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
Vortex Optics PRO Torque Wrench
Every hunter should have a good torque wrench. This is a good one. It offers adjustable torque settings from 10- to 90 in-lbs, includes a wide range of bits, and is comfortable to use. The kit includes 8 Hex bits (3/16”, 5/32”, 9/64”, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm and 5 mm), 3 Torx bits (T-10, T-15 and T-25), a 10 mm WIDE screwdriver bit, 1/2” socket, and 1/4” Hex to 1/4” square socket adaptor.
Pro Ears Gold II 30
These ear muffs protected Publisher Melissa Norris’ ears from damage when at the range, but still allowed her to hear every sound and to hold conversations. The muffs feature DLSC compression technology which quiets loud noises while boosting softer ones. The Pro Ears Gold II 30 can amplify sound up to 800% while simultaneously diminishing harmful noises. For color, choose between black, green or pink.
Unchartered Supply Company The Zeus Pro
We used this unit to recharge batteries on phones, cameras, drones, and other electronics while in the field through the USB-A and USB-C outputs. It performed well. We were impressed with how quickly it recharged our devices. In the past, recharging drone batteries from portable units took some time; this unit refilled power quickly on drone batteries. The 20,000 mAh battery is capable of jump starting a vehicle with the included battery cables.
Hedgehog Dryer Buddy Black Ionic i3
One thing is for certain: We believe that clothing- and shoe dryers are a key tool in an outdoorsman’s arsenal. If you want to prolong the life of your gear, make sure you get it dry when you come in from the weather. Gear that remains wet will gradually deteriorate, and let’s not even talk about the smell of a musty pair of boots that aren’t being properly dried. This innovative unit allows you to dry 3 pairs of shoes or gloves simultaneously, incorporates technology to remove odor, can dry a sopping-wet pair of shoes in 30 minutes which is much faster than the other dryers we own, has adjustable heat (4 settings: room temp, 98º, 113º, and 140º), a timer from 15 minutes up to 10 hours, and both silent- and tornado modes. Tornado mode is impressive, getting your gear dry in a hurry. If you don’t have a gear dryer, strongly consider a Hedgehog.
Vortex PRO Leveling Kit
Make sure that your scope is level when you mount it by using the Vortex PRO Leveling Kit. It includes a Picatinny clip-on bubble level and a second bubble level to help ensure accuracy when mounting. We like how quick and easy this system is to use and that it takes the guesswork out of leveling your scope when you mount it to the gun.
MSR 4L DromLite Bag
On extended backcountry trips, lightweight water storage is a good thing to have. In 2025, we used the 4L DromLite Bag. It’s extremely light, packs down small, incorporates a loop at the top for hanging and carrying, and has a 3-in-1 cap that allows you to fill, drink, and pour. MSR states that it can handle freezing, but we did not validate this assertion. Water is life; staying hydrated will help your performance and keep you on top of your game when hunting, fishing, and hiking in Alaska’s backcountry.
J5 Gear Backpack Game Sled
Publisher Marcus Weiner tested this sled, in the Alaskan model, during a 2025 moose hunt. Here’s what he had to say: “This game sled was a game changer during my 2025 moose hunt. I shot a moose about a mile from where I needed to pack him to, and this sled made it far easier to haul out the quarters. It rolls up small, sets up quick, and is ruggedly made. It only weighs 3.6 pounds. I will not go on another moose hunt without this sled and I intend to bring it with me on future elk and bear hunts, too.”
Platypus QuickDraw 3L Gravity Filter System
It’s essential to have proper water filtration in the backcountry. We typically carry a handheld water purifier that connects to a Nalgene bottle, and we pump from the water source into the bottle. It works well but is time consuming. With the thoughts of increasing output, particularly on adventures where you rely on dehydrated food, and even more so where physical exertion demands more water intake, we added this system to our kit. We are impressed. It’s easy and fast to use, gives us a 3L capacity, and works like a charm. The whole system breaks down into a compact bag and doesn’t weigh much. After filtration, clean water outputs and empties directly into the bottle of your choice. A shutoff clamp allows you to stop the flow once your bottle is filled. The filter is quick and easy to clean.
