| | | | | | Gearing Up for 2005 Hunting Seasonby John Dean, Jr.
The excitement of fall and the arrival of cold air have hunters pulling together their gear just waiting for Opening Day. These days hunters need to squeeze every last drop of efficiency from their gear to stay on the cutting edge. This year’s gear helps with everything from training your dog to cooking a meal to laying out your decoys efficiently. So as you are gathering up your gear for the season; take a few moments to review some innovative hunting accessories to help make this year's hunting season fun and rewarding.
Columbia
Since 1938, Columbia has been a leading manufacturer of some of the most extreme outerwear in waterfowl hunting. Year after year they have provided duck hunters with some of the best outerwear on the market. This year, Columbia has taken yet another step forward toward keeping waterfowlers warm in the duck blind by introducing a new line of waders. Their flagship product, the Columbia Quad Wader, is nothing short of remarkable.
Columbia Quad Wader
New to this year's line of products is the Columbia Quad Waders. As with all Columbia products, no details have been missed. The Quad Wader is constructed from 5mm neoprene, 6-inch Ankle Loc™ with 1600 grams of Thinsulate insulation. The uppers are constructed with a comfort-stretch, abrasion-resistant nylon and built-in reflective Titanium to aid in recycling body heat. Each pair of waders comes with fleece wader pants for added comfort and warmth on those late season days in the duck blind. Columbia did not forget about the little things either. The boots are imprinted with the camo pattern to match the uppers, the center chest pocket has an integrated shotgun shell holder and the hand-warmer pocket is fleece lined. These waders are double reinforced in the seat and knee areas and have added a wader belt and quick-release suspender system - ranking these waders “second to none” in functionality.
Columbia Widgeon Wader
The Columbia Widgeon Wader is constructed of 4mm neoprene, 6-inch Ankle Loc™ with 1000 grams of Thinsulate insulation. The uppers are constructed with a comfort-stretch, abrasion resistant nylon. The Widgeon also has a center chest fleece lined hand-warmer pocket, double reinforced seat and knees and a quick-release suspender system.
Columbia Silent Shell™ Jacket
Columbia Silent Shell™ Jacket is a comfortable, performance-cut waterfowling jacket. The shell is made from 100 percent polyester Precision™ Soft Shell making the jacket breathable, water-resistant and wind-resistant. Car keys or your wallet can be stowed with confidence in the zip-closed chest pockets. The hand-warming pockets are lined with soft and warm MTR™ light fleece making this jacket a great choice for the early season. This jacket is available in the Delta Hunter Marsh Camo pattern. You'll be impressed with the fit and performance of this waterfowling jacket.
Columbia Horn Mesa Wool Jacket and Pants
Nothing says warmth like wool. The Columbia Horn Mesa Wool Jacket and Pants are constructed on 100% wool. The jacket features two large capacity patch pockets with snaps to securely hold a couple boxes of shells, a large zip-closed chest pocket to store your wallet, cell phone and/or car keys. The sleeves have snap adjustable cuffs to allow you the greatest comfort and fit while in the field. The jacket is designed with an action back, so you can move easily and freely to make those tough crossing shots. As with the jacket, the pants are constructed of 100% wool. They feature side entry pockets, two large side cargo pockets with button flaps, reinforced quilted knee pads and seat, and two back pockets with button closure. The waist can also be adjusted with a Velcro hook and loop adjustment and a full set of belt loops. The Columbia Horn Mesa Wool Jacket and Pants are design to maximize warmth, yet offers exceptional mobility with minimal bulk.
SportDog
While many gun dog enthusiasts are learning about SportDog e-collars for the first time, SportDog is not a new company to electronic collars. SportDog was founded by Radio Systems Corporation and has over 11 years of experience in the dog electronics market. SportDog e-collars are made by dog people for dog people. This has helped them rapidly become a leader in the e-collar industry.
In 2005, SportDog created the SD-2000 Wetland Hunter and SD-1800 SportHunter for dog owners that were looking for a high quality, full featured collar that would not break the bank. Both of these training systems offer the finest in SportDog features; such as being 100% waterproof, fully rechargeable transmitters and collars, and is expandable to a multiple dog system by simply purchasing an additional collar. This “Add-a-Dog” feature allows you to add another dog to the training system without sending the collar back to the manufacturer. Simply purchase the new collar, charge it and synchronize it with your transmitter. Turning your single dog unit into a multiple-dog unit is that easy.
