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Ozonics HR500 Ozone Generator Overview


I can completely perceive why many hunters gained’t look twice at an ozone generator machine for scent management. Admittedly, I used to be additionally skeptical of the claims related to the merchandise. The searching business doesn’t precisely have the perfect popularity for merchandise they name “sport changers,” particularly for whitetails.

Do you keep in mind “Gum-o-Flage,” the “Acorn Kruncher,” or the “Deerview Mirror?” There’s a motive all these embarrassing merchandise have been on clearance racks in brief order. I don’t assume any made it by their first searching season on retailer cabinets.

Ozone machines stroll a fantastic line between essential product and one thing you’ll get made enjoyable of for utilizing. The Ozonics HR500 takes established ozone-generating tech and makes it completely silent and extra environment friendly, even in windy circumstances.

Briefly: The Ozonics HR500 merely can’t be grouped with the opposite searching gimmicks as a result of it’s a uncommon product that really operates precisely as marketed. It does one thing to human scent that made me a ghost within the forest final season. And it practically helped me harvest the perfect buck I’ve seen whereas searching in virtually 20 years.

  • Dimensions
    7” x 2.5” x 6.5”
  • Weight
    16 oz.
  • Mounting
    Screw-in swiveling arm

  • Easy operation

  • Nice battery life

  • Smartphone app appropriate

  • Works nice on whitetail deer


  • Bizarre metallic scent when working

  • Mounting arm feels over-engineered

  • Doable well being issues with ozone

Ozonics HR500 Overview

Ozonics HR500 Ozone GeneratorOzonics HR500 Ozone Generator
The unit’s controls are easy and to the purpose; (picture/Travis Smola)

Overview

This machine is a battery-powered ozone generator. The best way it really works is that it generates ozone that’s imagined to bond with human scent molecules. In line with Ozonics, this renders any human scent completely unrecognizable for deer. I can’t confirm what is going on, however I imagine it’s doing one thing. We’ll get extra into the efficiency and deer reactions in a bit.

Ozonics makes a number of variations of its machines, however the HR500 is the newest and the cream of the crop. It has the best-advertised battery lifetime of the bunch. I acquired about 10-12 hours off a contemporary cost.

The HR500 additionally has probably the most working modes. The enhance and hyper-boost modes are notable right here. These are supposed to provide additional ozone to cowl the scent throughout important searching instances or to counteract issues like excessive wind. The unit additionally has a “Driwash” mode that’s designed for use with Ozonics’ different merchandise for deodorizing searching clothes.

The Driwash was the one mode I didn’t take a look at on this unit, and I’m not even positive if it’s mandatory. I’ll get extra into that later when speaking in regards to the efficiency. The Ozonics HR500 additionally pairs with a smartphone app through a Bluetooth connection. I like this concept primarily as a result of I can simply modify the ability ranges with out loads of extra motion.

Testing

Ozonics HR500 Ozone GeneratorOzonics HR500 Ozone Generator
(Picture/Travis Smola)

Most of my testing occurred in Michigan, however I additionally examined it throughout a brief deer hunt in Wisconsin. Both approach, I used to be coping with two extremely pressured states in the course of the coronary heart of firearms season. I reasoned that if the Ozonics HR500 might idiot whitetails in these two states, it might do it anyplace. I didn’t have to attend lengthy on my first hunt on Michigan’s opening day to learn how properly it really works.

Lower than an hour after dawn, a mature doe and her two fawns entered my setup. Sadly for me, they walked in on the dreaded downwind facet. Positive sufficient, the large doe stopped lifeless in her tracks 15 yards from my stand. (I measured the gap with a rangefinder later). As her eyes burned a gap into my soul, she raised her nostril within the air and curled her lips. It was a traditional second the place a deer was attempting to catch the scent of hazard.

At that second, the wind was sturdy out of the south, and the doe stood north of me. Often, this state of affairs is a hunter’s worst nightmare. Nonetheless, this encounter was totally different. For 15 agonizing minutes, I remained frozen in place because the doe regularly tried to wind me. She bobbed her head and stomped her foot. There was little question she knew one thing was up. Amazingly, the deer by no means busted me.

Ultimately, she lowered her tail and walked away, tail flicking casually. Her twin fawns adopted, apparently satisfied it was a false alarm. They even paused to feed for a couple of minutes earlier than persevering with their authentic path. Take into account me impressed. I by no means used to win these staredowns with a intelligent, mature doe.