Midland GXT1050 GMRS Walkie Talkie Camo – GXT1050VP4
We used these radios to stay in contact between base camp and spike-out camp and they worked well, adding another level of safety should either camp need help. They have a fairly long range; Midland’s website claims 36 miles, although we never tested them at that range. We were typically within 5 miles of each other. The radios have plenty of features including 22 channels, 285 privacy codes, an SOS siren, and NOAA weather alerts. The kit includes a pair of radios, desktop charger, AC and DC adapters, belt clips, rechargeable battery packs and a pair of boom mic headsets.
TriggerTech Special Remington 700 Trigger
There is one thing you can do that will almost always make a rifle shoot better: put a good trigger in it. The Special is TriggerTech’s mid-range offering, between the Diamond and the Primary. It features adjustable pull weight from 1- to 3.5 pounds, is available for left- or right-hand rifles, with or without a bolt release, either single-stage or 2-stage, and 5 different levers. We chose a curved, single-stage trigger with no bolt release and installed it into the trigger hanger of an Aero Precision Solus Lightweight Long Action paired with a Proof Research barrel chambered in 300 PRC. This trigger is great; certainly, much better than all factory-rifle triggers our tester has ever used. Want your classic rifle to shoot better? See if it’s possible to put a TriggerTech trigger in it. Building a new rifle? Buy a good trigger. TriggerTechs are good.
Leki Skytera FX Carbon SL Compact Trekking Poles
If you aren’t using trekking poles when you hike and hunt, especially in mountainous terrain, we strongly consider that you start. For Publisher Marcus Weiner, this was the first time he has used trekking poles and now he will never go on a mountain hunt without them. It helped him stabilize while going uphill under a heavy load, and use his upper body to help with the work.
On the way down, they were even more important. They help give support on uneven terrain and help slow the descent, again under a heavy load. The poles are adjustable, rugged, lightweight (smidge over 12 ounces for the pair), and breakdown into a small carry bag. Handles are comfortable, with straps so you can remove your hand from the grip and retain the pole, and the carbide tips are sharp and strong.
Stone Glacier Chilkoot 32º Quilt
Quilts are growing in popularity for remote backpack hunts because they weigh less than traditional sleeping bags. The Chilkoot quilt only weighs 1 pound, 6.6 ounces! It’s made of 15 denier Pertex Quantum Shell with 850+ fill-power HyperDRY 90/10 grey goose down (12 ounces of it). It packs down into a 9.5” x 13” stuff sack (storage sack and stuff sack included). It was made for early season to mid-season backcountry hunts. In addition to the excellent weight and materials, the 4 adjustable straps on the bottom of the quilt keep the quilt secured to your sleeping pad, even if you toss and turn a lot. Remember, the bottom of the quilt is open, and you will be laying directly on your sleeping pad. Be sure to purchase a sleeping pad with the appropriate R-value for the conditions you anticipate.
Velvet Antler Technologies Velvalok Velvet Antler Preservative
Since George Krumm’s 2025 alpine Sitka blacktail hunt took place in August when most of the bucks were still in velvet, he took Velvalok with him to make sure he could preserve the antlers with the velvet intact. Velvalok is a proprietary product that comes in a spray bottle. The instructions are easy to follow, and the product worked great! The product sets, dries, and preserves natural velvet while deterring insects. It is important to keep antlers upright after application. It works best in temperatures of 80º or more, but George applied it in 55º weather.
Once out of the field, he put a plate under the antlers and kept them upright in his rental house for a couple days. Then, he carefully wrapped them in bubble wrap and placed them in a fish box mostly filled with frozen deer meat and shipped them home via Alaska Air Cargo. Once home, fearing the cool temperature of application and subsequent freezing might create problems, he carefully unwrapped the antlers and set them upright on a plate for a week or so inside his 70º house to ensure the preservative finished its job. Though this wasn’t the optimum situation according to the directions, it did work. One bottle is enough for 2 average Sitka blacktail bucks. For larger animals, we recommend you call Velvalok and ask their advice.
