Field and Stream - Gear RSS

The Best New Knives of 2012

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:04:49 -0500

These are the best new knives for outdoorsmen available in 2012.

The Best New Rifles of 2012

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:41:18 -0500

The Best New Rifles of 2012.

Rocky L3 Gloves Let You Use a Touchscreen

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:37:32 -0500

Those long waits in the stand or the blind can be a little easier with these gloves that let you access your spartphones' features, like the Rut Reporter app...or, you know, Fruit Ninja.

SHOT Has Gone To The Zombies, and That May Not Be All Bad

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:42:51 -0500

by Phil Bourjaily

After two-and-a-half days of trudging the aisles of the Sands Convention and Visitor Center I’m still not sure what I have seen, other than lots and lots of people. Against all reasonable expectation, the show continues to be very well-attended. People are in a gun-buying mood and one vendor looked at the crowds in disbelief and said to me “I just wonder when it’s all going to end. I think people must give up their indulgences last.”

Whatever the case, I have seen some interesting shotguns, although not much new in shotgun ammunition. Hunting clothes keep getting better, lighter, thinner and warmer, which is a good thing. On the other hand, manufacturers are piling on the zombie bandwagon with zombie guns (Mossberg’s tactical Model 94, called the 464 SPX is the most egregious example); zombie ammunition and zombie targets.

Pro Ears ReVO: Hearing Protection Designed For Young Shooters

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:11:49 -0500

This set of ears was designed for youth shooters from the ground up, rather than modifying an existing design. The ear pads are specially shaped to eliminate gaps in the seal around the ear near the jawline on smaller heads.

Thompson Center’s New Multi-Caliber Rifle Platform: The Dimension

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:03:38 -0500

This isn’t a standard bolt action rifle, it’s a whole new concept in terms of how to have a multi-caliber platform in one system.

SHOT Show 2012 From The Floor: Day 2

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:34:22 -0500

Photos from the floor of SHOT Show 2012, Day 2.

Rifle Milestone: The Remington Model 700 Celebrates Its 50th Birthday

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:09:21 -0500

The Remington Model 700 is one of the finest sporting rifles ever made. It debuted 50 years ago chambered for the then new 7 Remington magnum. Check out the commemorative anniversary edition here.

Browning Invector DS Choke Tube System

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:35:57 -0500

Check out the newest shotgun choke-tube system from Browning.

New Winchester PDX .223 and .308 Self-Defense Ammo

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:37:39 -0500

Winchester has added two rifle rounds to its popular self-defense PDX line of ammunition in .223 and .308. Check out this video for more details.

Trivia Question: What Bow Did Bo Duke Shoot?

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:36:21 -0500

by Dave Hurteau

We all have our embarrassing secrets. I’ll spare you mine, for the most part. But for the purposes of this blog, I will admit to one: As much as I would like to trace my interest in archery to the likes of Hill, Bear, Pope, or Young, the truth is that the real greats were all before my time. No, being a product of the television generation (an embarrassing admission itself), my initial fascination with archery was sparked by the exploding arrows of—cringe—Bo and Luke Duke.

Vibration and Hand Shock from Compound Bows in Super Slow Motion

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:39:01 -0500

by Dave Hurteau

If you saw David Maccar’s recent post “High-Speed Video: .308 vs. Soup Can” (if you didn’t you should) then you know that we recently had the use of some spectacularly sophisticated high-speed cameras.

For this video, we wanted to see something that is normally only felt: hand shock and vibration from a bow. At 19,300 frames per second, two things jump out at me:

Good Gear: Have You Any Wool?

Online Editors — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:06:29 -0500

by David E. Petzal

As synthetic hunting clothing gets lighter, thinner, and warmer, it’s tempting to regard wool as outmoded. However, sheep spent millions of years perfecting it for your benefit, and wool has a couple of qualities that I have yet to see any synthetic match—it’s really, truly quiet, and oh boy, is it tough. If you’re looking for something to wear while you creep through the peckerpole pines for the next 40 years, wool is what you want.

