Get-‘Er-Done Gear for Fall Hunting

A quick look at new items for small- and big-game hunting.

November 11, 2019 By Drew Warden

The fall brings many of our favorite hunting seasons. Here’s some equipment to help you get the job done, whether you hunt small game or trophy bucks.

Barnett HyperGhost 425

Crossbow seasons are opening or well underway in many places. Take advantage of them with Barnett’s new HyperGhost 425. Equipped with a 1.5-5x32mm illuminated scope and exclusive HyperFlite .204-inch small-diameter arrows, the HyperGhost 425 could serve in any hunter’s fall arsenal. Other features include a CNC-machined aluminum flight track, retractable counterbalance underarm support, Soft Lok floating bristle arrow retainer and anti-dry-fire TriggerTech trigger system. MSRP: $1,300; barnettcrossbows.com

CZ 457

Early fall is prime time for small game. Hunters chasing squirrels would be well served with any of CZ’s 457 rimfire rifles. Improved handling and ergonomics are key points with these new guns. An American-style push-to-fire safety has been added, and actions have been trimmed for reduced weight. Bolt throws are now 60 degrees for faster operation and easier use with scopes. An adjustable trigger, milled receiver, detachable magazine and swappable barrel system round out the features. MSRP: $476; cz-usa.com

HatsanUSA Vectis Airgun

Airgunners can look to HatsanUSA’s new Vectis lever-action, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle for small-game needs. The Vectis has a 165cc fixed-air cylinder offering 35 shots per fill and comes with two 14-pellet magazines. It weighs a manageable 7 pounds. A one-piece receiver with QuietEnergy barrel shroud and sound dampener, an optics rail compatible with 11mm or 22mm mounts, a Quattro two-stage match-style adjustable trigger and a precision rifled and choked barrel are also included. Available in .177, .22 and .25 caliber. MSRP: $400; hatsanusa.com

Big & J Liquid Luck Attractant Spray

Sometimes a little backup doesn’t hurt when it comes to attracting deer to your location. Big & J’s new Liquid Luck Attractant Spray provides an affordable option. Featuring a potent, long-range buck-attracting aroma, this attractant spray is designed to call in deer from far and wide. Spray it into the air or around foliage near your stand or ground blind to give your setup a scent boost. MSRP: $10; bigandj.com

Wildgame Innovations Shadow Micro Cam

Wise hunters place a premium on scouting, and for most, that includes a trail camera—or several. The new Shadow Micro Cam is remarkably small, with dimensions of just 3x3x2 inches. It’s perfect for public-land hunters looking to locate wary bucks and prevent camera thefts. It can be mounted almost anywhere with its proprietary magnetic ball bracket and operates quietly with Silent Shield technology. Adaptive illumination adjusts image exposure based on distance, and high-intensity infrared LEDs provide crisp HD photos and videos. Delivers 16-megapixel images and 720p video. The Shadow Micro Cam Lightsout model uses invisible black infrared LEDs and Lightsout invisible infrared LED flash. MSRP: $100-$110; wildgameinnovations.com

Stacked OutdoorsLadder Sticks

For many, fall means getting into a tree-stand. Stacked Outdoors’ Ladder Sticks are lightweight, portable climbing aids that can be easily packed into your hunting location. The Ladder Sticks stack neatly and simply with their vertical nesting design, and four sticks weigh 9.4 pounds. Sticks are made from high-strength, impact-resistant polymer with a built-in UV inhibitor and have a dull matte finish to eliminate glare. MSRP: $149 per four; stackedoutdoors.com

Wildgame Innovations ZeroTrace

Scent-concealing sprays and soaps have been used for years to help mask our odor while afield. However, the new ZeroTrace PureION Field Generator offers another method. The device’s PureION technology neutralizes odor at the molecular level, with an ultra-quiet fan that disperses ions across a hunting area to grab scent. It has about six hours of runtime on a rechargeable battery. With its adjustable magnetic mount and TRUBark texture, the ZeroTrace can be used in almost any setup. MSRP: $200; wildgameinnovations.com

Action and Power Ratings- How to Choose the Right Bass Rod

Most fishing rods feature both an action and a power rating, but what do those ratings mean and how do you use them to select the right rod for different scenarios? In this video, outdoor writer and tackle specialist Shane Beilue breaks down the difference between a rod blank’s action and power and discusses what the various ratings of each mean.