November 03, 2020
By Brian Fortenbaugh
It goes without saying that bowhunters love gear. All kinds of gear. Even if we already have it, we need more of it. Call us eccentric, call us hoarders — we don’t care. That’s just the way we are. So, accept us as such, and take our advice on the following items, which we believe the bowhunter in your life will love as much as we do.
Moultrie Deer Feeder Pro II Tripod The Deer Feeder Pro II Tripod is one of the most economical options for a reliable wildlife feeder. The tough polymer hopper will hold more than 150 pounds of corn and features the Pro II Hunter Feeder Kit with an adjustable funnel, plastic spin plate, ABS plastic housing, feed-level estimator, battery indicator and external power port. The feeder kit will feed up to 6 different times per day from 1 to 20 seconds per feeding. The Deer Feeder Pro II is easy to fill with the fill opening sitting at 5.5 ft. tall. MSRP: $139.99 | moultriefeeders.com
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Summit Viper SD Climber Stand The Viper SD is the most popular stand in the Summit lineup. Its lightweight and strong aluminum build make it the climber of choice for hardcore hunters. The padded backpack straps coupled with the upper and lower frames ability to pack tight against each other allow for maximum portability no matter how far the distance. Once you get there, stay for a while in the suspended foam-padded seat with cushioned backrest and padded armrests. The closed front allows for simple sit-and-stand climbing and doubles as a gun and crossbow rest. The large 20”x36” aluminum platform offers plenty of foot space to stand up for a bow shot, too. The Viper SD features Summit’s Dead Metal technology that allows you to move in the stand without creating game-spooking unnatural metal sounds. Padded seat, rail and armrest are decorated in Realtree camo for maximum concealment. MSRP: $329.99 | summitstands.com
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Hunter Safety System Shadow At 27 oz., this is not only the lightest safety harness ever produced by HSS, it’s also an exceptional value. It has a comfortable fit and tactical release buckles, so it goes on easy, and there are no dangling straps or weave-through buckles. MSRP: $49.99 | huntersafetysystem.com
Outdoor Edge RazorBone Want a folding knife that never needs sharpening and will process game start to finish? Then this is what you need. Three 3.5” drop-point blades, two 5” boning/fillet blades, one gut blade, belt sheath, box to store spare blades, and a pocket clip to keep it handy. Are you kidding me? MSRP: $59.95 | outdooredge.com
Vapor Trail Gen 7X Vapor Trail pretty much redefined limb-driven drop rests years ago, and their Gen 7X continues that trend. You might find a cheaper rest for the bowhunter in your life this holiday season, and that’s cool. But I will tell you that you get what you pay for with anything in life, so if you want a one-time gift purchase in the rest department that will pay for itself year after year? Then do what I and other reputable bowhunters in the know have done and slip this one into someone special’s stocking. MSRP: $199 | vaportrailarchery.com
Rage X-Treme NC Open big holes fore and aft with the Rage X-Treme NC (No Collar). The blades open to a 2.3” cutting diameter and create a hole of silly proportions. The 100-grain head is offered in your choice of cut-on-contact of chisel tip. MSRP: $39.99 | ragebroadheads.com
Hunters Specialties NoBull Want to get the attention of whitetail bucks. Then blow on this one. A rigid frame and blend of soft rubber create the realistic sounds it makes. Soft? Loud? You decide. Still can’t get that buck’s attention? Try the removable high-pitched snort-wheeze call. MSRP: $24.99 | hunterspec.com
HuntStand Mobile App I still believe in holding a piece of paper (topo map, newspaper, or the best bowhunting mag of all time) in my hand — I’m old-school I suppose, even though I’m not that old. That said, I’ve come to embrace certain technologies, and the HuntStand app is one of them. It offers tons of tools that are ideal for figuring out your hunt areas. And if you are of the older generation and can’t? Just ask the youth hunter in your house to help you figure it out. MSRP: Free–$24.99 | huntstand.com
Browning High Pile Hooded Jacket A do-all hunt garment, Browning’s all-new High Pile Hooded Jacket (pictured) was designed with a revolutionary fabric that will keep you comfortable in warm and cold conditions alike. The jacket is loaded with purposeful pockets, and the three-piece, fleece-lined hood promises warmth. Add the High Pile Pant, and you have a dynamic duo engineered to meet the demands of any hunt. The pants are constructed from a burr-resistant fabric that, like the jacket, is quiet, functional, and durable. The high-pile fleece traps heat inside, and the tricot-lined waistband and oversized belt loops ensure a perfect fit. MSRP: $100 each | browning.com
Delta McKenzie Speed Bag 500 With today’s high-speed bows, you need a target that can take a “beating.” This is just that target. It measures 2’ square, is 10” thick, and has high-contrast graphics on both sides. Oh yea, no worries on stopping power from this bag target, unless your rig is spitting out arrows faster than 500 fps. MSRP: $65 | dmtargets.com
