Innholdsfortegnelse for Equipment Annual 2017 i Deer & Deer Hunting

You’re at the right place if you’re a deer-gear fanatic. This Equipment Annual was the first of its kind when we launched it in 1991, and we’re proud to carry on that tradition. Making this 26th annual publication even better is the fact that we also launched its digital twin earlier this year on our new site: www.DeerHunter.TV. In conjunction with Sportsrocket, a leading provider of custom media solutions to the sports industry, our DeerHunter.TV video platform is a robust, multi-platform digital TV channel offering free-to-watch online deer hunting and outdoors video content. DeerHunter.TV is available now on desktop, mobile devices and social media destinations. A Roku channel also launched a few weeks ago. The video site not only offers tons of free deer hunting videos, it is a one-stop…

Millennium M360 Revolution Imagine being able to spin around in a tree-stand seat instead of trying to contort your body to see behind you or to make a shot. You can make the move easy now with the Millennium M360 Revolution stand, which has a swiveling seat so you’ll have complete range of motion for better shot possibilities. The M360 Revolution has a generous 40-inch platform and foldable seat if you decide to stand, along with a 35-foot SafeLink safety system with Prusik knot and carabiner. The M360 Revolution includes the Millennium ComfortMAX seat, so you can sit all day, along with other great features. MSRP: $280. Info: www.MillenniumStands.com Rivers Edge Lockdown 21 Large, comfortable ladder stands have become more popular the past few years because hunters want more room…

Ameristep Supernatural Going unnoticed while hunting from a ground blind is important, which is why the windows and how you set them up are such a big deal. Ameristep’s Supernatural blind features numerous rounded windows combined with glare-resistant Naturshell fabric to help you blend in with your surroundings. The windows have a silent “daisy chain” system and camo shoot-through mesh. The Supernatural stands 67 inches tall and is 75 inches wide. MSRP: $249. Info: www.Ameristep.com Field & Stream Magnum Deluxe Field & Stream makes hunting from ground blinds affordable and comfortable with its five-hub Magnum Deluxe, which easily holds two hunters, thanks to a generous footprint. At 68 inches tall and 58 inches wide, you’ll have room for chairs, gear and to maneuver when it’s time to shoot. Multiple windows…

Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody When you’re hunting on chilly, early mornings or need a solid base layer, the new Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody is the perfect partner. This form-fitting, long-sleeved pullover wicks moisture to help keep you dry and warm. Add the deep center-chest zipper for added ventilation when the temperatures rise and you’ll be even more comfortable. The Core has a built-in facemask in the hood, which is pretty cool and one less thing for you to have to remember. It’s available in Optifade Open Country camo and black, which is great for ground blinds. MSRP: $119 Info: www.SitkaGear.com Field & Stream Command Hunt The Field & Stream Command Hunt SmartHeat parka is loaded with great features, starting with the SmartHeat fleece lining that reflects and traps body heat.…

Mathews Inc. Mathews’ Halon 32 (in 5-, 6- and 7-inch brace-height versions) includes revolutionary Crosscentric Cam Technology, an extremely accurate, high-performance system with a buttery-smooth draw cycle, partially concentric string payout and AVS technology for level nock travel. A long bridged riser paired with short, rigid quad limbs provide rock-steady handling, 32-inch axle-to-axle dimensions enhancing string angle at full draw and shooting forgiveness, while pushing arrows to 350 fps. Flatback Grip, Harmonic Damper on top and Harmonic Stabilizer below, In-Line Roller Guard and string stop remain in this 4-3/4-pound bow. (www.MathewsInc.com) Bear Archery The Bear Moment features 80 percent let off, smoooooth EAZ Hybrid Cam with DRAWDIAL Rotating Modules for fast draw-length adjustments, with string or limb ROCKSTOPS draw stops. The 7075-grade aluminum riser is stiff and vibration free, the…

Fall-restraint safety harnesses might be our most important piece of hunting equipment because, obviously, we want to be secure from a fall anytime we’re off the ground. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a lock-on, climber or ladder stand. If you’re off the ground, you should be hooked up to a lifeline or the tree. If you’re hooked up and fall, even if you bang against the tree — you won’t be crumpled on the ground. But how do you control odors with your harness, especially during the hotter early months of deer season? Southern hunters could have temps in the 70s or higher even into December. Throwing the harness in the washing machine probably isn’t an option due to the buckles. Hanging it outside to air out and using…

