If you are like me, and nearly the entire dove hunting population, your planning for dove hunting takes place the week of Opening Day. This isn’t the worst of plans, but it does mean you may find yourself missing out on gear that others purchased while you were procrastinating.
This year I opted to start early so as not to miss out on the gear I need, and want. Hopefully, this might help you look ahead to get the gear that will make your dove season better.
Because waiting until the last minute is a horrible way to order your hunting apparel I thought I’d start here. Last year my outfitting consisted of rooting through my closet and settling for a ‘this should work’ as I walked out of the house in tan shorts and an equally tan shirt.
This year I’m taking it a little more seriously. For starters, I’m going with pants instead of shorts. While this is Arizona and the Phoenix Valley gets extra toasty during the summer months, where I’ll be hunting is basically rocky desert terrain so a pair of pants will offer me a bit more protection from scrub brush, as well as the sun.
For the last several weeks I have been wearing a pair of Stretch-Lite pants from Nomad Outdoors. When I reached out to them about which pants would work best for dry and crazy hot weather, they recommended their Stretch-Lite pant.
The pants come in a variety of color and camo options. I got the Twill version, which is a light tan, but you can get a pair in Moss, or one of about severn different camo patterns. I opted for the Twill for a very specific reason. I plan on wearing these not just for hunting and wanted something to pass for a regular pair of khakis.
Let me just tell you right now, these are a lot more comfortable than regular khakis, and lightyears more comfortable than a pair of tactical-style pants. What you give up in durability you make up in comfort. And let’s face it, dove hunting ain’t all that taxing.
The comfort in Nomad’s Stretch-Lite comes from its 4-way stretch fabric. Made from 100% polyester, these are lightweight and quick-drying, making them ideal for warm weather hunting situations. You can get them in sizes small to 3XL, and they start at $90 a pair and go up to $110. If you check their site you may find a couple options discounted down for what I assume is a clearance situation.
I got my pair just in time to test drive them on the range at a media event held in May at Gunsite. I prefer to wear long pants rather than shorts when at Gunsite because it’s at a higher elevation and that cleaner air means the sun – and there is often nothing but sun – can really leave you feeling like you suffered 3rd degree burns on your calves when you forget to hit them with sunscreen. Ask me how I know.
The true test for range use isn’t out on the range, which is important, but in the shower. Take a shooting class where you are on the range for a couple days and suddenly the ability to rinse off the dust and grime from the range in the hotel shower, and then hang up you clothes to dry, becomes critical.
I did exactly this and my pants were dry just seven hours later, probably sooner but I didn’t really check on them every hour. Considering the hot dry climate when dove hunting in the west, and the hot humid weather when hunting in the east or along the coast, having a quick-dry clothes is a must.
Additional features of these pants include a water, stain, and abrasion resistant exterior and a brushed moisture wicking interior. The two back pockets and two thigh pockets are zippered, which I particularly like since I don’t relish the idea of falling in the early morning darkness only to later find out my wallet with hunting license fell out.
The mesh pocket bags help reduce weight and increase venting, which is nice. The only criticism I have regarding the front pockets is their depth. They feel a bit shallow when compared to pairs of Orvis and Badlands shorts. It’s by no means a dealbreaker, it’s just something that I notice. The other four zippered pockets make up for any perceived shortcoming of the front pocket design.
My take on the Nomad Outdoors Stretch-Like Pant is that these are prefect for what I need in a casual summer pant, as well as for out in the dove field come Opening Day (once again, this should be a national holiday). Order your size and color/camo preference now before you discover they’re sold out.
One More Thing (or Two)…
Two weeks ago I received a package from Badlands with products from their new Andaire lineup of warm weather hunting apparel which they announced at the end of May.
Included in the package was a pair of the Andaire Shorts (in Stone) and the Andaire Long Sleeve Shirt (in Approach). If you prefer shorts over pants when dove hunting, definitely give these a hard look. I’ve been wearing them the last couple days to get a feel for them and they are roomy, comfortable and excellent in this hot weather. As their website says, “They’ll help you avoid a swampy undercarriage thanks to the wonders of Eclipse™ Air-Vent fabric.”
It’s the Eclipse™ Air-Vent fabric, used across the Andaire lineup, that makes the pants, shorts and shirts so comfortable in hot temps and high humidity. The fabric provides hunters with breathability, moisture wicking and quick drying capabilities, and it’s very lightweight.
As for the shirt, the Approach camo pattern is a good choice for out here in the desert areas where you have a mix of sun-bleached earth tone colors with some green mixed in here and there. I am absolutely going to be pairing the Badlands shirt with the Nomad pants on Opening Day. The only issue with the shirt is for those on the upper boundary of your sizing. If you wear an XL t-shirt and it fits a bit more snug than you’d like, be sure to order up in the Andaire shirts.
If you’re gearing up for dove season, and looking for a more versatile hunting ensemble, then do yourself a favor and check out the Nomad pants and the Badlands shorts and shirts. I’m sure you can use them for more than just dove hunting.
– Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network