WILDFOWL's Father's Day Gift Guide

Father’s Day is coming up fast! Another day for family members to scramble, panic, and ask siblings what to get for dear old dad. In a world of Amazon and overnight delivery, a lot of the pains of “Hey, here’s a ratchet strap set we picked up from Harbor Freight this morning,” have gone by the wayside. But ask yourself, does the man who taught you the delicate intricacies of life deserve some crummy gift you remembered to grab with only hours to spare? Probably not.

Instead, let WILDFOWL give you some ideas that are sure to at least remedy some of the stress you caused your dad. The fender benders, the calls from the principle, the holes in the drywall, that time you and your friends tried to see who could throw apples the farthest and you sent one through your neighbor’s window. That last one might not apply to everyone, but you get the idea.

Forget the neckties and the desk trinkets this year. If your old man is waterfowler, we’ve got you covered!

Dive Bomb Dry Duffel Bag (Small-Large-XL)

Dive Bomb Industries makes some of the best all-around gear on the market. If you haven’t jumped on that bandwagon yet, now is the time. Not just with their silhouettes, but with their entire lineup of gear—ranging from gun cases to dog vests; they have it all, and it all works well! Their Dry Duffel Bags keep the pace with everything else in their repertoire. These duffel bags were made to keep your gear out of the elements, and they’ll last longer than you do. Whether you’re loading up for a road trip with the guys to go shoot snows two flyways over, or you’re simply just going for a few nights after ducks with a friend, they have the perfect size for you. Ranging from a small size for an overnight getaway or a gear intensive day event, a large for the added space of a few more days, to an XL for those weeklong hunts threatening a forecast that has rain one day, a beautiful sunny sky the next, and a frigid plummet in temperature the third; you can pack all the gear you need and keep it all protected in the Dive Bomb Dry Duffel. Sporting a roll-top feature, side zipper, interior zipper pocket, shoulder strap, and RF-welded seams, these duffels are perfect for the dad who travels to hunt, travels to work, or simply just wants an awesome way to transport his gear from A to B.  (divebombindustries.com $130-$180)

XS Sights Universal Standard Dot

With the aging of dads, comes the aging of eyes. Things get fuzzy, and reading glasses tend to be as important as the phone, wallet, and keys. Some “duck dads” out there have been creative enough to throw some nail polish on their sight bead, while others squint and pray. XS Sights can put an end to such frustration with their universal standard dot. They’re quick and easy to install and come with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Giving your pops a clear view of that bead, he once again has the chance to prove that he’s still a better shot than you. If you’re looking for a gift that will keep on giving, this is for you! Because every time your dad pulls the trigger on crossing mallards, or that prized canvasback screaming over the decoys, and watches as it crumples; he’ll have you to thank for the gift of a clear sight bead that helps with up-tick in dead birds. Coming in Bradley white, fiber optic red, ember green, or ember orange, you can be sure that you’ll find the right color to help your dad pick up on the bead, and then the bird. (xssights.com $55)

Chene Gear Flyweigh Vest

With age comes a certain refinement. With that refinement comes a father’s inexplicable desire to wear a vest. Luckily for those fathers who have reached that crowning point of life, Chene has made a vest that is sure to be the talk of all the dads in the room. Even better for the duck hunter, this vest isn’t just for style; this vest is meant to keep you warm while you’re out dropping the hammer on birds soaring in over the decoys. Coming in two solid colors, olive and brown, and sporting Primaloft’s 100% synthetic Silver Thermoplume insulation, this mid-layer vest looks sharp, and helps keep you warm when the ducks are working. (chenegear.com $200)

Bill Saunders Calls Triple B

If you’ve got a father who has a passion for chasing honkers, the Bill Saunders’ Calls Triple B is the perfect gift. A mean call, that packs a punch of nothing but pure goose, he’ll be happy to hang this around his neck rather than another paisley tie that he only wears to events that he likely isn’t very happy about attending in the first place. The Triple B sports a myriad of different colors, ranging from ivory to “grizzly” acrylic. With the options to have it tuned with standard guts, or any of Bill’s broke-in guts, you can be sure that dad will love bringing geese in close with this call on his lanyard. (billsaunderscalls.com $160-$175)

Rig ‘Em Right Neoprene Hand Warmer Gear Belt

Cold hands suck, and fumbling around with your cold hands to get the gear you need to continue hunting is annoying. That’s why Rig ‘Em Right decided to put an end to that mess with their Hand Warmer Gear Belt. The fleece lined internal pocket works as a muff to stick your hands inside and keep them warm, while two buckled cargo pockets on the outside keep anything from shells to other valuables safe and secure on the outside. With an integrated removable waist belt, you can clip it around yourself for any hunt, or you can simply remove the belt and simply clip it to your waders for added ease. If your dad tends to get chilly hands, this is the perfect gift! (rigemright.com $40)

Dive Bomb DBI-Torch Multi-Beam Headlamp

Making another appearance on our list once again are the boys from Missouri—Dive Bomb. With what is probably the best headlamp on the market, not just for those morning boat launches and decoy set-ups, but for whatever it is your dad may need. The DBI-Torch has everything you could possibly think of when it comes to a headlamp. 1,000 lumens on max setting? Got it. (And mind you, that’s enough for your old man to take a round of batting practice in the dark to get an edge in his local co-ed softball league if you’re wondering how much 1,000 lumens is.) Water-resistant rating, USB-C charging port, 160-degree rotating mount, 5 different light modes; this thing truly is a do-it-all headlamp. It even has magnetic sides so he can stick it underneath the hood of the truck and illuminate the engine bay, so you don’t have to hold the flashlight anymore! You may laugh, but that was an ugly scene for many of us. This is a product where you might want to buy two—one for your pops and one for yourself. (divebombindustries.com $85)

Banded Avery Originals Field Bib

At some point in time, your dad likely hunted in Avery brand waterfowl gear. Maybe he still has it, and if he does, it’s quite possible he needs to upgrade. Lucky for him, Banded still offers their line of Avery Originals gear. That includes the iconic field bib. Trusted by hunters for years, the Avery Field Bib was (and still is) a staple among the waterfowling community. With fleece-lined, hand-warming pockets on the chest, side zippers to make it easy to take them on and off, and durability to last for seasons to come, the Avery Originals Field Bibs are sure to move you up a few spots in family will. (banded.com $160)

Alps Outdoorz Floating Blind Bag

When Alps Outdoors arrived on the waterfowl scene, they really arrived. Now, they’ve been here awhile, and they’re still making waves. With products that have all the “nice to have” features you didn’t really know you wanted, like a floating blind bag, for instance, they’re making waterfowler’s lives much more pleasant out hunting. Heaven forbid something go wrong and you take a spill (we’ve all done it) it’s nice to know that all your valuables: lanyard, shells, licenses, keys, wallet—the list could go on forever—won’t be lost as it sinks to the bottom of the marsh. The blind bag also sports a waterproof membrane on the main interior compartment, to give you an added layer of protection from water getting in and getting those snacks wet. If your dad has a blind bag that’s hanging on by threads, or he could simply benefit from an upgrade, here’s your answer. (alpsoutdoorz.com $60)

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