When it comes to discussing the contributions of the military’s men and women, words tend to escape us. These people protect life and liberty in our country, while making incredible sacrifices in the process, and for that, we are beyond humbled and thankful.
In addition to everything else they do, the men and women of the military have also been responsible for a countless number of innovations that positively impact civilian lives every day – including inventions that give people who love the outdoors the opportunity to enjoy their passions to the fullest.
A heartfelt thank you to those in the military for all they do, including contributing to these inventions used by outdoorsman today:
GPS – Useful to outdoorsman in both scouting and navigation, the Global Positioning System was rolled out for use by the U.S. Department of Defense in the early 1990s, according to Mental Floss. The system first became available to civilians in 1996, and it remains a powerful tools for hunters, fishermen and hikers alike.
Night Vision – For hunters, this invention is particularly helpful in the capturing of images with trail cameras. With these devices, hunters are able to record movements of game animals, keep them on their radar and plan their hunts accordingly throughout the season. This technology originally stemmed from a simple infrared sniper scope developed by the United States, Britain and Germany during World War II, according to the Army website; today, the technology is capable of capturing incredibly detailed low-light images.
Camo – Camouflage first emerged as a necessity during trench warfare in World War I, according to Time, and continues to adapt as needed today. Hunters who use camo today may be particularly interested to learn that it created in a collaborative effort among among soldiers, artists and naturalists such as Abbott Thayer, who wrote the 1909 book “Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom.”
Internet – Some of the best sources for outdoor information – Bass Pro Shops 1Source, YouTube tutorials, message boards and more – are found online. While the Internet has progressed through the work of a variety of innovators, the technology first got its start in the U.S. during the Cold War, according to History’s website, and then developed over the years.
For more helpful information on camping, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities, please browse the array of blog posts available on the Bass Pro Shops 1Source website.
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