Hunting for waterfowl? Here’s the essential gear that you should always have with you

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Carry essentials for all situations

When I started waterfowling as a teenager, my possibles bag was a canvas pouch I bought at the local army surplus store. I dumped my shells, Faulk’s calls and a chocolate bar in it, then prayed everything would stay dry. As for my licence, that was crammed into my wallet, which in turn was stuffed into my jeans. God forbid I needed anything else, which I often did. In those cases, I was “SOL,” as my dad would say.

How times have changed. Today, waterfowl hunters have superbly designed, customizable blind bags that are waterproof, durable and equipped with an assortment of compartments for every need. I have two bags ready to go each fall, one for field hunting and one for hunting on the water. Much of my must-have gear is duplicated between the two, but there are some items I only carry on the water. Not sure what to bring along on your own hunts? Here’s my checklist of essentials.

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