The SD-2000 Wetland Hunter is the first fully camouflaged collar on the market and has been designed specifically for waterfowl hunters. The 100% waterproof training collar is camouflaged in Realtree™ MAX4 that helps it blend in perfectly with most waterfowling environments. This collar has been designed for a specific purpose; it is a retriever collar. The stimulation on the SD-2000 is slightly higher than the standard collar to accommodate for the power of retrievers. The collar has a range of ¾ of a mile and is pre-programmed with 8 levels of both continuous and momentary (Nick) stimulation. For those trainers who wish to incorporate a “tone only” feature into their training program, the SD-2000 offers an independent tone button on the side of the transmitter. The SD-2000 can be expanded to a 2 dog system by simply purchasing a second collar.
The SD-1800 SportHunter is the upland hunter’s dream collar. The SD-1800 offers a 3/4 mile range with standard stimulation levels and can be expanded to a 3 dog system by purchasing additional collars. The transmitter comes pre-programmed with 8 levels of continuous and momentary stimulation. The collar offers stimulation from low to medium power and is perfect for the sport dog enthusiast.
SportDog has designed collars for the sport dog enthusiast and they are one of the only companies that warranties there collars through a lifetime of use. SportDog’s limited lifetime warranty protects their training collars from all defects through the first year and guarantees parts for the life of the collar. This warranty applies to ALL of their products from their top of the line SD-2000 through their DSL-400 Deluxe Beeper Collar.
Final Approach Eliminator Canada Goose Decoys
Final Approach has always been an innovator when it comes to hunting geese. As leaders in the hunting community, Final Approach has brought quality gear such as the Top Gun Eliminator Layout Blind and some of the finest accessories in goose hunting. This year, they have expanded their product line to include a full line of Canada Goose Decoys.
Final Approach Full Body Eliminator Canada Goose Decoys are sharp! These new decoys are lifelike in size, posture, and in feather detail. Final Approach is known throughout the industry for producing quality products and these decoys are no different. While other manufacturers have struggled with paint and flocking issues, Final Approach has taken the time to get it right the first time.
The Eliminator Decoys are built with ultra tough heavy-duty polyethylene bodies, fully flocked heads and realism. Each decoy has been painted with a durable, non-glare, detailed paint scheme. From our initial field tests, the paint has held up under the harshest conditions and is expected to last for years to come. In addition to the realistic paint scheme, Final Approach has created 3 distinct posture styles; Feeders, Lookers & Active decoys. The various postures and head styles change your decoys into a lifelike flock of geese. The Eliminator Decoys have been created in two styles, full body decoys and shells.
The Eliminator Full Body Decoys have additional features that have been designed by hunters in the field. Final Approach’s decoys have a strong locking leg and base system. There are no moving parts and each base can be filled with water, sand, or shot to add weight.
The Eliminator Shells are perfect for the hunter that has limited space to haul decoys to the field. Their ultra low profile design makes stacking them quick and easy, fitting dozens in a relatively small space. The goose shells have the same quality characteristics of the full series offering sturdy construction and quality detailed paint as well as an additional posture. The Eliminator Canada Goose Shells offer a realistic sleeper pose that will help build confidence with even the weariest of birds.
These decoys are some of the best decoys on the market; pick some up for your hunt this season.
Quack Grass
Waterfowl are a difficult game to hunt. When the pressure is on and the birds wise up, they look for a reason not to work the decoys. The slightest unnatural misplaced item can cause ducks to peel off and search for a safer landing place. Quack Grass is the answer to blending into the waterfowl hunting environments.
Quack Grass is made of hand woven palm fronds that helps hunters blend in perfectly with their surroundings. This natural material is somewhat green out of the box, so it may take several days for the Quack Grass to match the vegetation in your area. The longer the grass stays outdoors the darker it will get. Quack Grass comes in large 5’ x 8’ sheets which will cover most boats from the water level to the top of the blind or they can be trimmed to fit any size area. The sheets will not unravel nor lose their form when cut. For those hunters hunting from ground blinds, Quack Grass has made coffin covers that will fit most layout blinds and provide the ultimate in concealment. Hunters need to hide themselves more than ever so cover up and blend into your surroundings and you will be surprised on your daily bag.
