Each year at SHOT Show there's a release of new guns, gear, and ammo—these are our picks for you to have a better 2025 hunting season.
January 27, 2025
By WILDFOWL Staff
Every year gun, ammo, and outdoor gear manufacturers gather in Las Vegas to showcase their new releases at SHOT Show. If you couldn’t attend SHOT Show this year, fear not! We have you covered with all the latest guns and gear that will make your hunts even better. This year was loaded with new things for hunters to be excited about for the 2025 season. Luckily, there are some fantastic products for waterfowlers to up their game and fill their straps. From guns, clothing, and gear, there’s much to be excited about in 2025. Here are WILDFOWL’s top picks for duck and goose hunters from this year’s SHOT Show.
HEVI Shot – HEVI Hitter HEVI Shot has made a tungsten/steel blend that allows hunters to utilize the power of tungsten, without paying through the nose for a box of five shells. HEVI-Shot is delivering another lethal load to the market. Their HEVI Hitter is a tungsten/steel blend that is sure to crumple birds. Not to mention, it’s coming in at a price point that’s much more appealing to hunters. With an 80/20 mix of steel and tungsten, this load isn’t a stack or duplex; instead, the shot sizes are the same, but the added tungsten helps with the overall impact of payload. This load will be a favorite among goose hunters, diver hunters, and anyone else looking to hit birds harder than before. Available in 12-, 16-, 20-, and 28-gauge loads.
MSRP: $50/box of 25 | hevishot.com
Benelli – Super Black Eagle 3 Advanced Impact The Super Black Eagle 3 A.I. is a gun sure to be a favorite this coming year. The Remington Wingmaster, Browning A5, Remington Model 11—all these shotguns had a large impact on the world of wing shooters. Now, Benelli is releasing a gun that will make another giant splash; meet the Super Black Eagle 3 Advanced Impact. The Super Black Eagle 3 is already a favorite among many duck hunters, but now they’ve added Advanced Impact (A.I.) technology that gives the barrel the ability to improve pattern velocity, retention, and adds more punch to the payload. Too good to be true? We thought so as well. Then we tested this gun in the field. Late-season ducks and geese were dying quick and hard. The science behind the barrel is a patented technology that was best described to us as an interior cone shape and “Italian magic.” The only way to fully understand how this gun performs is to get one in hand, and once it’s in hand, you won’t want to let go. Right now, the SBE 3 A.I. is only available in 12-gauge.
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MSRP: $2,850 | benelliusa.com
MOJO Outdoors – Dabbler decoy MOJO continues to innovate with motion decoys. This year they released the Dabbler decoy to help add motion to your spread. MOJO has once again given us a decoy that will add next-level realism to the spread. The Dabbler is a motion decoy that sinks head-down into the water, looking exactly like a drake mallard as it drops down to feed. It creates a splashing motion that gives life to your decoys, as well as those ripples that are needed to mimic a live flock of birds. The head has a hole on the back side to splash more water and help imitate the splashing ruckus that ducks create as they go butt-up to eat.
MSRP: $190 | mojooutdoors.com
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Franchi – Affinity 3 Franchi has remodeled their Affinity 3 to give it a better fit and feel in the hand, as well as some handy features to help you in the field. The Affinity 3 has proven to be a dependable, good-looking, and smooth cycling duck killer. However, the folks at Franchi decided it was time to give the gun a few nips and tucks for a better feel in hand, as well as more shooter-friendly features. The forend has been slimmed down, it has an adjustable length of pull, and it’s easier to load during those freezing cold days in the marsh with a redesigned two-piece shell latch. They also redesigned the trigger guard to give the shooter more space for gloved hands and to reduce “bite” when firing the gun. Franchi did their R&D in the duck marsh for this new makeover, and it shows. Available in both 12- and 20-gauge, this gun is sure to be a go-to for your next trip to the duck blind.
MSRP: $1,430 | franchiusa.com
Browning – Maxus II in Earth and Stone solid colors Browning decided that, while camo patterns are cool, sometimes solid colors are the way to go. Here you can see the Maxus II in both Stone and Earth color features. Hunters around the nation are learning that solid colors work just as well as camo patterns. They work even better when they look good—at least we think so. Browning has released their Maxus II in two new solid colors: Earth and Stone. It’s fitting that those two colors sound like a band name, because they look good and are sure to rock (ba dum tss.) Bad puns aside, these two colors look crisp in their matted finish, and the Maxus II has proven time again to be a killer. Whether you’re looking for a new gun to hunt geese in the fields, or something for rocky shorelines while you chase scoters, the Earth and Stone colors of the Maxus II will be sure to fit the bill for whatever reason you need a new shotgun—and yes, you always need a new shotgun.
