Braxton Taylor
It’s finally here, the most wonderful time of the year. No more summer baseball games, no more out-of-town weddings, and no more summer lake days with the in-laws. Time to trade mowing the lawn and checking off honey-dos for something much better. We’re talking predawn coffee that’s a little too strong, the distinct smell of wet dog and swamp gas, and endless hours of windshield time. So put away the lawn mower, winterize the pontoon, and make room for your most precious toys and gear. It’s waterfowl season!
For any waterfowl hunt, we plan our gear around the age-old concept: “Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” You never know when the weather will change or your gear will fail so being prepared, is the only surefire way you don’t “wish you would’ve grabbed that.” Here’s a quick run down of my essential packing list for an early season goose hunt.
What to Wear
Comfort is the name of the game for clothing. Aside from an Artic blast, Mother Nature can throw about anything your way in the early season. One day, you’ll be hunting in 90° with sun and no wind. The next could be 45° with sideways rain, so being prepared for inclement weather is the key to comfort.
308 Pant
The new 308 pant is incredibly comfortable and the most versatile pant in First Lite’s waterfowl line up. It’s durable, midrise, and it has four-way stretch, everything a goose hunter needs in an all season pant. Truth is, I’ll wear this pant every day of the season where the temp is above 35°, then I’ll switch to the fleece-lined version.
Yuma
I’m a wool guy, but knowing that I’ll likely sweat my ass off on post hunt take down, I opt for a synthetic base layer on all early season hunts. The new Yuma hoody wicks moisture faster than any wool product available, doesn’t stink and doesn’t get clammy. What else can you ask for?
Furnace Hoody
Tried and true, the Furnace Hoody comes with me on damn near every hunt. From late night scouts to early morning setups, this hoody is the perfect blend of warmth and comfort.
Leather Gloves
You’re going to be brushing blinds…a lot! A good pair of leather gloves is the difference between being loaded up for shooting light and being the guy who’s blind needs a little more help.
LZ Bib & Jacket
The LZ Bib and Jacket are a must have. Like any insurance policy, you hope you never need it but man are you glad you have it when you do. Whether you’re setting up after a big dew fall, laying in a mud puddle, or heaven forbid, it pours rain, the LZ Bib and Jacket make sure you stay comfortable when water is the enemy.
What’s in the Blind Bag
In addition to shells, calls, and a fully charged headlamp, here are a few essential items I carry in my blind bag that you may overlook.
First Aid & Trauma Kit
Waterfowl hunting is a dangerous sport, so I carry a first aid and trauma kit with me at all times. Equally as important as the kit’s contents, is the organization. Knowing where everything is and how to use it, can be the literal difference between life and death. Seconds matter in those moments so in addition to hand packing the kit myself, I also run through the kit’s location, contents and layout with my #1 hunting partner, Brady.
In addition to the normal first aid items, here’s what I carry in my trauma kit:
- Tourniquet – SWAT-T
- Clotting Gauze – QuikClot
- Chest Seal – Hyfin Vent
- Burn Dressing – Water-Jel
- 4×4 Hemostatic Dressing – Sam Medical
- 2×2 Gauze Sponges
- 2x Syringes
- Trauma Shears
- Duct Tape
Tools, Oil, and Cleaning Equipment
Shit breaks. Make sure you have the proper tools to keep your hunt up and running.
Knife
Having a good knife available at all times is a simple act of being prepared for anything.
Cal Pouch
FHF makes a badass shell pouch they call, the Cal Pouch. This thing is badass. It’s durable, low profile and fits more than enough shells for a day’s hunt. Here’s how many shells it fits by gauge.
- 10 gauge : 50, 3 ½” shells
- 12 gauge: 60, 3” shells
- 20 gauge : 75, 3” shells
- 28 gauge : 100+, 3” shells
Hearing Protection
I could go on and on about the importance of hearing protection and listen, I’m as guilty as you about forgetting them or just flat out not worrying about it. Aside from the libraries of science and proven correlation between hearing loss and dementia, Steve made a compelling firsthand statement the other day on The MeatEater Podcast: “The worst thing about hearing loss, is not hearing gobbles.” That statement should motivate any hunter to wear ear-pro every single day afield.
What’s in the Trailer
Show me a man’s trailer and I’ll be able to tell what kind of hunter he is. Is it clean and organized or trashed like the back lot of your local tire shop? It’s on you to create a system that’s easy to follow for you and all your buddies. Here’s a few of our most essential trailer items before hitting the road on an early season hunt.
Decoys—DSD Honkers
I’m a firm believer that your decoy spread should match your effort the DSD Honker decoy is unequivocally, the best decoy on the market. We always hold 10 dozen in the trailer, with a typical early season spread being 4 to 6 dozen.
Layouts
Early season birds are hard to pull off their line. There are obvious exceptions to this such as heavy migration days, but in general, early geese are heading to the middle of a field, and will not stop until they get there. Layout blinds, or something similar, are a great tool for that job. Brush them up good with the natural, surrounding materials, and get after them. Don’t get stuck watching from the sideline.
Hedge Trimmer
We use a hedge trimmer on damn near every hunt. Whether you’re brushing six blinds from scratch or just doing some touch up work from yesterday’s hunt, a hedge trimmer makes cutting blind material a breeze. It’s a must have!
Dog Kit
Our dogs play an integral role in our crew. We always carry a full dog kit including extra food, water, bowls and a first aid kit. Similar to the human first aid and trauma kit, all the same fundamentals apply. Know where everything is, know how to use it and hope you never have to. Gun Dog Outdoors makes a great dog medkit.
Roadside Repair
Lastly, I encourage everyone running a boat or trailer to beef up your roadside repair kit. Make sure you have a good spare tire, the right star wrench and rapid jack of some sort. You’ll also want an electric air compressor, battery charger and extra set of jumper cables, again, just in case.
The bottom line is, being over prepared, is being prepared. I hope this list helps you become the guy in your crew who’s always prepared. Good luck this season and safe hunting!
To watch Matt and the Flying V Crew on an early season goose hunt, click here.
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