ROAD HUNTER: TOP HOLIDAY GEAR PICKS

ROAD HUNTER

TOP HOLIDAY GEAR PICKS

Gift ideas for the hunter (and four-legged friend) in your life.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

Another great year of hunting has come and gone. I spent over 250 days afield, traveling to multiple states and four countries. I used a lot of di erent gear. If you’re looking for some last-minute Christmas gifts, these are things I’ve personally used and would highly recommend. SITKA’S EQUINOX GUARD COLLECTION Last summer I went to Brazil’s Pantanal to photograph jaguars. The first evening along a river, I got nearly 100 mosquito bites through my clothes! For the next three days I wore Sitka’s Equinox gear and didn’t get a single bite. I also wore them spring turkey hunting in Oregon and in Alaska during the summer and didn’t get one mosquito, no-see-um or white sock bite.

The collection features pants, gloves and a hoody, all designed to be worn together to minimize the health risk and distraction of insect bites by preventing contact with mosquitos, ticks and other bugs. It works by utilizing a newly developed bitereduction fabric and infusing built-in insect shield treatment. Each piece o ers UPF 50+ protection, Polygiene odor control technology and moisturewicking to keep hunters comfortable in warm and humid conditions. I

From waders and outdoor clothes to luggage to quality food and training dummies, author Scott Haugen has proven holiday gift ideas for everyone in your hunting family.

Sitka’s Equinox Guard Collection will help prevent mosquito bites. Haugen wore them while hunting spring turkeys and didn’t get bit at all. was amazed with its comfort in the 95-degree Fahrenheit daily heat in Brazil.

Info: $448; sitkagear.com.

CHÊNE GEAR ZIPPERED KNEE BOOT I wore these boots on multiple occasions. Deer hunts in wet conditions; fall turkey hunts; waterfowl hunts; and all fall and winter when running trail cameras, chasing predators, photographing wildlife and training dogs. I’ve worn and tested many knee boots over the years. These are awesome!

I love the ankle fit and support these boots o er while maintaining stability and comfort. The tread pattern performs great in a range of conditions, the side zipper is flawless and very convenient, and the insulating neoprene is durable and flexible. The custom insole options result in even more comfort and stability, and they’re quick drying on

Custom Boat Trailers

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the inside.

Info: $200; chenegear.com.

LACROSSE AGILITY WADERS I wore four brands of waders on over 100 waterfowl hunts last season from Alaska to Mexico to Texas, and the LaCrosse Agility Waders were my favorite. They made it into marshes, rivers, creeks and saltwater on over 60 hunts in temperatures ranging from 8 to 75 degrees.

The boots in the Agility Waders are very comfortable; I was a four-sport athlete in high school and played a bit of college ball, so quality footwear is high on my priority list. The waders are easy to get in and out of. I love the zip-out liner, which o ers plenty of warmth in temperatures below 20 degrees but was easy to remove on warm days. The breathable nylon upper was ideal on long hikes and very comfortable. A waterproof tech pouch kept accessories dry, and I liked the shell loops and multiple comfortable pockets up front; I love places for my hands. For several days I spent 12 hours or more in these waders, and they always delivered.

Info: $550; lacrossefootwear.com.

FORLOH ALLCLIMA PANT FORLOH stands for “For The Love Of Hunting,” and their quality clothes show it. The AllClima pant, which is 100 percent made in America, immediately caught my attention. This is a multiseason, breathable, water-resistant pant. It features a four-way stretch and incredibly comfortable knee pads that I spent countless hours on amid rocks and hard dirt this fall while hunting and photographing wildlife throughout the West. The articulated knees, gusseted crotch and ventilation side panels o er extreme comfort and mobility. The internal waistline features a silicon gripper that’s simply ingenious; it truly keeps the pants from riding up or down when moving or bending over, and your shirts stay tucked in, always! This is one of the best all-around performing pants I’ve used.

Info: $249; forloh.com.

YETI LUGGAGE & PANGA BACKPACK I’ve traveled to some 40 countries and appreciate good luggage. This year I used Yeti’s Crossroads luggage, and I can’t say enough about its durability and performance. It took a pounding in three countries and multiple states. It got rained on, was dragged through mud and sand, and was laid in the snow – but everything was dry, and the zippers, wheels and extending handles kept working! The multiple interior compartments are very e cient, allowing a surprising amount of gear to be tightly packed. The zippers are tight but never let me down, even when excessive pressure was applied. The accessories compression bags are more than worth it.

The Panga Backpack hauled tens of thousands of dollars in camera gear in remote Alaska, Canada, Mexico

Lacrosse Agility Waders offer both quality and comfort in even the coldest conditions, and they get a big thumbs up from the author, here with a strap brimming with ducks.

and South America, and held up in the heaviest of downpours. If you’re a serious traveler, this luggage is a must!

Info: Starting at $300; yeti.com.

BIG AL’S DECOYS I use a lot of di erent decoys, but one of the most e ective and a ordable has been Big Al’s Wigeon Pack Duck Silhouettes. Whether arranged in fields, at water’s edge in flooded fields and along sloughs, and even on levees, these decoys were responsible for bringing in large numbers of wigeon, mallards, pintail and teal all season long. I like using five dozen silhouettes with a dozen floaters, which allows for very e ective sets and at a fraction of the cost of full-body spreads. And the silhouettes are easy to carry.