Hevi-Steel
Over the years Hevi-Shot has revolutionized high performance shot shells. When Hevi-Shot debuted it sent ripples through the waterfowl hunting world. Everyone was eager to try this new shell that packed a wallop of down range energy and had the ability to reach further than standard waterfowling loads. Hevi-Shot was a huge success, but it did come with a price tag that was a little uncomfortable for some waterfowlers. Waterfowlers wanted the improved performance of a premium load but at a price they could afford. In 2005, Environmetal, the parent company of Hevi-Shot, designed Hevi-Steel as a solution.
Hevi-Steel alloy is 20% denser than steel and its velocity is a screaming 1550 fps (feet per second). This shot shoots like steel, patterns true, and has the down range ability for pass-shooting. According to Hevi-Shot, at 40 yards this load hits with twice the impact of high velocity steel and has virtually no distortion in its pattern. This performance means one thing, cleaner kills and less cripples!
Hevi-Steel comes in shot sizes B, 2, 4, & 6 and is packaged 25 shells per box. This high performance shell is no more expensive than most high performance steel loads, but offers the knockdown capability of Hevi-Shot without the price tag.
Pick up a box of Hevi-Steel and you can compare its performance against your current shell.
Hunter Specialties
Since 1977, Hunter Specialties has been helping hunters harvest more game by offering some of the most innovative products in the field. As time has passed, they have become an authority on big game, turkey, and waterfowl hunting.
This year, Hunter Specialties has produced two new affordable goose calls designed after the acrylic call “Bad Medicine” - the Hitman and the Flamed Hedge calls. Both have been designed for hunters that demand short reed performance. These two calls offer hunters the ability to create a range of soft moans to crisp clean hail calls. They also offer all the middle work needed to pull birds tight into the decoys.
Hunter Specialties Goose Calls
The Hitman is designed in a rusty orange color polycarbonate with a metal band. For those hunters that like the sound and feel of a wooden call, the Flamed Hedge features an Osage Orange Wood barrel with a polycarbonate insert and metal band. The Flamed Hedge short reed goose call is hand tuned and offers hunters a slightly better performing call out of the box.
To top it all off Hunter Specialties has kept both of these calls extremely reasonable in price. The Hitman retails for $39.95 and the Flamed Hedge for $79.95. Both calls will provide years of short reed performance in the field.
Hunter Specialties Floating Blind Bag
It is natural for hunters to bring gear into the field. Hunter Specialties has created a new floating blind bag that will store all your gear and keep it dry from the elements. These blind bags have several pockets to organize your gear for quick access and a solid rubber bottom for protection if you are hunting in standing water. This bag has everything from 12 gauge shell loops to a 100% waterproof safety pouch to keep your valuables dry and safe. This bag is well thought out and will keep your gear in perfect order.
Hunter Specialties Push Pole
Boat hunters, look no further! Many hunters are always looking for the perfect push pole to maneuver their boat into a tight nook or to safely work through their decoys. Hunter Specialties Push Pole is crafted from sturdy aluminum and is fully adjustable from 58” to a whopping 10’. The collapsed length makes it perfect for quick storage; and the 10’ length should work in most marsh situations. In addition, the push pole has been painted with a dull antiglare olive green paint, which allows the poll to blend into any environment. For comfort, the Hunter Specialty has installed a wrist strap and a full rubber grip to always keep the pole in reach and to prevent it from being dropped into the water.
Hunter Specialties Decoy Bags
Hunter Specialties introduced a new series of decoy bags that are crafted from heavy-duty polyester mesh or PVC coated polyester. These bags are built to hold their weight in decoys from wood duck sized birds to your magnum geese decoys. The bags range in size from 30” x 38” to 42” x 58” to 30” x 38” to 42” x 58”. Hunter Specialties has designed each bag with a rugged design and as the dimensions of the bag increase so does the durability. The magnum bag has wide nylon carrying straps, which are box stitched to hold even the heaviest of loads.
