20 Best Shells For Pheasant Hunting (2023 Updated)

The first time I used this shell jacket during a decent rain, it leaked around the hood and shoulders. Within 2 minutes the water was through the shell, my mid-layer and then against my skin. For the price I paid for this gear I expected much more.

If you’re looking for serious outdoor apparel do not purchase Huk gear.

This jacket is the best jacket that I have ever worn. Repels water, keeps you warm and dry. It’s many features like the fully adjustable hood and waist cords are great. Wish it came in the San-Sal color scheme.

The fit couldn’t be any more true to size. Mine is XL. 5’5 185lb.

I will start with saying this: This is the first review I’ve ever given on anything in my life. I use to be one of those guys that cry babied about Sitka’s price saying it can’t be that much better to spend that much blah blah blah.

I deserve a smack across the face for that. I get cold pretty easily for some reason, That’ll never happen again now that I own Sitka gear. It’s 23 degrees out as I type this from my tree stand right now.

Normally I wouldn’t risk taking my hands out of my pocket to loose heat, but with this fanatic setup I feel like I’m sitting on the beach in Florida right now. I’ve tried tons of different suits from other brands even used heated vests and shirts to stay warm.

With the Sitka base layers I’d have no issue sitting in single digit weather. Sitka is hands down the best and worth every penny. Another upside when spending a good amount on hunting clothes you already know you’ll watch your weight so you can fit in your Sitka suit every year.

It’s just an all around win win with this stuff, you will not be disappointed!.

Had to come on here to say how truly impressed I was by the Fanatic System. I’m a Wisconsin bowhunter and I used to freeze my butt off standing in trees during late November-January. Today I went out in sub 10°F weather with a +20mph wind with just one base layer under the fanatic jacket/bibs and I stayed toasty the entire time.

The one thing I will say as a bowhunter is that the jacket is a bit bulky and took a little getting used to shooting with, but a few practice shots and I was fine. Sitka did a good job including some stretch fabric in areas rather than fleece to limit draw/release interference.

Highly recommend this system to anyone who likes to sit out on freezing winter days waiting for that late season giant. Pair it with the incinerator hand muff and you can’t go wrong! In terms of warmth and durability it definitely lives up to the hype.

This jacket and bib combo is absolutely amazing. I’ve owned cheaper combo sets and there is a big difference. Every feature is well thought out. In very cold weather, I wear merino base layer, down jacket and pants, and this jacket and bib set – I can sit out all day and be comfortable.

The only thing I wish it had would be a lighter piece of fabric to cover the nose area. The jacket covers the chin and bit of the mouth area, but the nose gets pretty cold. I use a thicker balaclava underneath but then it’s too thick to zip the jacket up all the way.

Some moveable/adjustable form of fabric around the nose would be a fantastic addition. Other than that, I am so thrilled with this set. Best hunting purchase ever.

As an upland guide and dog trainer I use this product between 35 degrees out to about 65 degrees but can be layered for colder weather. Waterproof for the most part. If you are in tall cover that’s very damp sometimes it will start to feel damp but you’re still dry.

I’m able to walk straight through a thorn bush to retrieve game when needed without feeling a thing. Great product. Could be improved by having a better front zipper. But otherwise works great for guiding and training.

I’m able to fit a whole bag of treats in one front pocket as well as several training dummies in the other.

Only a few wears in 30 degree 15-20MPH winds but so far so good. This jacket fits great, appears to be made of good construction and offers a great wind barrier. Layering is required for warmth which is exactly the idea with such a jacket.

Not sure of the rain resistance as I haven’t worn enough to experience the dryness nor the long-term durability. The utility features in the magnetic pockets is sure nice when using gloves as it keeps pockets open and closed.

Also, the arm vents are great to help cool down during activity. However, so far so good with this jacket. Based on its looks, feel and construction I find it to be an exceptional upland jacket and great for any outdoor activity in cold, windy weather requiring some ruggedness.

Pros: Super tough waterproof shell with great ventilation using the pit zips. Hunted in the rain and lots of large thick briers and I was dry. Fits true to size without a lot of extra material in the way and it layers really nice.

