April 21, 2020
By Skip Knowles
If your dad is a passionate waterfowler, we've put together a one-of-a-kind gift list just for him this year!
MANSCAPED Perfect Package 3.0 Essentials Kit Sick of swamp crotch when picking up dozens of decoys? Tired of extra chafing in your waders? The Perfect Package 3.0 kit uses soft ceramic blades with SkinSafe technology and a waterproof trimmer that helps you keep it clean wherever you want to mow down excess body hair. Use promo code OUTDOORS for 20 percent off, free shipping, and two free gifts at manscaped.com . They even have special anti-chafing lotions with cooling aloe vera to keep your nethers happy. It is especially designed to make you more comfortable below the belt, where a normal hair clipper can be a royal hazard, and they'll even throw in a free pair of performance boxers. Crop Preserver deodorant and Crop Revirer toner are also included, as well as your two gifts — the Shed Travel Bag and a pair of MANSCAPED Boxer Briefs. Lastly, you'll want to check out the company's replenishment plan — which provides new blade delivery right to your door every three months.
YETI Roadie 24 A fresh take on a YETI favorite, the Roadie 24 is lighter, holds 20 percent more and performs 30 percent better thermally than its parent cooler, the Roadie 20. This is not a softy. It features rotomolded construction to be thinner and lighter while still being incredibly tough. It has the PermafrostTM Insulation you’ve enjoyed in Tundra coolers and a QuicklatchTM system for quick, one-handed cooler access. Internal height is 13 inches, so standard bottles of wine or other goodies fit upright — even two-liter soda bottles. $199.99 | yeti.com
Tetra AlphaShields Being deaf has been linked to premature aging, so save what’s left of dad’s hearing with Tetra’s Waterfowl AlphaShields. Developed by duck-hunting doctors for waterfowlers, it is available in 60- or 90-circuit models. Blocking out shotgun blasts never sounded so good, while still allowing you to talk with blind buddies, hear whistling wings and calls. The 60 has three volume levels for hunting or at the clays range. The 90 also has three volume levels, but is more advanced and includes a ClearComm program for speech understanding, wind noise reduction, voice prompts, and personalized hearing profile customization. $699-$999 | tetrahearing.com
Gundog Outdoors Built to stop dogs from breaking and getting hurt during a hot volley, Wildfowl friend Alex Langbell built this safety system to keep bolting retrievers out of harm’s way. It is very effective to that end, but the GDO quick-release has proven to be a valuable training tool to teach steadiness in gun dogs. Secure the leash to a blind post or stake it out, then attach the six-foot tether. When you’re ready to release your pup, just give it a pull. It’s a great tool when introducing dogs to different kinds of hunting where they may get over-excited and break — especially around other dogs. $39-$59 | gundogoutdoors.com
ALPS Legend layout Most of us are abandoning the center of the field these days as geese have wisened up so much to the typical big-party layout blind setups. But layout blinds are as deadly as ever — we just move them to the edge of fields and fencerows, into uncut crops and on overgrown dikes. The Legend by ALPS OutdoorZ in Realtree Max-5 is super comfy with its zero-gravity chair that keeps you up off the ground, so you are high and dry and don’t freeze in the late-season. It has a waterproof floor, and no assembly is required. $300 | alpsoutdoorz.com
Jargon Loud Mouth Most calls use a cork to hold the reed in place, but the single-reed Loud Mouth has a molded wedge, so no tuning is needed and it should keep singing without wearing out. It is loud when you need to stand on it, yet can produce soft finishing chuckles. A moisture groove prevents the reed from sticking to the tone board. $145.95 | jargongamecalls.com
Franchi Affinity Franchi makes some of the nicest, slender and balanced semi-autos. Available in 12- or 20-gauge, this popular inertia gun is loaded with features like a larger charging handle, bolt release and loading port. We shot the Affinity 20 on five-stand this summer and it is in danger of finding its way into our gun safe. It has the same feel as the Benelli M2 20-gauge, but it's less expensive than many other Italian Stallions. The TSA recoil pad is easy on the shoulder, and will keep running target loads without a hiccup. $789 (20 gauge), $1,069 (12 gauge) | franchiusa.com
Garmin fenix 5 plus Check out the more affordable Garmin Instinct GPS watch ($230), which has a marvelous amount of "widgets” (mini-apps) you can download. The watch will ding you when you get a text if you aren’t near your phone. Without delving any deeper, you can also use it to tell your heart rate, steps taken that day and as a fitness watch that’s really easy to read night or day. They can’t make the Intinct fast enough — we bought one and then all our friends did, too. Or, you can spring for the fancier fenix 5 plus (pictured) that also features GPS capability. It’s a great tool when you're running the boat through unfamiliar swamps or brushy wetlands. Mark the destination you want to get to while scouting, and know with confidence you are going to find it again. It’s also a good backup to have in addition to your boat’s main console GPS. Nothing is worse than a power failure with onboard electronics. $750 | garmin.com
Dive Bomb P1 Pintails If dad’s back ain’t what it used to be, or you simply want to kill more ducks with him by deploying your sprig spread, this is a killer option. Made from durable plastic, the steel stake on the Dive Bomb P1 Pintail can push through half-frozen dirt. Graphics are spot on, and these silhouettes will really step up your skinny water sets when you don’t want to haul cumbersome/heavy floaters. Check out all the dive bomb models that have made huge inroads in recent years. $65 (per dozen) | divebombindustries.com
Remington V3 Waterfowler Everyone we know who has shot this gun has wanted it. Remington’s V3 Waterfowl Pro uses a gas system with ports in the chamber that feed into two pistons just below the action for reliable cycling and soft recoil. A big bolt handle and oversized safety make it easy to run with gloves. A 3” gun, the V3 doesn’t have the fat forend you find on some other gas guns. True to Big Green’s formula, it’s an “everyman” gun that feels great in your hands from the clays course to the goose fields or turkey woods. Three extended chokes keep you flexible. Available in Bunt Bronze Cerakote with a Mossy Oak Blades or Realtree Timber finish. $1,195 | remington.com