Hot New Gadgets from the 2008 SHOT Show
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Motorola's new Talkabout combines a two-way radio with an emergency alert siren and localized NOAA weather. Featuring an LED light, USB charging plug-in, and emergency work list, the EM 1000 comes in rechargeable ($69.99) and AA-battery-operated ($59.99) models. With a range of four to five miles in the woods and up to 20 in the great wide open, the EM 1000 also has quiet talk features and an upgraded headset. Don't leave home without it. Tim Romano
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gadgets, flashlight, knive, multitool, LED, trail cam, bore sighter, radio, shot show, las vegas
This thing is unlike any bore-sighting system I’ve ever seen. Its green laser is visible to the naked eye, in daylight, for up to 100 yards away. Simply insert one end into the muzzle of your rifle (or shotgun, with an adapter), flip on the switch, and you can precisely sight in your firearm. A line-generating lens converts the bore sighter’s laser beam into a horizontal line for aligning reticle crosshairs. $450 to $650, depending on the model.
gadgets, flashlight, knive, multitool, LED, trail cam, bore sighter, radio, shot show, las vegas
Want to call in game and take its picture, even when you’re not there? Now you can do it with the Trail Scout Pro, which features a built-in game call with an external speaker. You can choose from deer, elk, moose, turkey, and predator calls. The camera runs on two D cell batteries, and you can get a solar panel charger to extend their life. $49.95.
gadgets, flashlight, knive, multitool, LED, trail cam, bore sighter, radio, shot show, las vegas
Personal locator devices have gained in popularity in the past decade, and for good reason: They save lives. New from ACR is the MicroFix 406 Personal Locator Beacon, which is small, lightweight, and attaches to your clothing. If you get hurt in the woods, press a button and an internal GPS receiver will acquire your position and transmit it and your personalized code to search and rescue squads. This thing will make you feel secure, no matter how far into the backcountry you may be. $500.
gadgets, flashlight, knive, multitool, LED, trail cam, bore sighter, radio, shot show, las vegas
When I hunted in Saskatchewan last November, the one thing I made sure I had in my pack was a survival kit, with compass, matches, survival blanket, signaling mirror and more. The unit I brought cost $100. Now you can get it all for $25 from Adventure Medical Kits with the S.O.L. (Survive Outdoor Longer), a kit that includes everything you would need to survive a night (or more) in the woods.
gadgets, flashlight, knive, multitool, LED, trail cam, bore sighter, radio, shot show, las vegas
You know how it’s such a pain to take the legs off a turkey or a goose? Knives don’t work, nor do most saws. The Gerber Bonecrusher is a tool specifically designed to dismember large birds. With rubber composite handles to prevent the clipper from sliding in your hand, this tool applies extreme force with hook-style cutters that won’t slip on the bone while you’re cutting. I just want to know why someone didn’t think of this earlier. $40.
gadgets, flashlight, knive, multitool, LED, trail cam, bore sighter, radio, shot show, las vegas
Flashlight technology is on fast track; models made just a few years ago are quickly becoming obsolete. There are a lot of big names in the field, but Coast has quietly emerged as one of the leaders. Coast has a huge variety of lights to choose from, all super-strong L.E.D. lights that work off alkaline batteries instead of Lithium. I especially liked the dual-color models (white and green for stealth, white and red for blood tracking). They cost $75 to $100, depending upon the model – a bargain, when you factor in all the money you’ll save by not having to buy lithium batteries all the time.
gadgets, flashlight, knive, multitool, LED, trail cam, bore sighter, radio, shot show, las vegas
What I liked about the Buck Extract L.E.D. is the light itself — it’s smartly positioned, and lets you see exactly what you’re working on with the tool’s pliers or blade. Did you get a deer right at dark and need to do a field-dressing job? Use the blade and the L.E.D. for close-in work. Need to do a quick repair job on a piece of equipment? Then use the L.E.D. and the pliers. This is a knife first, with some essential multi-tool features. $66.