There’s little question that waterfowl hunting is a game of extremes, especially extremes in weather. The season starts in September with the teal and early goose seasons. The weather then is fickle. It’s still summer for all practical purposes, but fall is in the air. Mornings are slightly chilly, often foggy, misty affairs before the sun gets up and temperatures soar into the 80s. Once the sun is up, you won’t need anything more than a long-sleeved shirt if that, but a hint of fall requires a little more at dawn.
It seems rain is a feast or famine proposition in the early fall. Usually, it’s either dry as a bone or we get week-long deluges that have you thinking about building an ark. When we have the latter, Hardcore’s Finisher Extreme Parka is a piece you’ll be reaching for a lot. With waterproof/breathable performance and a woven poly/spandex flex-stretch shell with DWR, the Finisher Extreme will keep you dry, mobile, and without sweating your patootie off.
Lately, we haven’t seen any extreme weather until the bitter end of the season, if at all. Add a Hardcore’s Softshell Vest under the Finisher Extreme Jacket, and you’ll survive most of the season in comfort.
I had to buy a new pair of waders this year. Probably my last. I’ve had neoprene, breathable, and hybrid waders. Neoprene waders are inexpensive, easy to move in, but prone to sweating, and aren’t the most durable when it comes to snags and punctures.
I tried a pair of hybrid waders last time that were half neoprene and half breathable, figuring it would be the best of both worlds. They were crap and a waste of money. I won’t mention the manufacturer, but the waders developed a leak along the seam in the neoprene bottoms, and the suspenders ripped right out of the breathable tops after relatively little use. In one word- garbage.
I loved the last pair of breathable waders I owned. I opted for another pair. I reasoned that the breathable waders would be perfect for waterfowl season when it’s relatively warm and would excel for summer fishing. The breathable waders are lightweight and easy to move in. When it finally gets cold, it’s a simple matter of adding another layer.
You can add a pair of ski or Polar Fleece pants, but a great alternative is Whitewater’s new Luswea Jogger Pant. The Luswea Joggers are made of 100% polyester stretch with a 252-gram fleece, a smooth face, and a brushed interior. Think easy on and off, dry and warm. Perfect for under breathable waders. The elastic waistband keeps the waist from falling, and elastic cuffs and tapered legs prevent the pants from riding up when you’re sliding into your waders or bunching up at your knees while hunting. The pants are so comfortable, you may not take them off when you get back to the lodge.
Last season, I went on a January hunt in Montana that illustrated the other extreme of waterfowl hunting. With temperatures in the single digits and near blizzard conditions, the weather put my Hardcore Finisher Insulated Parka and Bib to the test. They passed with flying colors. With Therma-mapped Primaloft insulation, I didn’t get overheated while setting decoys, and the woven poly-spandex flex-shell of the parka and bib made it easy to quickly slide into the layout blind when birds finally arrived. With extreme temperatures, I simply added an Arctech Fleece Hoodie as a base layer, and I was toasty warm.
Extremities are one thing you need to worry about when conditions are severe. Even a few seconds in the brutal cold can leave your hands aching, especially if they get wet, and you risk the chance of frostbite. The Hammer Hi-Bird Waterproof Insulated Gloves kept my fingers warm and with enough dexterity to quickly stuff more ammo in my Benelli shotgun when the shooting got fast and furious.
One day, we hunted the Big Horn River for ducks. The Hammer Hi-Bird Waterproof Insulated Gloves performed flawlessly while hunting, but when it came time to pick up decoys, I broke out the Finisher Extreme Decoy Gloves. Decoy gloves are something you don’t need much, but when you do, they’re a godsend. The added length of the Finisher Extreme Decoy Gloves means you don’t have to worry about taking on water when grabbing decoys, and the 40-gram Primloft insulation will guarantee your hands can function while doing it.
Experts will tell you that 90% of your heat loss is via your head. I’m not a fan of beanies, but when conditions get to the point of being nasty, like in Montana, I won’t hesitate to slip on an Arctech Fleece Beanie. The Arctech Fleece Beanie’s fleece lining and 4-way stretch excel when you need it most. The guides sported bomber hats, like Hardcore’s Insulated Bomber Hat. Their choice was proof that performance outweighs style at the bitter end.
Whether you’re chasing early-season teal or geese in summer-like temperatures or plying icy rivers in search of red-legged, late-season mallards, Hardcore apparel will keep you comfortable and in the game.
