7 Upland Essentials for Female Hunters
Britney Starr 10.08.14
If you’re interested in trying your hand at upland hunting, there are a few gear essentials that will make your time afield comfortable and enjoyable. Below are my recommendations for basic women’s upland gear.
1. Blaze orange hat
Wearing blaze orange while upland hunting is an important safety aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked. Be sure to check your state’s regulations for specifics on how much blaze orange is required by law. I’m a believer in the “more is better” mind-set when it comes to orange, especially if you’re hunting in thick cover during the early part of the season when leaves are still very full. Próis Hunting & Field Apparel offers a blaze orange cap that is a perfect fit for a woman’s head.
The cap boasts an adjustable back and is available in a variety of colors and camouflages for all of your hunting and bad hair day needs. Its MSRP is $26.99.
2. Long-sleeve shirt
Keeping your arms covered can prevent scratches and scrapes when busting brush in search of grouse. The Próis Hunting & Field Apparel Turas long-sleeve shirt is the perfect base to your upland hunting outfit. It’s lightweight and wrinkle-resistant, which means no muss, no fuss. Boasting 100 percent polyester material, it also wicks moisture away from your body and is quick to dry after a long day afield.
The Turas longsleeve is available in sizes small through extra large, and in black, white and navy colors. It retails for $50.
3. Jacket
If your upland adventures take place during cold weather, you’ll want to have a layering piece to go over your long-sleeve shirt. The Eddie Bauer Convector Jacket is a lightweight, yet warm option. The Convector is constructed with a 100 percent nylon shell with a StormRepel DWR finish that will wick away the morning dew, as well as 60 grams of PrimaLoft Gold insulation to keep you warm. The best part about this jacket is that it’s so lightweight you can ball it up and put it in your game vest if you get too warm and you’ll hardly be able to tell it’s there.
The Convector Jacket is available in sizes extra small through double extra large, and in guide green. It’s listed for $199 online.
4. Blaze orange vest
There are a couple options for blaze orange vests when it comes to upland hunting. One of my favorites is pairing the Próis Hunting & Field Apparel Reversible Sherpa Fleece Vest with a shotgun shell pouch (or simply use the vest’s deep-set hand pockets as makeshift shell holders). The Sherpa vest is a good choice for beginning upland hunters because it’s not only blaze orange on one side, but also camo on the reverse, and can be used for other excursions like deer hunting. With this option, you’ll want to make sure your hunting partner has a game bag in his or her vest to carry your birds.
The Reversible Sherpa Fleece Vest is available in size extra large and the color Realtree Max-1. It sells for $125.
5. Upland vest
If upland hunting is a pastime that you plan to enjoy more than just occasionally, a better option might be to invest in a true upland game vest. Eddie Bauer offers the women’s fit Mabton Flats Vest that boasts deep shell pockets, a nylon-lined game bag and a rugged cotton duck canvas/530-denier polyester outer. Its women’s cut allows for unrestricted arm movement, both up and out, for easy swinging of your shotgun.
The Mabton Flats Vest is available in sizes small through double extra large. It’s listed at $199.
6. Brush pants
I prefer brush pants to jeans with chaps because I feel I have more mobility in the brush pants. However, you may want to look into chaps if your terrain has lots of pickers and stickers that might go through regular brush pants.
Faced with heavyweight Cordura, Próis Hunting & Field Apparel’s High Plains Brush Pants will keep you dry in the field. The brush pants boast a natural waistline and elastic side bands, as well as pleated knees for freedom of movement.
Próis’ brush pants are available in extra small through extra large sizes and khaki and olive colors. They’re listed at $179.99.
7. Waterproof boots
Happy feet make for a happy hunter, and waterproof boots are the base to any upland hunter’s wardrobe. Luckily, Irish Setter Boots offers a variety of women’s boots to fit your needs. I’ve been wearing the LadyHawk 600 gram Thinsulate pair for two upland and turkey seasons, and they have held up beautifully. They are sturdy, fit specifically for a woman’s foot, and require almost no break-in. The 600 grams of Thinsulate doesn’t make your feet too hot for long walks in the grouse woods.
The LadyHawk boots are available in sizes five through 11. They sell for $129.99.
Upland hunting can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors. With just a few pieces of women’s-specific gear, you’ll be on your way to the woods.
A southpaw from Michigan’s "North Woods," Britney Starr is a freelance writer and editor in the outdoor and shooting markets. She is part owner of Starr & Bodill African Safaris. In the fall, you will most likely find her in an aspen cutting with her German Shorthair Pointer, Wesson, hunting ruffed grouse and woodcock. She would prefer a beautiful over-and-under shotgun to jewelry, any day. Along with being a pro-staff member for Próis Hunting & Field Apparel, a member of Safari Club International, National Wild Turkey Federation, the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, Britney is the founder of the Women’s Outdoor & Shooting Industry Dinner, held annually during SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nev. Britney truly has an affinity for all things outdoors and strives to connect with and empower other women who share her love of hunting and shooting, or are interested in becoming more involved in those activities.
