Seriously, what IS new?
OK, maybe I’m jaded. Maybe after coming to seven SHOT Shows in as many years, the impact just isn’t what it was. I mean, I see all the signs up there over these products proclaiming “NEW FOR 2009!”, but when I look, I think I mostly see the same old things. As my new friend and temporary roommate, Albert Rasch said, “how many ways can you slice a piece of cheese?”
I suppose if I were more into “black rifles”, I’d be pretty fired up over all the things that are going on out there. The tactical and law enforcement area is hopping and running over into the rest of the Convention Center. Heck, even Woolrich is getting in on the tactical market!
But all that said, the worst day at the SHOT Show is a day of wonder and awe. There really is some pretty incredible stuff out there. Here are a few things that struck me as a little bit different.
I was over at the Mossy Oak booth yesterday, hoping to speak to Tim Brooks, regarding Mossy Oak’s venture into native plants nurseries, when I stumbled across this saddle. All of the leather work had been dipped in the Mossy Oak camo, and it looked absolutely spectacular! I want one!
I mean, really… getting your truck done in camo is cool. But riding up to the ranch on this saddle… oh yeah.
The real kicker is that during the Winchester/Browning Range Day, they gave away door prizes. One prize was to have an object of your choice dipped in Mossy Oak camo. Of course, like everyone else, I was trying to figure out which rifle I’d get dipped. It never occurred to me to get my saddle done! Of course, I didn’t win anyway, so it’s a moot point… but it’s good for conversation.
Another one is this intriguing little deal from Ozonics. Yeah, as in ozone. This unit dispenses ozone into the air over 
your stand or ground blind, causing your scent molecules to essentially become salts and drop out of the air. The only thing left is the ozone gas, which then travels with the wind to kill your scent wherever it goes.
Good idea? Well… maybe. I’ve often been guilty of ridiculing most of the scent control products on the market… or at least casting some significant aspersion. Most big game animals are capable of picking up scent in tiny parts-per-million quantities. That’s the needle in the atmospheric haystack, and if anyone thinks they can hide every single needle I’ve got a bridge to sell you. It crosses over this ocean front property.
But this might be different. Theoretically, it should work as advertised, and it’s entirely possible that it does. The folks killing critters in the videos from dead upwind are apparently not concerned about their scent, and the critters are rolling right on into the breeze.
Personally, I’m taking the Missouri approach on this thing. Show me, first hand. Run me around in the heat for an hour, and then put me in a ground blind upwind of some wild hogs with this device running full blast. If those hogs ignore my stink and come on in close enough to stick an arrow in one, then I’ll buy this device.
Another one that really caught my eye was an electronic game call. Now I’ve never been much of a predator hunter, but I’ve seen and heard several of the leading game calls. This one, called “The Kernel“, didn’t seem to have much on them. Sound quality was pretty sketchy, and realism (to my ear) was modest at best. But the thing that really, got me going was one of the sounds this device offers… the sound of a game feeder going off.
Now if you’ve never heard a feeder spin up, I can only tell you it’s a truly distinctive sound. It’s also a fact that, in places where the animals have become acclimated to feeders, when that sucker goes off it’s like a class bell in middle school. The animals come running. So, creating a call that replicates that sound is really, danged genius! Even better, the inventor, Mr. Brad Cornell, has patented the sound!
Seriously, I’m not making fun here. This guy is absolutely onto something, and while the call itself didn’t do much for me, the idea of patenting and using the sound of a feeder is just brilliant!
There’s more, but I wanna wrap up this evening with something I did think was really cool. These new grills, from 
Teton Grill Co. are practically works of art! From the lazer-etched, stainless steel, to the antler handles… these are just beautiful! A little gaudy? I don’t think so, but of course there’s no accounting for taste. But if I could swing the ticket, I’d have one in my backyard right now!
Not only are they pretty, by the way, but these grills are designed to do some serious cooking! The top-of-the-line series as shown here generates about 72,000 BTUs, and includes a nice electric rotisserie and warmers. Everything you’d want to get down to some serious wild game cooking after that successful hunt.
OK, I know that last bit sounded like an advertising spiel… so sorry. But I really did get a little excited when I saw these things.
There’s a lot more, but that’s enough for one night. I’m headed back to the show tomorrow, and there’s still an awful lot to see and report!
It sounds like fun, too bad you’ve already been SEVEN times. Quit yer moanin’, I’ve never been.
I’m Kidding.
However, I’m not kidding about the Ozonics product when I say that I’d stay away from it for three reasons:
First, scent eliminators are, in the immortal words of Click & Clack, “Bogus!”;
But even more important, ozone damages lung functions at high concentrations. The EPA has set ambient air levels at ~80 parts per billion, (even though their scientists and advisory board asked for 50 ppb). My guess is, if this product produces less than that, then it’s worthless; if it produces more, I’d be concerned, & ESPECIALLY for folks who already have limited lung capacities, like smokers, asthmatics, etc. Asthmatics, in particular, have been identified by the EPA as being, “acutely responsive” to ozone exposure (see http://www.epa.gov/03healthtraining/effects.html).
Sitting in this stuff all morning can’t be good for you. The weird part? Their website seems to anticipate this kind of feedback, because they repeatedly describe ozone as, “safe”, & “cleansing”. If you read the FAQ, you get a sense that they may be a bit worried about the potential PR fallout from the fact that this stuff is just not good for you to breathe.
And last? Six hundred bucks! Find a feather, and learn how to use it. If you want to blow $600, buy me a nice scope for my Savage 110e.