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WILD HARE GEAR
CREATING A LEGACY OF QUALITY, COMFORT AND INNOVATION SAYS BILL ELLIOTT
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wenty some years ago Wild Hare Shooting Gear CEO and President, Steve Kawamoto, was in his freshman year at Ohio State University. While a student working on his undergraduate degree, in his spare time Steve was also tinkering with leathercrafting. When his father complained about the weight of his shotgun during long days of pheasant hunting, Steve came up with an ingenious solution to the problem. “My dad was planning a pheasant hunting trip and expressed how his gun often gets CLAYSHOOTINGUSA
heavy. He needed a support of some kind, as it gets heavy mile after mile. I could not find anything out there on the market, so I developed the Quick-ShotTM holster — and he loved it.” Steve was not even seriously thinking at the time about taking his new idea to a business level. Then when he went to a friend to seek patent advice, it hit him. The friend urged him to go into business. The rest, as they say, is history. It’s been over 20 years ago now, since Wild Hare Shooting Gear,
then known as Wild Hare Sporting Clays, arrived on the scene with gun slips, shooting vests and an assortment of other shooter gear. It didn’t take long before Wild Hare’s clay shooting related products could be found on courses throughout the country. Today the Wild Hare line up of shooting gear, all field tested by experienced shooters for their valuable feedback, is quite extensive. Wild Hare, along with partner company MizMac Designs, now fall under the umbrella of Peregrine Outdoor Products,
representing some of the finest shooting related products on the market.
A Look At The Product While On The Course When the idea to do this product spotlight came about, I thought an authentic setting on the sporting clays course was a must. As informed consumers, we tend to try on athletic shoes or hunting boots for feel and comfort before
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buying — I thought why not run that same hands-on style assessment on our shooting gear? Steve and members of his team, Elliot (Big E) Shouse and Sam Lecras, arrived at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio on what was sure to be an exciting day with a full line up of apparel ready to be tested on this premium central Ohio sporting grounds. We specifically decided to take a closer look at the Wild Hare Range Vest, the Hydro-Elite Waterproof Shooting Jacket and new for the 2020 lineup, the Deluxe Competition Range Backpack. FRONT RANGE VEST
right-hand styles ranging from small to 5XL surely helps consumers find the right size and fit. This helps explain why more than 40 scholastic clays programs throughout the country have partnered with Wild Hare for team vests.
HYDRO-ELITE JACKET RANGE VEST As we walked onto the course to our first station, I could not help but notice the lightweight feel of the Wild Hare Range Vest and appreciate its tailored appearance with its sheepskin leather trim. Believe it or not, maybe what I was most impressed with was the ease of the YKK zipper. As I called pull, I was waiting to see if there would be any hang up with my mount, slippage in my shoulder pocket or pull in the back fabric. Dead pair — that felt great! Rear Velcro straps help for a tailored-like fit and because these vests are available in both left and CLAYSHOOTINGUSA
As we continued, the versatility of the Hydro-Elite Waterproof Jacket is maybe the product that impressed me the most. Wild Hare
mastered comfort with this coat, while also assuring 100 percent waterproofing and breathability. This garment is not simply water resistant; it is truly waterproof! The jacket’s internal shoulder pocket accepts the ShockEater recoil pad for those who may be recoil sensitive. I could not get over the trim feel and impeccable leather trim, combined with ergonomic advantage of unrestricted ease of movement. Do not be fooled by its waterproof title. This is an all-purpose shooting THE HYDRO-ELITE JACKET IS 100% WATERPROOF
jacket that just so happens to be 100 percent waterproof.
COMPETITION RANGE BACKPACK Ergonomics and Disruption are two words that come to mind when describing the new Competition Range Backpack. Input from the shooting community is how the idea for a Wild Hare backpack came to fruition. Steve noted, “I kept hearing from shooters how tournament bags get so heavy. For many, the one strap option was weighing shooters down. With two
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straps, equal distribution, and the trend of backpacks coming back, it set the perfect stage for us to disrupt the market.” While on the course I made it a point to wear the Competition Range Backpack from station to station and noted that even with its generous size, comfort was not a concern. The reinforced straps, waist belt and back pad allow for good capacity while not impacting overall posture. An insulated drink holder, reinforced ammo compartment and internal compartment for optional hydration bladder are just some of the all-inclusive characteristics that make this backpack a sure hit. As we wrapped up our shooting it started to get a bit cloudy. Steve took this opportunity to show me the integrated, full rain fly cover for the pack while leaving the straps available for full usage.
A Vest For All Teams Walking back to the truck that day we chatted a bit about the company’s business model. “We
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introduced a team model where we could help supply SCTP and other teams like college ACUI, 4-H and the Boy Scouts with a 25 percent discount off retail price.” The Wild Hare team knew kids might potentially be on a limited budget, but they wanted to see these young shooters in quality shooting gear. Wild Hare could provide this, while along the way creating a lifetime believer in their product line.”
As the day wrapped up, I could not help but admire Steve’s humble, yet assertive and detailed persona. It was not until a did a deep dive, did I discover he earned his PhD at the University of Michigan in Medicinal Chemistry in cancer research. This helps explain his detailed approach to every Wild Hare stitch. As the company continues to increase their social media presence and dealer landscape, they will
undoubtedly continue to see increased success in the marketplace. As you look to gear up for the 2020-2021 season do not miss out on the product line Wild Hare has to offer. This reviewer feels with plenty of fit and style options, they can supply the utility and comfort needed in clay target apparel and gear. n
