A review and comparison of Smith Optics latest lens technology
By Sammy Chang
Anglers frequently encounter challenges with variable light conditions. Early morning light creates a reflective glare on the water’s surface, while remaining too dim for standard polarized sunglasses. Midday sun often overwhelms low-light glasses, and this cycle repeats at sunset. This forces anglers to choose between poor visibility or no polarization, or the inconvenience of carrying multiple pairs or interchangeable lenses.
While sunglass manufacturers offer both light-adapting and polarized lenses, these features were historically separate, leaving anglers to compromise between options. Smith Optics presents a potential solution: Chromapop Glass Polarchromic lenses. These lenses automatically adjust light transmission based on ambient conditions, while polarized glass provides superior glare-cutting clarity both above and below the water’s surface. Chromapop technology enhances color perception adding significant vibrance to what you see. By combining these features, Smith Optics allows anglers to benefit from variable light adaptability, polarization, and stunning clarity in a single pair of sunglasses.
After eight months of daily use both on and off the water, I can attest to the fact that these lenses are a true game changer for anglers both salt and fresh, and are definitely worth the spend.
Two lens options are available: Brown Green Mirror for lower light conditions and Yellow Blue Mirror for brighter conditions. As a quick reference, VLT, or visible light transmission, is the maximum amount of light transmitted through a lens. 11% VLT means a maximum of 11% of light is transmitted. The Brown Green Mirror lenses allow slightly more light transmission (VLT 11-23%), and are optimized for dimmer or cloudy days. They have a warming effect on what you see. The Yellow Blue Mirror lenses allow slightly less light transmission (VLT 11-20%), work great for brighter days, and provide a cooling effect on what you see. Both lense types will work well as your daily and angling glasses, depending on what effect (warm vs cool) you prefer. I used the Brown Green Mirror on blue bird bright days and it never felt too bright. Likewise, I used the Yellow Blue lenses on overcast days, and didn’t feel the need to take the shades off.
Yellow Blue Mirror (top), Brown Green Mirror (bottom)
Below are side-by-side comparisons of the two lens options. I recommend testing and purchasing at your local shop, but if you are unable to do so I hope these images help “shed some light” on what you’re getting in to (see what I did there?). There is no way to capture what you actually see through these glasses using a camera, but these images will hopefully at least give you a sense. At $305 dollars, these glasses aren’t cheap. But they will be the only pair of glasses you’ll likely ever need.
Chromapop Glass Polarchromic lenses are currently available in their angling line of glasses, including the Guides Choice, Guides Choice XL, Redding 2, and Hookset. The type reviewed in this post is the Hookset, which I found to be perfect for my rather round and medium-sized face. I will post a full review on the Hookset’s in a later post. In summary, they provide great coverage and no light leakage, are very comfortable, but due to the glass lenses have a propensity to slide down some if your nose is on the smaller side.
Note – this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Strung receives a small commission at no increased cost to you.
Hookset: Black Frame with Yellow Blue Mirror (L), Matte Tortoise Frame with Brown Green Mirror (R)I did my best to capture the polarization and effect of each pair of lenses. The left-most image is what the “naked eye” sees of the water surface. The middle image is the Brown Green Mirror lens, and the right-most image is the Yellow Blue Mirror lens.Top: Yellow Blue Mirror. Bottom: Brown Green Mirror.Left most glasses both images: Yellow Blue Mirror. Right most glasses both images: Brown Green Mirror.
Editors Note – always check the latest regulations and dates on your respective state’s website. As of this posting on 9/13/24, the greater prairie chicken season in Kansas opens on 9/15/24 and closes on January 31, 2025. For hunting purposes, greater prairie chickens are mainly found in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Kansas. This post is on greater prairie chickens only – lesser prairie chickens are listed as threatened species, making it illegal to hunt them.
Prairie Chicken History and Habitat
To most wingshooters, the allure of hunting prairie chickens includes breathtaking landscapes and wide-open spaces interspersed with gentle, rolling hills. Once numbering in the millions across several states, prairie chickens have seen both their range and population diminish drastically. But the King of the Prairie still commands the spirit of the American West like no other. A prairie chicken taken on the wing is nothing short of a trophy.
Prairie chickens are now found only in isolated pockets spread throughout a handful of states including Nebraska, South Dakota, and Kansas. In Kansas, the Flint and Smoky Hills are considered traditional strongholds for the birds. Kansas went away from a split season for prairie chickens and now has a continuous season. September 15 signals the start, ending just over four months later on January 31. The daily limit is two, with a possession limit of eight.
During the early part of the season, the birds are not flocked up, but rather scattered throughout the prairie in singles and/or small groups. Prairie chicken habitat consists of open, flat country made up of sparse, native grasses, combined with rolling, elevated grasslands. The most common tactic to locate early-season chickens is to hunt behind big-ranging pointing dogs as they sweep across the land. Birds tend to hold, but not always; they are very skittish. Flushes of more than 50 yards are common. Often, there’s far more land than there are chickens.
