Believe it or not, on my first upland-hunting outing, I was not laden with Filson or Orvis gear. No. As a young adult living on Top-a-Ramen, those aspirations were from my mind. Plainly, I just couldn’t afford the “best gear” out there at the time. But even in those early days, I learned rather quickly (mostly by trial and error), that the uplands treat you the same, even if you cannot afford “premium” price tags on equipment. Equipment that is affordable, doesn’t always necessarily mean it is cheap. As a young and budget-conscious individual, I made do with what I could afford and lived without the stuff I didn’t necessarily need to accomplish my goal – to get my butt out upland hunting!

I’m not going to lie. You can’t be a penniless pauper and go out upland hunting. You have to buy non-negotiable stuff like licenses, ammo, and gas. Aside from that, you can very well go out hunting naked, although I  do not condone nor recommend doing so for several reasons. If you set a budget, you can buy all your gear (excluding your license and gas) for well under $500. You can sacrifice certain luxuries and buy cheaper quality equipment, but I would advise that you follow my recommendations to keep yourself in the field longer and have lasting equipment that will serve you until you are ready to upgrade.

Shotgun

Some are lucky enough to get a hand-me-down scatter-gun passed down to them! Taking a “heritage” gun in the field is something that is a time-honored privilege. But not everyone has these opportunities. And you can’t very well hunt without a shotgun. With some shotguns costing several thousand dollars, a shotgun can easily be your most expensive investment in upland hunting. That’s not to say you need to spend that much on your first shotgun. The budget-minded upland hunter can pick up a well-used or a brand new and inexpensive shotgun for up to a few hundred dollars.

Used single-shot shotguns can be purchased rather inexpensively and are a perfect gun for any beginner upland hunter if you ask me. I bought a used single-shot H&R Topper shotgun in 20 gauge for $80 at a gun show once. Other types of used shotguns like pumps and even doubles can be bought within the $200-$500 range, which is pretty affordable when you think of names like Remington, Winchester, Ithaca, Lefever, etc. are in these piles. Even used, quality remains a standard on many of those old guns.

Much to the annoyance of my wife, I am a sucker for dragging my family into stuffy Pawn Shops. I just can’t help myself! Pawn Shops happen to be a great source for slightly used and cheap shotguns. Often, you can haggle down a price. You have nothing to lose. Take your business elsewhere and haggle there! Which brings me to small-local Gun Shops and Gun Shows! I’m all for supporting local shops and shooting the shit with some old-timers, but my main motivation for walking into these small tucked away places are the cheap used guns!

If anyone is willing to haggle, it’s the cowboy hat wearin’, six-gun heel’d gentlemen behind that glass counter! Hidden in the corners of these shops are potential gems. I still kick myself for not picking up this Lefever Nitro Special in .410 for the very low price of $175 at one of these places a few years back.

Gun Shows work pretty much the same way for used-guns, but you need to come into one of these shows ready to buy with cash in hand! Gun Shows are gone in a flash! There are potential deals and discounts at gun-shows typically. I find the best haggling method involves going both days (presuming this is a one-weekend event). It’s a bit of a gamble, but when I see a gun I like and want the price to come down a little, I’ll show a lot of interest and handle and hold the gun like I just can’t walk away from it. I put it down, and then pick it up again and finally put it down and tell them I’ll think about it, then walk away. I will come back the following day and ask to see it again. Typically on the last day of the gun show, vendors are more willing to drop the price just to unload some inventory.

If old smelly guns are not your deal, and the fragrance of new gun suits you better, don’t worry your Top-a-Ramen eatin’ little head. There are many new and affordable shotguns on the market today. The Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 Express can be purchased well under $400 before sales typically. If you’re feeling frisky and want to walk the uplands with double the barrels, the Turkish produced Pointer may be an option, as well as Stoeger, both under $500. Keep in mind, these entry-level guns sometimes suffer from QC issues. They don’t make ’em like they used to. At least not the budget guns…

Clothes

You do not necessarily need upland specific duds. Technically, you can go out in any old t-shirt and pair of board shorts if you really wanted to. Practical? Probably not. I recommend at least a long sleeve shirt and jeans to help you with brush kicking duties. I am a fan of wool shirts like Pendleton‘s in the early season. You can buy these sometimes cheaply at thrift stores, otherwise, any old long sleeve shirt will do. I like heavier “flannel” shirts that can take some brush-work if needed. Costco often sells these types of shirts for about three Lincoln’s and some change. I own a few myself.

