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Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Articles > Hunting Articles Archives > SHOT Show Top 5
SHOT Show Top 5
Xavier Limon - JHO ProStaff
- SoCal
February 26, 2005
The SHOT (Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade) Show is the largest tradeshow for the hunting and shooting community. Closed to the general public, it allows manufacturers, retailers and the press to gather around and view the latest products on the market. With over half a million square feet of show space, it takes nearly every day of the four day SHOT Show to see everything. From beef jerky to the Outdoor Channel, not a single faction of the industry was missed. Here is a summary of my top five items from this years show.
Mad Dog Buzz Off
My favorite item of the Shot Show was Mad Dog’s introduction of the BUZZ OFF™ Insect Shield Insect Repellent line of camouflage apparel and accessories. Buzz Off is the only insect repellant clothing line to be registered by the EPA. You no longer have to worry about forgetting the spray or electronic repellants, or the harmful side effects of traditional spray repellants. The new Buzz Off line includes pants, shirts, hats, gloves, bandanas, sweatshirts, and jackets. According to the marketing information, when testing the product in the swamps of Louisiana, it was so effective, they couldn’t even get pictures of the mosquitoes being repelled – they were already long gone! Buzz Off clothing will repel mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and no-see-ums. Look for the Buzz Off line of apparel and accessories in the JHO store in the near future.
Flatland Decoys
If you’re in the market for full body decoys, don’t overlook the Flatland Decoy Company. The Flatland Decoy Company, based in Wisconsin, offers Canada, Specklebelly, Snow and Blue Phase full body decoys. The unique characteristic of these decoys is that they are all identical when it comes to molds. Yes, you read it right; all 4 decoys have the same shape. This has an immediate effect on production costs and the savings is passed on to the consumer. The snow/blue decoys retail for $89 per 4 and the Canada and Speck retail for $99 per 4. One of the more important features of the Flatland Decoy, one which is becoming more popular within decoy producers, is the utilization of plastic which is the exact color of the decoys base color. This eliminates the problem of paint chipping and discoloration, resulting in a longer lasting decoy. For more information, check out their website: www.flatlanddecoy.com
Final Approach Air Controller
New to the industry leading Final Approach layout blinds catalog, is an inflatable blind called the “Air Controller”. With no aluminum frame to carry around, it’s lightweight and easily customized. The blind includes a pump that is able to inflate the blind in seconds. At 14 inches high, it maintains the low profile design that the Final Approach blinds are known for. For the times that you have to walk in to your site and have to strap everything on your back or on a cart, the lightweight Air Controller is the most desirable option around.
All Digital e-callers
Let’s face it; the days of lugging out an electronic caller that resembles your own home entertainment center are long gone! Now storming the market is a mass influx of digital callers. Lightweight, fool proof, and much more durable, the digital e-callers will make using them more enjoyable. While I was at the SHOT Show this January, I couldn’t overlook the fact that the new digital e-callers appear to out number the older tape & CD versions about 3-1. There are basically two different types of e-callers on the market right now. One is preprogrammed with all sounds and the others have interchangeable sound cards, most vendors offering e-callers will produce each type. The e-callers that offer interchangeable sound cards will usually demand a higher price mostly due to the wider range of sounds available. If you are participating in the ever increasing spring white goose hunts across the Midwest, no doubt you have used an e-caller, if you haven’t – get one today! You can find a wide selection in the JHO store.
HS Portable Blind
If you are sick and tired of carrying out a heavy and cumbersome blind to your hunting location, the folks at Hunter Specialties have a solution. At 54 inches tall and expandable to 12 feet wide, this portable blind can be used for nearly every hunting application. Whether dove hunting, waterfowl hunting or big game hunting, this blind can be stretched, twisted, and configured to accommodate any angle you’d need. One advantage of the HS portable blind is the tapered posts. This allows for a more stable blind. The blind is available in three patterns: RealTree Hardwoods® HD, Advantage Timber®, and Advantage® Max-4 HD. You can purchase additional patterns individually.
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