Hunting accessories are crucial for a successful outing. The right tools can greatly enhance your experience. The experts at Hunt Alaska magazine have curated a selection of top-quality accessories.
Best Hunting Accessories
Stone Glacier Sentinel Bino Harness
We tested the size Large. It works great with Leupold BX-4 Range HD binos as well as Vortex Fury HD 5000 AB binos. This bino harness is very well made, like all Stone Glacier products. Setting the bino holder up for your specific binoculars is simple. This bino harness comes in 2 sizes and 2 colors. Be sure to follow the sizing chart to ensure you get the size that will work for your binos. There are a number of Sentinel accessories you can attach to this bino harness, such as the Rangefinder Pocket, Ballistics Pocket, Side Pocket, Bottom Pocket, and Bear Spray Holster.
PacBak P60-MK Cooler
This cooler is far more than just your run-of-the-mill roto-molded cooler. Yes, it is roto-molded, so it’s tough, and with polyurethane-foam walls, it will keep items either hot or cold. But that’s where the cooler resemblance ends. This product is a portable game-processing station. It includes a removable slide-out cutting board, a detachable table with legs, and a multi-chamber design (30-, 22- and 8 quart) to accommodate hot and cold, or dry and wet. The 8-quart chamber is designed to hold PacBak’s battery-operated vacuum sealer. We can see applications for this unit for Alaska road-system hunters, targeting small game. Perhaps you’ve spent the day shooting ptarmigan, grouse, and snowshoe hare. Instead of bringing the animals home to process, you can handle it on the spot, get the meat vacuum sealed and chilling, while leaving the unwanted parts in the field.
Garmin Xero C1 Pro
The Xero C1 Pro is a game-changing chronograph. It’s very compact with no wires to mess with. Setup took a couple minutes, including syncing it with the Garmin ShotView app. It features easy push-button controls, and there are only 4 buttons. Just attach it to the included tripod, set it up 5- to 18 inches from the muzzle, turn it on, and start shooting. This thing is really easy to use—the easiest chronograph ever, and in a pocket-sized package. Editor George Krumm noticed that at NRL Hunter matches, this chronograph is fast becoming the instrument of choice to determine power factor.
Duracell 2000 Lumen Tri-Power Lantern
This multitasking lantern from Duracell is a great option for anyone looking to tick off multiple needs in one functional tool. Adjustable light levels, rechargeable batteries, and device charger all in one, this lantern can be bright enough to butcher a moose in the dark, or dim enough not to blind you in your tent.
Tactacam Reveal X-Pro
Today’s game cameras are high-tech tools that can help up your hunting success. We tested the Reveal X-Pro and liked how it performed. We set one up scouting for blacktails and it allowed us to better understand the volume of animals in the area and to pattern their movement times. The cellular camera works on the Verizon and AT&T networks, with month-to-month data plans available from Tactacam. The camera utilizes no-glow flash technology, which means that the camera is taking pictures without alerting animals. When we set it up, we had to double check the card to see that it was taking images, because it is undetectable. The camera accepts SD cards, so if you are putting it somewhere without a cell signal, it can capture images on the card. It takes 16-megapixel images, runs on 12 AA batteries, has a built in LCD screen and GPS. The Reveal app is intuitive and easy to use; it’s a straightforward process to sync cameras to your phone.
Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Kit Deluxe
It is impossible to find an absolutely complete kit for reloading, because the items needed for specific calibers or styles of cartridges varies considerably. That said, the Classic Kit Deluxe has most items a hunter looking to reload will need, starting with the Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic single-stage press.
This Hornady Deluxe Reloading Kit includes: Lock-N-Load Classic single stage press, Lock-N-Load Powder Measure, Digital Scale, Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading, Three Lock-N-Load Die Bushings, Primer Catcher, Positive Priming System, Handheld Priming Tool, Universal Reloading Block, Chamfering and Deburring Tool, Powder Trickler and Funnel, One Shot Case Lube, Die Bushing 3 Pack, Sure-Loc Lock Ring 6 Pack, Powder Measure Stand, Shell Holder Pack (1, 2, 5, 16, 35), Kinetic Bullet Puller, Lock-N-Load OAL Gauge Straight, Vintage Tin Sign, Pistol Rotor & Metering Assembly, and Steel Dial Caliper. As you can see, it’s a pretty robust kit, and is a great way to get started, though you will need to buy a few more things depending on what you plan to load.