One thing to think about is layers, especially during the early season. I like to wear “technical” shirts under my long sleeve shirts. Something that is breathable and sweat-wicking is nice, especially after shedding your top layer. These can be found cheaply at Target or Walmart. Otherwise, any T-Shirt will do just fine.

Pants are all preference. I have worn everything from Levi’s, Dickie’s, Carhart, and even light “hiking” tech-pants. Something that you’re comfortable in and protects your legs is the goal. Travis from the Upchukar podcast recommends these Wrangler pants that are both durable and comfortable.

Don’t forget your hat. It seems simple enough, but a hat shades you from the elements. Any hat will do. Baseball cap. Whatever sports team. You probably already own a hat. I typically try to incorporate blaze orange in my own hats. Not a requirement in my state, but I appreciate my face not being mistaken for a quail, so I take the extra precaution.

Gamebag

Having some sort of method to carry game in the field and back to your truck is necessary unless you plan on carrying dead birds in your pocket. Backpacks you already own can be repurposed as “gamebags” and are pretty convenient for carrying anything else you might need, like lunch and water. I have an old surplus US Military gas mask carrier bag that I use for hunting. I have used this bag since I was a kid to carry gear, and have even used it to carry a couple birds a few years ago. They are a cheap option and often fashionable enough to accompany you to the local Whole Foods. Just don’t tell the cashier there are dead birds in your bag.

The most practical option is just to buy an inexpensive game-vest. It’s blaze orange and it’s designed to carry birds.

Boots

Your feet are gold. Yeah! Your feet! In fact, they are actually priceless! If your feet are not protected and are achy and unhappy, you’re not going to enjoy your time in the field. So take care of your fet! Quality footwear is essential. Believe it or not, you can buy inexpensive boots that are sturdy and will get the job done in the uplands. Others may turn up their noses, but Big 5 is notoriously and maybe even infamously known to offer inexpensive sporting goods and good hiking boots are no exception.

You cannot forget about socks. Great socks are the difference between a pleasant stroll or a blistered and festering pair of feet. “Merino Wool” may sound pricey, but these quality socks will keep your feet tip-top and not break the bank!

Optional (But it’s smart to have these on hand…)

• Flashlight/Head Lamp – Need to get to point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ in the dark? Need to look for something in the backseat of your truck in the dark? Need to signal someone… in the dark? Get a flashlight, or better yet… a handsfree headlamp!
• First Aid Kit – Hopefully I don’t need to explain this one. At a minimum, you should have a small kit that has bandaids, antiseptic, and pain-reliever meds. Minimum.
• Water Bottle – Don’t plan a trip without a few ounces of water. I like to use reusable plastic or aluminum bottles for water.
• Pocket Knife – A handy blade is useful for cutting paracord in camp, cooking and field dressing birds. And don’t forget blood oaths.
• Bandanna – The bandanna is often overlooked, but very versatile piece of equipment. Need to cover the back of your neck from the sun? Need to handle a hot coffee pot? Need a snot rag? A bandanna can also be used as a sling, a signaler, or even T.P. in emergencies.

No Dog? No Problem!

One of the biggest deterrents I hear potential upland hunters talk about is not having a dog. Somehow new upland hunting recruits got it in their head that they need a dog to hunt birds. Once they saw the price of purchasing, housing, caring for and training a bird-dog, they decided against upland hunting because so-and-so said don’t bother without a dog. This irks me. I’m not sure who tells these guys this nonsense. It needs to stop. We need to not scare away potential upland hunters. I’m here to say, you do not need a dog to hunt in the uplands. Although dogs indeed bring a different aspect and joy to upland hunting, old Fido and the pricetag he comes with is completely optional for hunting birds. YOU DO NOT NEED A DOG. There. I said it again. ¡Por fin!

 

As you can see. There are many budget-friendly options for gear. When it comes down to it, the birds don’t care if you are wearing the latest Filson gear or the Walmart Special from two fashion-seasons ago. The birds all flush the same no matter what you wear or shoot with. Get on out there.

God Bless & Happy Hunting,

J.R.

 

 

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