Stone Glacier Skyscraper 2P Tub Footprint
This footprint is designed to be used with the Skyscraper 2P tent. The Tub Footprint shines in wet, soggy environments. The combination of the tub-shaped footprint and full-coverage rainfly of the Skyscraper 2P tent keeps water out and provides much more protection than standard flat footprints. The tub footprint weighs a little more than the flat footprint, but if you’re expecting it to be wet, the weight will be worth it. The tub footprint comes with its own stuff sack and weighs 10.2 ounces. With the tub footprint, you could erect the shelter with just the web truss and rainfly resulting in a very light, dry, early season shelter. Editor George Krumm and his sons were grateful to have the tub footprints while camping on the soggy alpine tundra on Baranof Island last August.
MDT Mountain Bipod with ARCA Adaptor
Sheep hunters, goat hunters, and alpine deer hunters, listen up. Extremely lightweight at less than 6 ounces, the MDT Mountain Bipod is a fine blend of superior craftsmanship, technology, and materials. It’s made of carbon fiber, 7075 aluminum, and titanium. Although light, MDT tested it with calibers up to 300 PRC, so it is solid. We tested the ARCA version, though you could get it with a Picatinny head. For those looking to cut as much weight as possible but not sacrifice on performance, this bipod is for you. It is very adjustable, and the legs can splay in 5 different increments to create heights as low as 2.5” or as tall as 15.8”. It has over 180-degrees of cant, meaning even if your legs don’t put the rifle perfectly level, you’ll be able to cant until it is.
The buttons for operation are easy to use and intuitive. Editor George Krumm took this bipod with him on his 2025 alpine Sitka blacktail hunt. He attached it to an MDT CRBN stock via its built-in ARCA rail. George commented: “It is hard to believe they packed so much capability into such a light bipod. Love the push-button leg deployment. I used this on my Sitka blacktail hunt and it was instrumental in making the shot at 300 yards. The rock I shot over was not level and I had to quickly lengthen the right leg to make a more stable and level shooting position. It was simple to make the adjustment, and the stability made the shot mundane.”
Cole-Tac Ammo Novel
The Ammo Novel is Editor George Krumm’s preferred means of carrying ammo for NRL Hunter matches. He tested the standard size, in burnt orange. It comes in several colors. This ammo binder is very helpful for shooting in NRL hunter matches because you can load it up with more than enough ammo for an entire day’s shooting without having to dig through ammo boxes. Plus, each round is held securely, minimizing the chance of ogive or meplat damage. They make it in several colors, and with loop sizes to cover most hunting ammo. The Ammo Novel holds 120 rounds. The standard size fits almost all short-action cartridges, and some shortish long-action cartridges. Note that the Ammo Novel is far too big to be of much value for hunting. For smaller capacity, Cole-Tac offers their Hunter Ammo Wallet in 10-, 20-, or 40-round capacity.
Riflekühl Barrel Cooler by MagnetoSpeed
When hunting, our first shot is an absolutely cold-bore shot. It makes sense that when sighting in your rifle and determining your true zero, you should be doing so with as cool a barrel as possible. But everyone hates waiting for the barrel to cool down, so inevitably they shoot all the shots after the first shot of their group with either a warm barrel or a hot barrel. These might not provide the most accurate, cold-bore zero. The Riflekühl by MagnetoSpeed is designed to blow ambient-temperature air down the rifle bore to speed cooling, so you can do a better job of determining your zero under cold-bore conditions while at the same time extending barrel life. Very handy.
This device runs on a CR17345 3V battery which provides a runtime of 3 hours. The unit also has a filter to prevent blowing dust down the barrel. Make sure you have spare batteries on hand. Though the device works great, our suggestion is that they make a version with a cord that you plug into a battery pack for longer runtime and fewer batteries in the landfill.