Cons: Rear game bag is almost impossible to clean, no side zippers or any way to open it up. I had to try and turn the whole coat inside out by reverse stuffing it into the game bag. and it doesn’t fit.

Once you wash most of it clean you have to leave the coat turned into itself for a while so it can dry. The front bellows pockets have magnets that hold the pocket flaps down and closed or up and open depending on where you place them.

With 10 shells in those pockets or a pair of Orvis’s gloves, stubby water bottle or whatever, the pocket flaps do not stay closed. Instead, on the first few steps up a slight grade or stepping over the obstacles frequently encountered in places where one would wear a bird hunting coat, the flaps secure themselves to the upper magnet that hold the flaps in the open position and you soon lose your shells and gloves or whatever you had in the pockets.

Part of the issue is there’s no shell loops in any of the pockets and the other issue is the magnets that keep the pockets closed are very small and weak. There’s also a set of pockets high on the body near the out part of the chest area almost under the arm.

These pockets are very difficult to access and require both hands to open and close due to the placement and how the zippers are lined up to oppose natural pulling motion. The coat rises as you’re pulling on the zipper and is frustrating to use, you’ll have to put you gun down to use one of those pockets.

They should have been napolean style on each side right next to the front zipper for simple access across the front of the chest.

I own a lot of hunting clothing by Gamehide. I am very partial to Gamehide, so I made this purchase confidently and am satisfied with my purchase. Fit is perfect and the quality is top-notch. Order your normal size because it fits perfectly over a base layer and a fleece camo jacket or down jacket.

Very thick and durable and the game bag is designed well. I have the briar proof upland pants too, so now my gear matches perfectly regarding the color and style. Performs very well in sharp thorny bush.

I can move effortlessly through it all. I highly recommend this product.

The material is very durable and can withstand tearing by branches or thorns in the field. It has elastic pockets to hold 16 shotgun shells with a flap to prevent losing them. It has 2 large zipper pockets to hold any accessories, or extra shells.

There are hunter orange patches on both front shoulders and a large hunter orange patch on the game storage pocket on the back.

Material is nice. The brown is a stronger and heaver. I like mine very much. The only bad thing is it don’t have regular shell slots. I just put a few in the two pocket. Then snap the pockets. You could buy shell holders to put them in.

My old Bob Allen XL coat had “shrunk” a little, so I ordered this 2XL Browning. Fit is perfect. Seems extremely well made with lots of little extras. Color is in no way tan but brown. This is fine with me–matches my Carhart upland pants.

Zipper is heavy duty nylon, would have preferred brass, but also has metal snaps that I will probably use more than the zipper. Generous pockets. It has a lining that should provide plenty of warmth.

Bought this coat for a trip to Iowa, looks like it will be a good investment. The coat is thin so don’t plan on sitting and staying warm. With a good hoodie and walking all day for pheasant I think it’s gonna be a winner.

Just received the coat. Nicely made with some interesting features. Good price. However, size runs very small. I’m not a big man but ordered an XL to layer underneath. I’m sending the coat back and reordering an XXL.

Tried the 6. 5 Creedmoor 120 gr Trophy Copper for the first time on whitetail– a disaster. In the past I have taken many, many deer with the Federal Fusion 270 Win 130 gr, including many big whitetail and big mule deer bucks, with great success, at short and long range, since the cartridge was first introduced.

Never a problem, and never had a deer go more than 40 yards, easy blood trail, and massive hematoma on the exit side of the animal. After hearing about hawks and eagles ingesting lead, decided to try the trophy copper on whitetail this season.

After getting up 16 feet in a tree, shot a stationary adult doe in the chest at 15 yards with a scoped rifle. Twenty minutes later, shot another stationary adult doe in the chest at 40 yards. Neither hit released any discernable blood or blood trail.

A quick look in the direction of travel of each deer did not turn up either animal. I was in shock, and not what I’m used to. I then performed a 75 yard grid search out from my stand location. I never located Deer #1, or any blood.

The grid search turned up Deer #2 50 yards from where I shot her. She had laid down, but jumped up when she saw me, ran 40 yards on to some private land before I could shoot, and disappeared from view.

