This weekend we welcomed early goose season here in Minnesota and with that came a load of questions from our members on what to pack and how to prepare for a day in the field. If you love waterfowl hunting as much as we do, or maybe you are a new to waterfowl hunting, it can be overwhelming. It’s easy to be overtaken by the excitement of an upcoming hunt and even easier to overlook a few items when it come to packing for your day in the blind! Trust us, we get it! We have done all the heavy lifting for you and complied a list of necessities to save you the trouble of having to second guess the gear in your pack for your day afield.
Her Wilderness Member, Sammy Robinson, with her first goose of the 2020 season!
1) Firearm and Ammo. Let’s just get the obvious out of the way. You’re going to need your shotgun! We recommend using a 12 or 20 gauge. We know that these are not the only options but they are definitely the most common choices among waterfowl hunters! If you are newer or less experience with a long gun, go for the 20 gauge, it will be a little easier on your shoulder. Just as firearms vary from person to person so does your shell of choice. When waterfowl hunting, it is required that you use steel shot but the shot size is up to you. Federal Speed Shok in shot size 1, 2 or 4 has always seemed to do the trick and at an affordable price.
2) Your Licence and Registration. You need to bring all your hunting licenses and applicable tags with you on your hunt. In Minnesota you are required to purchase a small game license as well as a federal duck stamp. Always be sure to pick up the most updated version of your states regulation book, it will tell you what you need to know about your target species and how to harvest these animals in an ethical and legal way.
3) Weather Appropriate Clothing. Waterfowl season in the north spans from September to December, and the weather can vary A LOT within that timeframe. We're talking going from tank tops to snow shoes in a blink of an eye. When you're packing for your hunting trip, make sure you tune into the weather channel, and then pack a few extra layers anyway. You can always shed the top layer of clothing if it is too hot outside. Unlike big game or upland you are not required to wear blaze orange. Wear lightweight or heavier late season camouflage depending on the weather. Rubbers boots or waders are always a good option depending on the location of where you are hunting.
4) A Blind Bag. We won't go into much detail here but basically everything that comes after this in the list is going to need to go into said blind bag. Grab a backpack or an actual blind bag if you have one, it’s safe to say that camo or neutral colors are preferred so it can sit on the ground next you but not stick out like a sore thumb.
5) A Hat and Sunglasses. These are multi-purpose items that you do not want to overlook. First off, you are heading out before the sunrise and the chances of you thinking about sunglasses in what feels like the middle of the night are slim to none. Just throw them in your blind bag, you’ll thank us later. A hat, again can be used to give you some shade, but in reality who is going to get up early enough to fix their bed head? Do the hat and pony tail combo, it’s a minimal effort and you’ll look like a half way put together human for all the photos you’ll take later in the day!
Not everyone is going to agree with us on face paint being essential, but we think it’s fun and it can only help, right?
6) Face Paint This sort of fits in with number 3, but we’ll make it a separate item because not everyone will agree that it is necessary. For us, it’s really just another fun thing we get to do before heading out. Plus, for those of us who are curiously watching the birds every move, it hides our beaming faces a little bit more as we are staring at them sky high!
7) Duck/Goose Calls Maybe you are an expert caller and this is the first thing on your list, but for some of us calling doesn’t come so easily. Chances are you are going with a group and there are a few people who can call well but it doesn’t hurt to bring your own and learn from the pros when you’re waiting in between flocks.
8) Headlamp. This is important for when you are setting up decoys or stubbling blinds. You’re going to get out in the field way before sunrise and it’s going to feel like it’s midnight. Unfortunately we are not nocturnal and are going to need a little assistance until the sun comes up. Pack a headlamp so you can help set the spread and make sure your blind is covered!
If you bring enough snacks, you can even share them with your furry friends!
9) Alllll the Snacks. If you are just going out for a quick day sit, granola bars, chips, candy and other sweets are a great thing to keep you occupied if its slow and your stomach starts growling. Don’t forget water or your favorite energy drink! We’ve also seen some pretty elaborate breakfast spreads that get whipped up every morning. It’s not something we have done, but if you want to pack some bacon and eggs, more power to ya!
10) Camera. After your successful hunt it’s almost essential to document the chaos with your friends and family. Bring a camera to snap a few pics through out the day so you can hang on to them and look back on the memories from your hunt for years to come.