By: Serena Juchnowski

Many people ask me what I look for in hunting products. While attending the 2019 Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT) 2019, the following seven products caught my eye as new items I would be interested in trying out, and which other fellow female hunters may be interested in, as well.

(Please keep in mind that I have not had the opportunity to personally try any of these products as of this writing.)

Savage 110 Hunter with Accufit
Seeking to create a firearm “with the fit and function of a custom rifle,” Savage introduced its Accufit system to the 110 Hunter, allowing shooters to adjust the length of pull, as well as comb height. The various inserts make it simple to make the rifle fit you, or whomever you are hunting with.

This product appeals to me because it makes one rifle work for multiple people, and it can “grow” with a single hunter. So many times youth hunters need smaller rifles than what they would use as they get older. Buying multiple rifles can get expensive, making this system all the more valuable, as you just need to buy one (as hard as that can be). It also has a synthetic stock, which I greatly value in a rifle that will be out in the elements. It is available in a dozen different calibers ranging from .223 Remington to .308 Winchester.
MSRP: $749.00

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Streamlight Bandit Pro Headlamp
Mornings and evenings are some of the most popular and best times to hunt whitetail deer. Without some sort of light, forget about finding your harvest after dark. I found the Streamlight Bandit Pro Headlamp appealing, as it has a small profile and is USB rechargeable.

It has three settings: high, low, and emergency flash. High and emergency flash emit 180 lumens, while the low setting emits 35 lumens, but with a longer run time. The battery takes 3.5 hours to fully charge, and has a built-in battery-life indicator. Weighing in at 1.6 ounces, this light light can also be used with a visor clip rather than with a head strap.
MSRP: $40.95

Headlamp

Realtree Timber
Not a typical product, but a new camouflage pattern from Realtree! This pattern is designed to mimic flooded timber, and is, as Realtree puts it, “Carved from the Delta.”

This pattern is specifically for waterfowl hunters. The pattern makes use of shadows to avoid detection by game birds. While I have not had the personal opportunity to go waterfowl hunting, I found it fascinating that so much thought went into a pattern. This pattern incorporates water and trees, something I never fully thought about, since I am primarily a deer hunter.

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Buck Knives 112 Ranger LT Knife
What captivated me about this little knife is its story. According to Buck Knives’ website, the 110 Folding Hunter was popular in the Navy in the 1960s, but was replaced by the Ranger, a version of the 110 with a shorter blade, when the original knife’s blade was deemed too long. The 112 Ranger LT Knife, is a newer version of the original Ranger, but lighter in weight.

I appreciate this aspect of the knife, as oftentimes knives are too heavy for everyday carry. As a user of the Buck 110 Folding Hunter, the first knife I ever owned, I admit that it is a wonderful knife, but not conducive to light, everyday use. The 112 Ranger LT features a clip-shaped, three-inch blade, weighs in at 2.5 ounces, and best of all, is made in the USA.
MSRP: $34.00

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Winchester .350 Legend
Living in Ohio, cartridges legal for hunting deer must be straight-wall. This can be limiting and takes the AR-platform out of the running. The introduction of the .350 Legend and rifles for it may change this.

At the moment, there are very limited options in terms of firearms chambered for .350 Legend, but if it becomes more popular, more firearms may hit the market. The Winchester XPR bolt action rifle and CMMG’s Resolute 100 Mk4 rifle are currently the two options available for those seeking to hunt with the .350 Legend. Six varieties of Winchester .350 Legend ammunition are available.

According to Winchester, this cartridge boasts, “More energy than .30-30 Win, .300 Blackout and .223 Remington…(and) approximately 20% less recoil than .243 Win with 20% more penetration.” Recoil is a significant factor for many hunters, espciecially youth and female hunters. This, in addition to its designation as the “world’s fastest straight-walled cartridge,” make it appealing. The .350 Legend uses a modified .223 Remington case and a .357 bullet.

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Wicked Ridge Ranger X2
The Wicked Ridge Ranger X2 from TenPoint Crossbow technologies is designed for youth, women, and small-framed shooters. It has a 150-pound draw weight and weighs 5.9 pounds. It is 33.9” in length and comes in a package including a cocking device, quiver, and three arrows.

This crossbow comes set with TenPoint’s 3x Multi-Line Scope and the ACU-52 Integrated, Self-Retracting Rope-Cocking system, but can be equipped with a crank cocking device instead. The ACU-52 system reduces draw weight by fifty percent.

I have found great success in transitioning from competition rifle shooting to hunting with a rifle, then a crossbow. Many of the same principles of marksmanship apply, but the platform definitely makes a difference in terms of size and draw weight.

I really like the safety features of this crossbow, especially for introduction of youth to hunting. According to TenPoint, “It is equipped with a safety engineered pass-through fore-grip and glass-reinforced nylon safety wings to help keep the shooter’s hands safely below the bowstring release pass.”

I have learned always to be cautious of where my hands are when carrying a cocked crossbow, but extra precautions and safety features can be invaluable.
MSRP: $479.99

Crossbow

5.11 AMP10
The 5.11 AMP10 is not a full camouflage pack, but one in which I still see value for hunting, hiking, and shooting. It is offered in four colors: tungsten, black, kangaroo, and ranger green. It allows for a number of accessories to be mounted to 5.11’s HEXGRID system. This feature allows one to personalize the bag and adapt it for different purposes. It features an ergonomic back panel for comfort, and it can be converted from a backpack to a sling pack. It also includes a CCW pocket. It is 18.75” tall, 10” wide, and 4.5” deep, totaling 1220 cubic inches.

This pack is part of 5.11’s “All Missions Packs” series. I like that one can attach items to the pack from multiple angles, not just vertically or horizontally. I am often carrying an assortment of things, and how to pack them for the greatest protection and easiest access depends on the items. This pack appears versatile enough that each person can adjust the bag for specific uses.
MSRP: $169.99

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Serena Juchnowski is a high power service rifle competitor and regular contributor to Junior Shooters magazine, writing from Ohio. Contact her at [email protected].