Field Gear

I didn’t have any choice but to become a bird hunter. As a boy, I accompanied my father to a goose pit on Nebraska’s North Platte River, riding on his back across the slough until I got my first pair of Red Ball hip waders. Not long after, I was handed a single-shot Montgomery Ward .410 and given the freedom to roam the family farm, which happened to hold a fair population of pheasants. And if all that wasn’t enough to make me a hunter, I had the good fortune of growing up just four short blocks from the original Cabela’s, in Sidney, Nebraska.
    I went on to work for the World’s Foremost Outfitter, spending more than a decade in the business of making and marketing clothing and equipment for sportsmen. I worked closely and often hunted with gear savants, people who knew more about what works in the field and what doesn’t than anyone should. I still have many friends on the inside, and often I’ll get a head’s up on new stuff coming to market and get to handle some pretty cool gear before most of the world even knows it exists.
    Looking back, it’s as if I were training to end up here: writing the gear column for Shooting Sportsman. I’m a passionate wingshooter, and I travel the world chasing birds. But my favorite hunts are still those I do close to home—hunting pheasants behind my black Lab, Aengus, and gunning for geese along the North Platte. So it’s with no small honor that I take over this column from Tom Huggler. I hope to pass on some of what I know and, most important, continue learning about great new gear for sportsmen.
    In this first column I’ll cover several items that should make your days in the uplands more pleasurable.

Heimie’s Haberdashery Gun Case
Sporting enthusiasts in St. Paul, Minnesota, surely know of Heimie’s Haberdashery, but it’s about time the rest of us became acquainted with this fine men’s store. Heimie’s offers a range of goods and services, from ready-to-wear and custom-tailored menswear to straight-razor shaves and fine cigars. A few years ago the business began offering handcrafted, made-in-Minnesota bags, packs and gun cases for discerning sportsmen.
    Take a close look at the company’s gun cases, and you know they were designed and made by someone who not only appreciates craftsmanship but also has a fondness for double guns. There are a number of styles available, including a Scottish wool version, but the case I tested is made from durable 18-oz cotton canvas with full-grain leather accents outside and shearling wool lining inside. (A felted-wool-lined model is also available.) The fold-over flap is secured with a brass buckle and partially covers a gusseted pocket that is designed to store a collapsible cleaning rod, choke-tube case or other small shooting accessories. The pocket would benefit from a brass snap or other closure to keep items more secure.
     All seams are stitched with a rot-resistant heavy-gauge nylon thread, and the case features brass rivets throughout. The 52" length accommodates most break-open guns. Price: $279.
    Heimie’s Haberdashery, 651-224-2354; www.heimies.com.

MacWet Shooting Gloves
My longstanding quest for quality hand protection has taken me to a number of unlikely places, including a diesel mechanic’s shop. All to find comfortable, well-fitting gloves that will perform in the field and stand up to more than one season of hard use. The most recent candidate has its roots in the competitive-water-skiing market, and while I haven’t had a chance to give them a season-long test, MacWet Shooting Gloves could be the Holy Grail.
    The technology behind the British company’s proprietary Aquatec fabric originally was designed to provide water skiers a positive connection to the towrope. I’ve never been much for watersports (other than fishing), but I did test the gloves by soaking them in water and then performing some hunting-related tasks, including clay shooting. The lightweight gloves provided a secure, non-slip grip and actually functioned better when slightly moist (versus bone dry).
    Although Aquatec fabric has a suede-like hand, it is really a tight-knit synthetic. Unlike leather, it breathes to reduce perspiration, wicks away moisture from the skin and dries relatively quickly even when soaked (though not as quickly as the manufacturer’s claim of 10 to 15 minutes). Plus it’s machine washable. Note that the material is not designed to be waterproof, although the company does offer a Climatec version with a Gore-Tex lining on the back panel.
    Sizing is based on a number system. According to the scaled guide on the package, I should require an 8.5 or 9, which corresponds to a Medium. I ended up testing a 9.5, and I wouldn’t have wanted the gloves any smaller. As it was, they fit snugly for enhanced dexterity without binding or restricting circulation. MacWet Short Shooting Gloves come in brown and are priced at $60; MacWet Long Climatec Gloves come in green and cost $65.
    The London Trading Co., 888-422-0225; www.londontradingcompany.com.