Teslong NTG200H Focus and Fold Rifle Borescope with 5-inch IPS Screen
Nowadays, it seems the average hunter shoots more than they did in past decades. What’s more, we now have cartridges with rather tight tolerances. The effect of both is that we need to clean our guns more, especially if they shoot cartridges that burn a lot of powder. Carbon rings do form and can create unsafe situations. Plus, it’s great to have an idea of what your bore looks like from chamber to crown, and how effective (or ineffective) your cleaning regime is. A borescope makes this possible, and Teslong’s high-quality borescopes have made it affordable for the average hunter to own one. This particular model features a rigid, 2-piece, 26” (14” when folded for storage) probe with adjustable focus that comes with a stand-alone 5” screen that allows you to view live what the camera is seeing, and allows you to take video and still photos and store them on the device.
The screen has a USB-C charging port, and microSD card slot. The power source is a 2,500 mAh lithium-ion battery with a runtime of 4 hours. The monitor is IP67 splash-, water-, and dust resistant and can withstand being submerged for up to 30 minutes at 1 meter, so a rainstorm won’t hurt it. The kit comes with 6 side-view mirrors ranging in size from .22 caliber to .40 caliber. You can operate the camera with a side-view mirror to look at the chamber or bore walls, or you can operate it without a sideview mirror which will point the camera straight down the bore. The focus mechanism is built into the probe, about a foot from the camera end. This is a vast improvement compared to cameras that are focused by screwing the side-view mirror in or out. Our only suggestion to Teslong is to make the probe longer so that we can insert it aft of the action and still be able to extend it all the way to the crown of a 26” barrel.
Yeti LoadOut GoBox 60 Gear Case, Firefly Yellow
We’ve tested these in the past and there is no question as to their durability and utility, but the striking new color—Firefly Yellow—is a great addition. It’s almost a chartreuse color, bright enough to help serve as a signaling device should you ever find yourself in a survival situation. Empty weight is 17.2 pounds. External dimensions: 30.0” wide x 14.8” deep x 13.4” high. Dustproof, waterproof, and virtually indestructible, it will keep all your gear safe and boasts an IP67 waterproof rating. It comes with 1 LoadOut GoBox Caddy but can fit 3. It’s stackable. It comes with 1 divider but can fit 2. Yeti LoadOut GoBox 60s are available in 7 colors: king crab orange, wetlands brown, white, charcoal, tan, rescue red, and now firefly yellow.
Cole-Tac Go-To Shooting Mat
If you want to get proficient at shooting in the field, you need to get off the bench and practice in more positions. Prone is a great place to start, but who wants to lay down in the dirt or snow? A shooting mat solves that problem. The Go-To Shooting Matt is lightweight, affordable, comes in several colors, and rolls up into a 15” by 5” cylinder. It weighs a pound, and the open size is 30” by 72”. It has 10” by 21” wings sewn into each side to provide a clean, dry place for gear and ammo.
Yeti LoadOut GoBox 1 Gear Case, Rescue Red
This little gear case is the toughest small gear case we’ve ever seen. It is waterproof, dustproof, and as Yeti claims, “wildproof.” It’s made to keep the elements out and to withstand serious impact. It has a removeable internal tray to separate gear, as will as a Silicone PackAttic to hold small, thin items against the inside lid. It’s great for stowing small valuables like your wallet, keys, phone, passport, etc. It has a tether strap to attach it to things for hands-free carry. It’s available in 5 colors: rescue red, king crab orange, black, charcoal, and tan.
Yeti LoadOut GoBox 15 Gear Case, Firefly Yellow
Like its siblings, the GoBox 15 is super-tough, dustproof, waterproof, and nearly indestructible. It has non-skid rubber on the bottom, so it stays where you put it. It measures 14.7” x 11.3” x 10.2”. A Yeti Caddie comes with it and fits perfectly in the top, giving you 2 levels of storage inside the box. This little gear case is a very useful size. In a boat, you can easily stash a first aid kit, handheld VHF radio, insurance paperwork and other required documents, and a number of other small items in it.
