Shotgun…CHECK
Boots…CHECK
What are some other things I am going to want to pick up for bird hunting? Looking for general suggestions as well as brands/styles that work particularily well for you.
Thanks! 
Camo, calls, a XXXfull choke tube, and some turkey loads. You should be set after that!
Joel
Vest for holding shells, birds, etc. Make sure its breathable. Doesnt need to be water proof. Not rubber lined. Use your jacket for water and cold protection. Vest is just a hunters purse. Leg protection. I have used the cordura faced jeans for years. An upgrade in that category would be water proof. I have been looking for the right pair for 2 years. In the meantime I just throw a pair of rain pants on during the wet times. Mostly morning dew. There’s a couple things for you. I’ll let others chime in with more info.
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Vest for holding shells, birds, etc.
What’s a “good” vest run? They seem to really vary in price. How much vest do I need?
…a dog? Ha ha
I’m a run and gun kinda guy, along with my shorthair, which is why I tend to layer comfortably enough to be able to add/remove layers as needed. I got my stuff from Cabelas, and bought the active lite jacket, and the upland tradition vest. They provide plenty of orange, and hold up pretty well. For pants, I just wear a pair of Carharts, which protects pretty well from the prickly things.
If you are talking about hunting “Turkey Birds”, then I feel like an idiot, I just thought you were talking upland type game.
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If you are talking about hunting “Turkey Birds”, then I feel like an idiot, I just thought you were talking upland type game.
Nope, no turkeys. I meant upland.
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Vest for holding shells, birds, etc.
What’s a “good” vest run? They seem to really vary in price. How much vest do I need?
South of a hundred for sure. Columbia makes some nice vests. Gander models arent bad either. If you have a dog water bottle pockets are nice.
Here are a couple vests I’ve been keeping an eye on.
I don’t care for real vest or even jack style game carriers. If I’m warm, I want to be able to take off layers under the vest.
A decent pair of safety glasses is something you probably own and would want to use in the field. Maybe some shooting gloves.
Can your soup hound quarter and flush pheasants?
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Can your soup hound quarter and flush pheasants?
LOL. He actually has kicked up a few when we’re out hiking. Great Danes are better suited to boar hunting, though
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Here are a couple vests I’ve been keeping an eye on.
I don’t care for real vest or even jack style game carriers. If I’m warm, I want to be able to take off layers under the vest.
A decent pair of safety glasses is something you probably own and would want to use in the field. Maybe some shooting gloves.
Can your soup hound quarter and flush pheasants?
Great selection of vests Kooty. I really like a vest that has adjustable straps for a better fit. The loose floppy type of vests to me are a pain the in rear.
I like a vest with front access for the game bag. I had a few in the past that you had to take off the vest to put a bird in. Takes too long and is a pain in the butt. The one I have now also has a water pack in it for early season. Comes in very handy, but I find myself peeing a lot
Some guys like the upland pants/chaps but I am not a big fan of them. Save the $50 and wear a old pair of jeans.
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I like a vest with front access for the game bag. I had a few in the past that you had to take off the vest to put a bird in. Takes too long and is a pain in the butt. The one I have now also has a water pack in it for early season. Comes in very handy, but I find myself peeing a lot
Some guys like the upland pants/chaps but I am not a big fan of them. Save the $50 and wear a old pair of jeans.
Great point about loading vest from front. I have one of those skeleton vests but usually reserve for hot weather. Last time I used it was dove hunting in Tx.
If you are going to be hunting in tick country, either some Elimitick clothing or Pymethrin to spray on your clothing!!!
Mark
Some guys like the upland pants/chaps but I am not a big fan of them. Save the $50 and wear a old pair of jeans.
My favorite “brush” pants are army rip-stop from the surplus stores. Relatively cheap, long lasting and don’t fray when they get cut. I buy the next size larger so I can wear sweat pants beneath them for colder weather.
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Some guys like the upland pants/chaps but I am not a big fan of them. Save the $50 and wear a old pair of jeans.
My favorite “brush” pants are army rip-stop from the surplus stores. Relatively cheap, long lasting and don’t fray when they get cut. I buy the next size larger so I can wear sweat pants beneath them for colder weather.
Good tip. Thanks!
