Top Deer Gear 2016: Big Sky Shooter

by
posted on September 3, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
deer_gear_big_sky_f.jpg

Clothing
Browning’s new Hells Canyon Speed apparel in A-TACS A/U camo provides optimum mobility with an athletic fit and tough, lightweight fabrics. The breathable softshell Hellfire pant ($249.99) is windproof and water-resistant with Primaloft insulation and a warm fleece lining. A great base layer or stand-alone piece, the MHS ¼-zip top ($99.99) wicks moisture with Merino wool in the trunk and underarms. The warm Shrike jacket ($229.99) is windproof, water-resistant and insulated with Primaloft.

Boots
A favorite of AH editors, Danner Gila boots ($200) have a wide toe-box, aggressive tred with beefed-up outer lugs and offer more support than you’d expect from a 6-inch boot. Clad in Gore Optifade camo.

Pack
The Mystery Ranch Metcalf pack ($525) offers 4,325 cubic inches of available space with 10 sets of external straps to provide multiple options for compression and for attaching a bow or rifle. Haul both meat and a full pack utilizing the overload shelf. Other features include a lightweight carbon/fiberglass frame, 600-cubic-inch, removable Alpine Lid that doubles as a shoulder pack and hydration bladder compatibility.

Rifle
The Extreme X2 rifle ($1,337) from Montana Rifle Company is a deer hunter’s dream simply due to the sheer volume of chamberings available, short and long—31 to be exact. Add in the all-weather, Kevlar-reinforced, carbon-fiber X2 synthetic stock, free-floating stainless steel barrel, adjustable trigger, glass bedding, controlled-round feed, Mauser-style ejector and three-position safety, and you’ve got a deer-dropper in any region.

Optics
The Bushnell Trophy Xtreme 4x-16x-44mm riflescope ($363.95) is waterproof, fogproof and shockproof. It houses fully-multicoated lenses for more than 90 percent light transmission. Features side parallax focus, 30mm tube and .25 MOA windage and elevation adjustments with DOA LR 600 reticle.

Latest

1920W H2026 03 Gear CVA Elite Muzzle Loader Cleaning Kit
1920W H2026 03 Gear CVA Elite Muzzle Loader Cleaning Kit

Gear Roundup: Spring Cleaning for Hunters

Need to clean the grime off your guns and gear this spring? Look no further than our hunter-specific cleaning lienup.

First Look: Easton 5mm Steel HIT Break-Off Insert

Easton has announced its 5mm Steel HIT Break-Off 8-32 Insert, giving archers full control over balance and performance. 

Turkey Tips: Unlock the West

Finding the right tom in the right mood to come to your calls out in the West usually comes down to covering ground with your eyes, not your feet. Remember it’s not uncommon to be afield all day, so don’t rush things. Read on for more tips on turkey hunting the West.

Retay Adds Realtree Legacy to Ace and Gordion Shotguns

Retay has partnered with Realtree to feature the company's Legacy camouflage pattern across its flagship Ace and Gordion shotgun lines for 2026.

#SundayGunday: TriStar Arms KR.22

On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re shooting a neat looking two-tone variant of the TriStar Arms KR.22. While this one is finished in OD Green and black, you can find this exact same gun in FDE and black, or opt for the standard version in just black synthetic. Learn more about this nifty blow-back operated semi-automatic rimfire, in this exclusive video.

Nevada’s Innovative Youth Outreach Program

A relatively new effort in The Silver State is quietly making a big difference for children eager to experience the outdoors for the first time. Demand outpaces the project’s funding, unfortunately, a clear indication that one of the biggest hurdles in enlisting the next generation of conservationists is financial.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.