AMEND2 AICS 6.5 PRC Polymer Magazine
This is a 3-round short-action polymer magazine (poly mag). This magazine is fully compatible with SAAMI spec 6.5 PRC cartridges. They are designed and manufactured in the USA with American parts and craftsmanship. These are nice magazines that function well and fit well in Grayboe bottom metal as well as the MDT Hunter bottom metal. Editor George Krumm has used these magazines both for NRL Hunter matches and hunting.
NESTOUT Outdoor Battery, 15000N
NESTOUT makes power banks of several sizes. This one is capable of recharging a smartphone up to 3 times. It is waterproof, dustproof, and shock-resistant. It weighs 12.8 ounces and provides fast charging through 2 USB-A ports and 1 USB-C port. Battery lifespan is roughly 1,000 full charges. This is a great backup power supply for backcountry hunting or fishing, and other wilderness- or outdoor adventures.
Caribou Gear Hunter’s Tarp Montana (7’ x 8’) Shelter/Gear Cover/Hunting Blind
This tarp is 7’ x 8’, weighs just 12.8 ounces, comes in its own stuff sack, includes 4x 7” aluminum ground stakes, 2x 9’ guylines, and 6x 19” guylines. This makes a great portable emergency shelter, a shelter under which you can store gear, a shelter for glassing, or a cover to keep hanging meat bags dry. It’s made of ripstop nylon and is coated both externally and internally for waterproofing. There are numerous tie-down points and internal loops for many ways of setting it up. Everyone who hunts the backcountry should have some sort of emergency shelter. This one is well designed and is so small and light, it doesn’t add much to your pack weight considering what it gives you.
Hornady Auto Charge Pro
Reloading is fun—until you’re really short on time or have a lot of rounds to load. Editor George Krumm remembers trickling powder with a spoon decades ago for his 7mm Rem Mag handloads. He was stoked when he got a manual powder thrower to speed up the process. Today he has the electric Auto Charge Pro, which takes powder dispensing and measuring to a new level of efficiency and precision. It’s accurate to .1 grains, and it will tell on itself if it throws an overcharge.
The hopper can hold a large amount of powder, and it’s simple to drain the powder back into its container when you’re done loading. The unit has a built-in level, and a backlit touch screen. This unit differs from others in that it has 3 different modes: slow, medium, and fast. In the slow mode, it is very accurate. There are many more features, but in a nutshell, this powder dispenser will speed up your reloading, and help you to produce more consistent, accurate ammo.
Garmin inReach Messenger Plus SOS Satellite Communicator
This satellite communicator uses the Iridium satellite network (which is the best network for coverage in Alaska) and lets you exchange text, photo, and voice messages when your adventure takes you beyond cellular range. Plus, the durable design withstands extreme temperatures, and the battery lasts for weeks. We’ve used this on a few different remote adventures and it has always performed flawlessly. You’ll need a subscription to use it, and several levels of service are possible. Additionally, you can suspend the subscription at any time and reactivate it when you need it again.
Surprisingly, we were able to text while in complete wilderness on Baranof Island while surrounded by mountains and with the device stowed inside a pack! Other awesome, notable features: IPX7 waterproof; weather reports and forecasts; Tracback routing to help you navigate back the way you came; safety charging—can charge your phone from the Messenger’s battery; and the battery lasts up to 25 days in 10-minute tracking mode. The device is about 3” x 2.5” x 1” and weighs about 4 ounces. Every wilderness traveler needs some kind of satellite communicator. Garmin’s inReach Messenger Plus is great.
Kestrel 5700X WEZ Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics
This latest rendition of the Kestrel features Weapons Engagement Zone (WEZ) analysis in addition to the Applied Ballistics (AB) Elite Solver. AB’s WEZ gives the user the ability to guide decisions on weapon systems, ammo, and shooting skills to maximize their hit percentage. The Kestrel WEZ revolutionizes shooting performance with built-in statistical analysis to maximize Probability of Hit (P HIT) and shooter confidence. With the Kestrel 5700X WEZ, shooters can quantify the P HIT for a specific target, at single- or multiple distances, and across multiple gun profiles.
