor in Illinois and the Buck Eye Precision Shooting Systems will be featured this fall on "Ozarks Advantage Television Hunting Series," which is shown on Fox.

"For it to catch on this quick I am surprised," admitted Payne. "But as we do more marketing and more word of mouth I wouldn't be surprised if this will pick up even more."

He has applied for a patent on the products and is starting work on solving more problems faced by archers as they pursue their sport. All of this has to be done while operating Buck Shot Archery, a self-described one-man operation located at 301 Benton St. in Morehouse.

The small-town location for an archery business offering bows, arrows, tree stands, sights, stabilizers and the hundreds of other archery accessories available is just the thing for Payne.

"I'm small-town oriented and archery is business that doesn't have to be in a large town," he said, noting he deals with customers from Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, Illinois and, of course, Missouri.

"People come where there is quality equipment and service, honesty and a positive attitude."

And they are coming. In 1999, Payne moved to his current 1,200-square-foot building -- almost tripling the size of Buck Shot Archery.

Jill Bock is editor of the Standard-Democrat in Sikeston