I did not have permission to hunt the private land so had to stop my search. A huge disappointment. Perhaps the trophy copper is better in big bore rifles for deer size animals, or better at longer ranges, but I’m now reluctant to try again in other calibers after such a disappointment.

I love Federal in the fusion and also trophy bonded tip, and until now, used them exclusively. However, this trophy copper in 6. 5 Creedmoor was a big let down.

I am a xl in size and this comes xl to 2 lx and the size is the 2 xl. Its too big and will not adjust enough for a xl. The first time I un snapped a pocket the snap came off it wasn’t crimped properly.

The game pouch is easily accessible and the water bottle holders are nice. The shell loops are good and the pockets stay secure while snapped as long as the snaps don’t fall apart. If the sizing chart was more accurate and the snap didn’t break i would have given 5 stars.

It would be better to buy this in a storewhere you can check it good prior to buying.

This ammo doesn’t fit to my Remington 700, chambered in 6. 5 Creedmoor. It seems the casing size is bigger than the chamber. I bought a box of 20 to test a lead free ammo at the range, and I was able to shoot only few of them with a lot force to feed the gun.

The gun was thoroughly cleaned before shooting, so it wasn’t cleaning problem. The grouping result was also awful; more than 2 MOA is just unacceptable. Fortunately, I had another ammo with me (hornady precision hunter, bought from Cabelas with the same order) which saved the day.

Chambered smothly and the grouping was half MOA. Anyway, since you cannot return ammo, I don’t know even what to do with remaining bullets.

These gloves look and fit great and I like shooting with them. However I am disappointed that these gloves made it only two seasons, with Sitka claiming the durability is a 4 out 5. The grey fabric failed on almost every finger.

It began to fray with light use and continued to tear until the liner was exposed and adhesive failed between the layers. The leather durability was fair and the heaviest wear was seen on the thumb pads, but no stitch failures between leather pieces.

Do NOT use these to pick up decoys.

Good gloves, they stretch and wear in well (true to sizing chart). Have used them at the range and elk hunting, blood washes out well, and they clean up nice. The only issue I have with them is the breathability between fingers is too much for rifle season in Canada.

The cold winds (50 KM plus) off of the Rockies cool my hands off way too much when glassing in November. I wish they made a version with only leather, and booger wipes on the thumbs like ski gloves.

First Sitka product I’ve been disappointed in. The gloves provide very little warmth at all. Regular leather yard gloves are warmer. Even just running dogs in 35-40 degree weather, my fingers quickly get very cold/numb.

From a sizing standpoint these do stretch out a bit so if you’re between sizes go smaller if you want to retain any dexterity.

These well made Chaps will make your day in the field more enjoyable. Great quality of fabric. Nice workmanship and easy on and off over boots. These chaps turn briars quite well. I recommend these quality Chaps.

Very pleased with Gamehide Briar-proof chaps. Very well made chaps. Plenty of room and full length zipper makes it really easy to put on and take off. If you want a heavy duty set of chaps, Gamehide is the chap!.

Not for short legs. Too long for 30 inch inseam. Adjustment snaps only made them longer. Remember they snap onto your belt so they will pull down and hang lower than your normal inseam. They look like good quality.

Did not use returned them.

If you’re hunting in the cold and/or extreme cold get this jacket worth every penny. I’m doing a late review as I wanted to use it first. This jacket kills it on all fronts. It compresses well into my waders, stays warm when wet (literally), and does it job keeps me warm.

It took a couple hunts to figure out how to layer since this jacket keeps me warm in -10°F just fine with normal layering. While on a hunt I got the jacket completely submerged in the river in about 10-20°F and I didn’t want to end early so kept hunting and it still kept me warm.

It also dried super fast just by hang drying so I was ready to go the next day. I like it so much I’ll use it for skiing as well. all I need to wear is just the jacket and I’m set. If you’re on the fence, cry once and buy it.

It pains me to give this vest a 3-star rating because, in truth, no other vendor offers a vest as functionally-sound nor as well-made as this item. It’s layout and construction materials are incontestably flawless.

