Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire The last 25 years -- what products have made a difference?

The post about the shortfats set me to thinking -- what hunting product in the last quarter century or so has made a real impact on our passion? Here's my list, in no particular order:

Synthetic fabrics. Sorry, wool fans, staying dry and warm has never been easier.

Gore-Tex and similar products. See above. There's no comparison.

Lazer range finders. Miracle workers? No. With an average amount of practice and common sense, they make it possible to kill well at much longer ranges. Now if they could just bottle practice and common sense.

Good optics. The bar is much raised here. Sure, there have always been good top end optics. Now the middle of the pack is much better -- and the competition is driving quality up and price down.

GPS. Not everyone has an inerrant sense of direction. I should know.

Riflestock options. On average, they just perform better -- if stability is the bottom line.

Digital cameras. See 24hourcampfire for plenty of evidence (thanks, Rick and all posters).

The internet. All in all, a net gain for the discriminating.

CNC machining. It's possible to make bunches of much better guns and bows now, all things being equal.

Shortfat crtridges? I dunno. They don't seem as impactful as the .17 rimfire to me, but the folks that matter -- those who vote with their wallets -- have settled the issue. And do the shortfats really make the difference that temperature insensitive powders do for reloaders?

Better quality bullets and factory cartridges. Isn't this self-evident?

More?

Marketing, for example :
Buckmasters, real-Tree Camo & OLN has spawned a huge interest.

And the obvious - Treestands, remember the original BAKER Tree stand?

Yeah, marketing. Almost forgot. Buckmasters ... pass the puke bucket.

Possibly the Scent Loc system and similar products. I really agree on the optics especialy the coatings. D

"Scentless" products, improvements in optics, LAZER TECHNOLOGY!, GPS, Goretex, fleece, etc., bullet technology, game plot management.

And of course, the home computer. I'm still about 15 years behind the curve on this one!

Of these, I would say the development of the LAZER and the home computer are of the most significance because of their range of application and usefullness, across the board, and not just confined to outdoors/hunting.

Talus,

You mentioned some materials, but not the specific - BOOTS!

It seems like yesterday a good hunting pard took off his new "Rocky's" and was showing off his dry feet. After hunting pheasants in cattails and busting through thin ice all day, the rest of us wet-footed-bastids could only lust.

I had Rocky's myself by the next weeked - a life changing experience.

I have to add inexpensive chrono's.

Anyone with a chrono, a laser and a computer with ballistic software can do what only multi-$100K ballistic labs could do 25 years ago.

JOG, Rocky boots changed my life as well. I remember testing them in the bathtub and thinking "Damn!" Now I'm lookin' to go one better, if you'll reflect on my posts in the Backpack Hunting area.

Game plots -- Yeah, you're right. I used to have a small plot in NC. I planted soybeans in it and drew a few deer. I planted No-Plow in it and saw deer on, I think, 22 of 24 hunts. That stuff is everything it claims to be. Deer love it. Of course, I was in a good place.

If I had to pick one item-neoprene chest waders! Will never duck hunt without them again. Have to put the elbow length neoprene gloves as the runner up. We can put steel shot at the top of the list when it comes to the worst items in 25 years.

Some of those listed I certainly don't agree with, but that isn't really the topic (grin).

For me, the laser rangefinders and PC/internet top the list. In conjunction with the PC are PC mapping programs. The days of buying endless quads are thankfully over! I'll make an educated guess that at the rate storage is improving and mapping techniques, we'll be able to "fly" our hunting areas from the PC in a few more years and see terrain, vegetation, roads, trails, etc. in lifelike detail.

For me, I'd say a good chronograph is the most useful product I've purchased in the last 25yrs. The Harrel's powder measure is nipping on the chrono's heels. Most all the other stuff I've bought has been nice to have, but not really needed. The chronograph is such a huge aid to safer handloading, that I can't imagine going without one now. I still don't own a range finder or a GPS. I have Luddite tendencies when it comes to hunting stuff.

Jeff

Gore-tex ... Dry hunters stay out longer, which yields more game.

From my own perspective, the products which have most impacted my hunting, are:

Good optics. Started using Zeiss binocs.
Bino Buddy binoc straps.
Laser Rangefinder. Useful for both open Western hunting and bowhunting.

Rifles and ammo- Acquired my first Weatherby, a Fibermark in .257 Wby, 20 years ago. If you hunt open country in the West, this rifle/caliber will change you for good.

Clothing- Good old Cabelas can outfit you for any and all weather and hunting conditions. Items too numerous to mention. Come to think of it- I got the binocs, strap, and rangfinder from them. I think Cabelas has been the best innovation in the past 25! Guess I sound like a real Cabelas slut.

All of the things already listed, the one thing that has led to the most changes for me is the pc. and internet. I find out about new products and resurch them on the computer, I even buy some things over the net. I use the computer/internet to plan hunting trips, make reservations, and find phone numbers so I can talk to folks and get information. Of all the internet sites I goto this forum has put more ideas in my head than any other site.

Jamie

Computers and the Internet
Laser rangefinders
Automobile engines
TV/Computer screens
Color printers
Digital photo technology
GPS
Ballistics/pressure technology
Home Depot, WallMart, Cabela's
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

There has not been much change with the basic design of guns, except for future guns to be used my the military within a few years, but most of the changes are around the basic original design. Laser guns will probably be the first greatly significant design, since guns still use an explosive, some sort of fuse to ignite the explosive, a projectile, and a barreled action. None of those things will be needed with a laser gun, except for some sort of trigger or switch mechanism, a power pack, and the laser system.

Folks I am going backwards, I hunt with a T/C Hawkin, ironsights lead round ball. This is about my only reprieve from technology, no phone, a compass and map if i need one, wool clothing but a good pair of Danner boots, my feet have yet to learn about technology. tried some european hiking boots spent lots of money on them but nothing can compare to a pair of Danner Ft. Lewis boots. My only cosession to modern techonology for hunting is my Polaris quad it beats the daylights out of a horse around here.

Bullwnkl.

Camo wool. It's warm, blends in, and doesn't get ruined by a few embers that pop out of any camp or warming fire like any synthetic does.

Cell phones and pagers. It will never be the same. (Sniff)

MS -- praytell us your top 10 pics for "Influential Products of the Quarter Century"

BTW, I gotta agree with the chronograph and satellite-based maps/images.

Almost forgot: electronic fuel injection.