HUNTING GADGETS

Action Ear Sport Electronic Listening Device

Hunting is a lot more efficient when you can hear your prey. The Action Ear Sport is an amplified hearing enhancer built into a set of battery-operated headphones. With the Action Ear Sport, sounds are amplified by 40dB, so you can hear game up to 100 yards away.

The Action Ear Sport is a stereo device, so you get 360° awareness of sound direction. Independent volume controls let you compensate for hearing differences between your two ears, and the sculpted air/foam ear cushions provide hours of comfortable listening. There's even a collar-level tension band and Velcro head strap, so the headphones stay in place no matter how fast you move.

Noise-limiting technology works to amplify only soft sounds, so you don't get blasted out by louder sounds. In the LMT setting, loud sounds are heard at 70dB while soft sounds are continuously amplified; in the MAX setting, an automatic shut-off circuit shuts off all sounds over 95dB.

And here's a neat touch. These headphones include both an input jack (so you can listen to a radio while hunting) and an output jack, the latter to record what you hear. (Can you imagine a podcast of your amplified hunting experience?)

The Action Ear Sport is relatively lightweight and folds flat for easy storage. It comes in four different colors: tan camo, dark camo, tan, and black.

Model: Action Ear Sport Manufacturer: Silvercreek Industries (www.silvercreekindustries.com) Weight: 17.1 oz. Price: $159.99

Lowrance iFINDER Hunt

The iFINDER Hunt is a customized version of Lowrance's iFINDER GPS device, designed with the active hunter in mind. It's totally waterproof, ruggedized for hard use, and comes in a camouflage case. It also adds hunting-specific icons so you can mark your tree stands, game signs, and truck and ATV positions. Added bonus built-in electronic compass and barometric altimeter.

Model: iFINDER Hunt Manufacturer: Lowrance (www.lowrance.com) Dimensions: 5.59'' (h) x 2.55'' (w) x 0.95'' (d) Weight: 8.7 oz. Price: $299

Leupold Wind River Laser Range Finding Binocular

Here's a great tool for the high-tech hunter. The RB800 Range Finding binocular combines high-quality binocular optics with laser-precise measuring capability. Just sight your target and press a button, and the RB800 generates precise measurements, accurate to within one yard. It works up to 900 yards away, and you can perform continuous scanning to track animals in motion. The digital display shows distance in either yards or meters.

Model: RB800 Manufacturer: Leupold (www.leupold.com) Magnification: 8X Weight: 23 oz. Price: $699.99

RoboDuk Electronic Decoys

Okay, this one makes my list for the name alone. (I just love saying "robo-duck!") The RoboDuk is a state-of-the-art robotic decoy that simulates a duck in the landing position, complete with flapping (actually, spinning) wings. It runs on a quiet waterproof motor, powered by a rechargeable battery with 10 12 hours of run time. Models are available for drake and hen ducks, as well as Canadian and snow geese.

Manufacturer: RoboDuk (www.roboduk.com) Weight: 5.5 oz. Price: $119.95 $139.95

Compucaller II Digital Animal Caller

When you think animal calls, you probably envision one of those quacking pipes you blow into. Well, this isn't that. The Compucaller II is a two-piece electronic animal caller that works via RF remote control. The caller device itself has a built-in amplifier and is concealed in a water-resistant camo bag. You change calls by inserting new sound chips; chips are available for everything from quail and geese to feral hogs, coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions although why you'd actually want to call a bobcat or mountain lion is beyond me.

Model: Compucaller II Manufacturer: Burnham Brothers (www.burnhambrothers.com) Weight: 2.5 lbs. Price: $329.95