Below is a four-pronged approach to hunting prairie chickens. Try these techniques and tactics and modify them depending on location and the type of habitat, and they may just help you harvest that most prized possession of the grassland plains.
Locate
Most hunters accidentally come across prairie chickens while hunting other upland birds. Chickens will either flush from their feeding or loafing areas or be observed going to and from such locations. During the early season, chickens feed mostly on insects that are still abundant. The birds will also take advantage of crops in nearby agricultural fields. If you can find where they’re feeding and ascertain where they’ll fly to and from, then you’ve taken a big step towards completing the puzzle.
After feeding, the birds will look for a place to loaf. Look for prairie chickens flying, using a unique combination of rapid wing beats followed by a long glide. Use their flight path to your advantage. This is where the use of binoculars will benefit the upland bird hunter. Glassing for birds is an overlooked tactic. The prime time to catch birds in the air is in the early to late morning or evening when they are flying to ridges, high points, hillsides, and thickets in search of cover. Chickens will often set up on high points of open terrain or on the shady side of a hill. These high-ground areas with knee-high or shorter grass provide them with security from predators. If you’re in thick “pheasant habitat,” you’re in the wrong place.
Prairie chickens will frequently inhabit the same general area year after year. Take notice of the location, as they will likely continue to use the spot, especially if it’s an established lek (also known as booming grounds, where males will gather to dance and boom). Hunting pressure may disperse them temporarily, but they will return if it’s an established location. This is where a mapping app comes into play and becomes invaluable in organizing collected data from the field.
Hunting prairie chickens calls for lots of walking across big expanses. Wingshooters should focus on working the ridges, but don’t overlook bowls.
Find Relief
Late summer can be quite warm in Kansas, so the focus on finding chickens should be to do what you and I would do when the temperature starts to climb: Find a bit of relief in the shade. Shade, whether in the form of hillsides, shrubs of red sumac, or on the shady side of slopes or light cover, are good places to focus when hunting. Look for a nearby water source, if possible.
Sneak In
Once you locate where prairie chickens tend to congregate, getting close enough to fire a shot is a difficult task. Look for features in the landscape and use the terrain to your advantage. Keep in mind that you want the wind in your face as well as the dogs’. Using the contours of the land, get as close as possible without being seen. Use the hillside slopes and any dips to mask your approach.
Maneuvering from two sides into the area where you suspect you’ll find chickens will increase your chances. If hunting with a partner, send them wide and have them approach from the other side of a hill or natural feature, such as a shelter belt, covering the side or back door. Keep a close eye on the dog, because when they go on point, chickens may or may not be as close as you think. Birds may be farther out than expected. Hunters should walk up quickly and be ready to shoot.
Stragglers
If everything goes as planned and chickens flush and shots are fired, reload quickly and stay alert. Chances are high there’s going to be a straggler or two waiting for the right moment to burst from the grass. Hunters often make the mistake and assume that all the birds have gone with the initial covey rise. It’s important to continue to watch the dog for signs that they’re still birdy. Walk slowly, zigzagging through the area, ready for a second delayed flush. It is in these times that hunters drop their guard and are startled with a second series of clucks and fluttering of wings.
Gear for Hunting Prairie Chickens
Prairie chicken hunting calls for lots of walking, which may include up and down hills. Carry a shotgun that is comfortable and light, if possible. Any gauge will suffice—12, 20, 16, or 28. Prairie chickens are delicate birds and fold quite easily. Recommended shot size includes 7 or 7 ½, with 6s as a follow up for those longer-distance shots. Early-season chicken hunts call for an improved cylinder or a modified choke. Birds will tend to hold longer in heavier cover, but those that have the high ground or the ability to see what’s coming for them will flush far. A good pair of broken-in boots and a vest that can carry an adequate supply of water for both hunter and dog are key ingredients in September and October.
Edgar Castillo is a retired law enforcement officer for a large Kansas City metropolitan agency, where he worked 26 years. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for more than a decade. Edgar’s passion lies in the uplands, where he documents his travels across the country or wherever the dirt roads take him, hunting open fields, walking treelines, and bustin’ through plum thickets in a never-ending search for wild birds in wild places. Follow his adventures on Instagram: @hunt_birdz
WHY COLD AND MISERABLE CONDITIONS MAKE FOR BETTER DUCK HUNTING
By Don Thomas
THE SCIENCE BEHIND COLD WEATHER AND SOUND TRANSMISSION
The thing I notice first when the thermometer descends past 10-below here on the high plains isn’t the cold; it’s the acoustics. The physics are straightforward. Cold air is dense air, and molecules of nitrogen and oxygen transmit sound waves more efficiently when they’re packed tightly together. But to the observant outdoorsman, the complexity of the results defies the simplicity of their explanation. This morning, the sound of the spring creek babbling past the front of our makeshift blind offers an orchestral range of tone and timbre. Dry snow squeaks beneath the dog’s paws. The tinkle of frozen willow branches yielding to a browsing whitetail’s teeth sounds positively intimate even though the deer is over a hundred yards away. And when the first wave of mallards rises from the stubble fields two miles to the south, I can hear contented feeding chuckles long before I ever see the birds.
