From the earliest days of my scattershot duck hunting experiences, 50 years ago in a homemade blind on public land, my father always had a bag with him. It wasn’t big but the canvas bag was enough to carry our lunches, a roll of nylon twine and a few other other items. We used the bag for deer hunting, too. It wasn’t fancy, didn’t even have a zipper or snap. But it worked.
Waterproofing was a stiff rubber coating, or your own handiwork with beeswax or some other wax. Camouflage for my father was a drab, brown Carhartt jacket that he’d scritch-scratched on with the big black ink markers from our store. The scrawling broke up the outline for when we stood in the timber. TreBark camo was founded in 1980, and Mossy Oak and Realtree came along six years later. We didn’t know anything about them until later.
Our uninsulated waders were waterproofed with a stiff outer coating of rubber. The elastic shoulder straps wore out. Holes were patched and you plodded on. Wool outers, Dux Bak chamois shirts and cotton long-johns did their best to keep us warm. I miss the inexpensive lead shot, but today’s nontoxic loads are great, when you shoot well. I’m thankful I got to experience some of those fun, and sometimes frigid, hunts. It makes me appreciate today’s waterfowl gear even more. Just because we have better products doesn’t mean we’re soft. It means we’re smarter and use what works best.
Today’s hunting bags, jackets, waders and other gear for pursuing waterfowl are lighter, stronger, more waterproof, better camouflaged and durable. Decoys hold up better. Field chairs are more durable. Shotguns and ammo? They keep getting better every year with better designs and more knockdown power. Kent Cartridge, for example, offers five waterfowl loads: Bismuth, Fasteel + Precision Plated Steel, Fasteel 2.0 Plated Steel, TealSteel (designed for the speedsters) and a Fasteel + Precision Plated Bayou Steel. A box of No. 5 lead back in the day might’ve covered all of those situations. But now we have more engineering for ballistics and trajectories, better production for consistent pellets, powder and primers, and the annual results prove that all of it works. If, of course, the hunter does his or her part by setting up and shooting well.
With waterfowl seasons approaching, here are some top picks to consider for your customers. Don’t forget to keep up with things through the end of January when duck season ends. If you have snow goose hunters, stay strong through the spring conservation order season. Hunters break things, lose things and always need something else. Be prepared and have it for them.
Federal Premium Accessories
Federal Premium is known more for its legendary ammunition, but this year dives into the accessory world for hunters and clays shooters. Some of the new things that might grab the attention of waterfowlers include an 18-ounce waxed canvas shotgun case. The 52-inch case has quilted padding, an easy-slide lining, double zipper pull, brass hardware and more. Other items in the Premium line include a Shell Pouch, Range Bag, 48-inch Shotgun Case and two rifle cases. The new Top Gun lineup also includes shotgun and scoped rifle cases, shell bags and range bags, but at a lower price point than the Premium line. And for hunters who just need a bit of protection for their prized smokepole, the Federal Neoprene Gun Sleeve is 53-inches long, has a drawcord closure, reinforced muzzle end and can roll up for easy storage.
Chêne Hydro-Lok Jacket
Chêne’s Hydro-Lok insulated jacket ticks all the boxes for hunters seeking a warm, dry outer garment they can wear over other clothes. The Hydro-Lok jacket is waterproof and windproof, with a three-layer nylon face combined with PrimaLoft Silver Insulation that has “ThermoPlume with Cross Core” technology. The jacket is lightweight yet retains body heat while blunting the effects of wind, rain, ice, snow or whatever else Mother Nature wants to dish out. The jacket includes a nylon Taslon lining, adjustable neoprene wrist cuffs, water-resistant vertical chest pockets for a phone or other essentials, upper hand warmers and lower zippered cargo pockets. The fleece-lined neck has an adjustable hood with articulated fit to help block the sun or elements. Hunting jackets can get stinky, too, but the Hydro-Lok has an antimicrobial treatment to fight odors. These insulated jackets run larger than non-insulated, to fit over thicker clothing; to wear with fewer layers, customers should size down.
Alps Floating Deluxe Blind Bag
The Floating Deluxe Blind Bag from Alps OutdoorZ has numerous features including removable internal dividers, a clear pocket for phone or valuables, and a hard case for sunglasses. Hunters don’t have to worry about wet gear thanks to the non-absorbing closed-cell foam and waterproof membrane. These bags handle everything from the floor of a muddy flatbottom to pit blinds, timber hunts, impromptu ditch setups and more. The bag has a sleeve for a Thermos or other bottle, and a sleeve for a jacket, along with a padded carry handle and shoulder strap. The bags come in Standard size at 8x12 and 9 inches deep, weighing 3.2 pounds, and Large, at 9x14 and 11 inches deep weighing 4.2 lbs. An affordable MSRP makes these a great seller for pre- and early season when hunters are looking for new gear.
Browning Duck Call Lanyard
A good call lanyard must be tough enough to withstand the elements of the season along with tugging, pulling, folding, being shoved in a bag, being left in a truck perhaps in the sun, and whatever else a hunter might do, intentionally or unintentionally. It also must be “out of sight, out of mind” until needed, and then perform flawlessly with no tangles or issues. The Browning Duck Call Lanyard looks like it’ll meet all these challenges. It has three fixed and two replaceable drops that can hold up to 10 calls. Braided paracord drops are adjustable and fit most calls. The neoprene neck strap is comfortable and won’t absorb or hold water. The lanyard also has a finishing tool to dispatch ducks or geese without messing up the feathers or body. These are great to have as an impulse buy possibility, located near your ammo, decoys and the cash register.
Chêne Gear Light Zippered Knee Boot
Knee boots are great for knocking around camp, hunting where you don’t have to wade, and getting work chores done before or after the season. Knee boots pretty much are a year-round necessity. Chêne has updated its zippered knee boot introduced in 2023. The 2.0 version sees three-quarters of a pound less weight in each boot — quite significant — along with quick-dry insoles. Still featured are the rugged, gripping tread pattern, warmth, toughness and full-length waterproof YKK zipper. It keeps out mud, water and muck yet allows for much easier removal when the day is done.
Federal Ultra Steel Federal Ammunition’s new Ultra Steel blends the rear-opening Flitecontrol Flex wad with a payload of zinc-plated steel. This combo creates tighter patterns in the standard and double-stack combo loads that have two sizes of shot. In the double-stack loads, smaller pellets create full patterns and larger pellets deliver better lethality. These are solid options for hunters who might have mallards and geese, for example, coming to a setup. Standard and double-stack loads have reliable primers, burn cleanly and are offered in 12- and 20-gauge options in 25-count boxes.
MOJO Mallard Lite
The new MOJO Mallard Lite is 20% smaller than the original decoy, which is nice for hunters wanting to minimize packing and gear. The Lite has an updated battery system, too, allowing for the decoy to run on four AA batteries or a rechargeable battery pack. Both options allow for the decoy to be run by a remote, too. The Lite has a collapsible stake and easier mounting system. The metal wings are more durable, too. These moveable decoys — where legal — give hunters another tool to consider for their outings. Having some of these for customers to consider is a good idea.