Trail cameras are a great scouting tool. But checking them has one obstacle and one even bigger problem. First the obstacle: Checking them takes time — time away from hunting and other activities. Ideally you want to check them every day during the heat of the season, but if you have three or more cameras deployed, checking them all can take an hour or more. And that leads to a bigger problem. Checking trail cameras daily can leave human scent and spook deer — and maybe even push them off your property. What’s the point of using trail cams if they chase your deer away? It’s no wonder many hunters want cell phone equipped trail cameras. But check out the price! The cost of a cell camera is two or…

1 Bushnell Engage Earlier this year Bushnell introduced the Engage line of riflescopes that should find a home with target shooters, tactical shooters and hunters. The series includes nine scopes ranging in size from 2-7x36mm to 6-24x50mm, each with the new Deploy MOA reticle. It has 1-MOA windage and elevation hashmarks and a Zero Reset Locking Turret system tthat ccan be easily changed without tools. The scopes are affordably ppriced, too. MSRP: $149 to $449. Info: www.Bushnell.com 2 Leupold LTO-Tracker Leupold’s new LTO-Tracker is a compact, handheld thermal tracker with a 6X zoom that shows aa hheat signature out to 600 yards, day or night. Imagine the possibilities for tracking and finding deer. The LTO-Tracker is about 10 ounces and 5 inches long, with six thermal palettes to choose from,…

1 Real World Gen2 Soybeans Real World Wildlife Products is well known for its soybean blend that provides deer with bountiful, nutritious food. Real World now offers “high oil” Gen2 Soybeans with a higher fat content, which give deer more sustenance during the pre-rut buildup and post-rut decline. Real World’s Gen2 Soybeans retain the high output and shatter-resistance qualities, too. Planted according to recommendations for your area, Gen2 Soybeans will give your deer a boost. MSRP: $75 and up. Info: www.RealWorldWildlife-Products.com 2 Evolved AlphaPlot Providing supplemental nutrition for deer and wildlife is enjoyable and something you can do year-round as part of a quality management program. Evolved Harvest’s AlphaPlot is a great combination of hybrid alfalfa, chicory and T-Raptor, a rape-turnip hybrid. The alfalfa and chicory are heat- and drought-tolerant,…

1 Columbia Bugaboo Plus III Don’t let the techy features of the Columbia Bugaboo Plus III boot turn you away. Columbia products are tested worldwide in a variety of harsh conditions and this one is no different. The Bugaboo Plus III has 200 grams of insulation and an Omni-Heat reflective inner lining rated to minus 25 degrees. The combo of leather, nylon, webbing and Techlite shell easily keeps elements at bay while allowing your feet to breathe. And you’ll have good traction, thanks to the Omni-Grip non-marking traction rubber outsole. If you want a taller and warmer model, look at the Bugaboot Plus III XTM that’s rated to minus 65 degrees. MSRP: $90/$120. Info: www.Columbia.com 2 Field & Stream Woodsman If you need a comfortable, weather-smashing lace-up boot at an…

LAND of WHITETAIL On Pursuit Channel Land of Whitetail is one of Deer & Deer Hunting’s group of premier hunting TV shows. It’s a show for the serious deer and habitat manager, packed full of advice and information about how to make your land into the best it can be for deer hunting. From just a few acres to large spacious properties, Land of Whitetail covers everything you need to know to turn it into your own piece of whitetail heaven. There will also be plenty of exciting whitetail hunts and expert advice from some of the best deer hunters in the world. Be sure to watch Pursuit Channel’s D&DH Saturday Night Deer Camp for new episodes of Land of Whitetail, Destination Whitetail and Deer &…

The annual glut of new bowhunting gear sometimes makes me feel old. Things used to be simpler, of course, but then in the “good old days” we also missed more game than we hit, so I seldom complain about progress — notwithstanding the hugely inflated price of admission to hunting properties and difficulty in securing prime tags. You’ll hear some old-timers grumbling about new technology making things too easy, but I’m not one of them. I welcome the precision and extended ranges afforded in an age when every bowhunt has become more precious. Speaking as an old-timer — nowhere are these advancements more emphatic than in the sights and arrows we enjoy today. Put simply: Modern arrows are better in every way possible, and the latest sights are more precise…

Rev. Mike Stanley, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Highland, Arkansas, is an accomplished bowhunter with decades of experience. He’s also a longtime Hunter Education instructor for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). As a volunteer chaplain for the AGFC, Stanley has counseled the families of hunting accident victims. He’s the last person you’d expect to cut corners with a hang-on stand, but the one time he let down his guard nearly cost him his life. Stanley checked on a stand that had remained in a tree for more than a year before the 2015 Arkansas archery deer season. Unharnessed, he put his full weight on the platform. A bolt snapped and the platform collapsed. He fell nearly 20 feet and suffered severe orthopedic injuries that put him out…

