January 08, 2015
By Bowhunting Online Staff
Bowhunter's demand quality when it comes to their setup. So it stands to reason that if we want that setup to shine, we need to surround it with equally dependable gear.
With a new lineup of bowhunting tools and targets ready to hit the 2015 market, there's never been a better time to replace your old gear. Whether it's a new game recovery cart, LED flashlight or anatomically correct whitetail target, these tools and targets will help you get the most out of your sport.
Check out the best new archery tools and targets for 2015:
Browning | Ignite New to
Browning's hunting knife lineup is the
Ignite , a fixed-blade offering that's handy for everyday hunting uses but also includes a feature that could pay off in a survival situation. The unique feature is a sparking bevel on the blade's spine, which, when struck on the sparking flint on the included polymer sheath, can be used to start a fire. As for the blade, it's 4 inches long and constructed of rugged stainless steel. The blade on the black and gray model features a titanium coating while the black and orange Ignite features a black oxide blade coating.
MSRP: $ 33
Canyon Coolers | Outfitter 35 Hunters looking for a single, do-it-all cooler need look no further than the
Outfitter 35 from Canyon Coolers . Despite its impressive 35-quart size, the cooler weighs just 22 pounds. It features 2-inch-thick walls and a 3-inch-thick lid for excellent insulating qualities. A silicon lid seal creates an air-tight barrier that helps keep ice for weeks, not just a few days. Recessed hinges and square corners help with packing ease, while heavy rope handles and a shoulder strap allow for convenient carrying. The Outfitter 35 is available in sandstone, white, grey and white marble, and will not stain or absorb odor. Like other Canyon coolers, it is covered by a four-year warranty.
MSRP: $ 210
Celestron | FireCel Celestron puts a new spin on the term multi-tool with a pair of unique offerings. The
FireCel features a multi-mode flashlight, a portable power supply for smartphones and other electronics, and a two-temperature hand warmer. The handwarmer offers 110- and 130-degree settings, providing scent-free heat for up to three hours. The five-LED flashlight can operate in red or white mode and includes an SOS feature. The company also offers the TrekCel 3300 and 2200, powerful smartphone and electronic chargers that double as LED flashlights.
MSRP: $ 39.95 (FireCel)
Elevation | Altitude Today's high-performance, high-dollar bows require sturdy protection. They'll get it from the
Altitude soft-sided bow cases from
Elevation . The cases with tough nylon shells featuring Diamond-Lock weave technology, and Comfort-Tec Pro padding. All zippers are heavy duty, and the bottoms of the cases feature tough skid plates. Interior tie-downs keep the bows in place. In addition to the red, white and black Altitude case, Elevation offers a black and camo case with a Mathews logo.
MSRP: Not available
Field Logic | Block Vault Today's high-speed bows and crossbows demand tough targets, and they don't come tougher than the new
Block Vault . The cube-shaped target incorporates a locked-in, high-density layered core, with the internal layers fused to the inner target wall. That design results in a more uniform layer compression, which leads to easier arrow removal and also extends target life.
The Vault, which features four shootable sides, comes in four sizes, ranging from the 16x12-inch medium size to the 22x16-inch XXL.
MSRP: $ 109.99-
$ 179.99
Full Flight Technology | Uno Smartphone App Technology touches most aspects of modern life, and it also can help archers with their sight setup. The new
Uno smartphone app puts a ballistics computer in the palm of a shooter's hand. The app allows you to set multiple sight pins from just one yardage entry, helping to dial-in a new sight in mere minutes.You can also use the app to accurately mark sight tapes on single-pin mover sights. The Uno app can be used alone or with your bow shop's Velocitip Ballistic System for even more precision.
MSRP: $ 9.99
Havalon Knives | Stag Havalon Knives has added to its popular line of replaceable blade, surgically sharp folding knives for 2015 with the all-new
Stag . Featuring a rugged, textured grip for maximum control in either wet or dry weather, the Stag has an overall length of 7€‰3„8 inches, weighs in at just 1.9 ounces and is available in black, blaze orange, desert digital camo and green digital camo. It also offers an open back that makes cleaning simple, ambidextrous thumb studs, liner lock construction, a removable pocket clip and six additional #60A blades.