I have been told by responsible adults that hunting waterfowl in these conditions is a lunatic passion and they no doubt have a point. But they don’t know the local game the way I do. We live in an arid county on the cusp of the Pacific and Central Flyways. Absent abundant wetlands and a position in the middle of the great autumn flight paths, the first two months of duck season here are largely unproductive. That’s not to say I don’t hunt ducks then; I just don’t expect to kill a lot of them. Come December though, several thousand mallards will be wintering in the valley, feeding in grain fields and living on whatever open water they can find. When the mercury plummets and ice grips the rivers and reservoirs, they flock to spring fed creeks and ponds where the hunting can be spectacular. The Catch-22? If it’s warm enough to be comfortable in a blind, you’re not going to shoot any ducks.
Since the converse is true as well, Lori and I are bundled head to toe in an assortment of low, medium, and high-tech clothing adequate to stock a sporting good store. Canine companionship this morning comes from Rocky, the seasoned half of our kennel’s current yellow Lab duo. The temperature means nothing to him. Muzzle framed in a halo of icy whiskers, he’s busy scanning the sky for birds. We’ve loaded our guns – the chink of brass on steel still seems to be echoing from the hills – but there’s nothing to do but wait, providing an opportunity to reflect upon years of experience with the correlation between great wing-shooting and miserable weather.
WHY WATERFOWL HUNTING IN MISERABLE WEATHER WORKS
Even as a kid, I quickly realized that bluebird days are anathema to waterfowling. I still remember a long hike through the sagebrush to a large Columbia Basin pothole one clear, still October morning. Sunrise revealed a huge raft of puddle ducks and divers in the middle of the glassy lake, none closer than 200 yards from shore. Lifeless as decoys, they stayed there all morning. The few new arrivals all bypassed our spread to join the pajama party far out in the water. Down to shirtsleeves by mid-morning, my hunting partner and I finally circled the shore shouting and waving in a futile attempt to get some ducks airborne. The only shot we fired all morning came in a pointless attempt to flush the flock. Damn, but that was a gorgeous day.
The value of rain, snow, wind, and other forms of climactic misery is old news to seasoned waterfowl hunters, but bad weather has its place in upland cover too. Hot, dry scenting conditions can render even the best flushing dogs helpless. Weather concentrates upland game as well as waterfowl in predictable ways and there’s nothing like a foot of fresh snow to slow down running pheasants and chukar. Here in Montana, I’ve long been partial to the waning weeks of pheasant season, for reasons that have nothing to do with easy limits. I’m hunting educated survivors then, and a few cagey December roosters mean more to me than game vests full of naïve birds during the opening week. The dogs can run all day without overheating and so can I. Only a few fellow madmen are foolish enough to hunt pheasants in blizzards and they’re the folks I’m happy to run into out in the field anyway. Indian summer days early on make for nice pictures, but angry winter weather often makes for better bird hunting.
CLOTHING CHOICES FOR WATERFOWL HUNTING IN BAD WEATHER
Today’s new generation of outdoor clothing has made it easier to hunt birds in nasty weather and I certainly take advantage of modern synthetics and rain gear when I’m heading out into the worst of it. But as an incurable romantic, I’m not ready to forsake all of the old ways. I like the smell of wet wool; like a good whiff of pronghorn or moose, that aroma instantly evokes countless subliminal memories, most of them pleasant (at least after the fact). No matter how comfortable a good arsenal of modern outdoor wear can make you during the thick of the fray, I sometimes think we should chuck it all and go back to cotton long-johns, plaid wool shirts, and no-camo slickers just for old time’s sake. Granted, that kind of sentiment usually goes best at the end of the day when you’re dressed in fresh, dry clothing and sitting in front of a crackling fire with a glass in your hand.
No matter how you’re dressed, nasty wing-shooting weather can eventually cross the line from inconvenience to serious discomfort. One day years ago I was hunting the Cook Inlet tide flats in mid-October with my old Lab, Skykomish. The weather was beautiful when I took off from the dirt strip beside my house, with nothing serious ahead on the weather map. That’s a dicey time of year up north though and winter can arrive in a hurry… as it did a little after nine o’clock the following morning.
I was bundled up beside the decoys shooting nothing when I saw a wall of weather start to spill over the top of the Alaska Range behind me. I would have packed up and run for cover, but all the ducks that had been riding out the Indian summer deep in the Alaska Interior arrived right along with the storm. By the time I’d shot a limit of puddle ducks and Sky had retrieved them, ice was already forming on the decoys and I had gale winds and sleet in my face all the way back to the duck shack. But that was a gorgeous day too, at least once I’d reached the comfort of the oil stove.
