Which is best, and what to bring with you to the blind.
Few things beat being in a duck blind, alone, or with family and friends. Whether it’s a pit blind, a stand-up, out of a boat, or some other make-shift blind – if you are like us, you love to be there. Though if you’ve hunted enough, you’ve surely found out the pains of getting to the blind and realizing that you forgot something. If you are lucky, it’s a snack or other convenience item. If you are unlucky – it’s something like your shells, license, or a number of other important items that you need for your hunt.
Let’s face it, if you forgot something – you most likely aren’t going back to get it, especially if you’re hunting in a group. There’s nothing like being ribbed by your buddies while begging for a handful of shotgun shells because you forgot your gear bag.
So let’s talk about waterfowl hunting blind bags.
There really isn’t a one size fits all gear bag for waterfowlers; we know that. Truthfully, you might even have preferences based on brand, camo pattern, or a number of other factors that someone else doesn’t hold so near and dear. Our goal today is – to give a no bs approach to what the best duck hunting blind bags are and what you should be bringing inside of them.
No matter where you hunt, or the kind of blind you hunt out of, these are the top bags to hold all your gear and favorite snacks.
Best “Blind Bag” – Drake Waterfowl Blind Bag 2.0 Shoulder Bag
This gear bag is the “2.0” for a reason. Drake Waterfowl created a great product, but after hearing feedback from the hunting community – their top-rated gear bag was recreated into the “Blind Bag 2.0”.
Details:
- 100% Polyester
- PVC-backed HD2 material
- Closed-cell foam and padding
- Internal waterproof liner
- Adjustable strap with shoulder pad
- Tons of pockets and storage
The Drake Waterfowl Blind Bag 2.0 comes in two sizes – Large and XL. The Large comes with an insane, organized 18 pockets and the Extra Large comes with an industry-leading 20 pockets! Talk about having the ability to be organized (or lose your stuff, it sort of depends on who you are). Drake Waterfowl has been upping the waterfowl game for many years, and by the looks (and feel) of this product, Drake will continue to advance the industry.
We love the features and the price of this blind bag. If you’re into duck hunting, you know gear can get pricey – this blind bag might not score you a ton of points with your spouse, but it equally won’t lose you as many. If you are looking for a budget-friendly blind bag for duck hunting that doesn’t lack in the features department, this is an excellent choice.
Best “Backpack” – Rig’ Em Right Stump Jumper Duck Hunting Blind Backpack
Few things are more convenient in a bag than when you make it completely hands-free and out of the way. The Rig Em Right Stump Jumper does just that. Their tagline for this blind bag is – Protected, Organized, and Easily Accessible – we found that it was the perfect description for this bag.
Details:
- Large Main Compartment
- Two Mid-Size Compartments
- Ammo & Sunglasses Pockets
- Drink Sleeves
- Three different camo options (Max 5, Optifade Timber, Bottomlands)
Rig Em Right says they produce gear for the “Diehard Waterfowlers”, based on the features and durability of this blind bag – we believe them. Having the ability to have all of your stuff and it truly being out of the way – it’s a huge deal for waterfowlers who are out for an all-day adventure and wading through swamps and ponds. Having the shoulder straps makes a huge difference between this and the other single strap field bags out there. Did we mention it has side slots that can be used for water on one side and a thermos of coffee on the other? Truly, this bag does it all – it holds your gear, stays out of the way, and keeps things organized no matter how you are getting to your favorite hunting spot.
Best “Waterproof” Bag – Banded Arc Welded Waterproof Backpack
If you’ve been in enough rainstorms, you know that finding something that is completely waterproof is an arduous task. Most often, even the most “waterproof” items eventually leak. So far, that hasn’t been the case with the Banded ARC Welded Backpack. It’s been good enough that we’ve actually let it sit in the pond for a while, and all our gear stayed dry.
Details:
- Duramax 600D armor coated exterior
- Welded Seams
- Padded Shoulders
- Large Compartment
If you’re looking for a bag to bring dry items to the marsh in and keep them dry – this is your blind bag. If you are looking for tons of pockets and other features – this is NOT your bag. This is definitely the brute of the duck hunting blind bags out there today; while most are “water-resistant”, this tank is waterproof. Throw all your gear in the main compartment and toss it in the boat, or just throw it in the water even – your gear stays dry and accessible.
We love this bag for its sheer durability and ability to carry gear – no-frills, just duck hunting gear that is dry no matter what.
What to put in your duck hunting blind bag – Blind Bag Essentials
Now that you have the best of the best gear bags out there (we think), it’s time to look at what to keep in your gear bag. This is important, but we also know that everyone will have some variations depending on what, where, and how they hunt waterfowl.
Here’s what’s in our gear bags
- Shotgun Shells – No matter where we go hunting, we know that we will need shotgun shells if we are going to actually hunt. No hunter sat under a tornado of spinning ducks and said – man, I’m glad I don’t have my shells with me. Grab a box or two (depending on your local regulations), and make sure to keep them in whatever waterfowl bag you bought.
- Snacks/Drinks – What’s worse than being cold, wet, and having no ducks on your tote? Being hungry or thirsty, that’s what. Grab a couple of snacks on your way out, and a water or two, and you’ll be grateful that you did. Our favorite is a bag of beef jerky to share, a thermos of coffee, a water bottle or two, and some of those little powdered or chocolate donuts you can find nearly anywhere.
- License – Nothing like a warden pulling up, and you realize that you left your license on the dresser at home. Grab a waterproof container, throw your license in there and keep it with you at all times.
- Portable Power – Charge your phone in the blind if you need to. Truth is, I really don’t like technology very much while I’m out hunting (except for OnX). But all it takes is one scare to let you know that you should have a phone that has power at all times while hunting. Keep it powered up with whatever portable power bank and charger that is compatible with your phone.
- Extra Clothes – A dry pair of gloves, an extra pair of socks, these things do wonders for waterfowlers when the hunting or the weather has been difficult. Don’t forget an extra hat or beanie as well!
- Emergency Info – It’s always a smart move to have basic emergency contact info somewhere in a blind bag, just in case.
- Duck Calls & Lanyard – Have you ever gotten to the duck blind and realized that you forgot to put your calls around your neck? The truth is, maybe we should forget our calls sometimes – but I’d at least like to have the option of having them with me most of the time. I try to keep my calls and lanyard in my bag at all times unless I’m actually using them. In fact, if you’re looking for the best Waterfowl Lanyard out there– take a look at the products from our friends over at Ackley Outdoors.
Conclusion:
Having the right duck hunting blind bag is important. What is equally important is what’s in that bag. Before you head out to your favorite honey hole, whether it’s alone or with a group – make sure you have all the stuff you need and maybe a few things you “want” in there to make the trip just a little bit better. Remember, stay safe and shoot straight.