You can also use it to compare loads, i.e. your handloads’ hit probability versus factory-ammo hit probability. In addition to all this, it has the normal functionality of 5700 Elite weather meters. In addition to the capabilities described above, we use it to import environmental conditions into Hornady 4DOF and then we use zero angle as our zeroing methodology. A good weather meter is essential. This one is the best we’ve used to date.
Caribou Gear Rifle Shield (Rifle Cover)
The Rifle Shield is designed to keep your rifle from getting thrashed by weather and debris while in the field. When in the field, our tester puts this on his rifle every night, then deploys his bipod to keep the rifle upright. This kept it protected from dew and rain during an alpine Sitka blacktail hunt. During really crappy weather, you could keep this on your rifle as you carry it either by hand or sling, but most of the time our tester used it to keep his rifle dry at night while at camp. The elastic piping allows it to fit over many rifle/scope/suppressor combinations, as long as the suppressor is 1.75” or less in diameter.
We used it on a custom 6.5 PRC with a 22” Carbon Six barrel, MeatEater by BANISH suppressor, and MDT CRBN stock with a Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18x 44 scope. It fit this rifle without issue and undoubtedly would still fit even if the barrel was longer. The Rifle Shield has a DWR coating on the exterior, and TPU inner coating, so it is waterproof. The material is Cordura Ballistic Fabric (double layer). The Rifle Shield stows back into itself. It fits rifles from 36” to 56” and shotguns to 57”. It has 2 Velcro closures on the bottom, and 2x 13” Velcro straps are included. It weighs just 9.2 ounces, and when stowed, the dimensions are approximately 7” x 5” by 3”.
Vortex Optics PRO Rifle Clamp Tripod Mount
Shooting from a tripod is a necessary skill that allows you to get above low vegetation and still have a very stable shooting position. The PRO rifle clamp is compatible with most rifles, shotguns, and crossbows. It weighs less than a pound thanks to magnesium construction. It’s ARCA-Swiss compatible and pairs with any ARCA-Swiss tripod or 3/8”-16 compatible tripods. The clamp is adjustable to handle a variety of rifle handguards and stocks, and has soft durometer rubber jaws for a secure hold and recoil absorption. Max load is 44 pounds and the unit itself only weighs 14.4 ounces. This is a well-made shooting clamp for shooting off a tripod.
NESTOUT Outdoor Charging Cable
These are heavy-duty charging cables that are available in USB-C to USB-C (tested) or USB-A to USB-C. They come in either 3.3- or 6.6-foot lengths. They are 20V/5A cables, and can withstand a maximum of 100W. IP54 rated for water and dust resistance. Each end has an ingenious cap featuring a swivel hook to allow hanging, and a clip for tangle-free storage. These cords are built to last.
Kopfjäger K700 AMT Tripod with Reaper Grip Kit
Kopfjäger means headhunter in German. The Kopfjäger K700 AMT Tripod with Reaper Grip includes a heavy-duty tripod and Reaper Grip rest. This shooting tripod is crafted of sturdy aluminum and features 3-level leg extensions with locking levers. The Reaper Grip boasts an adjustable, pivoting grip designed to accommodate both tapered- and straight stocks and chassis without allowing recoil movement. The K700 Tripod and Reaper Grip Kit provides 360° smooth pan and a tilt range of 109° (21° up and 87° down) and is built to handle harsh environments. It adjusts from 27” to 72”. Max load is 25 pounds. The tripod itself weighs 5.5 pounds, and the Reaper Grip weighs 2.5 pounds, so the total weight of the grip plus tripod is 7.7 pounds. Obviously, this is not a lightweight, backpacking tripod, but it works well for shooting and can accommodate both stocked rifles and rifles in chassis.