July 17, 2025
As the celebrations from the 4th of July fade into the past, it's insanely easy to easy back into the typical work-life balance/routine and forget that upland season is just around the corner. Upland season comes very quickly as summer fades into early fall. Below is a detailed list I personally use to make sure my gear, my pup, and myself are in working order.
1. Check all my wearables. Final Rise Summit XT vest (check the gear reviews on this!), upland pants for early season, bibs for cold late season, Waterproof my Crispi Altitude boots (best in the game), Stocking caps, warm socks (Darn Tough is the go-to here), make sure I have a good stock of base layers (First-Lite or under armour depending on temps)
2. First-Aid and Pup Stuff. My pup is my best friend, and I have to make sure she will have a fun and safe hunt. This means skunk bath stuff (tomato juice, baking soda, etc), a full first aid kit including all the necessities, boots, goggles, and a way to get her out of the field. The Final Rise Summit XT vest we recently did a review on is top notch as far as getting a wounded dog out of the field and into town for help. It has a rigging system where you tie the dog into the "basket" and carry him/her like a backpack. It keeps them stable, not squirming, and close to your body for a safe packout.
3. Weaponry. Though I clean my guns after basically every use (especially shotguns), I like to give them a quick once-over before season starts. I've never had a major malfunction in the field, and I chalk that up to buying quality guns and keeping them up to date on cleaning. Most of my family has SBE3's or the like, but it's a hefty price tag and something about a winchester pump action that I can't get enough of.
4. Electronics. This is a bit of a want instead of a need, but some of my favorite media to create revolves around upland hunting. This means camera gear, action camera gear, Garmin dog collar/handheld, battery packs, etc. My favorite chargers on the go are the Anker power banks, they have a variety of sizes for several different power needs. I have an old gopro Hero 8, a DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and a plethora of sony lenses and bodies. This all is "extra" but even mounting a gopro on the hat or taking some time to shoot pics with your iPhone is a great way to capture memories.
Upland hunting can of course be made much simpler than this. Orange vest, shotgun with a few shells, and an open field is really all you require. I have found though that with a pup at your side, some friends, comfortable boots, and good cold weather gear that the experience can last longer, be more fulfilling, and truly bring meaning to the sport of upland hunting.
