Waterfowl Apperal

I don’t think I can imagine anything quite as miserable as sitting in a duck blind on a cold rainy fall morning as water seeps through the seams of your clothing, runs down your boots, or drips down your neck. Somehow I’ve just never thought of that as being a lot of fun.

You can’t control the weather but you can certainly dress for it and rainwear is not the place to cut corners in your hunting budget. Here are a few things to consider that will make a wet weather hunt much more enjoyable:

• Wear layers, but most importantly ensure that the layer closest to your skin will wick away moisture; and have an outer layer made of a breathable waterproof fabric such as Gortex.
• Keep a camo coloured PVC poncho in your hunting bag. They only cost a few dollars and when the skies open unexpectedly can mean the difference between hunting and running for the car.
• If you are walking a shoreline to jump ducks you need a good quality pair of neoprene waders and comfortable fitting felt soled boots. And clipping a neoprene shell bag to your chest will keep your ammo and other necessities dry and close at hand.
• If you hunt from a blind take along a waterproof shooting bag with lots of storage space for ammo and accessories.
• Don’t forget a waterproof hat. I’ve always found that a hood just doesn’t cut it. It’s either difficult to hear, to see, or both. A hat with an all round brim will ensure that rain runs off instead of running down your neck.
• Keep a good pair of waterproof shooting gloves in your bag, but one last nicety is a pair of neoprene gloves to keep you hands warm and dry when the time comes to pull those decoys from the cold water at the end of the day.

So remember that warm and dry = an enjoyable hunting trip.