Hunting for waterfowl can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience for people of all ages. Given the nature of waterfowl hunting, though, the gear that you bring with you faces a much higher chance of meeting a watery demise. Binoculars especially need to be kept dry and safe. If you bring the right tools and make the right preparations, though, you will be able to bring all of your gear home safe and sound.
Use Zip-Top Bags
To protect against accidental drops in the water, it’s a good idea to place any vulnerable gear, including binoculars, in a ziploc bag. That way, if you drop something while you’re removing it from your main bag, you won’t have to worry about it being ruined. Just be sure to remove all of the air from each bag so that it doesn’t take up too much room and doesn’t accidentally pop, removing the protective element of the ziploc bags.
Keep It Together
If you’re trying to carry multiple pieces of gear while you’re in the field, it’s pretty likely that you’ll drop something at some point. If you use a waterfowl hunting backpack, though, you can keep everything together so that you can free up your hands for the task of hunting. Plus, since most waterfowl hunting backpacks are waterproof, you can be sure that your gear is well-protected from any accidental drops.
Start with Good Gear
When choosing binoculars and other hunting gear, it’s important to consider the different contexts in which you plan to hunt. If you know that you plan to do waterfowl hunting, then it makes sense to purchase waterproof gear so that you don’t have to be worried about it when you take it on a hunting trip. Plus, if your gear is waterproof, you won’t have to worry about rain or snow during hunting trips for other types of wildlife.
Make It Buoyant
Even if your gear is waterproof, you may not be able to recover it if it falls into deep water. That’s why it’s a good idea to add some buoyancy to your gear as much as you can. By adding small floating pendants to each piece of gear, you will be able to easily locate the gear and ensure it doesn’t go below a certain depth in the water.
Rest Easy
Ultimately, hunting trips should be focused on spending time in nature, enjoying the thrill of the hunt, and making memories with friends. If you’re constantly worried about your gear, none of that will happen. If you can make the right preparations before you leave, though, the gear will fade to the background as it serves you to create a worry-free hunting trip.