1. XTREME MEASURES
You can shoot 3½-inch turkey loads and not
sweat the recoil from the A400 semi-auto;
one reason it’s fast becoming an icon. The
Xtreme has hydraulic recoil buffers, plus a
collapsing shock-absorbing chevron in the
stock to take the sting out of heavy rounds
(boosted by the fact that it’s a softer-kicking
gas gun to begin with). A rotating bolt head
is the heart of the Blink feeding system that
combines a smaller gas piston so you can
whiff all three shots in less than a second.
Clad in a corrosion-resistant camo skin with
equally resistant internal parts that won’t
rust even if you hunt brackish waters every
day of the season.
$1,900 | beretta.com
GET REAL
If you’re getting whipped by late-season mallards it might be time to
ditch grandpa’s decoys and go with the fully-flocked greenheads. We
hunted over these Dakotas on public land a bunch last year with great
results. They held up extremely well the entire season, and the intricate
paint schemes make for some of the most realistic floaters we (and the
ducks) have ever seen.
$200 (12-pk) | dakotadecoy.com
BY JOE GENZEL
GEAR UP
70 WILDFOWL Magazine | October 2015 wildfowlmag.com

2. BREAK-IT-UP
If you shoot acorn-loving greenheads in the
timber, take a look at Break-Up Country by
Mossy Oak. Limbs and leaves are true-to-
life in both size and color, and the multi-di-
mensional pattern creates some impressive
depth to help hunters disappear. But what’s
most appealing about it is the new printing
process which creates the same look and
color on whatever fabric or material the pat-
tern goes on—a first in the photo-realistic
camo world.
mossyoak.com
BOSS RIG
From Catahoula Lake to the murky Louisiana bayou
backwaters, if there’s one thing Cajuns know, it’s how
to get to the ducks. Boss Drives is no exception with its
line of powerful, gear-driven surface-drive mud motors.
Choose from three models: the 3500 and 3700EFI—both
powered by a 993cc Briggs four-stroke—or the 4400,
which has a BPS Black Death engine and 42mm Mikuni
carburetor. These stump-grinders come with a laundry
list of standard features, and all models can be rigged
with a remote steering system.
$TBD | bossdrives.com
Gear Up
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3. WEIGHTLESS WADERS
Neoprenes have their place, but for the walk-in hunter, nothing
beats a pair of breathable, lightweight waders like the Hellbend-
ers from Frogg Toggs. A four-layer DriCore membrane allows
perspiration to escape, and the cleated outsoles give you a bet-
ter grip for walking over ice or slippery rocks. The front pocket
has a handwarmer and zip-closed pocket for important items
you want to keep safe.
$240 | froggtoggs.com
LA-CROSSE THE
MARSH
LaCrosse AeroTuff knee boots are ex-
traordinarily tough, and these waders
are cut from the same mold, topped
with lightweight chest-high water-
proof/breathable uppers. Inside the
durable, molded poly boots are com-
fortable neoprene socks that offer the
same level of warmth as standard 800-
gram insulation, but without all that
bulk. This gives waterfowlers a lighter,
more streamlined fit, so you can exit
the boat without pinching your berries.
$350 | lacrossefootwear.com
Gear Up
74 WILDFOWL Magazine | October 2015 wildfowlmag.com

4. PRICED TO WIN
Stop buying cheap 'fowling duds and throw
down some cash on a jacket your kid will
wear someday. The Dakota is designed to
keep rain, snow and arctic clippers from
reaching your skin. The Gore Windstopper
membrane is 100 percent windproof, and
it might as well be waterproof too. If you
do find yourself in a real downpour, just
throw a Sitka shell over the top and we
promise you’ll stay dry.
$250 | sitkagear.com
HONKER SUITS
You can only breakout the kids’ wa-
tercolors so many times to try and
refurbish those expensive full-body
Canadas. Bring them back to life with
Hybrid X goose skins, which slip right
over worn decoys, restoring the plum-
age wary honkers will key on and
commit to. All skins are 100 percent
accurate, and available in sentry, bull
and feeder positions.
$TBD (12-pk) | fowlfactory.com
Gear Up
76 WILDFOWL Magazine | October 2015 wildfowlmag.com