Info: $72/dozen; bigalsdecoys.com.

FEDERAL SPEED-SHOK SHOTGUN SHELLS Last year I used this extensively in 12-gauge 3-inch No. 2 shot. It’s one of the best-performing shotgun shells I’ve used. The pattern is impressive, the powder and primer burn very clean, and it’s extremely e ective at long range on both ducks and geese. I shot other brands that cost three times the price of a box of Speed-Shok, and I’d not hesitate to use these anywhere on any birds, even eiders in Alaska. It has great penetrating power without ripping apart meat. I’ll be using it again this season.

Info: $23.99; federalpremium.com.

SLAYER ENCHANTRESS ELK CALL Once in great while I see a new product that makes me just say, “Wow!” The Enchantress Push Button Elk Call by Slayer Calls is one such item. I used this versatile call on Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain elk last season, with impressive results. The first time I used it in the Rockies, I had three bulls bugle and come to within 40 yards, each from di erent directions. The range of cow and calf sounds the Enchantress creates is very complete. For hunters who can’t use a diaphragm call, the Enchantress is a must. Actually, it should be in every elk hunter’s pack!

Info: $55.50; slayercalls.com. LEUPOLD RX-14000I RANGEFINDER The new RX-1400i TBR/W is the fastest rangefinder I’ve used, and it works great in rain and fog. The bright red display is easy to read on sunny days, and the TBR (True Ballistic Range) feature was impressive in the steepest of terrains. It o ers 25 selectable ballistic groups that account to your preferred cartridge, resulting in pinpoint ranging. The 10 mph wind holds make the readings even more accurate. With this rangefinder, there’s no reason to miss a shot.

Info: $199.99; leupold.com.

MOULTRIE MOBILE EDGE CELLULAR TRAIL CAMERA Cellular trail camera technology just got better with the Moultrie Mobile Edge. Fast, clear and consistent – that’s what I found with the cameras I used. I even set my go-to noncellular trail cams with the Edge to make sure I wasn’t missing any shots; I didn’t. It performs great in heavy rain, for predators and big game. It works with multiple data plan options and

Big Al’s silhouettes are some of the market’s most effective and affordable decoys. Haugen regularly uses them on his waterfowl hunts.

The Moultrie Mobile Edge cellular trail cam delivers “fast, clear and consistent” results and “performs great in heavy rain, for predators and big game. It works with multiple data plan options and networks,” states Haugen.

networks, and it has a long battery life. No SD card is needed. The complete information on the website will walk you through all you need to know.

Info: $99.99 moultriemobile.com.

NUTRISOURCE DOG FOOD & BISCUITS Let’s not forget our dogs this holiday season! Quality dog food is one of the things hunters neglect most. We spend a lot of money and time on our hunting companions, so why not invest a bit more to make sure they lead a healthy, comfortable, longer life? For years I’ve been feeding my 6-year-old male gun dog NutriSource dog food, which o ers compact nutrition and pre- and probiotics. My 8-year-old male pudelpointer gets the NutriSource Element Series, which contains up to 90 percent protein. Both of their recovery times are fast and joint pains are gone with these quality foods; and their stools are much smaller and fewer, meaning digestion is optimized. Don’t skimp on treats, either. A buddy lost a month of hunting after his Lab reacted to a poor-quality treat he ate at a gas station this fall. I use NutriSource Biscuits, which are meat-rich, protein-dense, and made with real fruits and vegetables. These foods seem pricey, but you actually feed less at each meal.

Info: nutrisourcepetfoods.com.

AVERY DOG TRAINING BUMPERS: This summer one of my dogs started getting lazy in the water, retrieving bumpers by barely gripping the end. Enter the Avery Sporting Dog PerfectHold HexBumper. The dumbbell design with enlarged ends forced my dog to gain the proper grip and hold, which carried over to our bird training and future hunts. It comes in three colors and is $10.99.

I was also happy with their EZ-Bird Pheasant with tooth-lock features for a solid hold, a puncture-proof skin, a soft floating head that won’t break teeth, and a sight/scent tail streamer for focused marks. The realistic paint and anatomically accurate design made training more fun and exciting for my dogs. I’ll be getting more of these in the waterfowl line.

Info: Eight options available; $19.99; banded.com.

TOPFLIGHT DOG VEST I have pudelpointers, and their deep chests and narrow waists aren’t easy to find waterfowl vests for. However, the Topflight Vest by Alps is great! The 5mm neoprene used throughout the vest not only protects the dogs in heavy brush but keeps these lean gun dogs warm on long, cold days on the stand and in the duck blind. The multiple bar-tacked areas make for easy trimming, and the contoured neck o ers an even better fit. The lift handles, leash clip and dual flotation pads are excellent, very functional features. Comes in four sizes.

Info: $49.99; alpsoutdoorz.com.

THERE YOU HAVE it, a list of some of the best gear I used this year and will keep using. Happy holidays!  Editor’s note: Scott Haugen’s popular DVD, Field Dressing, Skinning & Caping Big Game, makes a great stocking stu er! Visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.