Now for the bad news: I’m 5’11”, weight 160 lbs with a true 31″ waist, and I have to cinch the waist belt down almost entirely in order to get this to sit on my hips and support the weight of the pack.

This means that (a) if I lose weight this vest might not fit and (b) as it ages and the belt nylon wears, this could be significantly problematic. I have no interest in carrying a couple boxes of 12 Ga shells, 2 1L water bottles, snacks, a first-aid kit, an extra layer, and a limit of pheasant on my shoulders while hiking all day.

Do you? After reading other reviews, I noticed that there are “fit” issues, but in the other direction. Many other vests on the market right now come in two size, regular and large, and I hope that Orvis will follow suit and produce the same options in their next iteration.

However, I suspect the fit will not be an issue if your waist is greater than or equal to 33″. As for me, I’m going to woefully return this item and lament its absence all season.

I have owned three upland bird vests over the years, and this one checks all boxes on my list. The price point for the quality materials used, is unmatched. The vest even when loaded down rides on your hips.

The game bag is huge. Pockets are well thought out for storage. Easily accommodates the needs of you and a four legged friend for hours of hunting. The side pockets have had some criticism for sitting to far back.

We’ll I’m a bigger guy with a 40” and they probably sit further back for me, but are still easily accessible. I actually love them not on my hips, as other vests I’ve owned would hit my legs every time I would step over downed trees or brush.

When first putting it on, it wasn’t very comfortable. I thought I made a big mistake as my last vest was very comfy. It took me about a half hour of constant strap adjustment and I finally hit it perfect.

Total comfort! I did my due diligence on many vests more expensive, and none checked all the boxes like this one. Very Happy!!.

I can’t say enough about the high-quality materials and construction of this strap vest. When you take it out of the box, you’ll immediately know you’ve bought a top-tier vest. Custom vests are out there, but for another $100+, I’m not sure how much more you’ll get.

Plenty of storage and an overall smart design distributes weight better than any vest or strap vest I’ve used (thank you to Orvis developers who may also know of lower back/hip flexor aches on long walks).

There’s a lot going on with this vest, but the ability to adjust fit all over is fantastic. Upland hunting could be done in deep winter or early summer temps, so this capability is essential. That said, other reviewers have commented on the shell pouches being too far back on the hip, and this was something Orvis has apparently tried to address by moving them forward a bit.

But the issue persists, especially in cold temps where outer layers force you to loosen the waist belt. In the recent record-cold South Dakota temps, I was reaching backwards for shells and water bottles as a result, when in warmer temps it wouldn’t have been so exaggerated due to lighter layers.

If Orvis made these large pockets more independent/adjustable to the front, the chance of snagging on corn stalks, milo and gnarly CRP through the walk would be greatly reduced.

I’ve hunted 2 full seasons with this vest so far. There is a little wear here and there, but overall still in great shape and ready for the next season! I don’t know how some people in the negative reviews hunt, but I’m able to load this vest up for half a day of walking for grouse or pheasants, and it has held a limit of pheasants for me plenty of times.

It’s lightweight and helps me stay cooler on hot days, but allows enough adjustment to go over thicker clothing at the end of the season. I wish I could add a photo, because I have a picture of the vest at the end of a hunt holding 3 pheasants, 2 quail, and a 1 Liter water bottle for the dog in the game bag, a bladder with 2 Liters of water for me hanging in the vest (probably down to a liter by that point of the hunt), a small med Kit (fits in a small ziploc bag), my wallet and keys, some wire cutters, and a dog bell, vet wrap, and gauze pads located in the pockets on the back of the vest, and I started the hunt with 26 shells between the pockets and shell loops.

The dog’s water bottle was the only thing sticking out of the game bag, but it rode there the while hike back to the pickup. I don’t know what more you’d need to pack along!.

I’ve had my upland game vest for about a year – purchased through Scheels in Fargo ND – THE best outdoor retailer in America. I wear my vest daily as I use it for dog training and conditioning (water and retrieving dummies) and carrying a few essentials (knife, leatherman, firstaid kit, phone and poo bags).

As a technical piece of gear, great balance, adjustability, adequate storage and durability. All my negative comments surround user functionality. First, an aesthetic comment – the sun fade of the “orange” material makes the vest look older than any piece of upland gear I own.