5. GO TO SLEEP
If you count pennies all year to save up for that pit lease like we do, then
DOA sleeper shells are a perfect addition to the spread. Early in the season
we use them on top of the sliding pit door for a more natural look. When
the snow hits, we throw out a few dozen to mimic honkers going to their
bellies. The shells are easy to stack and won’t blow over in heavy winds.
$210 (12-pk) | doadecoys.com
ELITE COMPANY
If it looks like a goose and moves like one too, then it must be a Hard Core
Elite fully-body.These rugged one-piece field dekes can take the daily abuse
any outfitter imposes, so imagine how they'll hold up for you. They’re also
finished with armor coat paint, which means no flaking, and the TruMotion
base makes ‘em dance. The heads and tails are flocked for added realism.
$300 (6-pk) | hardcore-brands.com
Gear Up
78 WILDFOWL Magazine | October 2015 wildfowlmag.com

6. GO GREEN...OR RED, OR BLUE, OR YELLOW
Spectra Shot expands its line with a new 3½-inch BB for hardcore hunters who
wear bruised shoulders and bloody knuckles like a badge of honor. The 1 5/8-ounce
payload flies out the muzzle at 1,400 fps, and if it patterns anything like it's little
brother the 3-inch, you can sign us up. Available in yellow, red, blue and green BBs.
$19 | spectrashot.com
October 2015 | WILDFOWL Magazine 79wildfowlmag.com

7. DECOY CARRY-ALL
Sometimes driving to the X isn’t an option, and that’s
when a tool like the Honker Hauler comes in handy.
Whether you’re hunting a field or humping down a levee,
this cart can carry the decoys and gear, and have you
set up on the birds while everyone else is still running
back-and-forth to the truck. Rugged and lightweight, the
HH can hold a trailer load of decoys, then fold flat for
easy storage.
$449 | decoycartz.com
MALLARD MAGIC
Sometimes you have to dig deeper into your bag of tricks
to land greenheads in the decoys, and the Magic Skim-
mer is a go-to motion decoy for tough birds. A timer
swims the Skimmer left, right, forward and stops it ev-
ery five seconds: just like a real duck. We’ve used it late
season in flooded corn to pull birds off their normal flight
pattern with great results.
$130 | wonderduck.com
Gear Up
wildfowlmag.com

8. MOBILE PLAT MAP
With onXMaps you never have
to buy another plat book again.
Available for iPhone and An-
droid, onX turns phones and
tablets into a GPS unit. When
you’re scouting, it will show land
boundaries and ownership, mak-
ing it easier to know who to ask
for permission. The maps update
yearly and are available for all 50
states.
$30 | huntinggpsmaps.com
wildfowlmag.com

9. CHOW DOWN
To keep your sporting dog sharp and healthy, feed him Kinetic. Its corn,
wheat- and soy-free lineup utilizes three different animal proteins to
meet the requirements of truly active dogs. Four options—Puppy, Ac-
tive, Power and Ultra—are all are made with a common ingredient
profile, so you can switch from one to the other as seasonal demands
change without the worry of digestive issues.
$45-$49 | kineticdogfood.com
HANG ON
Trusting expensive gear to tree
limbs or shoddy plastic hooks can
cost you money. That’s why you
should try the Treestand Gear Hang-
er, which comes with four sturdy
metal hangers that will hold any-
thing the timber hunter can haul.
The cam buckle strap fits trees 22”
in diameter, and is rated for 200
pounds, so if your buddy gets a little
trigger happy, you can hang him up
for the day.
$15 | bigwhitetaildreams.com
Gear Up
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