15 Essentials for a Duck Hunting Blind Bag by Randy Rowley
ByI recommend a floating camo blind bag. They’re not waterproof, but if your bag gets knocked off your boat it won’t sink, unless you have a lot of weight in it.
I recommend the following minimum gear for your blind bag (in order of importance):
- Waterproof head lamp or cap light. If you can’t see where you’re going you probably won’t have a good day.
- Two boxes of Winchester Xpert/Remington Sportsmen/Federal Waterfowl Loads steel shot or HEVI-Steel shotgun shells, for three-inch chambers (if your gun is also chambered for three inches), in 2 or 3 shot. He’s not a fan of 4 shot except for smaller ducks (teal, buffleheads, ruddy ducks, etc.). Get the 1550 FPS variant (for steel shot) or the 1500 FPS variant (for HEVI-Steel) – fast shells kill better than more, slower, shot. 10 gauges and 3 1/2 inch shells in 3 1/2 inch-chambered 12 gauges are overkill for ducks. Steel shot (if of adequate size) will kill ducks – there is no need for HEVI-shot, Tungsten, Bismuth, etc. You’ll pay a lot more for those shells and they aren’t needed.
- A bandoleer to hold your shotgun shells. I like the Avery one that clips to your waders.
- A jerk rig for days when there is no wind and your decoys look like statues.
- Extra chokes and a choke carrying case, so they won’t get lost and the threads won’t get dirty. I keep modified in my gun and have improved cylinder and full in my carrying case.
- Duck calls – at least a hen mallard call and a whistle.
- Electronic ear muffs (recommended) or ear plugs.
- Zip ties (for securing my camo net to T-posts or trees).
- Bug repellent.
- Non-mirrored sun glasses.
- A basic gun cleaning kit (cleaning rod and brush, solvent, oil, a wire brush, and a multi-tool).
- A dozen 6 foot long lines, ready to clip to 12 decoys to lengthen them (only for when the water is too deep for my regular six-foot long decoy rigs).
- A carrying strap for carrying dead ducks.
- Drinks and snacks.
- Spares (electronic ear muff and head lamp or cap light batteries, face mask, carabiners, and ear plugs).