Which is why you should be aware of a new company called Silent Predator. This firm makes extremely high quality wool parkas, jackets, vests, and trousers, all in camo. The wool is milled for them by Pendleton and sewn to order in Canada. Here’s how it works: Go to silentpredator.ca and look for the name of the dealer nearest you. He is your contact. Give him a call and tell him what kind of hunting you do and he can suggest what you need. (While you’re on the website, click on Products and you can get a good idea of what’s available.)

Camo Gear for Your ATV

Online Editors — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:51:24 -0500

It's time to get your four wheeler ready for the hunting season. These camouflage accessories will help.

Best New ATVs and UTVs

Online Editors — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:35:17 -0500

We review and rank the best new ATVs and UTVs. Find out which is the right bike to get you to your hunting spot and back.

A Cabela’s Christmas

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:39:42 -0500

by David E. Petzal

Cabela’s, perhaps because it’s their 50th anniversary, or because they’re getting soft in the head, or because they felt sorry for me, sent me a whole sleighload of gear to play with this past hunting season, so much so that our UPS guy developed a conspiratorial smirk each time he drove up with a new package from Sidney, Nebraska. Everything that follows, I’ve used, but first a note:

All of this gear comes in the company’s Outfitter camo pattern, which is the only one I’ve ever seen that you can take anywhere without standing out like a zit on your daughter’s forehead the night before the prom. You may, if you wish, opt for a pattern such as Redbug and Pellagra, but eventually you’ll regret it.

Bow and Rifle Pack It’s 2400 cubic inches overall and weighs 4 pounds. The pack has a 2-litre water bladder, holds a reasonable amount of small stuff, plus shooting sticks and a spotting scope, and lets you carry your rifle down the center of your back, making it a hell of a lot easier to lug, and freeing both hands. The Bow and Rifle Pack has an excellent suspension, a waist belt big enough to go around the guts of even the calorically challenged, and no flaws that I can find. If you’ve never carried a rifle this way before, the Bow and Rifle will make a believer out of you. $150.

ATV Check-Up: How to Make Sure Your Quad is Running Healthy in 10 Minutes

Online Editors — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:09:41 -0500

Before you even think of hitting the trail, perform this quick ATV check-up.

Petzal's Take on Under Armour for Hunters

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:42:17 -0500

Under Armour started as a manufacturer of gym clothes for people with 28-inch waists and 52-inch chests. Recently, they branched out into hunting clothes, and this September, I found myself in a hunting camp where I was the only one not wearing something from Under Armour. Shocked and appalled at how out of touch I was, I got hold of two items from Under Armour. One is the Men’s ArmourLoft Component Hunting Jacket, and the other is the Men’s Big Shell Hunting Jacke t . I’ve worn them in fair weather and foul in New York and Maine and Montana and Wyoming, and am pleased to report they’re nothing short of terrific.

The Component Hunting Jacket is designed to be worn under the Big Shell, or it can be worn by itself. It’s devoid of bells and whistles, and is extremely warm. I don’t know what it’s stuffed with—possibly the undercoats of musk oxen—but if you get cold wearing this thing, best see a doctor. Because the stuffing is so dense, it will not squash down into a fist-sized wad, but that’s about the end of its limitations.

The Big Shell Jacket, despite being labeled a jacket, is about parka length on a person of average height. It’s very light, folds into a small package, is cut quite full, and is very simple in design. There is no special pocket for your Lone Ranger Decoder Ring. Blessedly, it comes in loden green and not camo, which means you can wear it almost anywhere and blend in and you can wear it in the off-season as well. Under Armour says it is wind and water proof, and they are not kidding.

Why Bass Fishers and High Stickers Should Love Czech Nymphing

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:29:15 -0500

by Kirk Deeter

I've been hanging out with Steve Parrott of the Blue Quill Angler in Evergreen, Colorado, lately, and I have to tell you, I think he's made me a convert to Czech nymphing.

Steve has a relatively new DVD on the subject, which I eagerly endorse as a potential stocking stuffer, because he takes a topic that many of us find, well, literally "foreign," and brings it right home in a way that's easy to understand.