HOW TO STAY WARM HUNTING IN COLD WEATHER
Before we progress to the dogs and their responses to cold weather, let me offer a brief review of proper protection from the elements based on years of experience in the field of wilderness medicine. Dressing properly to prevent hypothermia involves three layers of clothing. The inner wicking layer conducts heat-robbing moisture away from the body. Polypropylene or silk long underwear serves this purpose well. The middle insulating layer creates a thermal barrier to prevent loss of body heat to the environment. While newer synthetics accomplish this adequately, it’s still hard to beat wool, or even down as long as you’re sure you can keep it dry. The outer barrier layer protects everything inside from both wind and rain. Gore-Tex is an excellent choice if you’ll be exerting enough to work up a sweat, since it allows both inner layers to breathe. If you’re sitting still in a duck blind, an impervious fabric such as oilskin or rubberized cloth may keep you even more comfortable on rainy, windy days.
HUNTING DOGS IN COLD WEATHER
A retriever’s ability to thrive in such conditions – while plunging in and out of icy water, no less — seems utterly amazing, especially to non-hunters who sometimes wonder aloud how we can make our dogs do such things. There’s an easy answer to that question. We can’t make them hunt in cold weather; they’re too busy volunteering. Thanks to centuries of selective breeding back when our dogs’ ancestors were retrieving codfish from the North Atlantic, today’s retrievers come dressed naturally in water repellant, insulating coats that no human technology can rival. The problem isn’t making them go out on frigid mornings to fetch ducks; it’s making them come back home with you once you’ve shot your limit… or given up because you can’t stand the cold anymore.
Friends from lower latitudes sometimes wonder why I don’t dress my dogs in Neoprene vests on such cold weather outings, and I appreciate their concern. I also have experienced friends who do use vests on their dogs, but I’ve always taken the position that it’s hard to improve upon nature. Left alone, a Lab’s coat will shed water, fluff out, and begin to trap insulating pockets of air moments after a single shake at the end of a water retrieve. (Note how well a retriever’s coat, with its combination of guard hairs, under fur, and body oils, mimics the function of wicking, insulating, and barrier layers of clothing as described above.) And of course my dogs are conditioned to cold by habit as well as genetics. If I were taking a retriever from Mississippi to northern Alberta to hunt ducks over water, I would argue for some supplemental insulation. The same applies if I were asking a short haired breed like a GSP to handle the duck blind chores.
The only time I’ve ever seen any of my Labs act uncomfortably cold while hunting was when they were puppies. While still a youngster, Rocky whined so hard when we threatened to leave him behind one day that we relented and took him along despite the cold temperature. He spent the morning curled up on Lori’s lap while old Sonny handled all the retrieving chores. Young dogs have a high ratio of surface area to body mass, which promotes the loss of heat to the environment. Moral: if a pup objects to being left behind when you head out the door on a bitter day, leave the dog behind anyway.
Back down at the creek, Lori, Rocky, and I are shivering and waiting for Godot. Fully adapted to the cold and clad in the best insulation nature can provide, the dog looks happy as a pig in slop. He knows why we’re here and instinctively recognizes the mission as his raison d’etre. Lori seems less certain. She makes no bones about the fact that she’d rather shoot one shoveler on a nice day than a limit of sub-zero greenheads, but she’s too proud and stubborn to show the white feather. If anyone’s going to decide we’ve had enough and start picking up the decoys, it’s going to be me.
WHY SUBZERO TEMPERATURES ARE RELATIVELY SAFE TO HUNT IN
One important technical consideration amidst all this story-telling: 20-below may be damn cold but this isn’t the kind of weather that gets hunters in real trouble. Frigid temperatures like this are almost always the result of stable high pressure systems, which means little wind or moisture. You’re much more susceptible to hypothermia on a wet, windy day with temperatures in the 30’s than on a calm, clear one like this, no matter what the thermometer says. And that’s my rationalization for hanging on a little bit longer. I know we’ll survive; I just hope my marriage does too.
The face, feet, and hands always go first on days like this. Wool ski masks have the first concern covered, although frozen condensation from my breath has turned my beard into a bib of ice. Cold fingers have long been Lori’s downfall, but she’s learned to stuff her pockets with chemical hand-warmers and I can feel their heat against my side as we huddle together on the fallen log. Insulated waders and heavy socks notwithstanding, there isn’t much to do when your toes start to go numb except stamp your feet and hope the birds arrive before common sense prevails.
We’ve just reached that stage when Rocky glances sharply back over my shoulder. He’s too well trained to break, but the rules don’t say anything about excited whining. The noise of setting wings sounds like a jet engine spooling up for takeoff. Then the birds are circling the blocks and it’s time to start mentally isolating drakes from hens.
By pass-shooting standards, there isn’t much to the gunning here in the late season, when most birds fall at ranges I could reach comfortably with my fly rod. But the show is all mallards, and the goal is to kill five birds with green heads while leaving the ladies untouched. The epic part of the morning will belong to the dog soon enough.
“Take ‘em!” I whisper on the next pass and seconds later three drakes are tumbling as the rest of the flock claws its way back into the sky. Two of the fallen birds leave neat little entrance wounds in the snow bank across the creek while the third tumbles away on the dancing current. After handing my empty gun to Lori, I line Rocky up on the troublesome retrieve and he’s off in a spectacular geyser of spray.
Suddenly the cold just doesn’t feel cold anymore, and it’s another gorgeous day after all.