Helinox Speed Stool
Have you been on a hunt where you wished you had a portable seat? Maybe you are hiking around Prince of Wales Island looking for deer, and want to get your butt off the wet muskeg while you call, wait, and rest. Perhaps you are out in western Alaska calling for moose and want to take a load off your feet in between calling sequences. This super-light (.97 pounds ) stool sets up quickly and packs down small. We found the weight more than worth it while carrying it around on several 2024 hunts.
Tactacam Reveal X 2.0
Lots of companies make trail cams. This one from Tactacam is one of the great ones. The Reveal X 2.0 is designed to work with your cellular network to deliver photos and video directly to your cell phone through the Reveal mobile app. It will work if it is in range of Verizon or AT&T cell towers. Note that your phone does not need to be on Verizon or AT&T for the unit to send photos and video. Photo quality is very high: 16 MP. The device requires a Class 10, U3 SD card, 32GB.
The card comes with the device, along with a Verizon and an AT&T sim card. Power is supplied through 12 AA batteries (not included). A data plan will be required if you are using the Reveal mobile app to have photos/videos automatically sent to you from the camera. In Alaska, there are a lot of places where there is no AT&T or Verizon signal. The Reveal X Gen 2 can still be used as a standard trail camera in such locations. Instructions for using it this way are on the Tactacam website.
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Reloading Press
George Krumm learned to reload ammo from his father back in the mid-1970s. The press they used was an RCBS Rock Chucker. The Rock Chucker Supreme is very similar to that Rock Chucker of old, and it combines easy operation, ambidextrous handle, outstanding strength, and versatility to earn that coveted spot on your reloading bench. It features a spacious 4.25” loading window that is perfectly suited for loading longer magnum cartridges and a central-pivot design that provides outstanding leverage to size the toughest cases.
The Rock Chucker Supreme also has large mounting points, a long handle to ensure you can size your cases with ease and without fear of pulling your press off your bench. It accepts standard 7/8”-14 thread dies with bushing, and 1-1/4”-12 without bushing. Features include on-press priming, and heavy-duty cast-iron construction. This single-stage press is made in the USA, backed by the RCBS warranty, is a great value, and will last for generations.
Infinity X1 Dual Powered Headlamps 3 Pack
These versatile headlamps have 5 different lighting options including flood and spotlight, and can light up the next 300 feet of your trail. Power options include standard alkaline or rechargeable batteries. The straps are comfortable and adjust to fit a wide range of head sizes. The 3 pack makes it easy to keep 1 in the truck, 1 in the hunting kit, and 1 in the quad, without having to remember to take it with you when you’re packing for adventures.
PacBak Roam 18-V Portable Vacuum Sealer
This battery-powered vacuum sealer allows you to take game processing to the next level when you are able to reduce an animal into its edible components, and then vacuum seal that hard earned meat. You’ve got the option of using the vacuum sealer at base camp in conjunction with the P60-MK cooler, or you can put the sealer into the PacBak Byway Backpack or your hunting pack, and hike with it into the field.
Having a portable, battery-operated vacuum sealer can help produce better-quality meat, and now you don’t have to haul a brace of birds or bunnies back to your vehicle. Plus, after a hard day in the field, it’s easy to want to flop down on the couch and relax. Completing your game processing before you return home will remove one more thing you have to do before kicking back. This sealer is light, works well, and is a smart product to add to your game-processing kit.
Vortex Radian Carbon Carbon-Fiber Tripod with Ball Head
This is a heavy-duty tripod plus ball head that weighs 7.3 pounds. It has a 55-pound load capacity, so not only can it support any hunting optic, it’s also easily stout enough and stable enough to shoot any rifle. The tripod folded length is 28”. The minimum height with the legs spread is 8.25” and the maximum height is 67.25”. We used this tripod for general glassing while hunting and for competing in an NRL Hunter match, and this tripod is great for both. It’s more weight than you want to carry on an extended backpack trip, but that’s not what it was designed for. For glassing near camp or in proximity to four-wheelers, etc., it’s great.