Different Encounters

In later hunts, I had deer as shut as 10 yards with the wind of their faces who by no means smelled me. Half a dozen mature does have been standing straight downwind from my stand at 20 yards throughout one hunt. None of these deer ever alerted my scent regardless of increased winds.

I lastly encountered my goal buck on the final day of Michigan’s common firearms season. I had by no means seen this deer in particular person earlier than this hunt. The HR500 was working full blast on Hyper-boost mode as a result of it was a windy night. That buck by no means as soon as checked out me.

Sadly, I missed the 90-yard shot alternative with my 350 Legend. Chalk it as much as slightly little bit of buck fever and dangerous luck; I used to be simply grateful for the chance.

After that encounter, I used to be absolutely satisfied this product works. The truth is, it really works so properly that I made a decision to see simply how a lot I might get away with. Throughout the muzzleloader season, I broke each rule about searching the wind.

I purposely arrange on poor winds a number of instances, one thing I might by no means dream of doing often. It didn’t make any distinction within the variety of deer sightings. I acquired by the 2023 season with out being winded as soon as.

As I discussed earlier, was the one mode I didn’t take a look at. My traditional technique was not placing on my outer layers till I arrived at my searching space. I’d preserve them sealed in a scent bag till then. Nonetheless, curiosity acquired the higher of me.

So, I began sporting these layers on the drive there. It made no distinction within the variety of deer sightings. The machine capabilities properly sufficient that I felt like I didn’t must be such a scent stickler anymore.

Areas of Enchancment

Ozonics HR500 Ozone Generator's armOzonics HR500 Ozone Generator's arm
The arm was a degree of rivalry for me because the season went longer; (picture/Travis Scola)

I’m not a fan of the good arm mounting system included with the Ozonics HR500. It’s not that it’s flawed, however it does really feel slightly over-engineered. This arm was designed to swivel and pivot to regulate ozone circulate into the prevailing winds. It really works, however I have to admit it typically feels slightly janky throughout setup.

I’ve used one other generator model with a extra simple single-ball joint system that works significantly better. Ozonics additionally consists of solely the screw mount as normal for this machine. Meaning public land hunters should shell out a further $20 for a non-damaging ratchet strap bracket. It might be good if Ozonics might embody each choices with its costliest machine.

The HR500 does emit a slight however noticeable odor (ozone). A pointy metallic or burnt digital scent is the one option to describe it. It’s not tremendous disagreeable, however I didn’t prefer it after I caught a whiff, both.

Lastly, I really feel I might be doing a disservice if I didn’t deal with the elephant within the room. Ozone is a fuel usually related with lung and respiratory issues. I discovered numerous websites warning towards the usage of ozone mills.

Nonetheless, it’s value noting that every one the warnings I noticed have been for enclosed areas. Most of those mills are designed to take away the odor from properties or autos. They’re usually a final resort for auto detailers on cussed odors. The commercial-grade machines are additionally a lot bigger and extra highly effective than what Ozonics has right here.

I searched and couldn’t discover something about any well being dangers related to utilizing an ozone generator outside. For what it’s value, I did some all-day sits with this factor working for as much as 9 hours straight. I by no means felt any unwell results. Make of that what you’ll.

Ozonics HR500: Closing Ideas

Ozonics HR500 Ozone generatorOzonics HR500 Ozone generator
(Picture/Travis Smola)

I’ve been searching skittish Michigan whitetails for 23 years. It’s notoriously onerous to see an honest buck right here, not to mention get a shot at one. The truth is, I solely noticed indicators of misery from deer 4 instances in the course of the season.

Twice, it was as a result of coyotes have been crashing the occasion. The opposite two instances have been as a result of I shot at a deer. First, I harvested a doe in Wisconsin with the Ozonics HR500 working. I missed my goal buck of the final couple of seasons solely per week after.

As disappointing because the miss was, the Ozonics unit put me able to reap that deer. That’s actually all I ask for with my searching tools. Merely put, I noticed greater than sufficient proof to persuade me of the HR500’s usefulness. Prefer it or not, there’s something to this expertise. There are many gimmicky searching merchandise on the market, however the Ozonics unit just isn’t considered one of them.



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