Winter is here, and we have the gear for it, including an innovative and functional French Press for travel, a packable jacket, an attractive and durable gun sleeve, and a skinning knife that’s a work of art. Hunting and fishing gear reviews in every issue.Klean Freak Body Wipes
These 11-inch by 11-inch antibacterial wipes are touted by the maker as a “shower in your pocket.” We probably wouldn’t go quite that far, but they do smell good, kill germs, and remove a lot of dirt. They come individually packed, which we find very convenient, and are sold in various-size bundles, the most popular being a 12-pack bundle. These are much easier to use than packing a few wet wipes in a zip-seal plastic bag as we’ve been known to do in the past. We like this product and will be packing it for our hunting and fishing travels from now on. They work really well from top to bottom. $15 (kleanfreak.com)
BruTrek BaseCamp French Press
We really can’t speak highly enough about this durable, insulated coffee maker and coffee pot combo. It is rugged and designed for outdoor use, but we also find ourselves using it in our home kitchen and the kitchens at fishing and hunting lodges. It’s spill proof, leak proof, has a sturdy handle, and is double-wall vacuum insulated. BruTrek has some sort of proprietary technology that keeps the grounds separated in the bottom while pouring, and it makes up to 48 ounces of java. We travelled with smaller compact presses before we found the BaseCamp, but always struggled with the small quantity per pressing. This makes enough for us and a couple of friends in one run. We suggest adding at least two BruTrek Camp Cups to your order just because they’re cool for coffee and perfect for bourbon on the rocks later in the day. $60 (planetarydesign.com)
Handle Stash
Handle Stash is a shock-absorbing beverage holder that clamps to the handlebars of a bicycle. We love bike cupholders because we’re the kind of rebels who like to ride a beach cruiser to and from happy hour. We’ve tried quite a few others but usually ended up all wet. This one is great because it has shock-absorbing technology that actually works. It’s best for mixed drinks but also performs admirably when toting carbonated beverages. We still suggest chugging about a third of anything fizzy before beginning a ride, but we would probably suggest that regardless of the vessel. The universal clamp is easy to use and easy to attach. The elastic band that keeps a can or cup snug is also a nice touch. A great product for an afternoon cruise. $38 (handlestash.com)
Nomad PMD Jacket
This jacket is a great packable alternative to a puffer jacket. We love puffers, but they just aren’t very durable, and a misplaced briar or a barbed wire fence can quickly relieve them of a lot of their insulation. The PMD has four-way stretch fabric, Primaloft 100-gram insulation, and is quick-drying. It will resist a little bit of rain, too. Even though this jacket is touted as portable and packable, it can still be a great choice as primary outer wear in the fall or spring. It’s quiet, too. $140 (nomadoutdoor.com)
Choona Shore Short
The Choona Shore Short is an all-purpose piece of coastal clothing. It’s a quick-drying blend of nylon and spandex that’s made for surf casting and paddle boarding but with styling that will also turn heads on a day-drinking jaunt to the Flora-Bama. A short and simple review for a short and simple piece of gear. We like these—a lot. $98 (choonaclothing.com)
Danner Trail 2650 Campo
The Trail 2650 Campo is a lightweight, warm-weather hiking shoe that can also be used for trail running. It has Vibram Megagrip soles that work well in rocky terrain, even the loose, crumbly shale that we often encounter in the Wasatch Mountains. They aren’t bad on snowy trails either, but again, these are meant to be a warmer-weather shoe, so wear warm socks if running on snow. They have a leather and textile upper that has lasted us for more than a year in rough conditions. We especially like the neoprene cuff at the ankle—it helps keep out debris. $180 (danner.com)
Wren & Ivy Legacy Gun Sleeve
We often travel by air to hunt or shoot. It can be cumbersome to pack a full-size soft case along with a large TSA-approved carrier, especially when packing multiple guns. We like to pack a lighter-weight gun sleeve or sock so we don’t have to haul a hard case around once we’ve reached our destination. This sleeve provides quite a bit more protection than a sock, especially against rain, and looks a bit more formal in the field or at the shooting grounds. The Legacy Gun Sleeve is made from an attractive waxed-cotton fabric. It can be ordered with a monogram for no additional cost. It has a reinforced toe end and is closed by simply folding over the opening and tying together two beefy nylon straps. It’s thick and hefty enough to give us a good level of confidence when putting a fine shotgun into the back of a UTV, but can be easily folded to fit into a carry-on bag. Wren & Ivy is known for making great looking, long-lasting products, and the Legacy is no different. $155 (wrenandivy.com)
Grizzly Forge Stag Skinner
We received a Grizzly Forge knife as a gift last year and it has quickly become the only fixed-blade knife we carry in the field. It’s incredibly functional and quite beautifully made. We also like holding a functional piece of art in our hand. Grizzly Forge is veteran-owned and located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Since all of the knives are handmade by a craftsman, every blade is unique, and they’re not easy to get. Keep an eye on the company’s social media page to find out when a new knife is becoming available—and grab it quickly. Lately, they’ve been putting out some very cool cleavers and high-carbon 4.5-inch skinners called the Revenant. Custom orders are also available. $800 (thegrizzlyforge.com)
Windshields and Tailgates – The Importance of a Wingshooter’s Hunting Truck
by Edgar Castillo
The traveling wingshooter’s vehicle is his or her mobile office, carrying the hunter across the uplands in search of tailfeathers. For those of us who call ourselves DIY public land hunters, our hunting rig is a crucial part of our gear, and whether you own a pickup truck, SUV, car, or something in between, the vehicle must have a great view of the road and a place to gather at the end of the hunt.
