Texas Waterfowl Hunt Pack List
Texas waterfowl season is live. Marsh, rice field and coastal blinds mean setting decoys in the dark, sitting wet and cold, then picking birds out of a bright sky. Permit first. Then pack for this hunt.
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Legal
Texas legal box. Waterfowl rules are federal and state: nontoxic shot, HIP certification, federal duck stamp and Texas endorsements, plus bag limits by species and zone. Check current USFWS and TPWD regulations and your drawn hunt's rules.
The pack, item by item
1. Headlamp (red mode)
Every waterfowl morning starts in the dark: launching, wading out, and setting a spread before shooting light. A hands-free headlamp keeps both hands on decoy bags and lines, and red mode keeps you from lighting up the marsh for every other blind.
- Lead pickBlack Diamond Spot 400 headlamp (red night vision)
Every waterfowl morning starts in the dark: launching, wading out, and setting a spread before shooting light. A hands-free headlamp keeps both hands on decoy bags and lines, and red mode keeps you from lighting up the marsh for every other blind.
Check price at OpticsPlanetAffiliate link
- Alt pickPetzl Actik Core headlamp (red mode)
Every waterfowl morning starts in the dark: launching, wading out, and setting a spread before shooting light. A hands-free headlamp keeps both hands on decoy bags and lines, and red mode keeps you from lighting up the marsh for every other blind.
Check price at OpticsPlanetAffiliate link
- Lead pickBlack Diamond Spot 400 headlamp (red night vision)
2. Sunglasses
Sun off open water hides incoming birds and wears your eyes out by mid-morning. Glare-cutting glasses help you pick up birds against bright sky and water and protect your eyes from wind and pellets of spray.
- Top pickJulbo Explorer 2.0 sunglasses
Sun off open water hides incoming birds and wears your eyes out by mid-morning. Glare-cutting glasses help you pick up birds against bright sky and water and protect your eyes from wind and pellets of spray.
Check price at OpticsPlanetAffiliate link
- Top pickJulbo Explorer 2.0 sunglasses
3. Binoculars (optional)
On big water and coastal flats, bins let you ID species and drakes at distance, watch where birds are working, and plan tomorrow's set.
- OptionalVortex Diamondback HD 8x42 binoculars
On big water and coastal flats, bins let you ID species and drakes at distance, watch where birds are working, and plan tomorrow's set.
Check price at OpticsPlanetAffiliate link
- OptionalVortex Diamondback HD 8x42 binoculars
Also bring
No approved store link for these yet. Pack them anyway.
- Shotgun
- Nontoxic shot (steel, bismuth or TSS). Lead shot is not allowed for waterfowl under federal rules
- Waders
- Decoys (duck, teal, goose spread)
- Calls
- Layout or boat blind
- Waterproof gloves
- Blind bag
- Camo and rain shell
- First aid kit
Some links are affiliate links, disclosed. Picks are chosen on review reputation and specs. Items without a link are ones we have no approved store for yet.
More: Texas drawn hunts, all pack lists and gear for your trip.
Also pack
Get draw deadline reminders
Every state draw that matters, near-term deadlines first: the Alaska draw (Nov 1 to Dec 15), spring big-game draws (Jan to Jun) and Texas drawn hunts (Jul to Nov), plus results when they post. Sign up and get the free 2027 draw deadline calendar (PDF). Unsubscribe anytime.
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