Smart Stick
As hunters looked to increase their goose decoy spreads, many have turned to silhouette style decoys, as they offer a high level of visibility that can be set up in a relatively short period of time. When creating a silhouette spread, the majority of the time is spent punching through semi-frozen ground to create dozens of holes needed to set the decoy spread. While most hunters have devised a system or tool to aid in this project, the Smart Stick offers a quick, simple solution.
The Smart Stick’s “T-Post” design makes punching holes a snap. Smart Stick has minimized the need of constantly bending over for each hole. While standing upright, simply insert your foot into the metal stirrup and use the downward force of your body weight to create the perfect hole. No more pounding, stomping, or straining; simply put the 9” spike where you want a hole and step down. The 5/8” diameter hole works perfectly for all silhouette brands.
The Smart Stick has other advantages over the traditional hole-punch. Its “T Post” design means that the Smart Stick can be used as a decoy support to set up “kite-like” decoys. This adds another dimension to your spread. Finally, some have used multiple Smart Sticks as an anchoring system for a ground blind.
Add a Smart Stick to your bag of tricks and see just how fast you can set out your next decoy spread.
PetAg Vive Bar
Over the years, hunters, trialers, and hunt test dog owners have looked for ways to improve their dog’s performance and aid in recovery time. In 2005, PetAg created the Vive Performance Bar to fill this much needed gap and give field dogs a way to quickly re-energize. This 2.7 ounce vanilla flavored bar is well liked by dogs. The cookie-like consistency makes it easy to break into bite sized pieces. This high fat and protein based bar is perfect for giving a quick burst of energy without the risks associated with giving your dog a full meal. The bar is comprised of 13% protein and 22% crude fat, these ingredients insure consistent energy and both will aid in keeping your dog energized and active in the field as well as aid those dogs who need additional nutrition.
Keep a couple bars in your vest, blind bag or training bag to help keep your dog’s performance in the field.
Remington Neoprene Vest
Waterfowlers understand cold water pulls heat away from the body 3 times faster than air. Exposure to the elements can have serious consequences, especially in the late season when water temperatures drop across the country. The Remington™ Neoprene Dog Vest is designed from 3mm neoprene and comes in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass™. The vest is stitched and glued on each seam, giving it superior construction to most vests on the market. The heavy duty zipper is protected by a neoprene flap which securely velcros shut to keep the zipper free from debris and prevents unexpected openings. The fitted vest holds tight to the dog’s body therefore trapping body heat. In addition to the natural buoyancy of neoprene, Remington has added two additional flotation panels on each side to vest to further aid floatation in rougher water or long swims. When you are suiting up in your protective gear, don’t forget your dog!
The vest comes in size Medium – XXL.
Cat’s Eyes
Cat’s Eyes Cap Light is one of the most innovative lights that sportsmen have at their disposal. Weighing a mere 1.24 oz, the Cat’s Eyes Cap Light is designed to clip to the brim/bill of any standard baseball cap. Its lightweight design is virtually unnoticeable, but provides an ultra bright light via 3 powerful LED bulbs. The water resistant light offers a hands-free light source so you can keep your attention on the task at hand.
Cat’s Eyes are powered by 4 lithium coin cell batteries that provide approximately 24 hours of ultra bright light. The LED bulbs will last for more than 10,000+ hours and comes in bright white or green.
JetBoil
JetBoil was originally created for the backpacker/hiker industry; its popularity has since spread to other facets of the outdoor world. Since 2004, JetBoil has earned many awards such as Backpacker’s Editor’s Choice and Outsides Gear of the Year.
JetBoil’s popularity is fueled by its packability, ease of use, and efficient quick cooking. This micro cooking system packs down to the size of a large coffee mug and takes up minimal space in a blind bag, vest, or boat. JetBoil is perfect for the hunter/dog trainer that is spending time in the field and wants the benefit of fresh hot food and/or a beverage. JetBoil weighs just 15 oz. and measures 7.1” in height in travel mode. The entire stove is self-contained in the JetBoil mug therefore there is no fumbling for parts. Assembly of the stove happens in mere seconds and no tools are required for assembly.
