Four of the latest hunting trends on display at the Great American Outdoor Show
The Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg offers the latest advice and products to help hunters gain an upper edge on their next trip, including new turkey calls and gun slings.
The show, which runs through Feb. 11, has more than 1,000 exhibitors. Here’s what’s new and gaining popularity among hunters:
1. Tree saddle hunting
Hunters have plenty of options regarding elevated hunting from trees and one of the options growing in popularity is saddles.
Hunters can hang from a nylon saddle tied to a tree to have more maneuverability over a ladder or hang-on conventional stand.
“We don’t look at this as a replacement to anyone’s system,” said Robert Mendoza, content manager for Tethrd Nation of Columbia, Tennessee. “We think of it as a carpenter who doesn’t take just one tool to do a job. It’s just a tool in a tool bag for those situations whether you want to explore public land or private land a little more in-depth but don’t want to move your tree stands. If you want to sneak into a buck’s bedding area and have less profile (in the tree), or if you are going miles in and just need something a little lightweight.”
The saddle system weighs between 10 and 15 pounds and the saddle and climbing steps are carried on different parts of the hunter’s body to distribute the weight better than carrying a climbing tree stand.
Saddles allow hunters to climb trees that have low limbs or crooked trunks and the hunter can move around the tree to hide from approaching game. The complete saddle systems Tethrd had at the show range from $549 to $949.
2. Hunting trends
Matt Morrett, director of marketing for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, said hunters have many seasons and species to consider throughout the year.
“We are seeing lots of kids here at the show,” he said. “We’re lucky here in Pennsylvania to have that culture. When you look at license sales, we actually had an incline, not much but we had a 1% incline from year to year. That’s a good thing because we’ve been falling for so long. What we are seeing is people getting into it later in life now. The biggest thing we can do is try to introduce somebody to the outdoors."
Hunting tradition: '21 Gun': Deer hunting rifle becomes heirloom passed down generations by Pa. family
Hunting white-tailed deer is the most popular game species, but the state also has plenty of turkey, pheasant and water fowl hunters, too.
“Deer is still king, and it’s going to be. If you look at conservation across the country, the whitetail deer pays for conservation, it really does,” he said about license sales and other investments made by hunters.
In addition, Morrett said the furbearer license numbers are up because people are wanting to trap and hunt predators.
3. Improved turkey call
If you’ve had your turkey box call make noise in your vest while walking, Cutting Edge Game Calls has a new design soon coming out that solves that problem.
The Classic 4-Play box call is making a soft launch at the Harrisburg outdoor show. Brian Benolken, owner of the company, said they have been selling the new call that’s officially set to launch in early 2025.
What makes it unique is that the lid or paddle is able to rotate around to the back side of the call where it securely fastens with a magnet.
“It renders it entirely quiet when it’s placed in a holster,” he said.
The mobility of the paddle allows hunters to adjust the sound of the call. The wooden call will sell for about $125.
4. A better way to carry your gun or bow
If your rifle, shotgun or bow sling keeps falling off your shoulder, there’s a design that’s aimed at meeting your needs.
Slogan Outdoors has a variety of slings made of nonslip synthetic rubber that grip your shoulder.
“It’s the world’s best sling. Period,” said Tanner Hann, son of company owner Curt Hann.
The material is expected to last a minimum of 40 years and is flexible down to minus 40 degrees.
The sling splits open to be used like a backpack to use when dragging out a deer or climbing into a treestand. The sling also helps shooters steady their aim.
The Great American Outdoor Show is billed as the world's largest outdoor show. It's held indoors in Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center.
Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at bwhipkey@gannett.com and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on this website's homepage under your login name. Follow him on Facebook @whipkeyoutdoors, and Instagram at whipkeyoutdoors.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: What's new for hunting in Pennsylvania?