Striving to be scent free is a key element of hunting from treestands, but it might be even more important if you’re in a ground blind. Just because you’re zipped up doesn’t mean you can’t be detected. “You’re going to be hunting in the right wind, of course, but it’s good to spray down with scent,” said Pete Angle, Vice President of Marketing for Plano Synergy. “Whenever you’re hunting, the wind is a strategic consideration and it’s no different with ground blinds. You’re on the ground so there isn’t any way for the scent to go over them. If you’re in a stand the scent may go over them and they won’t detect you as much, but in a ground blind I think you have to think about it.” Odor-killing…

CVA Accura V2 CVA’s Accura V2 lineup includes a model for any conditions you’ll encounter while muzzle-loader hunting. Whether it’s in the bitterly cold Midwest and Rockies or humid conditions of the Southeast, its Bergara stainless barrels with Nitride coating and rugged composite stock withstand the test. Little touches help, too, such as having the breeching lever built into the oversized trigger guard — or being able to break down the rifle by removing just one screw. Other features include an ambidextrous thumbhole stock, DuraSight fiber-optic sights and Quake Claw sling. MSRP: Varies. Info: www.CVA.com Thompson/Center Strike The Thompson/Center Strike will age gracefully, like a good wine, thanks to its classic design and trim and handsome wood or synthetic stock finish. The barrel has an Armornite nitride corrosion protectant finish,…

Mossy Oak has been in the camo business now for more than 30 years. The continued popularity of their many patterns over the years with all different kinds of hunters is a testament to how well each camo pattern works. Here are a couple of the camo giant’s latest patterns. Mossy Oak Mountain Country: The newest camouflage pattern developed by Mossy Oak is Mountain Country. It was designed for hunting big game in the high-country timber or the open plains, to break up your outline and ensure you blend in with the terrain out West. Mountain Country features a background of sage and rock formations, along with alpine and conifer trees, which fuses you with the open plains to conceal you from the eyes of big game. Mossy Oak Break-Up…

I can be a popular guy among my hunting friends. But it’s not because of my extreme whitetail-chasing prowess or bubbly personality. The jury’s out on those qualities. But the verdict is in on one quality: I am a deer processing geek. I just love skinning, butchering and processing venison, whether I shot the darn thing or not. At our annual early season bow camp, for example, I’ve got any whitetail the boys bring in skinned and quartered and cooling lickety-split. Who knows if I’m any good. But the geekiness continues when it’s time to complete the venison processing job, too. It’s because I consider the entire operation an integral part of the hunt — equal in importance to doing the hunting itself. Not only is processing your own whitetail…

A host of new crossbows have hit the retail outlets this year, most promoted as better in some ways than their predecessors or anything formerly available, and there’s plenty of proof to support that. Whether radically different in design or built on familiar platforms, these newcomers offer a smoother, in many cases faster and more efficient, shooting experience and are sure eye-pleasers. One thing is sure: The Class of 2017 has a lot of offer crossbow enthusiasts. BARNETT/ReVengence and Vicious www.BarnettCrossbows.com In 2016, Barnett introduced the Vengence, a reverse-draw crossbow that has proven to be one of the company’s best sellers. This year it is the 155-pound draw BC ReVengence. Built on a composite 20 percent glass-filled stock and equipped with a new forged magnesium riser, large oversized cams and…

Mathews Halon 32 Mathews expanded its blockbuster line with the Halon 32, with an enhanced string draw angle for better stability. Thanks to the Crosscentric cam design, the Halon 32 produces arrow speeds up to 350 fps with pinpoint accuracy. Also new this year is the 30-inch axle-to-axle Avail — designed for women archers — weighing less than 4 pounds. It’s perfect for stands and blinds. Also new is the Stoke youth bow, which features the Crosscentric cam and AVS system from the Halon series, but has a smaller footprint at 27 inches axle-to-axle. It hits speeds up to 314 fps. MSRP: $999 and up. Info: www.MathewsInc.com PSE Evolve 31 Amid its new offerings this year, PSE Archery’s Evolve features a new cam system with 80- to 90-percent let-off and…