MSRP: $2,100 | browning.com
Alps Outdoors – Migration layout chair and ghillie blanket Alps Outdoorz is getting into the ghillie game with their new Migration layout seat and ghillie cover. There’s a new trend in the waterfowl world; hunters are learning that ghillie sheets and blinds are a very effective tool in the field. Alps has released such a blind, with an easy set-up layout chair that has adjustable, self-locking positions, and a brown/tan ghillie blanket to cover yourself. The ghillie blanket has its own flair, with a face cover that you can open and close, and two holes for your arms, eliminating the need to completely throw the blanket off you to shoot. This style of layout gives you the freedom to operate a call, watch birds, and grab your gun with ease. Not to mention the layout seat is like laying on a pillowtop mattress. You’ll love this blind for both killing ducks and geese—or taking naps when the hunting gets slow.
MSRP: Layout seat: $150; Ghillie blanket $150 (seat and blanket sold separately) | alpsoutdoorz.com
Benelli – Ethos Upland Advanced Impact With an anodized finish on the receiver, the Benelli Ethos Upland looks just as good as it shoots! Benelli is once again making an appearance on our list with their new-for-2025 Ethos Upland shotgun. Don’t let the Upland in the name deter you. This gun is smooth shooting, has the Advanced Impact barrel technology, and is absolutely gorgeous. More importantly, it has proven to be a duck killer. With a stunning anodized gray receiver and BE.S.T coated barrel that is ported to help with recoil, this is a gun that will allow you to fill straps, and look good while you do it.
MSRP: $3,100 | benelliusa.com
DECIBULLZ – Custom Molded Earplugs Hearing protection is vitally important when you're banging away at ducks and geese. Decibullz aims to give you hearing protection at a great cost. Hunters everywhere are learning the hard way how important hearing protection is. That’s why DECIBULLZ created battery-free, moldable earplugs at a very reasonable price point. DECIBULLZ moldable earplugs can easily fit your ear and have percussive filters that drastically cut down on the ear-damaging effects of gunfire. Easy to use, with an attachable lanyard, these earplugs are simple and easy to use, without the need to fuss with a battery. It is important to note that the buds do not offer amplification. However, they still allow for the conversation and interaction that makes a duck blind or goose pit fun.
MSRP: $75 | decibullz.com
Kent Cartridge – .410 Bismuth & 2 ¾” Teal Loads Kent is helping the sub-gauge lovers this year with a .410 bismuth load, as well as a 2-3/4" teal load. Kent stayed very busy getting ready for 2025. Now releasing a .410 bismuth load that comes in 5 and 6 shot sizes. Now all the .410 lovers can put a smack on the teal—or whatever duck you wish to chase—with the hard-hitting impact of Bismuth loads. But Kent didn’t stop there; they’ve now added a 2 ¾” 12-gauge teal load to their lineup, once again in sizes 5 and 6. Now you can get out and chase those speed demons and save your shoulder from the abuse of all the missing.
MSRP $22 Teal/box of 25; Bismuth $48/box | kentcartridge.com
Cupped Waterfowl – Starter/Combo pack Cupped Waterfowl is making sure that everyone can get into the waterfowl game without having to sell a kidney. Waterfowling is expensive. That’s a lesson that we all learn very early on. From shotguns to decoys and gear; all of it adds up in a hurry. Luckily, Cupped Waterfowl has made a price-conscientious starter/combo pack that can help new hunters get into the mix or give seasoned vets a cheaper way to add to their spread. Coming with a dozen mallard decoys and all the necessary rigging, as well as a decoy bag, this kit is a wonderful way to get birds over the spread without spending all your lunch money. The decoys are high-quality, realistic, and durable. Meanwhile, the rigs are easy to use and organize, and the bag is a bonus to help with transport to wherever you may be going to shoot a duck. Don’t let the price tag fool you, this pack is a great option for even the most serious waterfowl hunter.
MSRP: $165 | cupped.com
Spandau Arms The Spandau S2 is a budget-friendly gun with a new makeover in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. The S2 from Spandau got a makeover in Mossy Oak Bottomland, and we all know everything is better in Bottomland. Coming in a 28” barrel, the S2 is a budget-friendly gun, that still gives you plenty of duck-killing power for the price. Chambered in 3-inch with oversized controls, and a heightened focus on balance, the Spandau team made a gun that looks good and shoots well; and now, you can take it into the field with one of America’s all-time classic camo patterns
MSRP: $500 | spandauarms.com