Field Gear
The SHOT Show is the world’s largest business-to-business trade show for the hunting and shooting industry. Held this past January in Orlando, it also could be called the world’s largest sporting-goods store. So many items—so little space. Of the plethora of new products for upland hunters, waterfowlers and range shooters, the items described here show great promise. They should just be coming to market as you read this. I’m eager to field test some this fall and will offer more-in-depth reports in the future.
A-Way Hunting Products Goose Skinz
In the US live decoys for waterfowl hunting went the way of the sinkbox and floating battery nearly 100 years ago. Innovative Cree goose hunting guides in the James Bay region learned to prop up dead birds with forked sticks to turn more flocks their way. Today we rely on Robo Ducks and kites and other motion decoys to sucker live birds into range. Some hunters go so far as to put mounted birds, or stuffers, in the field. A less-expensive, simpler way is to buy a couple of Goose Skinz. This new offering from A-Way Hunting Products follows the successful launch of Turkey Skinz last year. Made with real feathers, the Skinz products wrap around any full-body or shell decoy to give it a more-realistic look. Four hook-and-loop attachments quickly secure the Skinz to the dummy.
After use, some hunters fold the waterproof Skinz and place them in an airtight plastic bag; others leave them attached to decoys that fold flat. Either way, careful handling is the key to long use. Adding one or two should make your setup more authentic. Price: $39.99 each.
A-Way Hunting Products, 989-435-3879; www.awayhunting.com.
Remington Sidekick Remote Training Collar
In a crowded field where maturing technology piles features atop features, Remington Sporting Dog has gone the other way: back to simplicity. (Remington Sporting Dog is a licensed product line of Coastal Pet Products, which has been making collars and leads for more than 40 years.) The new Sidekick Remote Training Collar has no transmitter antenna, one set of receiver probes, and no rechargeable system. Its 3-volt battery supposedly lasts two years on standby mode, and the unit automatically goes into sleep mode until needed.
The waterproof collar weighs only 3 oz and comes with a neon test lamp. The transmitter is only 1-1/2 oz. Nine levels of stimulation appear as numbers on an LCD screen, and four glove-friendly buttons permit four modes of programming: tone only, stimulation with tone, stimulation without tone, and tone with stimulation delay. The company has a patent for its CRS (Consistent Reliable Stimulation) technology. Although its range is only 400 yards, the unit operates at 915 MHz, which should provide a more-reliable connection than the crowded 27 MHz frequency band. Price: $169.99.
Coastal Pet Products, 800-321-0248; www.remingtonsportingdog.com.
Tri-Tronics G3 EXP e-Collar with Tracer Light
The Tri-Tronics evolution continues with the introduction of G3 EXP training collars in Pro and Field series. Taking cues from the cell-phone industry, company engineers have incorporated a 2-1/2" internal antenna. This development lessens the chance of breakage and improves operational consistency. A new cradle design for battery charging ensures firm contact. Also, the green accessory button is now located on the transmitter face. More accessible and easier to use with gloves, the accessory button controls the remote beeper and a new enhancement: the Tracer remote collar light with red, white or blue LED. The Tracer attaches to the collar receiver and allows you to see your dog at night up to a half-mile away. It’s powered by the receiver battery, and you can choose either constant or intermittent mode.
Great features of the G2 EXP are still found in the G3. These include 18 levels of momentary and six levels of constant stimulation, a waterproof transmitter and receiver, one-mile range, long and short contact points, a NiMH battery charger, and more. The beeper has four run modes and two point modes. The G3 EXP costs $519 with beeper or $447 without. The Tracer, which can be purchased separately for $44, works on any G2 training collar also.
Tri-Tronics, 800-456-4343; www.tritronics.com.
Mud River Renegade water/food container
Through the years I’ve had little success getting my bird dogs to drink water from plastic bottles carried afield. Mud River Dog Products, never short on innovation, has come out with a fabric bowl with a leak-proof liner that weighs next to nothing and rolls up to tuck into a coat pocket. Made from 420-denier nylon, the Renegade holds 102 oz of water (or 12 cups of dry food). Two snaps secure the rolled-up container, which comes with a clip for attaching to a belt loop or portable kennel. Color is hunter orange with brown accents, which makes it hard (even for me) to lose. Price: $11.50.