When looking at this micro cooking system, it is a mere fraction in size compared to the common butane burner or gas stove that most outdoorsmen bring into the field. This little machine may be small but do not let its size fool you! Once assembled, cooking is simple; everything from a cup of coffee to a shrimp dinner can be ready in minutes. JetBoil uses half of the fuel than most stoves and its design has made it virtually impervious to the elements. The JetBoil burner has been designed with a Piezo ignition system, which lights in the windiest of conditions (At 35 mph gusts, the JetBoil ignition system has never failed to work).
Once the stove is lit, the level of heat can be adjusted with the simple turn of a dial. When turned on high, JetBoil can boil 2 cups of water in approximately 2 minutes. Mountain House has designed a whole line of 8 “Pro-Pack” meals that fit directly into JetBoil’s mug. Now quick hot meals can be prepared, and better yet, once your done eating there is no clean up. Just pull out the Mountain House Pro-Pack and your mug is as clean as a whistle and ready to make your next dish or cup of coffee.
JetBoil has a series of accessories that work with the cooking system; everything from a French Press, Pot Support & Holder (for cooking larger meals) to companion cups if you want to share. JetBoil is perfect for anyone who spends extended time in the field and values a good hot meal or beverage.
NutriSource Super Premium Dog Food
NutriSource Super Performance Dog Food offers super premium nutrition. This 32% protein food is becoming more and more popular with the working dog community as it is specially formulated and blended for high performance dogs. NutriSource Super Performance feed is a mixture of chicken, rice, and selected key ingredients to maintain peak performance. The food is fortified with Omega 6 & Omega 3 fatty acids, gloucosamine, chondriotin, vitamin C and last but not least, a series of probiotics.
| NutriSource Super Performance 540 Calories per 8 oz. cup | | Crude Protein (Min) | 32.0% | | Crude Fat (Min) | 21.0% | | Crude Fiber (Max) | 3.0% | | Moisture (Max) | 10.0% | | *Omega 6 Fatty Acids (Min) | 3.9% | | *Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Min) | 0.9% | | *Glucosamine (Min) | 550 PPM | | *Chondroitin (Min) | 200 PPM | | *Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profile. |
Pup Hut
The Mossy Oak Pup Hut is perfect for those hunters that are looking for ways to bring shade into the field. This instant shelter assembles in minutes and provides shade and protection from the elements. The Pup Hut is crafted from heavy-duty vinyl coated nylon that repels rain, heat, and wind. The heavy-duty powder coated frame fits most full size pick-up trucks, creating a shelter that is 17” higher than the top of the bedrail offering ample room for kennels and large size dogs.
Pup Hut comes in both Mossy Oak as well as plain black.
T-Post Stepper
The T-Post Stepper is a necessity for those hunters crossing a T-Post fence. This specialty tool makes climbing over T-Post fences easy. Gone are the days of barbed wire ripped clothing or trying to scoot under a fence. The lightweight T-Post Stepper attaches in seconds and can support up to 1,000 pounds of weight to safely cross over any fence.
The T-Post Stepper is a simple 3 step process:
1.) Affix the T-Post Stepper to the T-Post
2.) Step up and over the barbed wire
3.) Step off
It is that simple! The T-Post Stepper is constructed of lightweight aircraft aluminum and is covered in a pouch that can be worn on your hip for quick and easy access.
For $19.95 this little tool can save your favorite hunting vest or pants from barbed wire as well as prevent accidents when trying to cross fence lines.
TruckVault
TruckVault started production in the1980’s as a solution to organize work vehicles. Not until 1995 was the concept embraced by sportsmen. Sportsmen now use TruckVault as a way to organize and lock their gear (for example, firearms and valuables), now there is little reservation of leaving gear locked up tight rather than in the back or cab of the truck. TruckVault is now the #1 provider of custom storage solutions for both pick-up trucks and SUVs. TruckVault offers 2 lines of products. The “Standard” offers the original version of TruckVault single and multi drawer systems and the “Magnum” which has been designed with twice the depth of and storage of the standard system.
TruckVault will keep your gear safe and organized and also concealed from view.
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