@Dave, about 5 years ago, as a totally green "new hunter" I wrote to Petzel asking for his recommendation for my first rifle, he gave me his recommendation based on the price/value/use parameters that I had set.
He highly recommended the Tikka T-3 hunter in .270.
I have a good buddy who is a "higher up" at Beretta, and based on these two factors I got the Tikka.
I could not be more satisfied.
I topped it with a scope of my choosing, done after extensive research, it is a bushnell elite 4200,...two months later,F & S recommended this very scope, again I could not be any more satisfied.
I can say the exact same for my snake boots, binoculars and one or two other key items...purchased BEFORE F & S recommended them.
All of the above referenced products are in the low-mid price ranges, and although I've not seen any "featured" in F & S, they each were recommended with 5 stars.

I could not be more satisfied.

I still do a lot of research before I purchase anything, money is valuable to me, but F & S is a definite part of my research tool kit.

Well said, and I hope you keep it up.

I routinely buy hunting gear based off of reviews I read in Field & Stream. So far a new knife, axe, and bow. I have not been lead astray yet. Keep up the good work.

It's pretty easy to spot the people/companies with integrity these days...because unfortunately it has become the exception, not the norm. F&S, along with a handful of others, has it (along with a solid product); so I wouldn't be concerned with the nay-sayers if I were you.

Well said and I do trust that your reviews and observations are from a neutral point of view. I'm a life member of a club that does nothing but sell, sell, and sell. I joined it over 20 years ago when it had some integrity but I just delete their posts anymore. I'm an ardent fan of your and subscriber to Field and Stream and will continue to be for as long as you and Scott are there. Good work and thank you!

Just as a curiosty stand point i's like to see other brands tested, i've always wondered when i havent seen a product in a review if was tested or not in that brand

Well said. I tend to crap on gear reviews because I think the whole gotta-have-stuff commercialization of hunting and fishing (but mostly hunting) is getting downright sickening. Not an issue of any particular writer's or publisher's integrity or lack thereof. It's just an across the board epidemic that I'm generally critical of.

Dave, Scott and guys,
First a couple things. The importance of fair and accurate and ethical reporting on products is why this magazine continues to be one of the top hunting & fishing mags in the world. I happen to work in the Fly Fishing industry and hunting industry. I've never had to "Pay" to have a product reviewed. You submit your products and or the editorial staff contacts you, no "quid pro quo" with these guys, nor with any other of the major magazines we've worked with.
Now that said, we manufacture the worlds best hunting chairs, www.huntmore.biz and I've do a ton of hunting from the ground in a ghille or leafy suit with my longbow. I've seen deer do unexplainable things and I've experienced unexplainable "Feelings" while hunting. I've just know there was a deer coming, or it's presence before it was there. Sure it could be years and years of hunting... but I don't think so. I get the same feeling grouse hunting, sure it could be my eyes can just recognize "Grouse areas". But I also use to fish on the Big Manistee with a local indian fishing guide. I've seen him stop at runs that we normally fish and then just leave. I've asked him why we left... Doug said he just didn't sense fish being there. I've also seen him re-float a run over and over with plugs because he sensed there were Steelhead still there...

Years ago I read a book called "The Tracker" by Tom Brown Jr. Field & Stream did an article on him years ago... That article and hunting in a loin cloth after coating yourself in mud, fire-pit ash, twigs and leaves is still on my bucket list. Maybe this Fall will be warm enough to do this. BTW, You should have contacted him about this 6th sense issue. Also, my cousins son became an instructor of his school years back. I've done some of they're exercises where you try and sense others while being blindfolded. I'd still love to get Tom or Clint to test sensing other people in the dark or blindfolded while the test subjects are wearing and not wearing a HECS suit. That might be as close as you can come to a scientific test.

Scott Bestul has it correct about not starting directly at a deer, or as we say "think happy thoughts", don't think about venison steaks on the grill! The problem with being a Traditional bowhunter who shoots instinctively, my eyes have to lock on to a "spot" on the deer to shoot effectively. I try to not do this, especially when there are a bunch of does meandering into range looking like venison steaks. Thankfully, most of the time when I pick that spot, the deer freezes in position, sensing my stare, not know for sure what is up. Other times when my heart is pounding out it's electronic signal, a deer that is very sensitive will quietly and quickly walk out of range... why?

So when I saw the HECs suit at a show, I bought one. And IMHO, they work. Sure it's hard to scientifically prove it and do a side by side study. All I can tell you there are a ton of folks who work in the hunting industry that use them and swear by them.

IMHO.