It is an hour before opening morning of archery season.  You take all the precautions of preparing for your hunt. You have a monster buck patterned and a stand in a heavily wooded funnel perfect for an ambush.   A half-mile hike to your destination in total darkness is all that separates you from your dream.  With flashlight in hand you set off.  After walking a short distance you realize things don't look quite right.  Panic sets in as you hurriedly try to get back on course to your stand.  The only solution is to wait for dawn enabling you to correct your mistake.  In disbelief you arrive at the top of one ridge just in time to see the buck walking through your 15 yard shooting lane.

Sound familiar? 

I had a similar experience just last fall on a bowhunting trip to Wisconsin.  It screwed up a whole mornings hunt because I couldn't locate the outfitters stand.  Solution, Fire Tacks from WildTech Corporation. 

The Retro-reflective material is integrated onto a 3 or 4D tack, which is 10 times as bright when, compared to other trail tacks.  "Retro Reflective" applies that the visibility will be the highest when your flashlight is held at eye level.  This lessens the possibility of someone else finding your trail or stand.  The comparable brightness to other tacks is only magnified when tested in rain and fog or damp conditions.  Fire Tacks commercial grade reflective material, combined with a high quality plastic tack, allows for trouble free years of service. 

What impresses me most about Fire Tacks is that both models offer a unique low profile, three-dimensional design.  This design allows viewing around the tree for up to 135 degrees from either side (270 degrees total).  Going back to last years hunt, I missed the stand because I couldn't see a small reflector tack 90 degrees from my line of sight.

Fire Tape on the other hand is made from two-ply, prismatic, high gloss plastic.  Velcro is sewn on each end and can be linked together for larger posting.  This allows for an indestructible combination meaning many seasons of use, unlike trail ribbon, which tears and fades by seasons end.  The Fire Tape is a great idea for safety concerns on your children's jackets and coats.

Gear Markers are best used to mark tree stands, but are also great for marking the end of driveways or low profile hazardous steps like on your back patio.  They adhere to plastic, metal or wood and are ideal for marking your ATV's where visibility and safety are of greater concern at night.

A great feature of all three products is that they come in a variety of colors.

Fire Tacks are available in Blaze (orange), Ice (white) and Stealth (amber).  The Fire Tape comes in Blaze or Killer Bee (yellow) while Gear Markers comes in Blaze or Stealth. 

1. Blaze is highly visible during the day and is fire bright in the dark. 
2. Ice proves to be the brightest of all colors at night during my testing.  It is like shining a light directly into a mirror. 
3. Stealth is just what the name implies.   During daylight hours it is virtually invisible but at night illuminates a blaze amber trail. 
4. Killer Bee proved to be second in the brightest category just behind Ice as well as being highly visible during the day.

Effectiveness 5 of 5
Best trail marker or reflector that I have ever used or seen.  For the best viewing on marking trials I recommend the 4D tack in Ice.  It gave off the highest reflection in low light when viewing from different angles.   If you are worried about others finding your "honey holes" I strongly recommend the Stealth Tacks.  Low visibility during the day but a bright amber reflection at night. 

Ease of Use 5 of 5
Just push the Fire Tacks into the bark and the sharp tack is immediately secured.  For hard to penetrate material just rotate the tack back and forth.

Design 4 of 5
Quality constructed materials make up all three products.  Years of service can be expected and they are really a bargain compared to most tacks and products, which rust or fade after one season of service. Wet conditions seem to have very little effect   compared to push pins or tacks that virtually disappear.   The Retro-Reflective concept is something I have never seen before. 

I recommend that every bowhunter should invest in the Fire Tack system.  If not for hunting then for personal safety during night or low light conditions.

For more information on these or other products in the FireTacks line up contact:

WildTech Corporation
1082 Tamberwood Court 
St. Paul, MN 55125

Telephone:
651-730-7333

Fax:
651-730-7333

Internet E-Mail
lburch@firetacks.com

World Wide Web
www.firetacks.com