Masking for the hunt

November 23, 2012, 12:01 am by Alexandria Randolph

A Bertram engineer and his extended family have invented a device that can be used as camo for a hunter’s face, among other purposes.

Dan Bullock of Bertram is a career engineer who is part of the Bullock, Bennett and Associates engineering firm. Bullock and his family invented the patent pending "bunker”- a device that clamps across the bill of a standard baseball cap, allowing the user to attach a specialized cloth or net mask, sunshield or "hoodie,” a section that covers the back of the neck.

The bunker serves a multitude of purposes, including supporting the mask and sun shield, acting as a useful place to tuck foliage for camouflage, and holding down an otherwise loose pair of sunglasses. The family began the BunkerHead Company based around the line of bunker hunting products.

The bunker was first created for hunting, but has a multitude of outdoor purposes like fishing or just keeping mosquitoes away.

The best thing about the bunker invention is that it doesn’t touch the wearer’s face.

"Before we designed these, we did our research. There is not another mask out there that doesn’t touch your face- it just doesn’t exist,” Bullock said.

The feature that Bullock calls "no-touch technology” allows users to eat, speak, and yes- even spit without pulling their camouflage facial gear all the way off. The mask is hardy and flexible, allowing the wearer to adjust it to his or her specific need. It’s also much more comfortable, said Bullock.

For more on this story, see Friday's Highlander.