Pro Hear Behind-the-Ear Hearing Protection
As someone who suffers from both congenital and noise-induced hearing loss, I know I need hearing protection but don’t always wear it. Let’s face it: Most earplugs or muffs reduce our ability to hear range or field commands as well as bird calls and flushes. Thankfully, there are electronic devices that amplify conversations and ambient noise while protecting us from loud noises such as shotgun blasts.
    Pro Ears has been in the hearing-protection business for 20 years, marketing its first muff-style electronic device in 1992. More recently, the company introduced behind-the-ear Pro Hear models: compact protection that fits like a hearing aid. These devices are great for people who find muffs too bulky or incompatible while wearing hats or glasses or when shouldering shotguns.
    I tried both the Pro Hear II and IV and found them so compact and lightweight (1/4 oz) that I nearly forgot they were there. If it hadn’t been for the digitally amplified sounds such as bird calls I hadn’t heard in years, they would have been virtually unnoticeable. At the report of a gun or other loud noise, the device suppresses the sound to a safe 85 decibels. I expected some wind noise but was surprised by its absence—this on a day when gusts exceeded 20 mph.
    The Pro Hear II has two easily selectable, pre-preprogrammed gain settings, while the IV has four. Both come in brown or tan and right or left models, featuring a directional microphone for high-fidelity sound. Battery life is said to be 120 hours, and there is a one-year warranty. Prices are $199 for the Pro Hear II and $549 for the IV.
    Pro Ears, 800-891-3660; www.proears.com.

Retrieve Health Tri-Nutrition Bars
It’s all too easy to overlook your dog’s nutritional needs in the field. But during a long day or in particularly tough conditions, having a nutritional supplement like Retrieve Health’s Tri-Nutrition Bars handy could be a lifesaver, literally.
    These canine supplements contain fast-acting organic agave syrup and peanut butter along with whey protein to provide both a near-instant and time-released energy boost as well as muscle repair and recovery. Older, hard-working dogs will enjoy the added benefit of glucosamine to help lubricate joints and promote healthy cartilage.
    Tri-Nutrition Bars are similar in appearance, consistency and (I admit) taste to peanut-butter-flavored Power Bars. Like most Labs, my dog Aengus isn’t known for his pickiness, and he scarfed up the bars. I expect most dogs would do the same. The 6.6-oz pouches contain six individually wrapped bars—perfect size for stashing in a hunting vest, vehicle or dog-training bag. Price: $13.99.
    Mendota Products, 800-224-1121; www.mendotaproducts.com.

Browning Cross Country Pro Upland Jacket
Many foul-weather shooting jackets are weighty affairs, made from heavy canvas or waxed cotton. Browning’s newest offering, the Cross Country Pro, forgoes weight without sacrificing protection by going with a lightweight nylon shell. An innovative OverCast barrier offers the additional benefit of waterproof taped seams in areas typically susceptible to leaks.
    On the inside, three fabrics deliver comfort and performance. A brushed tricot in the body offers insulation, while a fleece-lined collar keeps cold winds at bay. The sleeves are lined with a smooth taffeta for easy on/off that is light enough that it doesn’t bunch. Articulated shoulders and a modified cape back add freedom of movement for a good gun mount. Left and right shoulder pockets allow for adding a Reactar recoil pad (sold separately), and a zippered interior pocket on the  lower left keeps valuables secure.
    Two gusseted shell pockets close with sewn-in magnets. Each is backed with a tricot-lined handwarmer pocket. An additional set of slash handwarmer pockets are on the lower chest. The bloodproof game bag can be accessed from the front or back, and there are two elastic water-bottle pockets on the lower back. Water-resistant cuffs, a storm-flap-covered zip front, and a zip-in attached hood round out the hunter-friendly features.
    The Cross Country Pro Upland Jacket is available in khaki/blaze or khaki/olive and retails for $93 to $105, depending on sizing (S through 3XL).
    Browning, 800-333-3288; www.browning.com.