Manufacturers Spotlight
Gamehide ElimiTick Boot Cuff
By Chloe Clowdis
Whether you’re going deer hunting or walking in your backyard, the Gamehide ElimiTick Boot Cuff will make you feel safe and secure. This cuff is completely odorless, which makes it less likely that a deer will scent you, especially compared to the pungent smell of the average tick spray that I am used to applying before my prolonged journeys through tall, tick-filled grasses.
The ElimiTick Boot Cuff is held together by a brawny Velcro strap, which makes certain that it will not fall off your ankle when either climbing mountains or walking through the woods, and it also makes the cuff extremely easy to take on and off. The thick but lightweight cuff prevents tick entry from all angles around your lower legs. It would be perfect for hunting in brushy areas with large tick populations.
Friends and family of mine have been wrecked by tick-born illnesses such as Lyme disease, so having this cuff would help ensure your safety from terrible afflictions such as those when hunting, hiking, or doing habitat improvement projects.
From the most skilled to the novice hunter, this product works wonders for repelling those bothersome beasties. For more information, visit www.gamehide.com.
Insect Shield Permethrin
Insect Repellent
By Bruce Ingram
When I heard that Insect Shield had come out with a new product designed to ward off insect pests, I immediately wanted to try it. My wife, Elaine, and I have long worn clothes from the Greensboro, North Carolina-based company when we conduct habitat improvement projects on our Botetourt County property. and neither one of us has ever had a tick latch onto us when wearing Insect Shield garb.
The Permethrin Insect Repellent spray adds to the company’s reputation for making quality products. Permethrin is based on a natural repellent in chrysanthemum plants, and the product can remain on gear for up to 60 days.
Odorless after drying, the spray is EPA-registered and repels not only ticks, but also mosquitoes, fleas, flies, chiggers, and spiders. This is an important feature because of the number of tick- and insect- caused afflictions such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Alpha-gal, West Nile virus,
and malaria.
Permethrin Insect Repellent spray can be applied to hunting clothes, daypacks, seat cushions, blinds, and numerous other hunting-related gear, but not on skin. In short, this spray is a much-needed product to fulfill our desire to be safe from insects. For more information, visit insectshield.com.
Hornady For 2026:
A Industry Leader
By Brad Stephenson
For 2026, Hornady is bringing to market some innovative and exciting new products! Hornady has come out with a new caliber, .22 Creedmoor, based on the very popular 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. Available in four offerings, this cartridge is fast and flat-shooting with minimal wind deflection, making it a perfect predator-hunting round as well as a great long-range target round. Most major rifle makers will be offering models chambered in this new cartridge.
Hornady has had the American Whitetail line of ammunition on the market since 2013, and the lead soft-point bullets have proven to be a popular and potent round. New for 2026, Hornady is releasing American Whitetail Tipped ammunition. These rounds feature Hornady’s SST and FTX polymer ballistic-tipped bullets, with better aerodynamics and lightning fast, yet controlled, expansion upon impact. Loaded in the most popular hunting calibers and popular whitetail hunting bullet weights, this new line of ammo from Hornady is sure to bring down the whitetail in your sights next fall.
Hornady launched its Frontier line of cartridges in 2018; American-made and military grade, these cartridges are designed for the popular modern sporting rifle platforms. For 2026, Hornady is releasing five new offerings in the Frontier line-up: 6mm ARC, 6.8 Rem SPC, 7.62x39, 338 ARC (subsonic), and 300 Blackout (subsonic). Hornady has also released all new Dangerous Game Handgun (DGH) bullets for reloading. DGH bullets are jacketed heavy for caliber projectiles and designed to penetrate deep and resist deflection, perfect for a back-up sidearm in bear or hog country.
Check out all of Hornady’s new products at
www.hornady.com/new-products/.
Vortex Binocular Harness 101
By Chuck Nease
There are five reasons why a binocular harness is essential gear for every serious hunter. Success in hunting often hinges on the ability to spot elusive game with precision and speed. The vortex binocular harness can accomplish all these things along with also protecting your valuable optics, not only in the field, but to and from your hunting location.
The harness positions your binoculars perfectly on your chest for a quick grab-and-go when finding potential game and targets. Its compact design and easy adjustability allow an ideal fit for rifle and bow hunting, while preventing neck strain on all day hunts and scouting trips. You can quickly switch from glassing to shooting without the inconvenience of loose binoculars.
With multiple pockets and attachment points, the harness allows you to keep all of your necessary gear in one place. The 101 harness easily protects your equipment from the elements, as well as accidental bumps and scratches.
To see all the new Vortex optics and accessories, visit your local sporting goods store or go to vortexoptics.com.