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Half the Weight, Twice the Birds: My Shift to a Minimalist Upland Kit

My legs were burning. My vest was soaked. I’d hiked four miles through knee-high CRP and hadn’t flushed a single bird. That’s when I stopped, looked down, and realized I was carrying way more than I needed. Extra shells. Spare gloves. Three types of snacks. An emergency bivy. Half a dozen tools and accessories I hadn’t used all season.

That hunt broke me—in the best way.

Because when I stripped it all down to the essentials, I didn’t just move faster… I hunted smarter. And birds started going into the bag.

🎯 Why Go Minimal?

Upland hunting is a walking game. Every ounce matters. Every extra pocket adds drag. Here’s what going light got me:

  • More ground covered

  • Less fatigue by the third hour

  • Cleaner transitions between cover

  • Fewer missed flushes from fumbling

Most importantly: I became more focused. Less digging, more reacting. Less carrying, more hunting.

🎒 What I Cut—and What Stayed

After 3 seasons of tweaking, here’s my fully refined upland minimalist kit:

✅ Essentials I Always Carry

Item Why It’s In
20ga O/U Shotgun Simple, reliable, easy to swing in thick brush
5–6 shells One reload per bird encounter—forces discipline
Water (dog + me) 1L in a soft bladder with collapsible bowl
1 knife (Benchmade Bugout) Lightweight and trustworthy for field dressing
Bird bag Game pouch or vest with rear load access
Whistle + e-collar remote Both clipped to chest strap—always accessible
Phone + OnX For navigation, tracking, emergencies

  • Backup gloves (never used them)

  • Calls and dummy cords (I don’t run pointers)

  • Energy bars, jerky, trail mix at once—now just one

  • Full med kit—reduced to small essentials pouch

  • Rangefinder (unnecessary with upland instinct shots)

🧢 My Go-To Minimalist Kit (2025 Update)

Gear Description
Q5 Centerfire Vest Tons of storage, but worn loose with just 3 items in front pockets
Browning Cynergy Feather 20ga Balanced perfectly for 3–5 hour walk-ins
Altra Lone Peak Hikers Trail-runner comfort with enough support for prairie terrain
First Lite Wick LS Hoody Base + top in one—light, wicks well, doesn’t soak out
Hydrapak 1L Flask + Kurgo Collapsible Bowl Hydration system that compresses when empty
FHF Gear chest rig For remote, whistle, phone—tight to the body, zero swing

  • Less gear = more awareness – You scan cover, not pockets

  • Every item must earn its weight – If it hasn’t been used in 2 hunts, it’s out

  • Dogs move better when you do – Your pace influences theirs

  • Mental clarity – Simpler setups equal better decisions in the field

“Minimalism isn’t about suffering—it’s about efficiency. You carry less, and gain more.”

🦆 Final Word: Strip it Down to Hunt it Better

Minimalism isn’t about bare-bones. It’s about being intentional.

Whether you’re hitting the cattails in Iowa or the foothills in Idaho, rethink your kit. Lay it all out. Ask what actually helps you put birds in the vest. If it doesn’t? Leave it.

“Light legs find more birds. Simple gear wins long seasons.

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