As I crest over a hill on a dirt road, a spectacular view of the Kansas landscape lies before me through my windshield. Endless rustic fields bordered by rolling prairies. I am engulfed in a sea of grass on either side. I can see the swaths of grasslands change in the shifting early morning light. Although I’ve slowed the pace of the truck so I can see my surroundings, the speed at which I’m driving still causes motion blur,the apparent streaking of moving objects. In this case, the landscape appears to be suspended in a water-based solution of russet as I peer out from the confines of my truck. I glance over to my cellphone and see the little circle moving toward the marked spot. The brown thumbtack depicts a white pheasant silhouette inside its lines.
The beauty of the uplands derives from the different colors of grass, as autumn and winter conspire to change the landscape, when the remnants of summer’s green vegetation are pretty much gone. I pull the truck over as I catch a glimpse of a square white placard with four bold letters: WHIA (Walk-In Hunting Area), the inviting sign telling me to come and hunt birds. I graciously accept. As the truck drifts off to the side, three anxious roosters flush from the opposite side of the road. The ringnecks had been loafing in the ditch out of the wind. They glide into the very parcel of land where I am about to launch my hunt. Looking out through the windshield, I see three white bands across their necks. A few flaps from their wings, and they drift until settling down about 300 yards in. I look at the rearview mirror to see ripples in the land and dust slowly settling back onto the road. Not a soul around. My gaze returns to the front, and a gray gravel dirt road appears to stretch for miles. Wooden telephone poles with connecting wires stand as lonely and silent sentinels as they stretch to the horizon.
I grab my cellphone and bring up onX. Before my eyes I see a myriad of Tetris-like puzzle pieces connected to form thousands of acres of public-access lands. Many would wonder where to start. Not me. I had seen my feathered fortune cookie fly before me. Actually, three. I press down on the screen and create a waypoint. Eighty acres is the size of the tract, and it lists pheasants and quail as potential species.
Excited to have seen a trio of roosters, I gather myself and step out of my metal gray steed. The earthy fragrance wafts over the whispering prairie. The perfect combination of an autumn chill and the sun’s rays that are piercing through the gray clouds above make for a perfect day afield. I scan across the orange-red-brown colors that resemble the oxidation of iron when it forms rust. The prairie can appear to be bland and monochromatic. Rustic hues are taking over the panoramic scenery. Still and lifeless at first glance. The beauty is subtle. There is life, although hidden until disturbed.
After throwing on my orange pack-vest and filling the two pouches with crimson shells, I move toward the back of the truck. I put the tailgate down and move to unlock the dog crate. The metal mesh door is unhinged and a dog of thesame color as the landscape bounds out and jumps onto the ground. Staley is excited and immediately puts her pink nose to the ground and begins to take in all the smells. I kneel and call her to me. Staley’s docked tail is wiggling like it is battery-operated. I run my butterscotch-colored leather gloves across her back. She takes to the long strokes, and she places her muzzle into my face. It’s cold enough for Staley to exhale a plume of breath. I attach a metal bell to her dog collar. The bell resonates a clear-sounding musical note as the clapper inside strikes the side. Staley knows what is about to happen. Her auburn-colored eyes look past me and into the field.
The moments spent at the tailgate prior to starting each hunt have become ritualistic and memory-filled over the seasons. Staley and I have been hunting together for more than a decade. She has traveled with me to Nebraska and Missouri. A peculiar companionship we have, but not enough time and space to tell that tale now.
I slide my 12 gauge over-and-under from its loden case. I break it open to insert a pair of matching red shot shells. I can still smell the aroma of Sage & Braker’s citrusy cleaning formula from the last time I cleaned my gun. With a gentle snap, the wood and metal close. I step off. I had marked where the birds had fluttered their wings and landed. I knew from experience that pheasants tend to land with their prehistoric taloned feet ready to run. I would concentrate my approach a bit farther out from where they touched down.
Instantly, the dog and I are both engulfed in the sea of vegetation. I make my way in a zigzagging pattern. Every so often I abruptly stop to see if it causes a premature flush. The Hungarian Vizsla’s coat is the same color as the grass blades. She morphs into the vegetation like she had been painted into it. Only the clanging of her bell signals her whereabouts. I follow the noise.
