Throughout history, new hunters have enjoyed advantages the previous generation did not have when cutting their teeth in the sport. It’s the way it has always been, and for the sake of our heritage and sport, we hope it will always be. With all that said, it can be argued that new hunters are joining the sport in a time that could be described as the Golden Age of Hunting. Has there ever been a generation that has experienced such clear-cut advantages over the generation ahead of them? With all of these new and young hunters coming into the market, it’s our duty as veterans to make sure the new generation is set up for success and doing things the right way. It’s increasingly important, especially in the days of social media, that we teach new hunters respect for the game laws and even more importantly, respect for the animals we pursue. It’s also extremely important to help them with the gear they need to be successful and how to use it.
Clothing and Footwear
As recent as one generation ago, hunters were “stuck” with sub-part clothing that had almost no protection or breathability, and inferior materials that were noisy, brittle, and heavy. Footwear was slightly ahead of the clothing side, but hunters still lacked lightweight, warm, and protective options. We, as hunters, also had no concept of what “layering” meant and walked into the woods on a cold morning bundled to the core, causing us to sweat and be back in the cabin by 9 am. Today’s hunters can easily enjoy lightweight, quiet, breathable, and protective clothing and footwear with an almost unimaginable amount of camo and solid color choices. It’s important to help new hunters focus on layering. Nearly every clothing manufacturer offers systems for every condition, meaning more time on stand and more success.
Firearms and ammunition
The next generation of hunters joins at a time of prosperity in the firearms market. Even the most value-driven firearms are capable of, even guaranteed to shoot, sub-MOA groups. There is an almost overwhelming number of calibers in the world today, allowing new hunters to find and grow with calibers that are comfortable for them to shoot, reducing flinching and target panic, and ultimately make them substantially more accurate by comparison. Speaking of more accuracy, a vast majority of ammunition these days borders on the accuracy we can see with hand loads, with major improvements to consistency and bullet composition, and multiple recoil-reducing options to help eliminate over-gunning. It’s extremely important to help teach about sound shooting techniques and appropriate calibers.
Hunting Rests and Shooting Sticks
Of course, even the most advanced firearm and ammo is worthless, if you’re not accurate with it. For many of us who grew up hunting in a different age, having a reliable, steady rest to hunt with at a young age, or any age for that matter, was mostly unheard of. We used any advantage we could; prone position, rested against a backpack or tree, the 2 x 4 on the front of our homemade tree stand. As you might expect, many animals were missed (or worse yet, wounded) and hunter success rates were lower by comparison. Fast forward just 20 years and the leap in technology, understanding, and hunter acceptance of hunting rests has made all of the difference. There are shooting solutions for nearly every situation, whether hunters are stalking in the mountains and open country, sitting in a ground blind, or elevated 20’ in the air and we must steer new hunters in the direction of stability.
BOG DeathGrip (‘the OG”)
With a laundry list of Deathgrip models, BOG changed the world by introducing the DeathGrip tripod in 2019. This tripod started the hunting accuracy revolution and quickly became the trusted piece of gear for countless hunters. This large-diameter tripod provided prone-to-standing shooting and the stability that was missing from the hunting market. Not only did it give hunters an advantage in the field, but it also gave them an advantage at the retail store. Available in Aluminum and Carbon Fiber, solids to camo, the DeathGrip ranges from $169.95-$269.95, and provides the best value in the market.
Models– Black, FDE (Bass Pro/Cabela’s), Carbon Fiber, Realtree Excape, Mossy Oak Bottomland, Veil V2 (Scheels), Veil West River (Scheels), True Timber (Bass Pro/Cabela’s)
DeathGrip® Infinite/DeathGrip® Sherpa
The next rendition of the DeathGrip is designed for the hunter or shooter who requires a little more in their rest and is looking for a lighter-weight option. The DeathGrip Infinite series features the same large-diameter leg system as featured on the OG DeathGrip, while the DeathGrip Sherpa has a stepped-down leg diameter, designed for expedition hunting. The major additions for the DeathGrip Infinite and Sherpa family include a 360-degree ball head system and an Arca-Swiss mounting system that allows the DeathGrip head to be interchanged with spotting scopes, binoculars, SLR cameras, or even firearms featuring M-LOK compatibility. With three options ranging in price from $299.95-$399.95, the next generation costs up to 124% less than the competition, making it a best-in-class value.
Featuring the world-renowned dependability of its big brother the original BOG® DeathGrip tripod, the DeathGrip Bantam is designed for situations where a more compact, lightweight tripod is needed. Weighing in at just over 3 lbs. the DeathGrip Bantam is up to 60% lighter than the competition, putting it in a weight class all its own. Featuring sitting to kneeling shooting, a maximum holding weight of 40 lbs, and a price tag up to 52% less than the competition, the DeathGrip Bantam is a tripod that punches above its weight class!
Available at Bass Pro/Cabela’s for 2023, this tripod goes viral in 2024, with multiple colors and retailers.
This compact, lightweight and slightly shorter brother to the DeathGrip Bantam is available only at Wal-Mart and features a green anodized color that blends into the brush line well. The DeathGrip GP features the same sitting-to-kneeling shooting capability, weighs just 3 lbs, and a price under the century mark.
GROUND BLIND SOLUTIONS
For hunting in a ground blind, where room is at a premium but long-range stability and hands-free capability are still required, BOG created the DeathGrip 360. The DeathGrip 360 features the ultra-comfortable, ever-adjustable platform seen in the BOG Nucleus 360 ground blind chair, combined with a height-adjustable DeathGrip shooting system. The DeathGrip 360 allows for 360-degree movement of the chair and the included DeathGrip arm, allowing hunters the versatility to shoot in any position quickly and effectively. This hunting chair is ideal for rut hunts that require all-day comfort and the capability to be ready at a moment’s notice for a clean, ethical shot.
ELEVATED SOLUTIONS
The BOG DeathGrip 360 is designed for those that want to hunt 20’ and is designed for crossbow and rifle/shotgun hunting. The DeathGrip 360 features an aluminum tri-arm design that fits into a robust ratchet-strapped mount and comes with a fixed DeathGrip head to hold the weapon of their choice. The DeathGrip 360 offers 25 degrees of downward tilt and a smooth 270-degree rotation, allowing hunters to take the shot at virtually any angle and even behind the tree they are sitting in. The DeathGrip Elevation is a quick-setup piece of gear that can be moved to any treestand on your property.