This is for the birds!

[Cowher]

Hunting season is underway and I have accumulated a nice tweed shooting suit for the bird hunts I am currently involved with. It's knee high grass and I love when I show up to the hunt with my friends dressed like this.


And I show up with this on



I am asking how YOU would wear a kilt hunting. I wouldn't wear it deer hunting but this bird hunting is not messy and I think a kilt would wear well. What does the traditional crabbits think?
ith:

[davidlpope]

Well it's really for my but…… Hunting season is underway and I have accumulated a nice tweed shooting suit for the bird hunts I am currently involved with. It's knee high grass and I love when I show up to the hunt with my friends dressed like this.


And I show up with this on



I am asking how YOU would wear a kilt hunting. I wouldn't wear it deer hunting but this bird hunting is not messy and I think a kilt would wear well. What does the traditional crabbits think?
ith:

Ahhh, the Vinn Diagram has perfectly aligned...I'm a quail hunter, like those pictured in the first photo, and would be hard pressed to change my traditional hunting clothes for the tweed shooting suit/with or without kilt.

Here's why:

My understanding is that shooting in Britain is primarily a "driven shoot" where the guns are stationary and the birds are driven to their position, resulting in shots that are more akin to sporting clays or skeet.

In traditional Southern upland bird hunting one is constantly moving, along the perimeter of farm fields, mucky, muddy areas, crossing small creeks, through brush/briar thickets, etc. As a result, one needs some substantial protection against briars and brush. The traditional solution in these parts are LL Bean hunting boots and cordura or nylon-faced hunting "britches", usually topped off with a "plaid" flannel hunting shirt. Since you are constantly in motion, one stays quite warm, even when the temperature dips into the 30s/40s, so jackets/coats are rarely seen- usually being reserved for when you've completed hunting a field and are back at the truck. Once you've stopped moving the wind can get pretty chill and the perspiration that you've built up gets cold quickly.

I have made a few changes to my hunting get-up that are a nod to traditional British shooting. First, I find that a speed-bag is an excellent way to store excess shells for quick access. I have two, one in canvas and one in leather, and can't think of a better way to keep shells safe and secure (Forget the elasticized shell holders on most game vests- complete rubbish!). Secondly, I've found that Barbour jackets make a very nice addition when it comes to standing around, loading/unloading the dogs, putting out birds to train your dogs on, etc. Although I have a Moorland (heavier) and a Bedale, I find that the Bedale's shorter length and elastic cuffs just seems cozier.

One additional note: the blaze orange is a state requirement here in NC, and I suspect elsewhere. Maybe not as picturesque as the tweed flat cap, but beats having your gun, money, and truck impounded by "the game man".

All in all, I find that folks who are regular bird hunters have gotten close to perfected hunting kit. It may not be as romantic as British shooting suits, but it's far more effective if your focus in on hunting rather than modelling.

Cordially,

David

[Downunder Kilt]

One thing I have never understood about hunting attire in the USA is that a lot of the clothing is in some sort of camouflage pattern, yet it appears a lot of states have the requirement to wear some fluro accessories. (I understand the reason for the fluro gear) Kind of defeats the purpose of camo attire, yet its use seem prolific.

[davidlpope]

One thing I have never understood about hunting attire in the USA is that a lot of the clothing is in some sort of camouflage pattern, yet it appears a lot of states have the requirement to wear some fluro accessories. (I understand the reason for the fluro gear) Kind of defeats the purpose of camo attire, yet its use seem prolific.

It depends on whether you buy into the notion that birds see pattern and movement instead of color. If they do see in grayscale, then the blaze orange wouldn't stand out and the camo pattern breaks up the silhouette of the hunter:

Voila!


On the other hand, it's likely that there's a lot of overlap between the camo clothing a guy wears to hunt doves or deer(stationary hunting where camo is used, no blaze orange, usually) and what he would wear to hunt upland birds. In that case, a camo jacket doesn't make any sense unless the jacket is just worn because it's old, in the truck, and warm on a cold day...

Since one moves and makes a lot of noise when quail hunting, there's no need for camo. All my gear is sort of a dull brownish-tan, which does do a good job of hiding how dirty it is!

[Downunder Kilt]

Thanks for the explantion David, much obliged Cheers

[MacLowlife]

I will not. mention.weapons.

I agree with Brother Pope. Bird shooting of the stationery shoot variety might work with a kilt, but bird hunting with pointing dogs ( rough shooting in the UK?) probably wouldn't.

Once, after saving a lot of money, selling bottles, cans, and blood, I went to a game preserve in the southern part of Scotland and had a wonderful all-day shooting experience. We started on geese, then pheasants and hares, then snipe and tried unsuccesfully for ducks. The most important piece of kit was definitely my boots. Knee high wellies. Other than having one almost come off in a snipe bog, I was very pleased with mine.

I think the main reason Southern (American) shooters don't adopt or adapt UK shooting attire is the heat- atmospheric heat when shooting doves and body heat when shooting bobwhites. Without a dog, I have to find and retrieve my own doves. Brush britches do help, but nothing quite protects against the briars around here. More protection generally means less comfort. I do not think anything wool or wooly would work at all.

[Meggers]

aww...when you said "this is for the birds" I thought you meant us ladies

[Woodsheal]

I've worn my kilt out shooting in the heavily under-brushed, second-growth woods we have hereabouts, but have donned 18th C. style leggings when doing so - just like some highland soldiers did here in N. America back in the 1750s - specifically, these:

http://www.flyingcanoetraders.com/co...oque=4&Prod=65