Some of that is over 20 years old. When you lay out two bills for a upland vest, the “blaze orange” should stay crisp looking longer than 12 months. Looks more like “dreamcicle orange” if you can related to ice cream treats.

Now the stuff that matters most to me. 1) rearloader vs side/front loader- I’m 64 and not as limber as I once was. I literally take the vest off to put a bird in the game pouch. I would like to see you extend loading shoots running from the game pouch to the front of the mag pockets (I do love these!) Issue 2) which would be affected by this change is the placement of the shell/cartridge loops.

I would remove from the underside of the mag pockets and add to the outside of the pocket. I would put two shell/cartridge loops on each side of the pocket snap closure (8 external loops). If this change is made 3) I’d like to see the mag pockets made 2 inches wider – more pouch room and greater external surface area to add the shell/cartridge loops.

I purchased the water bladder and the only change I would like is to have duel water lines coming off the bladder. One just like your original design, a second running under the game pouch and mag pockets that can be used to easily fill my dog’s water bowl.

Why carry the additional weight of water bottles if you are carrying a 3 liter water bladder? I do like the lateral pockets to carry water bottles when I don’t need the volume of a water bladder. 4) Elastic band bottle loops would certainly be appreciated to fully secure water bottles in these lateral side pockets.

My experience is I lose a water bottle (or two) when I remove the vest to train or deposit a bird in the game pouch. Final 5) item in the shell/cartridge loops- sew in a bottom strap so you don’t push the shells right through the loop when loading.

All my shell belts incorporate this item, with my favorite Beretta belt using leather and elastic to secure the shells. Happy to send pictures of my “dreamcicle” upland vest, just email me.

The upland pack/vest has shown itself to be more hype and gimmick than functional. The purported “90% market share” and “quiet closing shell pockets” are the principle infractions in this regard. Realistically, 90% of the upland hunting community probably can’t justify spending $200 on a vest! The shell pocket’s magnetic closure is as quiet as the claim is made but that has no advantage in upland sport.

Once you get the hang of it, shell access is only slightly easier than a poorly manufactured zipper. The disadvantage, however, is the relatively small volume (depth) that these pocket offer. If you are a long way from the vehicle and apt to do a great deal of shooting, generous bag limits and several shooting opportunities, you will likely need to carry some shells inside the pack – a major purpose of having shell pockets.

Unless I have misunderstood their use for over forty years? The greater hassle, with the shallow pockets, there is a tendency for shells to spill out as you’re reaching in to reload. Along the lines of spillage and generous limits, the game bag was designed to have someone “generously” carry birds for you! As stated in a few of the more realistic reviews, the game bag just cannot hold three rooster (pheasants) or a limit of any bird species I typically hunt.

The fashionable and slimming snug-fit just wasn’t designed to carry birds. But looks great for a night on-the-town! I would need to train one dog to hunt behind me for birds that spill from the pouch as I cross obstacles or manage steep terrain.

To be sure, the three-stars I offered was generous. I harbor no animosity, I have since relegated this vest to dog training and purchased a competitor’s vest for serious hunting.

I wore this vest on 2 back-to-back hunting days for upland birds. The ammo pouches looked small but held all the shells I needed. The pockets on the back were great for storing my rain jacket after the sun came out and rain stopped on day 1.

The game bag easily carried the pheasants and quail I took, although the vest hangs low in the back. I like the “phone or camera” pouch but it was annoying on the front of the vest while hunting. I will wear it on my belt.

I have been a hunter for 55 years.

jacket for foul weather days in the field. Light, breathable, and very waterproof without much bulk. Love it. One word of caution — consider ordering a size up. I wear a XXL is EVERYTHING Orvis, and it has ALWAYS fit me perfectly for years.

This seems to be cut with a modern fit, and the XXL was too small on me in the body. Two regrets. One, I wish the hood was removable. And two, I wish the XXXL was made with olive shoulders, because I would use the jacket for things other than hunting if they made it in XXXL.

Great coat.

