Father's Day 2022
Shawn Swearingen for SPLIT REED
Unfortunately, waterfowl hunting is not a year-a-round season, but there are ways for your Dad, Grandfather or father figure who has birds on their mind throughout the year to get a taste of the season to come with these Fathers’ Day gift ideas.
Blinded by the Light
Great for lighting the way when trying to beat the public land crowds or to spotlight the field in the predawn while setting up Dive Bomb silos. The Blinder by Andrenal-Line throws out an amazing 3000 lumens, with a red light setting and auxiliary power for charging other devices if needed.
A Call to Arms
Which Dad wouldn’t love a new fowling piece? I was fortunate to sit alongside a friend in a snow goose field this February who had just picked up the new Browning Maxus II. Bonus, he only naturally selected it in their ‘vintage tan’. The Nor’easter that day tore across the fields and flocks, and his Maxus II performed beautifully cycling and dropping geese through the rain, wind, and snow. Timing is great for Dad to get dialed in on sporting clays with it too before the season arrives.
Getting Spicy
If you are as fortunate as we were on the snow geese that day, then you have some meat in the freezer to be grilled and smoked while the weather is right. Take a look through Traeger’s spices and rubs to match up some of the recipes you’ve read here on Split Reed too. Either fill up his spice rack or do the cooking for him for once!
Must-Reads for Dad (and you)
Summer usually means vacations and downtime, while daydreaming of the coming seasons. Big December Canvasbacks was suggested to me by a good hunting friend and I’ve since shared it with Dads and hunting friends alike. Mr. Mathewson does a tremendous job putting you in the sculling boat with him along the coastlines chasing divers or driving across the Prairie Pothole Region of Canada. A bonus suggestion: Gordon MacQuarrie Sporting Treasury: Stories. Mr. MacQuarrie and his Old Duck Hunters Association are the likes your Dads, Uncles, and Grandfathers read about and who they shared the blinds with.
Charge Ahead
These days finding performance and other modifications made to your shotgun is easier than ever. Grumpy Duck Company leads in craftsmanship with their charging bolt handles. While the band ones are neat, for me, those ironwood handles and wrapped waxed thread is where it is. Bonus: 100% American-made.
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