Chief Upland offers a very cool build-your-own vest system. The sides of the vest are built with Molle-like webbing that each accessory attaches to with simple straps. When selecting accessories, you can go with a starter bundle, which includes a shell pouch, water bottle holder, and water bottle, or you can buy each accessory one at a time.

Beaters:A group of people who flush and move game birds, making them flying towards the guns. Beaters play a huge part in the running of a shoot day; make sure you say thank you to them. Poult Release Pellets are designed to help poults adjust to life in the wild – grain can be added later. If you are new to game shooting it can seem like a minefield of etiquette and traditions, and some of the language and technical terms can be difficult to understand. Here are some of the most common phrases that you are likely to hear on your first day in the field.Breeks:Breeks are a type of three-quarter length trouser than sit just below the knee. They are designed to allow the shooter to move freely and are incredibly comfortable. Plus twos are a type of breeks that are a little bit loser and have an extra 2 inches of material to fold over the know and plus fours have 4 inches of excess. Hobbling for miles on sore feet is no fun, so wearing the right boots is imperative. They should have a substantial sole that protects your feet from rough terrain while offering enough support to prevent twisted ankles. Some hunters like flexible boots, while others prefer them to feel like leg casts. I wear Filson Insulated Highlanders for hunting quail and pheasant in cold weather, and when I’m hunting chukar in the steep stuff I prefer stiff mountaineering-style boots. If you have any questions or queries about game shooting please don't hesitate to get in touch with the OSS Team. We are all passionate and experienced game shots, and would be more than happy to help.

Labrador Retrievers are the most popular hunting breed for good reason—they can do it all. I’ve hunted with German Shorthair Pointers for the last 16 years and wouldn’t do it any other way. Pudelpointers, Griffons, and Wirehair Pointers combine the best of both worlds, with wonderful pointing instincts and a coat that protects them in the coldest weather and water. Regardless of breed, flushing, or pointing, a well-mannered gun dog makes the hunt. For starters, the material is designed to not only be water-resistant, but to minimise rustling. And if you get caught out in a deluge it takes seconds to fit an elasticated nylon cover. Access is via a large zip that opens halfway down the bag. The bright orange interior is designed to prevent you moving off by mistake without having closed everything up. If you needed to load up with two water bottles, two boxes of shells, a lunch, a med kit, GPS unit, and a half-dozen birds in your game bag, this is the vest you’d want for the job. The downside is that the vest is a bit heavier and bulkier. But hey, if you want to hunt like a guide, you’ve got to be tough like a guide. Webbing straps both inside the main compartment and on the outside are MOLLE-compatible, including a couple at the bottom designed to carry a sleeping bag or mat if you intend shooting prone.Peg Draw: In the morning on a shoot day guns will choose their peg at random. This will give them the peg number that they will start on. Each shoot is different, but you will generally move up or down 2 numbers for the next drive. For example, if you start on Peg 4 on drive one, you will stand at Peg 6 on drive two and Peg 8 on drive three. Double Gunning:Most common on big days with a large bag, the shooter will have two guns and a loader. The loader will re-load one gun whilst the shooter is using the other, and then they will swap. This allows the shooter to have a fully loaded gun at all times. What gear does an upland hunter need? That question covers an enormous variety of habitat, weather, birds, and preferences. While gear requirements vary for hunting quail in Texas, grouse in New England, chukar on the Snake River, or pheasant in the Dakotas, the following items go with me on all of my hunts, regardless of where or when. Poaching: When a gun shoots a bird that was heading for their neighbour. Although this is quite acceptable on simulated game days, this is a real faux pas when shooting the real thing. The etiquette for a game day is to only shoot birds that are flying within your area and not shoot more than your share of the bag.

Provide adequate space and cover for nesting birds to avoid bullying and ensure maximum egg production. Ensure there is adequate hopper space (minimum 1 hopper per 15 hens) and allow for a minimum 200ml daily water intake per hen during the breeding season. Do not feed grain during the laying period as this will dilute the daily intake of vitamins and other micronutrients which will lead to poor egg production and hatchability. Insoluble grit can however be offered. I’ve actually hunted with this vest for several seasons now, and it has held up admirably. It has a limited storage capacity, but it does carry weight quite well. I’ve had no problem hauling around three big roosters in it. I love that the game bag has a blood-resistant lining. After a successful hunt, I’ll wipe it clean with a paper towel and avoid that blood-stained game bag look.

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O f course, shooting in the spring and summer is not all tip toeing around the hedgerows in the sunlight with the bare minimum of gear. One of my permissions requires a long walk, often carrying a hide. And being out all day means food and drink is as important as my rifle and pellets.