by Karen Mehall Philips - Monday, June 9, 2014
While on vacation in Colorado last week, all the mule deer and elk I spotted naturally conjured thoughts of bow season. So this afternoon as I force myself to focus on my Inbox, one email makes for particularly great timing as Hunter Safety System (HSS) launches the NRA-licensed Patriot vest. With Realtree Xtra on one side and blaze orange on the other, the new safety vest covers us regardless of which state and which part of the season we hunt. And the fact a portion of sales will support the NRA in its efforts to promote hunter safety and defend our hunting and shooting sports traditions makes it a must-have.
Jerry Wydner, HSS president and co-owner, says he’s very proud of working with the NRA. “Our combined efforts will help educate even more hunters about treestand safety and the importance of being connected to the tree from the minute your feet leave the ground,” he notes.
“From the minute your feet leave the ground” is the clincher for me, having slipped once while getting into a stand in Kansas a few years ago. I was wearing a safety harness and caught myself before the slip became a full-blown fall, but it illustrated how quickly an accident can happen.
Made of warm, super-quiet, water-resistant Tricot material, the 2.5-pound NRA-licensed Patriot sports a front zipper closure, removable binocular straps and four deep pockets with magnetic closures, providing ample storage and access to gear. The camo side also features two strips of MOLLE-style webbing to attach extra gear. It features HSS’ new 1.25-inch upper-body webbing, a tether and a waist buckle, which create a snug, comfy fit. Blaze-orange accents highlight the buckles and zipper pulls.
HSS' Patriot comes with a lineman’s climbing strap, a primary treestrap and a suspension-relief strap, which doubles as a deer-drag. Hopefully, I'll be making good use of that feature this fall!
