Dressing for waterfowl hunting success requires two very important elements: camouflage and climate comfort.

Ducks and geese have very sharp eyes and can pick out just about anything. Hunters must go to great lengths to avoid being spotted, particularly late in the season when the birds are super wary from being have steel projected at them along every stop.

Any camouflage pattern that breaks up your outline will get the job done. I say this first because I am not about to insult your intelligence by saying the simple military-style patterns used for years all of a sudden do not work anymore. They will. I do not believe they are the best option in many situations, but I have hunted with them myself in the past and have came home with plenty of ducks.

Wetlands and marsh grass style patterns are best for those hunting in marshes and in flooded prairies. They tend to mimic closely the winter vegetation patterns for these environments and give hunters an edge there. Camouflage is all about matching one’s surroundings so one pattern does not fit all.

If you are goose hunting for example and lying in the middle of hundreds of white decoys, a long white goose-hunting trench coat with a matching headpiece and gloves might be the way to go.

However, if you are hunting in the timber and standing against cypress trees or tupelo gums, then dark patterns like those used for deer hunting and military patterns will do just fine.

Out of all of the camouflage you may have on your body, the most important will be a facemask. More missed opportunities are created when hunters look up at the birds without having their faces camouflaged. Either have a good ski mask or lightweight hood or paint your face with a mixture of dark colors. This is necessary.

Also, make sure and wear gloves as your hands can give you away as well. And if you are hunting in either a mosquito-laden area or in cold weather you will be glad you have on gloves. I like to wear lightweight Gore-Tex gloves as they allow me to pull the trigger easily and load shells without any problems. A thick pair of mittens will not allow that.

The key to staying comfortable is to pay attention to the climate you will be hunting. In Texas, it is extremely important to dress in layers. Oftentimes, the weather is cold early and then warms up considerably within a couple of hours. Do not just wear a huge jumpsuit adequate for hunting the arctic. Dress in a heavy but light jacket, with at thick shirt under that and then thermals under that. For bottoms, thermals, a light pair of pants and your neoprene waders should be enough for just about any weather in the Lone Star State. If you dress this way, you can easily remove some of the layers if you get too hot which is likely to happen.

Precipitation is an important consideration when dressing. We have already covered that waders will keep most of you dry. A Gore-Tex jacket with a hood will do the same for the rest of your body as will a good poncho. Always carry a poncho with you, as they are lightweight and take up very little room and can save the day when the rain is pouring.

Finally, of the greatest inventions of all time for hunters in my ever so humble opinion are the little packets of hand and feet warmers you can buy that will make your layered clothing super effective.

They come in light packets you simply shake to cause a chemical reaction that can keep you warm when nothing else will. I high recommend buying a bulk supply before the season and keeping them with you at all times in the field. You never know when you will need them.

Waders are an essential component of duck hunting allowing the hunter to stay dry and warm in wet, frigid environments. They are essentially overalls with boots attached and come in three varieties, rubber, neoprene and Gore-Tex.

Rubber waders are lightweight and work great for the early teal season and much of the general duck season when temperatures average from the upper 30s to the 60s. They also run cheap these days. Rubber waders come in the chest variety, which fit right under your arms and then the hip style which as the name implies fits around the hips.

Neoprene waders are more on the costly side but are generally more comfortable and are better for hunting in the cold. Neoprene waders have a much tighter fit and are far more flexible than rubber. Disadvantages include difficult to patch and that many brands do not come with shoes made in them. You often have to buy separate shoes or boots.