Bass Pro Shops, along with its affiliate Cabela’s, is among several large retailers and manufacturers facing a federal class action lawsuit in Utah. The complaint accuses them of participating in a long-running conspiracy to fix prices in the archery and bowhunting market.
The lawsuit was filed by a Pennsylvania consumer and also names Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lancaster Archery Supply, and the Archery Trade Association (ATA) as defendants. The plaintiffs allege that these companies violated U.S. antitrust laws by using minimum advertised pricing (MAP) agreements to limit competition and artificially keep prices high.
According to the complaint, the Archery Trade Association, a Minnesota-based trade group representing more than 2,500 members, was instrumental in coordinating the alleged price-fixing scheme. The lawsuit claims that the defendants viewed price competition as a serious threat and worked together to enforce MAP policies across the industry. Products allegedly impacted include bows, arrows, arrowheads, and targets, with some items selling for hundreds of dollars.
Gary Smith Jr., an attorney with Hausfeld LLP representing the plaintiffs, stated that the alleged cartel has illegally inflated prices for American bowhunters and archers for over a decade. He added that the lawsuit is seeking to recover those overcharges on behalf of affected consumers.
The suit estimates that hundreds of thousands of consumers who purchased archery equipment since 2014 may be entitled to compensation. It seeks monetary damages and a court order to end the alleged anti-competitive practices.
Bass Pro Shops, which purchased Cabela’s in 2017, along with Dick’s Sporting Goods and the Archery Trade Association, have not publicly commented on the lawsuit. The case is filed as Joseph Santarlas v. Bowtech et al. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.
This article includes reporting from Reuters.
You can access the full docket and filings for the lawsuit Joseph Santarlas v. Bowtech Inc. et al (Case No. 2:25-cv-00436) through the following public legal databases:
- PacerMonitor: View case details
- Justia Dockets: Browse case information
Disclaimer:
This article summarizes publicly available information and court filings related to the case Joseph Santarlas v. Bowtech Inc. et al, currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. Portions of this article include reporting originally published by Reuters. All parties named are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law. This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
