Remington, Mathers Rack Up Deer-Gear Awards
OutdoorHub 06.24.14
Readers pick favorite new guns, ammo, optics and other gear; Coverage in July-August issues of Game & Fish/Sportsman magazines
Game & Fish/Sportsman annually conducts a survey of their readers to find out what these hardcore hunters consider the best new gear. This year, nearly 3,000 qualified hunters cast their votes in the Readers’ Choice Awards and gave opinions about their experience with products such as rifles, ammo, trail cams, binoculars and eight other categories.
“Our editors test all types of hunting equipment each month in our magazines. But it’s also good to get the perspective of dedicated hunters who read the magazine and visit our web sites,” said Peter Gross, Game & Fish/Sportsman publisher. “They are extremely well-informed and enjoy sharing their opinions about the sport they love.”
This year, there were some surprising results. While Remington’s affordable Model 783 won the Centerfire category, Weatherby’s young-market-oriented WBY-X Bonz rifle nearly took that title from the latest variation of the venerable 700.
In the Riflescope and Binocular categories, Nikon Monarch 7 and 5, respectively, were twice as popular as the second-place finisher, Bushnell, which put forward its Legend Ultra HD and Excursion HD optics. Ironically, last year, Bushnell dominated the Binocular category. This time, Bushnell instead won the Trail Cam category. Its Lo-Glo LED Trophy Cam edged out Moultrie’s Panoramic 150 by a single percentage point.
Deer Gear voters are highly skilled, long-time hunters. Voters have been hunting deer for over 30 years (32) on average, and three in five consider themselves Expert or Advanced deer hunters. These enthusiasts spent nearly four weeks (27 days) in the field to hunt deer last year. Three in five (61%) were successful and harvested an average of two deer apiece.
Gear must have been introduced in the last three years to be considered “new.” The magazine queried subscribers and e-newsletter recipients to determine readers’ favorite gear and equipment. The survey also invited personal opinions from those surveyed, adding a deep level of insight from the country’s most avid hunters. Game & Fish/Sportsman magazines, which is AAM audited, has more than 400,000 monthly subscribers and an MRI-validated monthly readership of more than 5 million.
Results of the voting appear in the current July/August 2014 issue of Game & Fish/Sportsman magazines — now on sale at newsstands across the United States. Trophies will be presented at the 2015 SHOT show in Las Vegas.
Product winners in each category:
CENTERFIRE GUNS WINNER
Remington Model 783 Crossfire, 32%
RUNNERS-UP
- Weatherby WBY-X Whitetail Bonz, 25%
- ThompsonCenter Dimension, 18%
SLUG GUNS WINNER
Weatherby PA08 S Slug, Upland Combo, 42%
RUNNERS-UP
- Winchester SX3 Black Shadow, 31%
- Savage 220, 28%
MUZZLELOADERS WINNER
ThompsonCenter Impact, 53%
RUNNERS-UP
- CVA Accura MR, 27%
- Traditions Vortek StrikerFire LDR, 20%
CENTERFIRE AMMO WINNER
Winchester Super-X Power Core 95-5, 33%
RUNNERS-UP
- Remington HyperSonic Centerfire, 28%
- Hornady American Whitetail, 22%
BOWS WINNER
Mathews Creed XS, 49%
RUNNERS-UP
- Hoyt Carbon Spyder 30, 24%
- BowTech Experience, 19%
ARROWS WINNER
Carbon Express Maxima Red, 45%
RUNNERS-UP
- Easton DeepSix FMJ Injexion, 35%
- Gold Tip Name-The-Game XT, 20%
BROADHEADS WINNERS
Muzzy Phantom SC, 34%
RUNNERS-UP
- Rage Hypodermic, 31%
- Wasp Archery Drone, 7%
CROSSBOWS WINNER
TenPoint Venom, 39%
RUNNERS-UP
- Barnett Razr, 24%
- Parker CenterFire, 18%
CROSSBOW BROADHEADS WINNER
Rage CrossbowX, 48%
RUNNERS-UP
- Carbon Express XT Dual Blade, 20%
- G5 T3, 17%
RIFLESCOPES WINNER
Nikon Monarch 3, 40%
RUNNERS-UP
- Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, 21%
- Zeiss Terra, 14%
BINOCULARS WINNER
Nikon Monarch 7, 51%
RUNNERS-UP
- Bushnell Excursion HD, 29%
- Leica Geovid HD, 13%
TRAIL CAMERAS WINNER (Statistical Tie)
Bushnell Lo Glow LED Trophy Cam, 29%
Moultrie Panoramic 150i, 28%
RUNNER-UP
- Stealth Cam G42NG, 19%
