Kyle Stokes installs a Stokerized SS1 Stabilizer on a G5 Prime bow in his Annville-based assembly room. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS TYLER FRANTZ )

Ten years ago, a then 27-year-old Cedar Crest grad took a risk while leaving his comfortable teaching job in Baltimore to return to his roots and follow his passion. After doing some research to discover that there were roughly 7,000 archery permits sold annually in Lebanon County, with very few archery shops to meet the growing needs of these local hunters, an optimistic Kyle Stokes gambled on all he was worth and opened Swatara Creek Outfitters. Looking back now, he's sure glad that he did.

"I knew the area could benefit from a well-run pro shop," Stokes said, "but I also knew it wouldn't happen overnight."

In fact, for the first three years of the shop's existence, the owner worked a full-time job on night shift while keeping the shop open for eight hours during the day.

"It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get where we are today," he added.

But Swatara Creek Outfitters has come a long way. Initially, starting out with a modest bow inventory of three relatively small lines, Stokes has since expanded to now carrying 12 different top-market bow company lines, including Matthews, Hoyt, Bowtech, Elite, G5, Bear and more. He employs two full-time staff members and anywhere from 4-6 part-timers depending on the time of year.

Though Stokes found it necessary to hire

"I am a bit of a control freak in some regards, but I take great pride in making sure that each bow I service is absolutely perfect," he said. "I try to treat each and every bow as though it is my own."

As he gained experience, Stokes proved to the archery industry and local patrons alike that he ran a professional, reputable, quality business, but he wasn't satisfied with that alone.

About five years ago, Stokes' creativity got the best of him and he began to toy around with ideas for new products that could improve his trade. While working with acrylic waterfowl calls, which channel the vibration of a reed through a solid tube to mimic the vocalization of ducks and geese, Stokes pondered the possibility of using acrylic material to reduce the vibration caused by the release of an arrow from a bow.

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Success is solid aim for Annville archery shop