Rain and wind often keep hunters at home, yet deer and turkeys live in these conditions and carry our their daily feeding and mating functions with modest changes to their behavior. Two days of pouring rain kept most of my friends in camp, yet I had the gear to handle bad weather and headed out on my own. In less than 20 minutes, I spotted a gobbler characteristically fluffed up and seemingly unalert. Thanks to the falling rain and soft terrain, I was able to close the distance for a close-range shot. While my buddies drank coffee and lamented the weather, a big long beard went down.
Over the years I’ve learned that spring turkey season is a great time to test fall hunting gear. Here are products that will carry me into the fall seasons:
ScentBlocker DownPour: This is serious rain gear that handles the worst conditions. The jacket has a hood and two vest pockets that I absolutely love for carrying calls and my most frequently used gear, including my cell phone. Additionally, cargo pockets with magnetic closures make access easy and quiet; hand-warming pockets are ideal for gloves and other quick access gear. Realtree Xtra camouflage provides excellent concealment from head to toe, and the S3 Silver Antimicrobial Technology works perfectly come deer season.
Irish Setter Rutmaster Boots: I had boots shipped to my hunting location and didn’t worry a second about breaking them in. They were one size larger than my shoe size and felt like a sneaker going on the first time. The ankle support is excellent and they don’t eat socks, due to the ergonomic fit. Even after a full day in the field, they pop off in seconds.
ALPS Bino Harness: Keeping binocular lenses clear in rainy weather is a challenge. You can rub the lenses with cloth, yet the clarity of vision is greatly compromised once the glass gets wet. An ideal way of protecting binos is offered by ALPS Bino Harness, which completely protects your binoculars from the elements and prevents them from getting slammed with mud or snow when making that final belly crawl.
Mossberg 835 UltraMag: This classic shotgun is made for rough hunting conditions. The reliable pump action works in any type of weather. When my big moment came, I hadn’t a worry about reliability. An opening in the picatinny rail makes a perfect rear sight, so that you can put that pattern exactly on target.
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