I move in a half-moon crescent pattern to the location that I have burned into my eyes. Staley is working the field. Quartering back and forth. Ranging a bit farther out than usual. But on occasion she moves closer to “check in.” Staley’s bell is like an unorchestrated melody across the land. My pace quickens when the bell stops its song, only to be teased as I hear a faint clinging and the dog’s movement through the grass. The hunt for roosters continues. This stop-and-go exercise is played out several times. My adversaries in the chess-like game are what I refer to as the court jesters of the uplands, because of their diabolical ways as they attempt to make a fool of hunters.
Then everything is suddenly quiet. I’d last seen Staley about 35 yards out at my ten o’clock position. I only hear the wind’s slight whispering sound. My walk turns into a hasty pace until I spot Staley in some thin grass, her body rigid with her front left leg pulled up to her. I move in just behind her and start angling myself to her right. Staley starts to move in slow motion then abruptly relocates ten yards out. I follow suit and move wide, the grip on my shotgun ever so tighter, anticipating a flush. Staley’s nose is riveted on what appears to be blades of grass. Slowly, I move forward. I scan the ground looking for a place for a pheasant to hide. The habitat had changed about a hundred yards back. The grassy and weedy draw had become sparse.
As if Houston had given the okay for the ringneck pheasant to launch into space, a colorful plump bird erupts into the overcast sky. A series of raucous cackles pierce the air, giving the alarm call to the other two nearby birds to take to the atmosphere. A splash of iridescent rust, red, and white against the dull Kansas sky catches my eyes behind me. I swing around with my over-and-under and shoulder it as the rooster flies away from me. I squeeze the trigger and see the bird take a hit as it tumbles back to the ground. Staley instantly bounds to its location. I see the rooster start running. Oh, no . . . a cripple! The cock bird makes a mad dash but is instantly grabbed around its midsection by Staley, its wings fluttering in the dog’s face.
And just like that the bird goes limp, its long tail dragging, its dark-colored head with its white ring draped downward. I call for Staley, and she abides by prancing over to me. As she reaches me, I kneel down only to be surprised by a series of fluttering wingbeats.
A fourth bird! The long plumes of the cock pheasant ripple in the tailwind like kite tails in the sky. I stand quickly and shoulder my 12-gauge. The barrel tracks the bird as I swing through. Or as the English say, “Butt, belly, beak, bang.” I pull the trigger and an explosion resonates in my body. The rooster folds lifeless in midair. Staley trots over to the second bird and idly waits until I arrive.
My leather gloves fumble with the top lever of the shotgun and it disengages, allowing the gun to open. Thump, as two shells are expelled from the chambers.
I retrieve both cartridges and insert another pair of shells into the empty dual slots. I take both birds and raise them into the air. No spectators or witnesses. Only Staley and I are there. Their red faces and crisp white collars, along with their tails swaying in the wind, distinguish them from the mottled brown yet still majestic hen pheasant. I place the birds into my game vest. Their weight and their still-warm bodies are a welcome feeling. I turn and motion for Staley and we continue our trek deeper into the field.
We walk and walk, until we come across the western boundary of the enrolled parcel of land giving hunters access onto the private land. We traipse across the land along the fence line as we make our way back to the truck. Four hen pheasants flush on our return.
We peak over a ridge, and I see the gray truck on the dirt road. As I approach, I’m soothed by how I have spent the day. My soul has been replenished. Staley is trotting next to me with her tongue out. She’s still full of energy and wondering, Why are we going back? The smell of birds remains in her nasal passages. She wants to find more. We reach the truck and I set the roosters down onto the tailgate. I lay the shotgun gently down and produce a water bowl. Staley has already plopped down underneath the tailgate. She laps up water. Refreshed. Her head is cocked to one side as she looks whimsically up at me. I’ve hefted both birds into the air, their tails swaying in the wind, feathers moving easily with the breeze. I return the birds to the tailgate and ponder the importance of the metal platform in hunting.
The purpose of a tailgate is twofold. One is its function. It is a hinged metal flap at the back of a truck that can be lowered for loading and unloading, which for bird hunters usually consists of dogs and gear. It is the place where we get ready for the hunt. The dogs are let out from their long journey in their crates and are released. It is where a hunt begins, where plans and tactics are made and set. The shaking of hands and greetings are done at the tailgate. The tailgate is a place for social gatherings. A place in which an informal meal is served and enjoyed while in the field. A place where dogs can drink water and rest.
More important, the tailgate is where stories of the hunt are told. Both truths and exaggerations are declared to fellow bird hunters. It’s a place to share memories of past, current, and future hunts. The rewards and moments in the field are captured at the tailgate in the form of photographs.
Finally, it is the place where handshakes are again given to fellow hunters, friends, and strangers. Promises and goodbyes are given until the next outing. I think we tend to overlook the importance of little things, and forget that something as insignificant as a tailgate—or windshield—plays an important part in our lives afield. Before leaving, I take out my cellphone and bring up onX. I press “Edit” and type: Windshields & Tailgates. It’s an appropriate name for this spot.