Like the one guy said earlier, don’t forget about “tick defense”. Until you get your hind-end kicked by one of the little buggers, you’ll never what it’s like to be “really sick”
I have two pair of upland pants but usually grab my chaps first. I don’t sweat as bad in them and they are a cinch to dry out; which is a plus on a long trip. Frost/dew are not a problem, rain might be an issue. I’ve never had a pair of pants that kept me totally dry. I’m a fan of the Columbia and Gamehide brands when it comes to vests.
chaps- http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Dry-Plus174-Performance8482-Upland-Chaps/725247.uts?
I never hunt without a compass. It is necessary when grouse hunting. Not so much for open country game.
Of course you carry a knife. RIGHT?! Every card carrying man reading this post has a pocket knife on them now. Oh *hit, I gonna run and grab my pocket knife…..
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I never hunt without a compass. It is necessary when grouse hunting. Not so much for open country game.
Good point. I have a small survival/emergency kit including a compass that it would be a good idea to carry.
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Of course you carry a knife. RIGHT?! Every card carrying man reading this post has a pocket knife on them now. Oh *hit, I gonna run and grab my pocket knife…..
Does this answer your question? 
I want to thank you guys for all your advice. It’s really helpful to a noob. I truly hope that I get a chance to hunt with a few of you this year!
If you plan to hunt in the woods get a compass thats easily accessible. I use a Silva on a chain around my neck and check it often when traversing deep grouse cover. You literaly need them to keep walking the correct direction sometimes. Attached to your new hunting vest is a good place too!
There are many great ideas here. I prefer to wear brush pants. I spray them with some camp spray to give them just enough moisture wicking to keep me dry until the morning dew evaporates. I always seem to find the worst patches of burrs and various seeds and brush pants don’t pick up nearly as many seeds as other pants. I prefer a full vest. I also have the smaller backpack styles that I use for training during the summer, but if I’m too hot in a vest then my dog probably is too hot and we probably shouldn’t be hunting that hard in the warm weather. Something I didn’t see mentioned is a nice pair of leather shooting gloves. They protect my hands from grass cuts, the elements, and they protect the gun. I prefer a zip shut pocket on the vest, so I can keep my gloves in there, a whistle, bandage and some tape, and a compass. I have water bottle/dog dish contraption that I carry in the game vest when water is not accessible.
Another simple one not mentioned.
A blaze orange cap. Especially if you are hunting with others. It makes finding others in your group easier when you pull up on a bird.
I second a light pair of leather gloves, good for picking off burs from yourself and dog.
If hunting with a dog, a leatherman or similiar for all kinds of reasons and one of the most important porcupine quills.
Filson hunting vest is a must. Remember you pay for what you get. There is a lot of junk out there for cheap. Spend the extra money and get the good stuff. Wrangler hunting pants at cabelas $20-$30 bucks. Still have a pair from 2 years ago and will wear em next year. If pheasant hunting avoid bibs. Get pants with NO ZIPPERS by the ankle. (gamehid upland pants are garbage) Bob Allen shooting gloves for the cold days. Oh yea and a spit fire of a dog.
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If you plan to hunt in the woods get a compass thats easily accessible. I use a Silva on a chain around my neck and check it often when traversing deep grouse cover. You literaly need them to keep walking the correct direction sometimes. Attached to your new hunting vest is a good place too!
Definitely a compass in the woods!!! I was in a very familiar piece of cover last fall and was walking toward the river, so after 45 minutes my dogs could get wet. Never found the river that day and found an open area and went “That’s familiar, but where have I seen this before???” As it turns out, I bore east in my walk and circled around and came back out on the right fire lane and knew where I was at, but what would have happened if it had been later in the day and darkness would have started to set in…
Mark
You just reminded me of an instance where 3 of us went off a dead end trail. Not one of us had a compass that day. Two of us swore up and down the right direction out. We knew it. 3rd guys happens to have his H2O with him. We even told him the GPS was wrong because we were so sure.
We were wrong. Would have been a loooong day had we went with our guts. It was cloudy. Not sure that would happen on clear day with sun out. That was the last time I forgot my compass.
Reminds me of the Mythbusters episode where they tested to see if it was possible to travel in a straight line without vision. They set off blindfolded across a field. No matter what they did, they always ended up meandering and circling and ending up nowhere near their destination!
That happened to us elk hunting in 04. It was actually pretty wide open country, but the snow/fog changed the game. My buddies didn’t believe my GPS until we rode across our own tracks….
My bro and I got lost before light heading into deer hunt a new area in the UP. Snow was deep and no matter how hard we tried we kept hitting our own tracks. Sweaty with close stripped off we had to wait for daylight to get to our destination.
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