Gearing Up!

From our September/October 2025 Issue

As each fall approaches, questions swirl around the upland season. Will there be birds? Will the dog work well? Will all the target practice translate to game in the bag? In fact, one of the only things hunters can count on is the equipment they take afield. Gearing up with the following items will let you head into the season with confidence.

MONTANA KNIFE COMPANY SHARPTAILED

For putting a finer point on dressing or breasting out birds, Montana Knife Company’s Sharptailed knife gives wingshooters the edge. Named for the sharp-tailed grouse, the knife has a 2-7/8" blade made of stonewashed MagnaCut stainless steel. (MagnaCut steel offers excellent edge retention, resists rust and is easy to maintain.) The upswept trailing point is designed for making the precise, surgical cuts necessary when processing upland birds. The full-tang design offers unmatched strength, and the G-10 handle is comfortable to grip and textured for a secure hold. The knife comes with a Kydex sheath and clip for protection and easy carry, and the handle has an integrated lanyard hole. Overall length: 7-1/8". Weight: 1.87 oz. Colors: Orange, Black, Olive. Price: $275.

Montana Knife Company, montanaknifecompany.com.

BALL AND BUCK MIDWEIGHT FIELD PANTS

Stylish and sturdy, Ball and Buck’s Midweight Field Pants are a great fit for the toughest cover. The classic brush pants are made of 10-oz duck cotton as the base and reinforced with 500D Cordura ballistic nylon on the calves and fronts of the thighs. The midweight pants have a straight-leg cut with no taper from knee to cuff. Other features include two front snap pockets, two rear pockets, a concealed knife-storage pocket, and a zippered fly with brass hardware. There are also metal rivets at key stress points, a Cordura-reinforced seat bottom and an adjustable two-piece waistband. Sizes: Even waist 28" through 46". Colors: Khaki, Slate. Price: $278.

Ball and Buck, ballandbuck.com.

BOYT GAME RIG

For traveling light or when a full-on hunting vest isn’t needed, the Boyt Game Rig is a simple, easy solution. Made of 6-oz waxed canvas with 1000D nylon lining, the Game Rig consists of three pouches: two shell pouches (9" [w] x 8" [h] x 2" [d]) and a rear game pouch (13" [w] x 10” [h] x 3½" [d]). Nice touches include harness-leather trim, antique-brass snaps and a storage pocket with an antique-brass zipper. The Game Rig does not come with a belt, but Boyt sells leather belts that will work well with it. Colors: Brown, Orange. Price: $95.

Boyt Harness, boytharness.com.

HOUND & HARE BRIAR JUMPER CHAPS

For easy-on/easy-off protection in thorny situations, hunters can slip into a pair of Hound & Hare Briar Jumper Chaps. The midweight chaps are cut from Scottish dry-wax cloth and feature 400-weight Hybrid dry wax on the front and 200-weight ripstop Hybrid aero dry wax on the back. Attachment on a belt is by two straps with snaps, and bottom snaps allow for pulling the chaps on over boots and for hemming. The chaps do not require re-waxing and will not transfer oil. Sizes: Standard (fits 29" to 31" inseam), Long (fits 32" to 34" inseam). Color: Tan. Price: $175.

Hound & Hare, houndhare.com.

SOUNDGEAR PHANTOM

It may seem counterintuitive, but SoundGear Phantom hearing protection devices actually allow hunters to hear less and more. The “less” is loud noises like shotgun blasts, which are suppressed to safe levels using digital technology. The “more” is things like dog bells, flushing birds and conversations, which are enhanced thanks to the same technology. (The devices can actually be used as FDA-listed prescription hearing aids.) Custom-fit Phantoms are comfortable, rechargeable and Bluetooth compatible with streaming capabilities. Featuring omni-directional microphones, they are pre-programmed to the most common hearing-loss range (normal to moderate) and offer up to 30 dB of amplification. On the protection side, they have a 22dB noise-reduction rating and offer wind-noise management. Battery life is up to 23 hours, including four hours of streaming. Phantoms come with a removable lanyard system and a zippered case and carabiner clip. Ear impressions by a hearing professional are required. Colors: Black faceplate with Black, Clear or Blue/Red shells. Price: $1,599.

SoundGear, soundgear.com.

DUCK CAMP CANVAS UPLAND STRAP VEST

Wingshooters looking for a sturdy hunting setup with plenty of storage space should check out Duck Camp’s Canvas Upland Strap Vest. Featuring a waxed-canvas material that not only repels water but also looks great, the vest has baffled front pockets for shells or gear, an oversized rear game bag with exterior pockets, and two water-bottle pockets. Shoulder and waist straps are adjustable and made of nylon webbing, which won’t interfere with a gun mount. Color: Orange. Price: $179.

Duck Camp, duckcamp.com.