Leupold Pro Guide CF-436 Tripod Kit Black/Shadow Tan
This carbon-fiber tripod weighs just 4 pounds. The collapsed length is 22 inches, and the extended length is 67 inches. It can support up to 40 pounds of weight and works with all ARCA-Swiss compatible rifles and accessories. Designed by competition shooters and hunters who demand versatility in the field during long periods of glassing, it’s stable enough to shoot off accurately. It has quarter-twist leg locks, angle stops, and interchangeable spike feet making it fast and easy to deploy. It includes a smooth, micro-adjustment ball head and center column. This is a great bipod that is light enough to carry in the field, yet stout enough to use in NRL Hunter competitions. It comes in a canvas carry bag.
Smith Longfin Elite Tactical Sunglasses
These are good-looking shooting glasses. The ones we tested had tan frames and Ignitor lenses, which transmit 30% of visible light. High-impact lens material meets the ANSI Z87.1 impact rating. They offer 100% UVA/B/C protection, and a medium/large fit. 6-base lens curvature provides a modest wraparound fit. These tactical sunglasses have a lifestyle look, but with a slightly curved design that helps keep dirt and debris out. The shallow side shields help reduce glare. Hydrophilic Megol temple and nose pads keep them in place during activities. These look sharp enough for everyday wear, but they shine on the range as well.
Tipton Deluxe 1-Piece Carbon Fiber Cleaning Rod
These 1-piece carbon cleaning rods are a superior tool to many of the other options on the market. They’re very straight, won’t scratch the bore, and 2 ball bearings in the handle allow the rod to rotate easily as a patch or brush is pushed or pulled through the bore. The tool is available in 4 diameters and 6 lengths to fit most rifles, pistols, and shotguns. The rod is threaded 8-32, except 17- and 20-caliber rods which are threaded 5-50, and shotgun rods are threaded 15/16”-27.
WileyX Gravity
These glasses include shatterproof Selenite Polycarbonate lenses that meet the MILPRF-32432(GL) ballistic standards, ANSI Z87.1+ optical clarity and high mass/high velocity impact standards, as well as US Federal OSHA 1910.133(b)(1)(1) standards. The pair we tested have Kryptek Neptune frames and progressive Rx, polycarbonate, polarized Captivate Copper/Captivate Green lenses. These lenses block UV light well, and copper is a great all- around color. These come with a removable foam face-cavity shield, a leash cord with rubber grips, and T-Peg elastic strap, all inside a black, zippered clamshell case. Our tester commented that he didn’t like the face-cavity shields, but they are removable and he commented that in inclement weather conditions or conditions like a sandstorm, that shield would be worth its weight in gold. We are fans of WileyX glasses.
Stone Glacier Compression Sack, S and XS
These handy sacks add space-saving, weather-resistant storage for down sleeping bags, apparel, tents, and more. They really help you maximize precious pack space, especially for bulky items like sleeping bags, down clothing, and the like. The XS fits items such as the Grumman Down Jacket and Pant, or the Chilkoot 32° Quilt, or the Sky Solus 1P tent (excluding stakes and poles). The S fits the Chilkoot 15° Sleeping Bag, or the Skyscraper 2P tent (excluding stakes and poles)
MDT Renegade Ultra-Light Shooting Bag
This handy shooting bag weights less than 2 ounces—the lightest shooting bag on the market. It’s ideal for backcountry hunting and makes for a great rear bag in field conditions. The shell is made of highly tear-resistant ripstop material, and the fill is Spex Lite. It has a carabiner loop so you can attach it to a pack, belt, or whatever. It also has an adjustable high-strength hand strap and is available in 3 colors. Having a lightweight, easy-to-carry shooting bag like this can improve field-shooting hit probability dramatically.
Stone Glacier Sentinel Side Pocket
We added the Sentinel Side Pocket to the Sentinel Bino Harness to carry frequently used accessories. It’s just the right size to fit a cartridge magazine, almost any smart phone, some snacks, or maybe a Kestrel, inReach, and other small items. It also has elastic ammo holders that can hold 3 large-caliber rounds, or 6 smaller-caliber rounds, and has dual zippers for easy opening. Dimensions are 7.75” tall x 4.25” wide x 1.25” deep and it’s available in Granite Grey or Coyote colors.