Mud River Dog Products, 479-927-2447; www.mudriverdogproducts.com.
Boyt Estancia bags
Boyt Harness Co. has expanded its Estancia line to include a Tote Bag, a Laptop Briefcase and a pair of Carry-on Bags. The handsome khaki or olive bags are made from 22-oz dry-waxed cotton with Italian leather accents. Solid-brass hardware renders them durable and long-lasting. The new Estancia additions range in price from $120 for the smaller Tote (14" x 13-1/2" x 5") to $249 for the larger Carry-on (22" x 15" x 3"). The Laptop Briefcase (14-1/2" x 17" x 6-1/2") comes with a padded laptop pocket and costs $219. The Medium Carry-on ($199) is 18" x 13" x 11".
Boyt Harness Co., 800-550-2698; www .boytharness.com.
L.L. Bean Upland Sling Pack
Design and materials combine to make the Technical Upland Sling Pack a one-of-a-kind winner from L.L. Bean. The contoured backpack has a pivoting sling that allows it to be carried over the right or left shoulder, and an outside vertical compression strap prevents the load from shifting or sagging. Outer material is 600-denier Kodra, and the interior lining is 210-denier oxford nylon. Both are coated with polyurethane to be moisture- and blood-proof. Foam is perforated EVA 5mm in the shoulder strap and hip belt and 8mm in the back panel to provide comfort and breathability. Empty, the pack weighs only 1.65 pounds.
Shell pockets on the waist belt have double nylon coil zippers for security and easy access. The symmetrical game bag permits zippered access from either side, and it’s easy-to-clean and drip-proof. There’s a mesh pocket with waterproof zipper on the front for an e-collar transmitter along with a rear-panel pocket for a dog leash or other gear. The pack comes in Regular (20" back panel) or Long (22" back panel) sizes. The Long model has about 20-percent more load capacity: 1,226 cubic inches versus 1,026. Colors are dark khaki or orange. Price: $59.
L.L. Bean, 800-221-4221; www.llbean.com.
Low-Profile Vest from Texas Hunt Co.
Hats off to Texas Hunt Co. for improving an already fine product. The original Low-Profile Vest I’ve been testing now comes in an upgraded model. Shoulder straps feature tough webbing instead of elastic. Gone are the Velcro side-pocket flaps; they now close securely with heavy-duty snaps. And the pockets themselves afford easier access, thanks to a new ergonomic design. This company is uncompromising when it comes to high-performance hunting gear, all of which is US-made.
The impressive design is minimalist while being totally functional. One size fits all, thanks to a simple harness-adjustment system that accommodates any amount of clothing. The straps and side pockets snap away to reduce the vest to its game bag, which is bloodproof and washable. Plastic snap buckles won’t mar gunstocks. You can carry five shells to a side in outside-the-pocket loops, or dump them inside where they will stay dry and secure. Each side pocket comes with an inside “extra” pocket that you can quickly zipper open. It’s handy for a cell phone, car keys or other small gear. The $129.95 price is not cheap, but the vest comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Texas Hunt Co., 888-894-8682; www.texashuntco.com.
Stormy Kromer Straight Shooter Shirt
Stormy Kromer, the venerable Upper Peninsula company that has made wool hunting caps since 1903, has expanded its clothing line. The Straight Shooter long-sleeve shirt is made from 81/2-oz, enzyme-washed cotton twill. The heavy cotton is tightly woven to help turn back prickly stuff but retains a nice, soft hand. Hunter-orange accents on the shoulders, sleeves and breast-pocket flaps are acrylic but also feel soft. The handsome, full-cut shirt is bleached tan, which complements the orange trim. It comes with a back loop for hanging on a peg, and it’s available in sizes Medium through XXL. Price: $53.95.
