FirstLite Baselayers

If you love warm, silent wool baselayers and camo outerwear like I do, you need to check out the fine selection from wool specialist First Lite. This smart company was the first to print camo patterns on its merino wool garments beginning just a few years ago (when it began offering garments in ASAT camo), and for 2010 company president Kenton Carruth (shown here) has added both Realtree and Mossy Oak camo. For more info on the company and its many functional styles check out First Lite.

Leupold Vendetta Rangefinder

Still more laser rangefinder innovation for 2010 is the new bow-mounted Vendetta rangefinder from Leupold, which works off your sight’s 20-yard pin. By simply squeezing a pressure pad mounted on your bow’s grip, you can range a target while at full draw, minimizing game-spooking movement. With a maximum range of 70 yards, the Vendetta also features a “one-touch scan mode” so you can range an animal as it approaches. The large LED display has a red filter that makes it easy to see distance readings in various light conditions. Minimum range is 10 yards. For more info go to Leupold''s website.

NuFletch Archery

One of the cooler new concepts encountered at the Show is the NuFletch system that allows bowhunters to quickly and easily change out damaged vanes for new ones…or simply change vane color…in just seconds, no glue required. The system designed to work with any brand-name 2-inch vanes (such as the Bohning Blazer, and Norway Fusion and Predator vanes), requires you to cut off about the last 3 inches of your current arrows to accommodate an ingenious machined-aluminum extension; check out the video of this neat product at NuFletch''s website.

PSE X-Force Omen

There was plenty of action at the PSE shooting lanes; among the many bow models getting a serious workout there from interested retailers were the new X-Force Omen (this may be the fastest bow on earth at up to 366 feet per second! Test-drive this bow like I did and you''ll come away with a whole new concept of how fast a bow can shoot), and the new, fast and sweet X-Force Vendetta (available in both a 35-inch model and an amazingly compact but sweet-shooting 29 ½-inch model). PSE fans also need to check out the company’s cool new “Skulls” bow finish…see it all at PSE Archery.