I was very skeptical spending this much money on a jacket. But trust me, you get what you pay for. This is the most impressive jacket I’ve ever owned. Truly waterproof. A few examples, it kept me dry through a monsoon rain storm in the high country of Washington state, and after the storm I went through a car wash of thick wet buck brush up to my head and my layer under the jacket was bone dry! Battles wind amazing, and isn’t too loud too.

Zip Vents in the pit area is an amazing feature, and also having the pockets higher than your hip belt on your backpack is a game changer. Thoroughly designed and made tough and to last. Packability is bearable for a backcountry hunt.

Truly changed how my hunt went, from the possibility of being miserable and wet, to dry and happy I made the purchase. Normally a L but went a size up to a XL as it’s my outermost layer. Fits nicely.

I just finished a moose hunt in central Alaska. I would argue that I put this jacket through the toughest conditions imaginable. During our hunt, it rained truly 85% of the time. This jacket held up well, however, if I did not dry it out by the fire at night, it was saturated with water and damp in the morning.

If you are doing a truly wet hunt, I would recommend going with a rubber jacket setup. Although they are not breathable, they are the only thing that will truly keep you dry. If you are using this jacket for sporadic rainstorms in the West, and not in constantly soaking conditions, it is truly a fantastic jacket.

If a product is lightweight and breathable, know that it will not be 100% waterproof. I ordered a large (I’m a true medium) so that I could layer underneath.

I’ve only had the opportunity to wear this on 1 summer backpacking trip and in a handful of rain showers around town. This material breathes very well. Even hiking up steep terrain in pouring rain I stayed dry on the inside and did not get that clammy, musty feeling from perspiration.

There were no weak points where rain finds its way inside due to oversights in design, and the waterproof is, well…waterproof. I mention that because lately I’ve had a hard time finding rain jackets that actually keep rain out, either as a result of design flaws or inferior materials.

The fit is also perfect and the arm cut is great for bow hunters. I’m very happy with this jacket. It’s a decent weight for backpack hunting in the Rockies, but it will see most of its use in timbered forests of New England.

The side shell pockets are placed a bit too wide for easy access, and do not have a great velcro flap to make sure shells stay where they are supposed to. The storage is fine for 1 layer and essentials.

Plenty of room in the hydration pocket for a 3l bladder which helped fend off the bird camp hangover much faster than everybody who didn’t carry water.

I had high hopes for this bag but was disappointed. The shell pockets were very far back and hard to reach. Also the water bottle pockets were loose so every time i bent over my water bottles fell out.

Fits great, for a bigger guy there’s plenty of adjustment in the straps. The 3L bladder insert is a game changer.

I purchased both colors so I could wear the green jacket when not hunting. The jacket fits true to size. I am 5’11” and 170lb and there is room to layer. I have worn the jacket in 25 degree weather with a long sleeve flannel shirt and my pheasant vest and stayed very comfortable.

The weight and styling is perfect for me. The Flexible shell material was non-restrictive when shouldering and swinging my shotgun. Pockets are large with a magnetic closure that are easy to access. Although the sleeves are the perfect length and are narrow at the cuff I would prefer a Velcro strap closure to adjust to my preference.

First let me say this jacket has been great! I’ve had a lot of different jackets over almost 50 years of hunting and this one is my favorite. This year, over 35 days in the field this hunting upland game from the western mountains to the far eastern prairie here in Montana.

Not to mention almost daily wear working my dogs and around town. Very comfortable, warm, true to size ( I’m 6′ and 185 lbs wearing a size L ), and great quality. The only suggestion I have is to make the collar a bit taller.

Hunting here in MT or over in the Dakota’s, wind is usually a factor and sometimes downright nasty. The collar is too short to protect your neck and chin area from those winds or wind driven snow.

I received this jacket for Christmas and have been able to use it a bit. The fit is good and the length of the sleeves are great. It moves well and doesn’t bind. Gun mounts are not hindered in any way.

The wrist openings are small, making looking at a watch difficult, but manageable. My only recommendation, and what I think would put this jacket over the top, is pit zips. I hunt chukar mostly and the ability to open it up a bit would be very helpful.

Outside of that, it’s a great product and I am happy with it.