As awards for new products were handed out at ATA, there were several new introductions that barely received mentioned by most folks that I believe are going to have a major impact on the industry in years to come. With that said, I’m glad I’m not in the group that has to make those decisions.

Among all new items hitting the market, there is what I call “gimmick items.” While I’m sure they have been tested and may work in some part of the country, I’m just not sure that they have a spot in our part of whitetail country.

The common term for any manner of liquids used to deodorize gear and clothing is a staple item for whitetail and other big-game hunters. These sprays may differ in composition, but typically contain enzymes or other formulations that attack certain bacteria that cause odors. These sprays help reduce or eliminate human odors and other odors that might alert game by destroying the bacteria, binding to odor molecules, and converting odor molecules into less volatile compounds. Field sprays are typically the final step in a deer hunter’s scent-control regimen. Boots, bows, backpacks and other key surfaces are “touched up” and deodorized before the scent-conscious hunter takes to the field.

ScentLok Technologies, leaders in Complete Odor Management solutions for hunters, offers the industry’s most-complete selection of odor-controlling products. It’s OZ line of pre- and post-hunt deodorizing products uses the proven power of ozone to destroy odors at the molecular level. OZ by ScentLok ozone generators, ozone gear storage bags and ozone closets have become the preferred pre- and post-hunt tools for deodorizing hunting clothing and gear.

This past year ScentLok scientists have harnessed the deodorizing power of ozone in an entirely new way to create even more opportunities for hunter success with NFuse Ozone Sprayer.

The OZ NFuse Sprayer is more than a good idea; it’s a good idea that’s been well-executed through ScentLok’s significant research, engineering and manufacturing resources to deliver exceptional results and distinct advantages for hunters. The OZ NFuse Sprayer has been proven to reduce odor-causing bacteria by 99.9% at an accredited and independent third-party laboratory.

The all-new OZ NFuse Sprayer injects ozone molecules directly into ordinary water, transforming it into a powerful and highly economical means of destroying odors and bacteria. Once filled, a press of the button on the NFuse Sprayer activates the water into a powerful, oxidizing cleanser using an exclusive platinum and titanium charging system. The NFuse Ozone Sprayer’s InfiniCote 360 nozzle provides a generous coverage area with increased control and can even be used upside down. The fine liquid mist produced contains ozonated water, which immediately goes to work destroying odor-causing bacteria and other various microorganisms.

The new OZ by ScentLok NFuse Sprayer delivers a renewable supply of odor-destroying spray, saving hunters money over the life of the unit. And because it replaces multiple bottles of conventional field spray, it’s also good for the environment requiring less energy to manufacture and transport and creating less plastic. And the spray produced ozonated water is also completely organic. The design is amazingly simple and very effective. One-button design activates an exclusive metal charging system to turn ordinary water into ozonized water in just over a minute. Ozonated water destroys odors and odor-causing bacteria, with unlimited refills using regular tap or bottled water. The rechargeable battery for thousands of charge cycles is highlighted by the InfiniCote 360 nozzle design.

Success doesn’t happen by accident. Whether it’s a young hunter taking his first deer, a veteran hunter arrowing her largest buck ever, or an outdoor company following through on its promises to customers after 40 years in business, success comes from the desire to achieve through continual learning and hard work.

“At Blocker Outdoors, we believe in the constant pursuit of perfection; the product development and refinement process never stop,” says Rebecca Arellano, Nexus Outdoors vice president of design and technical development. “This year we have focused on the fine-tuning of our 2019 products, while also adding some great new and needed products to complete the hunter’s ensemble. We take comments from the field seriously and have worked to make great Blocker Outdoors products even greater. We review everything construction, materials, fit and more to optimize function and comfort. This empowers our customers to pursue their passions without worry of gear failure.”

In a time when other hunting apparel brands are trimming features and raising prices, SHIELD Series apparel from Blocker Outdoors celebrates the fact that great-fitting technologically-advanced hunting clothing doesn’t have to come with a high price tag to be incredibly valuable. Featuring exclusive S3 technology to maintain an advantage in the field, each unique garment in the massive line of SHIELD Series apparel for men, women and youth hunters proves what’s possible when you choose to pay for performance, not a trendy, overpriced logo. From spring turkey hunts to the chill of the post-rut, from the Midwest to the Rocky Mountains, Blocker Outdoors SHIELD Series apparel offers versatile, hardworking systems for success.

As new items come to market in the next few months, we will be discussing them on these pages. With SHOT Show opening in Vegas this week, there is major news coming from the folks at Shooting Sports Association and I will be passing that along in the coming weeks.