Horton Promotion Day at Bass Pro

Last Saturday my family and I left early for a day out. We needed to pick up some furniture for my oldest son’s room, and I had been keeping my eye on an upcoming promotion day at Bass Pro for Horton Crossbows. IKEA being only 20 minutes from there, how could it not have worked out better? Perhaps not the typical family outing, but any chance to get away from the house and spend the day together is a great day.

We got to the Foxborough, MA Bass Pro around 10am. Gregg Ritz, owner and CEO of Horton Crossbows was doing a meet-and-greet until 11:30am and I wanted the chance to try and meet up with him. Expecting to find an “assembly line” style greet where you slide through, shake a hand, and get an autographed picture, what I did find was pleasantly surprising. Gregg was standing talking with three or four of who I assume to be local boys, laughing and swapping hunting stories as if over a cup of coffee at the local breakfast dive. My son and I stood nearby for a while looking over several of the new crossbows that were laid out on a table, waiting patiently for our turn. Gregg introduced himself, shook our hands and the three of us talked for quite a while. He gave some great advice on helping introduce my son into muzzleloader hunting without the fear of recoil; we talked about our season, how Gregg got started and where he is today. It was just a great conversation with a down-to-earth guy. With others waiting in the wing to talk to him we shook his hand and moved on.

 At the display table we met Riley Foster, who’s been with Horton for over 20 years and has seen the company through many of its changes, not the least of which was Gregg Ritz’ purchase of the company in 2009. He knows the crossbows inside and out and also heads up Horton’s Pro Staff as their Pro Staff Coordinator. He talked to us as if we were family and gladly answered all of our many questions. I learned a lot I didn’t know about crossbows and the industry. He sent us down to the outdoor range to shoot a couple of the bows and asked us to come and let him know what we thought. I got to shoot three of their new line and loved it. Those details I’ll hopefully share in an article in an upcoming issue of the Talk hunting Magazine. But suffice it to say Horton knows crossbows!

We went back upstairs and had a chance to talk with Riley and Gregg for a minute more to share our thoughts on the crossbows and get a picture. I was impressed with the treatment they both showed toward my son and the attention they gave him. Both guys you wouldn’t mind having over for dinner!

We met up with my wife and oldest son and rounded out the morning with a walk around the store, checking out the fish pond and taxidermy and casting dreams on how I would decorate my future lodge. Doesn’t hurt to have a plan anyway, right?

The day continued with lunch at Olive Garden then picking up the furniture for my son’s room, and ended with a very satisfied ride home. It was a great day for me, both as a husband and father, and as and outdoorsmen. Time well spent.