MSRP: Not available
Hips Archery Targets | X2 Grizzly Today's high-speed bows and crossbows require high-performance targets. The new
X2 Grizzly from Hips Archery Targets offers top-tier performance in a compact, lightweight and durable package. At 18x16x16 inches, the X2 Grizzly is large enough to work well for long-range shooting, yet the target weighs in at just 9 pounds for easy portability.
Like all Hips targets, the X2 Grizzly features 2-inch vertical layers, which are heat-welded for strength. The target's design and high-density foam construction allows for six-sided shooting, and the foam is durable enough to withstand hundreds of shots.
MSRP: $ 168.99
Hunter's Specialties | Butt Hook Combo Hunter's Specialties hit a home run with its Butt Out, and now the company is enhancing the package. The new
Butt Hook Combo includes the popular Butt Out 2 game-dressing tool, along with a new Gut Hook tool.
The Butt Out simplifies field dressing by enabling hunters to quickly remove the alimentary canal from deer and similar-sized animals. The Gut Hook uses a replaceable standard utility knife blade in an ergonomically designed polymer handle with molded finger grips. Blaze orange coloring ensures the handy tools don't get left behind on the forest floor.
MSRP: $ 24.99
IBattz | Mojo Battstation Optimus A full day in the deer stand lasts a lot longer than your cell phone battery. But you can text your buddies and surf the Web to your heart's content with the new
Mojo BattStation Optimus from iBattz , which features a 20,400mAH battery that provides eight full smartphone charges before running out of power itself. The high-performance Panasonic battery inside the Optimus is the same one used to power electric cars. The Optimus also features 2.1A and 1A USB ports, which allows you to charge two items simultaneously. There's even a built-in LED flashlight for helping organize your gear before daylight or after dark.
MSRP: $ 129.95
Iron Mountain | Game Vector Game Recovery System Tracking game is a critical component of hunting, and the new
Game Vector Game Recovery System from Iron Mountain gives hunters an edge when it comes to recovering downed animals. The system uses the tiny HideRider transmitter, carried just behind the broadhead. The transmitter, attaches to the animal's hide on impact and emits a signal for 48 to 72 hours at a range of up to two miles. The companion receiver emits tones and a series of color signals that indicate the signal strength and distance to the animal.
MSRP: $ 399.99
Lakewood Products | C-250 Take-Down Recurve Case Lakewood Products has expanded its line of tough hunting and fishing protective cases with the traditional bowhunter in mind. The company's new
C-250 Take-Down Recurve Case is a no-nonsense case sized for take-down recurve or long bows. The two part case also will hold up to two dozen arrows, with the included foam insert separating the bow and accessories from the arrows. The ballistic nylon exterior is available in either black or True-Timber camouflage.
MSRP: $ 139.99
Morrell Targets | Bionic Buck Classic Visualization is an important aspect of preparation for hunters. Bowhunters can get a visualization boost to prepare for that critical moment when a trophy buck steps into range by practicing with the
Morrell Targets Bionic Buck . The buck is constructed with Reverse Vital Technology. Rather than pulling out a shot-out vitals section and replacing with a new one, the target features reversible head and butt plates. The legs are then switched over, resulting in a fresh vitals zone.
As for the target's headgear, it's a 180-class, drop-tine rack that will help prepare hunters for that critical moment of truth. The buck is for fieldpoint use only, ensuring a long life.
MSRP: $ 259.99
Pelican | 3310PL Pelican ProGear LED The best flashlight in the world won't do much good if you can't find it in the pitch dark. Coated with a special photoluminescent finish, the
3310PL Pelican ProGear LED flashlight literally glows in the dark. And when the flashlight is in hand, it lights up the night with three modes — flashing, low (28 lumens) and high (234 lumens). At the high setting, the 3310PL features a beam distance of a whopping 240 meters. Powered by three AA batteries, the unit can run up to eight hours and 45 minutes. It is backed by a lifetime warranty.
MSRP: $ 39.95
Rinehart | Booner Buck Mule Deer Rinehart wowed hunters in 2014 with the release of its
Booner Buck 3-D archery target, and the company is at it again. New for 2015 is the Booner Buck Mule Deer, a life-size target that will help hunters prepare for their next muley hunt in the most accurate way possible.