When whitetails disappear from hunting areas covered by permanent stands, hunters can stay in the game by using versatile hang-on or lock-on stands. A permanent stand can go cold overnight for many reasons. A new food source can come online in an area away from a permanent stand, or a rutting pattern might pull deer into a favored chasing area deep in the woods. If you are aware of deer habits and patterns on your property, lock-on or hang-on stands will allow you to move with them. Unlike some large ladder stands, lock-on stands are one-person platforms. They are not meant to promote fellowship or passing on the hunting heritage to the next generation, nor do they support a lot of gear. They are specialized ambush devices meant to get…

When John Vaca pulled out the ground blind we put up in Kansas, he also opened what looked like a giant tackle box to get a few zip ties. Vaca’s magic box, as I called it, was filled to the brim with tools and hunting supplies. “I have everything I possibly ever have needed on a hunting trip, from zip ties and pliers to duct tape to extra heads, nocks, release or whatever,” he said. “I’ve had times when I needed something and didn’t have it, so I put it in the box and then I have it with me. Double-check it before a hunt, put it in the truck and go.” Vaca started carrying the box years ago as a waterfowl guide to tote extra snacks, calls and parts,…

Cold truly is relative. The first time I bowhunted white-tailed deer I became desperately, teeth-chattery hypothermic. I’d bet my best set of whitetail antlers the thermometer never dipped below 45 degrees F on that damp, breezy central-Texas morning, but I wore only standard-issue cotton and leather hikers like I’d been bowhunting mule deer in for a decade. I quickly acquired some “cutting-edge” polypropylene long underwear, thick, Trebark-cloaked polar fleece, insulated Walls coveralls and discount-store pac boots. My Texas sits became bearable, if still quite boring. When I began to expand my horizons, looking for just one bragging-size white-tailed buck, bowhunting Saskatchewan and Nebraska during snowy weather, I discovered quite painfully that my new gear was as sorely lacking as the cotton duds had been during that first balmy Edward’s Plateau…

Whether I’m in a ground blind, treestand or shooting house, one of my key goals is to be as attentive, silent and odor-free as possible. Last November while bowhunting in Kansas I hunted one afternoon with a finicky wind. It wasn’t crazy swirly, but was enough to put me on edge. I knew being as still as possible would be more critical. I’d doused myself well with Primos Control Freak, too. The final precaution was an Ozonics HR200 unit secured above me in the stand. Ozone is a naturally occurring gas in the atmosphere. Its molecules bond with other molecules and neutralize them. The battery-powered Ozonics HR200 and HR300 units emit ozone that showers you in the stand, or blind, and when positioned correctly can help neutralize your odor molecules.…

Browning Strike Force HD Pro Browning’s Strike Force HD Pro cameras give you everything you need in a game camera for super surveys and hunt planning. They feature 0.3-second trigger speeds and 0.8-second recovery time, 18 megapixel photo quality and 1280x720 high definition video, all of which combine for the best images without blurring, gaps or butt shots. It has an adjustable IR flash, too, so you can customize illumination for short- or long-range nighttime images. There’s more packed into this camera, too, which is why it’s an investment for year-round use. MSRP: $159. Info: www.Browning-TrailCameras.com Stealth Cam DS4K If you want the most from your game cameras, StealthCam’s new DS4K is stuffed to the gills with premium features. Among them: dual image sensors for day and night images; 42…

To efficiently and effectively do every job along the deer processing path, it’s important to have the knife that’s right for each step. Field Knives For general field work — namely field dressing, but also some basic processing chores such as quartering a deer in the field — you need a good fixed blade or folding knife. Fixed-blade knives are easier to clean, and will never close on your fingers by accident. Folding knives fold into a smaller package. It’s simply personal preference. More important than knife type is blade style. Here’s a few examples: Clip Point: Very sharp point for initiating cuts. Plenty of “belly” for slicing. The top of the blade runs straight, then “clips” and tapers off. Drop Point: Sharp point that is more easily controlled than…

Selecting the right footwear starts with carefully assessing the type of hunt you’ll be using them on and under what conditions. Many incorrectly think that one pair of boots will cover all hunting scenarios. A boot with 1,200 grams of insulation probably won’t work for an early season, spot-and-stalk hunt. Instead, choose footwear based on your hunting method (e.g., still-hunting vs. stand hunting) and weather conditions (early vs. late season). You also need to achieve the proper fit with your new boots. Purchase boots that fit the width of your feet and offer a little wiggle room in the ends for your toes. Take the socks that you will be wearing with you to the store, and put them on while trying on boots. It takes patience and time to…