MDT Peanut Bag (Regular, Light)
Editor George Krumm loves the Peanut Bag. He used the Regular size with the Spex Lite fill at the range, in the field, and in the 2024 Leupold Relentless Rifleman NRL Hunter match. Says George: “I find the Peanut quite useful and use it both as a front bag over a tac table or terrain features, and also as a rear bag. I took out about a half cup of fill to make the bag a little floppier. With the Spex-Lite fill, it’s very light; less than a pound and a half.” The Peanut is available in Regular or Chunky sizes, with either heavy crushed-glass fill, or light Spex Lite fill. For perspective on weight, the Regular with crushed-glass fill weights 9 pounds, while the Regular with Spex Lite weighs just 1 pound, 6 ounces.
Stone Glacier Hydro Holster
The Hydro Holster attaches to the hip belt of any Stone Glacier pack. It can also be attached to other places on the pack. A shock-cord retainer keeps your water bottle from falling out of the holster. The holster weighs 2 ounces and is designed to carry a standard 32-ounce water bottle. We like to carry the holster on the opposite side of the pack from where we sling our rifle, but where and how you attach it to your pack is up to you.
Alaska Gun Guard True Timber Western Viper Pattern
We are fans of this device that protects the scope, action, and trigger of our hunting rifles. If you have had problems with scopes fogging, or mud and debris getting into the action or trigger of your guns, then you should seriously consider adding this item to your gear kit. It uses magnets to stay closed, so it goes on and off quickly and quietly. This year we tested this new pattern— True Timber Western Viper—and it’s a sharp-looking addition to the Alaskan Gun Guard pattern portfolio.
Tipton Ultra Gun Vise
The Tipton Ultra Gun Vise features a completely modular, interchangeable design to allow virtually any shape firearm or crossbow to be cleaned and worked on with ease. The ball-and-socket articulating clamp pads allow for the pads to adapt to any surface. The dual-clamp technology rigidly holds any firearm shape in place, while the rigid steel-tube frame structure allows for complete access to your firearm or crossbow. The front and rear clamps are both height and length adjustable, and feature fast-turn knobs allowing for quick clamping.
The solvent-resistant accessory and tool trays are movable and removable to stand up to even the toughest jobs. We’ve used this vise to clean and work on rifles. The vise holds securely, and with care it’s possible to level the rifle to aid in mounting optics level. If you don’t have a vise of some sort to hold your rifle while you clean or work on it, you’re missing out. This is a good one.
Therm-a-Rest Lite Seat
This inflatable seat is really small, so small that it fits in a large pocket. It can also be carried inflated inside your pack or daypack for quicker access. When deflated and folded, an integrated bungee loop keeps it rolled up tight. It has foam on the inside to help with insulation. You can vary the firmness by varying the amount of air you blow into it. It weighs 4 ounces, and packed dimensions are 6” by 2.5”; a little smaller than a Nalgene bottle. Deployed dimensions are 13” by 16” by 1.5”. This seat is not as light as the Z Seat, but it takes up much less space. It’s available in blue, green, orange, or mango colors.
Backstop Recoil Pad
It’s hard to find a great recoil pad. Many of those sold with rifles leave a lot to be desired. Seeing the hole in the market, Jim Harmer of Backfire TV decided to develop a better one. Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment to measure recoil, he developed a baseline to build custom recoil pads that are far more effective than what comes on most rifles. To pick one for your rifle, go to the website and enter the brand and model of your rifle or chassis, the cartridge you shoot in it, and the approximate weight of the rifle.
Then your Backstop Recoil Pad will be made utilizing 3D printing. Since these recoil pads are softer and can develop memory, they come with a protective throne (kind of like a cage that encloses the recoil pad) to protect the recoil pad from deformation during long-term storage. Jim is onto something. It’s a great product. We ordered one and replaced the factory recoil pad on an MDT HNT26 chassis that has a 7 PRC action mounted in it. The Backstop Recoil Pad definitely made the rifle more manageable.
Teslong NTG100 45-inch Flexible USB Borescope
Now you can know exactly how well your barrel-cleaning regimen is working, and what kind of shape your barrel is in. Things like the dreaded carbon ring are easy to see with a borescope. This 45” flexible borescope connects to devices with USB A or C and is compatible with Android, Windows PC, or Apple OSX. The borescope fits .22 caliber or larger barrels. An LED ring light illuminates the inside of the barrel, and removable side mirrors are included in the package. It comes with a 60” data cable to connect to your device with a few different kinds of software that are either free to download, or possibly already are on your device.