The Booner mule deer simulates a 200-pound buck, standing 58 inches tall and 45 inches long. The buck sports a massive rack. With its Woodland Foam construction and self-healing Woodland Foam insert, the target can withstand many hundreds of shots from bows and crossbows.
MSRP: $ 349.99
Rocky Mountain Scrimshaw | Tom High Rings For many, hunting is more than a passion. It's a lifestyle. The works of Native American artist Tom High capture the passion and majesty of the wild. High has designed
two new ring styles with the avid hunter in mind. One features an arrowhead and elk antler design, while the other features a white-tailed deer and a turkey track. Both are framed around either natural turquoise or bull elk ivory. Hunters can supply their own bull elk ivory, or High will provide it. The rings are available in sterling silver or 14 karat gold.
MSRP: $ 295
Sherpa Hunting Many hunters rely on all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles when it comes to packing heavy loads across their hunting grounds. But what about hunters who pursue game where using motorized vehicles is not allowed?
Sherpa Hunting offers a solution with its revolutionary kits that convert climbing treestands into wheeled game carts.
The kit components weigh just 10 pounds, but the carts are capable of hauling loads up to 250 pounds. The made-in-the-USA kits are currently available for all modern Summit, API and Ol' Man brand climbers, with additional models forthcoming.
MSRP: $ 99.97
Skull Hooker | Skull Cap More and more hunters are going old school when it comes to antler display, opting for simple options such as European mounts or even basic skull plates. The
Skull Cap , the newest product from
Skull Hooker , is a stylish and affordable way to cover a deer's skull. It's designed to work with or without Skull Hooker's popular Bone Bracket.
MSRP: $ 9.99
Tenzing | TC BH14 Tenzing's new TC BH14 'The
Choice ' Binocular Holster , endorsed by Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo, features ultra-thin, breathable,€„€„spandex-mesh shoulder straps and is designed to fit most roof-prism binos. A waterproof bino pocket with breathable side panels will prevent fogging, and two additional side pockets can serve as homes for your calls or wind detector. Also, one-inch, adjustable, elastic side straps are present to keep your binos tight to your body at all times. Comes in Realtree Xtra camo.
MSRP: $ 49.99
ThermaCell | Heated Insoles Revolutionary
new portable heat packs from ThermaCell will help hunters stay warm on stand. The heat packs use the same rechargeable battery technology featured in ThermaCell's popular heated insoles. Available in small and large sizes, the packs offer three heat levels — low (104 degrees F), medium (113 degrees) and high (122 degrees). Run time ranges from three to six hours, depending on heat setting. Charge time is two to three hours for the small and three to four hours for the large, and each unit can be recharged more than 500 times.
MSRP: $ 79.99 (per 2 small packs),
$ 69.99 (per single large pack)
TORQ | VLE Engineered for silence, safety and peformance, the new
TORQ VLE just may be the ultimate rig for helping hunters cover lots of ground. The TORQ VLE is a single-driver electric vehicle that's quicker, quieter, lighter and tighter than any other electric vehicle on the market.
VLE stands for Very Light Electric, and the vehicle's light weight of just over 800 pounds is a key to its excellent performance, including brisk acceleration and a top speed of 35 mph. A low center of gravity, large tires, all-wheel disc brakes and fully independent suspension create a nimble rig, and a four-point safety harness and full roll cage ensure driver safety.
MSRP: $ 13,500
Deadeye Hunter Trivia | Whitetail Deer Edition Games are an age-old tradition in deer camp.
Deadeye Hunter Trivia's Whitetail Deer Edition offers an alternative to the traditional poker games and the like. The game contains more than 350 trivia questions related to whitetail deer and deer hunting, including deer behavior, biology, hunting techniques and more. So hunters not only can have fun competing against their buddies, they can learn along the way. The game is suitable for players of all ages.
MSRP: $ 19.99
Viking Solutions | Stick-It Before dawn or after dark, hunters who need to shine light on the situation have a unique new option from
Viking Solutions that allows them to keep both their hands free. The
Stick-It is a mounting system for flashlights that gives users the option of using a magnet or a screw to hold the light in place. The mount will handle lights up to those that use two C cell batteries. The base of the Stick-It swivels to allow for the best light position.
MSRP: $ 19.99
