Ravalli Republic--Building a Better Long Bow
Some of the finest longbows in the world are hand crafted at Howard Hill Archery right outside Hamilton in the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountains. I by no means am skilled in the sport of archery, but being an avid fly-fisherman I know that a Howard Hill longbow is akin to a Payne or Hardy split cane bamboo fly rod. It is the most pure and organic evolution of the sport, one that an enthusiast arrives at only after years of experience. The name speaks of quality, craftsmanship, history, and love of the sport.
Howard Hill Archery is a family business. Craig Ekin is owner and oversees the bow production, his wife, Evie, is the bookkeeper, and his son, Jason, operates customer service and keeps customers well stocked with arrows.
The location of the business might surprise some, but it makes perfect sense if you are an avid hunter and you know the Ekin family. Montana offers some of the best big game hunting (elk, moose, bighorn, mule deer, whitetail) in the lower 48 states and it's right out Hamilton's back door. Also, Hamilton is a friendly town that moves at a slower pace, the perfect setting to raise a family and probably a major reason why the close knit Ekins settled here.
And... if you know the Ekins, you know that they can play a little ball. Craig, Jason, and Chad, I'll see you at the State Slow-Pitch Tournament this weekend in Kalispell. Good Luck!
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