As we look back on waterfowl season (and fall deeper into duck depression) we wanted to highlight some of our teams top gear picks from this past season. Most notably the gear that our team packed into the field with them, hunt after hunt. When it comes to waterfowl hunting and gear, there are no right answers. There are no silver bullets that assure success in the field but there is plenty of gear that can help you get the job done or make the most of these moments.
While our gear picks are not hyper-focused on specifics, they are informed by the styles of hunting and destinations our team finds themselves in during the Fall & Winter season. In a world full of different options, the only right gear is the gear that works for you. And in a pursuit that can take you everywhere from Alaska to Florida, it pays to experiment, test new gear and find what works best for you and your hunts. Here is a quick breakdown on our team’s pursuits and a list of the gear they used most out in the field this past season.
Zach Rutledge: Zach is an avid bird hunter based out of Northern Idaho with his trusty yellow lab Quinn. His passion for chasing ducks in new locations has lead him down highways, and to boat ramps, in states all across the country and Canada. Chasing the migration anywhere and everywhere he can is what he lives for.
- Chene 2s Wader in Shadow Grass
- Pacific Calls Solo
- Chene Hydro-Lok Gloves
- Starlink Mini
- Husky – 250-piece tool set
Max Inchausti: Max is our Editor-in-Chief and a waterfowl hunter based in South Florida. He spends his Fall chasing the migration across the country before returning to his home state. In Florida, he targets blue-wings and mottled ducks deep in the Everglades marshes.
Brenden Gallagher: Brenden was born and raised in Montana, he travels to various states across the country during waterfowl season but always gets drawn back to his home turf in Western Montana where he hunts everything from spring creeks and large to dry fields. Like many hunters, Brenden enjoys chasing a variety of duck species, especially when that means hitting the coast to chase sea ducks.
- Makers Call Co. Origin
- Rig ‘Em Right Refuge Runner
- Aves Drifter Series Pants
- Kinco Insulated Gloves
- Sitka Kelvin Aerolite Jacket
Wills Donaldson: Wills is a dedicated bird hunter, located in the Mountainous Western side of Colorado. Since he was a boy, Wills enjoyed spending Saturdays combing fields of switchgrass for pheasant or sharing a goose blind with his father and brother in his home state of Pennsylvania. These days, he spends his season’s hunting the Colorado River, and traveling all over the country in pursuit of new species and experiences, alongside his black lab, Church.
- Sitka Ventlite Boot
- MOmarsh Invisilab Dog Blind
- Browning A5 Wicked Wing
- Heyday Bare Strap
- Sitka Duck Oven LT Jacket
- Migra Ammo 3″ 2/4 Stack
Sage Marshall: Sage is a writer and duck hunter who lives in Western Montana, where he chases mallards with his griffon Gunney. He typically hunts marshes early in the season before shifting to rivers, creeks, and warm sloughs. He also regularly travels to chase birds; last season, he hunted in Nebraska, Utah, and California.
Vincent Leonard: Vincent is a waterfowl hunter and avid co-host of Split Reed’s Road Dog Tour who’s based in the PNW. He lives in North-Western Oregon and primarily splits his time going back and forth hunting the west and east sides of the Cascade Mountains. Chasing wigeon primarily in the west and transitioning to Eastern Oregon and Washington for his late-season hunts.
