ATA 2017: Best New Hunting Innovations

It's almost impossible to remember every new product you saw after three straight days of walking the floor of the annual ATA Trade Show. But when all is said and done, there are a few certain products that seem to stick in your memory just a bit longer than all the rest.

They don't have to be the most expensive products on the floor, or the flashiest or the most hyped. But what they all have in common is practicality. These items are certain to make next season a bit easier or a bit better for bowhunters, and in some cases you stop and wonder why nobody thought of this before. What follows is a list that I'm calling "The Best of the Rest." In other words, here's a compilation of products that we didn't make into a category of it's own, but are still among the best new hunting innovations at the show.

Hunter Safety System

With all the time and effort to keep our hunting jackets, pants and boots completely scent-free, how many people actually consider doing the same to their safety harness? After all, it goes with us to the woods every time. Hunter Safety System's ElimiShield Technology brings a completely new approach to the table, and it attacks human odors before it starts. This pre-treating is available in four of the company's most popular harnesses — the Hybrid, Elite, Crossbow and Contour — and has a 99-percent effectiveness rate even after 50 commercial washes. Better yet, there will be no price increases to these harnesses.

Celestron

I don't know about you, but whenever I can kill two birds with one stone, I'm all for it. Make it three birds and you've got the ThermoTorch 5 from Celestron. This item is a tactical flashlight with three powers of lightning, a hand warmer and a charging station for all your electronics devices for up to six hours at the same time. Simply put, this is a tool that I'd want to keep in my hunting pack all season long.

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LaCrosse Footwear

The Alphaburly Pro from LaCrosse is one of the most popular hunting boots on the market, and now it's the first rubber hunting boot to be connected with Optifade Elevated II concealment after an agreement with Sitka Gear. Brilliant right? Like I said at the start of this article, sometimes things seem so 'right' that you wonder why it hasn't happened before. In this situation, two great brands have come together to make a great product even better. So, although the product already existed in a major way, a great upgrade still took place.

Sitka Gear

Speaking of Sitka, here is one company that went above and beyond to put the best women's clothing lineup on the market. The company's popular Fanatic line has been re-designed for women, by women, for the best fit possible. Now there's no longer a reason to settle for wearing men's clothing that quite simply doesn't fit and won't keep them warm. This was certainly a long time in the making, and I'm glad to see it finally come to fruition.

TRUGLO

TRUGLO has provided a little bit of a twist to your traditional drop-away arrow rest with the Lock-Fire. Delayed drop actuation is one key feature, as this supports the arrow longer for increased accuracy and consistency, but still drops rapidly as the vane approaches for complete clearance. The thumb lever will raise the launcher for full containment, and will remain in the upright position should you need to let down.

More on the Way

There are at least two more items to add to this list that are sure to be a hit. Details, however, haven't been finalized or released to the public at this time. Check back again soon for the latest update — I think you'll be glad you did.