Stormy Kromer Mercantile, 888-455-2253; www.stormykromer.com.
Columbia Sportswear White Wing Shirt
Dove shooters and early season waterfowl hunters will appreciate the new White Wing Shirt from Columbia Sportswear. The garment is 100-percent cotton Protector poplin, a proprietary fabric woven at the mill in a manner to provide UPF 30 sun protection. Columbia Sportswear calls its new technology Omni-Shade. Further, the company applies Omni-Shield, another proprietary treatment, to repel moisture and prevent stains (think of those old Scotch Guard TV ads when poured water ran off treated material). A mesh vent across the back permits air to circulate and gives the shirt an overall blousy, cool feel. The result is maximum protection on bright, hot hunting days.
Repeated washings don’t negate the protections; in fact, the cleaner the shirt is, the better it functions. Available in long- or short-sleeve, the button-down shirt comes in camo or light olive. Forearm buttons hold rolled-up sleeves on the long-sleeve model. The right shoulder sports a shooting patch, and a left-side breast pocket has a button-down flap and three shell loops on the outside for small-gauge shells. Sizes are Small through XXL. Price: $60 in short-sleeve; $70 in long-sleeve (some styles include a deer logo or American flag and cost $5 more).
Columbia Sportswear, 800-547-8066; www.columbia.com.
Irish Setter Wingshooter DSS Classic Boots
If there’s a new way to build a boot, Red Wing Shoe Co. will find it. This year within its five-decades-old Irish Setter line of high-performance footwear, the company has introduced its DSS Classic boot line. What’s different? A new sole platform called the Dynamic Suspension System (DSS) carries a patented design that redistributes the downward force under the heel during each stride. The mechanism increases flexibility while decreasing muscle fatigue caused by underfoot pressure. In early tests the pair I wore felt like high-tech basketball shoes.
The new line includes a four-eyelet oxford shoe ($119), a 6" chukka ($149) and a 9" boot ($159). Uppers are full-grain leather, polished and finished with natural wax for a crisp, traditional look of dark chocolate. Panels of waxed/oil-treated cotton add to the classic two-tone appearance. The Chukka and 9" models come with an internal membrane, part of the company’s UltraDry waterproofing system.
In another development, Irish Setter has incorporated DSS technology into its new King Toe 8" boot ($149). Bird hunters with wider feet or larger calves will appreciate the extra toe room—an increase of 38 percent, according to the company.
Irish Setter also has introduced an extensive line of waxed-cotton outerwear and other clothes, much of which will appeal to upland hunters. The line includes jackets, game vests and brush pants. The Breckenridge and Litchfield jackets have game pockets and moleskin trim, are available in brown and olive, and have a classic British look. The Ramsey also has a game pocket but is offered in 10-1/2-oz waxed brown canvas and looks more like a traditional American game jacket.
Red Wing Shoe Co., 888-SETTER-0 (-738-8370); www.irishsetterboots.com.
Filson Wingshooting Jacket and Pants
The new waterproof Wingshooting Jacket and Pants from Filson are more than welcome; they are needed. The seam-sealed fabric is 6-oz, three-layer nylon twill. The high-tech jacket is well designed and nicely appointed. The zip-off hood, for example, adjusts to front and sides. An inside storm flap comes with a fold-over chin guard, the front zipper is waterproof, and there are plenty of pockets. Interior left/right shoulder pockets accept recoil pads; zippered chest pockets are roomy; and cargo pockets come with double front bellows, one-hand snap tabs and drain holes. Shooting patches and adjustable cuffs are added features.
The pants have belt loops and adjustable elastic suspenders that Velcro-attach or can be removed. The waistband offers elastic in the back and a double snap with zipper fly in the front. Articulated knees improve comfort when walking, and 13" zippers at the cuffs permit easy on and off. Double-side cargo pockets with drain holes are spacious, as are hand pockets made secure with waterproof zippers. The jacket ($295) comes in brown or otter green, and the pants ($175) are otter green with brown trim.
C. C. Filson, 800-624-0201; www.filson .com.