Major Tackle Manufacturers Moving Out of China

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:19:49 -0500

by John Merwin

Let’s talk about China, Inc.. If you’ve bought much low- to medium-priced fishing tackle lately, chances are it was made in China. That country’s manufacturing capacity and sophistication have grown enormously in recent years, which combined with relatively cheap, skilled labor made it a logical source for many global tackle brands. But now that appears to be changing.

Not that Chinese-made tackle is about to disappear. It’s a very big industry there, and the Chinese fishing-trade expo--called “China Fish”--is a huge international deal.

But consider this current headline from the European fishing-trade journal Angling International: “Giants Accelerate Move out of China.” Rapala, for example, is moving some lure manufacturing along with some VMC hook operations from China to Batam, Indonesia.

Oldies But Goodies: 85-Year-Old Hunter Still Uses Gear from the 1940's

Sarah Smith — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:28:39 -0500

--Chad Love

Are you a gadgeteer, an early adopter or a fan of the latest, the greatest, the coolest or the newly-improved? Does your garage resemble the bargain cave at a Cabela's store?

Are you constantly buying, trying and then casting aside every new piece of gear or the latest super-duper, high-tech camo pattern that comes down the pike? Then maybe you could learn a thing or two from Bernard Baxter.

From this story in the (Iona County, Mich.) Sentinel-Standard:

Bernard Baxter, 85, has shot almost as many deer as the number of years he has been hunting. This year on Nov. 16, using his trusty Remington 16-gauge, three-shot automatic shotgun, he shot his 55th, a six point buck.

The 2011 Angler's Holiday Gift Guide

Joe_Cermele — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:47:26 -0500

Looking for something to buy the special fisherman in your life? Maybe you're the angler and need to supply gift ideas to friends and loved ones. Either way, Field & Stream Fishing Editor Joe Cermele and Editor at Large Kirk Deeter have selected 30 top gear items ranging in price from "stocking stuffer" to "holy cow, that's one heck of a gift!" These wares are sure to please, and most have been tested throughout the 2011 fishing season for quality assurance and the F&S seal of approval. Happy shopping!

Review: New Work Sharp Honing Rod

Online Editors — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:13:48 -0500

by David E. Petzal

Some time ago I introduced you to the Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener, a small belt sharpener that has had roughly the same impact on Western civilization as the printing press, penicillin, and the Hula Hoop, and all because it is the first device that will let even the most fumble-fingered put a razor edge on nearly anything that cuts. (I have put a paper-slicing edge on a Cold Steel Spetsnaz shovel with it.)

Score Some Bucks, Win a Bushnell Elite Scope

Sarah Smith — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:24:24 -0500

by Dave Hurteau

I just got back from hunting whitetails at Trophy Ridge Outfitters in northeastern Wyoming (more on that soon) with representatives from Browning, Winchester, the NSSF and Bushnell.

For the hunt, the last gave me the use of a Bushnell Elite riflescope with the company’s DOA reticle, which allows even the simplest of riflemen to figure bullet drop at a glance, and which performed very nicely indeed. (All of the bucks I’ll post for this contest were taken on this trip and, I believe, taken with some version of this scope.)

What Info Should Be On Your Gun Dog's Collar Tag?

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:49:13 -0400

by Chad Love

I've previously blogged about the dangers of losing your dog. By now many of you and your dogs have been hunting for well over a month, and hopefully none of you have experienced it this season. A lost dog in the field (or anywhere) is one of the most panic-inducing things a hunter can experience. That’s why most of us have our dogs chipped, have flat tags riveted to their collars and why many of us run GPS collars like the Astro when we hunt.

But here’s an interesting question: What do you have stamped on your dog’s collar tag? I have to admit, I’ve always just included my name, city, state and home phone number and called it good, but as I was ordering new collars for my dogs recently I read an interesting article on Steve Snell’s gundogsupply website that detailed what Steve considered the most important information for a collar tag, which includes multiple phone numbers, your name and not the dog’s, followed by your city and state.