Our tester’s Windows PC came with a Windows webcam app called Camera. The manual suggests other software you can download. You can capture 1-megapixel photos of your bore with this borescope, and save them onto your device. This unit is well worth the very reasonable price it sells at. It greatly increases your awareness of the condition of your rifle’s bore. The entire kit comes in a semi-rigid Cordura case, so you can take it to the range or to matches with you.
Aero Precision SOLUS Barrel Vise Kit
If you want to build your own rifle or do a barrel change on an existing rifle, you’ll need a barrel vise. The Aero Precision one is well made, and comes with a set of 5 bushings for different barrel contours. Editor George Krumm used this vise to install 3 barrels into actions: 1 with a barrel nut, and the other two simple shouldered prefits. The Aero Precision barrel vise is a quality item that will probably last a lifetime. And your kid’s lifetime.
Aero Precision Action Wrench (SOLUS)
If you’re going to build rifles, you’ll need an action wrench. Action wrenches are often proprietary to certain actions depending on the bolt lug configuration. The Aero Precision Action Wrench works with Aero Precision’s SOLUS bolt actions, which have a 3-lug, 60-degree bolt throw. You will need this wrench if you want to build on SOLUS bolt actions. We used this to install 3 barrels into Aero Precision actions. It works great.
Therm-a-Rest Z Seat Coyote Gray
Sitting on the wet, frozen, or cold ground sucks while we’re glassing. Something between you and Mother Earth will be immensely helpful. The Z Seat is just a durable, super light, closed-cell foam pad. It folds up sort of like an accordion. It weighs just 2 ounces. It’s impervious to weather, so you can just strap it onto the outside of your pack when you’re not using it. It has a small shock-cord loop to contain the seat when it’s folded up. It comes in 3 colors (coyote/gray, limon/silver, and blue/silver).
Ledlenser HF8R Core RGB Headlamp
This headlamp can be fully hands-free thanks to Adaptive Light Beam technology. You can also manually set the brightness level or the lens color. This headlamp is a little bigger and heavier than the smallest headlamps on the market, but it is absolutely packed with capability and features. We especially like that it is waterproof (IP68) and rechargeable with a USB-C cable. Features include: multi-color front light (red, green, blue), dims and focuses automatically, Ledlenser Connect app compatible via Bluetooth, magnetic charge system, IP68 dust- and waterproof, and brightness range from 20- to 1,600 lumens. It has 90 hours runtime on the lowest (20 lumens) setting, and 3.5 hours on the 900 lumens setting. It weighs 6.84 ounces, has a rechargeable Li-ion battery pack, and charges to 80% in 2.5 hours.
MDT Traveller Shooting Bag
This handy shooting bag has a Cordura outside, and either Spex Lite or MDT’s traditional House Fill. It’s small and handy and includes a removable webbing lanyard that allows you to attach it to your pack, belt, or whatever. It is similar in profile to the Renegade bag, but the shell is Cordura, and the fill can be either Spex Lite (8 ounces) or MDT’s house fill (16 ounces). If you can afford the extra weight, this bag is a more affordable option than the Renegade Ultra-Light Shooting Bag. It’s available in 2 colors (Multicam or Coyote).
Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original Chair
This folding chair is great for providing a padded, dry seat while glassing or on a stand. King’s Camo is the color we used, though it’s available in 3 non-camo colors, too. Improved 8 mm highdensity cored EVA closed-cell foam provides ample insulation and comfort without added bulk. The Outer shell of durable 210D coated ripstop nylon protects from wet ground. An inner surface of water-resistant, breathable 70D coated ripstop nylon is durable, easy to keep clean, provides better insulation, and is totally sealed from sand and dirt.
It features virtually unbreakable carbon-fiber stays, tight-knit nylon webbing for superior tensile strength, reinforced wing connection for durability, and rolls up compactly to just a 4” diameter. The chair has a 250-pound weight capacity and is equipped with a handy attached roll-up strap and hanging loop. Set up, it is 16” tall by 15” wide by 16.5” deep and it weighs 1.25 pounds.