Henry Big Boy All-Weather Side Gate Rifle – $1,141 (henryusa.com)
The theme of this year’s Big Game Gear Guide is versatility, and this rifle from classic American firearms manufacturer Henry certainly fits the bill. We tested it in .44 Mag and found it useful in a wide variety of situations. The all-weather version (chrome plated steel and industrial-grade coated hardwood stock) means you don’t have to baby it in the rain or snow. It sports a 10+1 tube magazine capacity and shorter lever throws thanks to the shorter cases of “revolver” calibers. For longer range shooting, it’s drilled and tapped for mounting optics. The Big Boy is a tough rifle that is at home in the deer woods, riding along as a truck gun, or slung across your back in bear country. The Big Boy adds to Henry’s reputation for American-made quality.
Strung’s Editor-in-Chief, Ryan Sparks, worked as a butcher when he was younger. He wishes he had this knife back then. We won’t go into the science behind it, but the SelectEdge technology Benchmade brought to the Meatcrafter results in a perfect edge from the factory. Being in such excellent condition out of the box means minimal and simple maintenance down the road. With a trailing point and semi-flexing blade, this is truly a field-to-table knife. If we could only have one knife for everything we do—from skinning, field dressing, and deboning big game animals to filleting bluegills—this would be it.
Danner Recurve Moc Toe Boots – $200 (danner.com)
Danner calls their new Recurve Moc Toe a “performance heritage boot,” which is to say they took a classic hunting boot design and infused it with modern technology. A waterproof upper keeps your feet dry while the breathable mesh lining prevents sweating, giving you versatile boots that you can wear from August antelope through rifle elk. The 7-inch ankle height provides plenty of support without becoming heavy, and a nylon shank takes the place of traditional steel, further cutting down on weight. Outside of their functionality, we also like their classic look.
MEAT! makes commercial-grade meat-processing equipment like grinders, sausage stuffers, meat slicers, and vacuum sealers designed to exceed expectations. Even better, their direct-to-consumer approach means they can offer products of the highest quality without an added retail markup. We used a variety of their meat-processing equipment, from their 10-tray dehydrator to their vertical sausage stuffer to their 440-pound digital meat scale, and were impressed by the quality and thoughtfulness of design.
Stone Glacier Sky 5900 – $659 (stoneglacier.com)
Stone Glacier is a Montana-based company that builds American-made packs for everything from day hunts to multi-week expeditions. We used their Sky 5900 for an 8-day elk hunt and can say that it is hands-down the best pack we’ve ever used. The pack’s construction, including the Xcurve frame that contours to the shape of the back, allows for infinite adjustability. After a few minutes of fine tuning, it fit like it was tailor-made. An integrated load-shelf lets the bag pull away from the frame, creating a platform where you can lash meat between the frame and the pack. This prevents blood from seeping into your pack and keeps the heaviest weight near your back during a pack-out. Expanding the load-shelf ups the Sky 5900’s carrying capacity from 5,900 cubic inches to 8,000—perfect for hauling elk quarters or an entire boned-out deer, pronghorn, or sheep. The frame is compatible with all of Stone Glacier’s bags, so you can swap out bags depending on the nature of your hunt.
Leupold Pro Guide Tripod Kit – $599 (leupold.com)
With their new Pro Guide Carbon Fiber Tripod, Leupold has a tripod worthy of its optics. Weighing just under 4 pounds, the tripod extends to nearly 5½ feet with the addition of a removable center post, and has the strength and rigidity to handle full-size spotting scopes and large cameras. Four-section legs nest to make a pack size of about 22 inches, and the unit ships with a ball head and Arca-Swiss mounting hardware to handle most optics bases. The stout legs deploy with precision and ease and lock in place with quarter-turn twist controls that have oversized rubber grips that make operation a cinch, even with gloves. The Pro Guide is the “just right” middle of a trio of new carbon tripods from Leupold; the 2-pound Alpine model ($399) is suited for backcountry hunts, and the 5.3-pound Mark V ($999) is a beast that will stabilize even massive optics in heavy wind.
When it comes to foot care, hunters far too often focus on boots and overlook their socks. Buffalo Wool Co. makes bison-fiber socks in a variety of weights so your feet will stay comfortable no matter the conditions. What makes them so great is the inherent qualities of bison down. Bison wool is warmer than sheep wool and as soft as cashmere. Short and crimpy fibers create small air pockets that insulate by trapping air while simultaneously wicking moisture away from the skin. Bison down is also naturally soft, comfortable, and antimicrobial (think scent control), and doesn’t lose its loft after a day of hiking. We tested their Trekker Boot Socks as well as their Pro-Gear Boot Socks, and we wouldn’t think of hunting in any other socks from now on.
onX Hunt App – $14.99–$99.99 (onxmaps.com)
Over the last several years the onX Hunt app has become so integral to our hunting that we can’t imagine hunting without it. Covering over 985 million acres of public land and more than 121 million private properties in all 50 states, OnX Hunt gives you access to land ownership data, GPS tracking, topographic maps, and more. Using the onX Hunt app allows you to scout terrain before upcoming hunts, find lesser-known access points, share hunting locations with friends and family, measure distances, and find your way home if you get turned around. You can purchase maps for a single state or get the Elite 50-State Membership. Both last a year and are worth every penny.
Klean Freak Body Wipes
