Page through an outdoor catalog of fall hunting supplies or wander the aisles of the local rod and gun shop and the vast array of gear and clothing will boggle the mind. Many items are new or improved, and although I might already own a similar product, soon I find myself at the cash register shelling out greenbacks for a “better” version. Like most sportsmen, if a piece of gear is going to make me safe, more comfortable, more competent and especially more successful, I want it on hand.

Black Cloud

Since state and federal laws mandated elimination of lead pellets for waterfowl hunting and required gunners to use steel shot or some nontoxic alternative, shot-shell manufacturers have been scrambling to create the ultimate duck and goose load. Nontoxic alternatives such as bismuth, tungsten/iron and HeviShot proved very effective, far superior to steel, but the $2 or more per shell is restrictive for many outdoorsmen.

Federal Cartridge Co. has reinvented the steel shotgun shell with its creation of the Flitecontrol wad and Flitestopper steel shot, and both are combined in a lethal combination named Black Cloud. Most folks who have a black cloud over their heads are dismal, but sportsmen associated with Federal’s Black Cloud will be all smiles and far more productive waterfowl hunters. The storm that accompanies this Black Cloud comes in the form of a dense pattern of hardened steel pellets that shoot farther, penetrate better, and get more pellets on target for quick, clean kills.

Providing a distinct advantage over standard loads, the Flitecontrol wad stays with the steel pellets longer after the shell is fired, yielding tighter patterns, more down-range velocity and 10-15 extra yards of longer range knock-down capability. This unique wad design features a rear braking technology that completely turns normal wad design on its ear thanks to Flightcontrol’s regulated release of high velocity FS steel pellets that consistently puts more shot on target in a confined area to yield a deadly rain from this Black Cloud that knocks ducks dead.

Part two of this devastating new wad is Flightstopper steel shot, an oblong-shaped pellet with a cutting-edge rim around its center – think of the ring around the planet Saturn. These oddly shaped shot create a more devastating wound channel and the cutting edge produces terminal damage on birds. Fewer wounded and lost ducks and geese is every waterfowl hunter’s desire. Flightstopper pellets are combined in a 40/60 ratio with standard steel pellets producing far superior performance, as proven on pattern board targets and in the field on live game birds.

Black Cloud FS steel is available in 3- and 31/2-inch 12-gauge shells with shot sizes including BBB, BB and 2, and loads with No. 4 pellets are in the works. Check out the Web site at www.blackcloudammo.com for more insight regarding this great new shell or call 1-800-322-2342 with questions or for technical information.

With this Black Cloud around, your waterfowl outings will be considerably brighter.

Take a stand

Each and every autumn, more and more sportsmen are utilizing tree stands to increase their chances of tagging a bear, buck or even a bull if they were lucky enough to win the moose lottery. The extensive assortment of shapes, sizes and styles makes selecting a stand a chore, but foremost qualities in consideration must be safety, comfortable support, ease of installation and of course, cost. Recently, one other factor came into play for me: What are the alternatives when two people want to hunt together?

Last year my young nephew asked to deer hunt with me, a friend’s wife wanted to join me one evening to see a black bear close up, and after one outing on a bear bait when I watched three bears, an owl, a raven, raccoon, skunk, rabbit and numerous squirrels, chipmunks and birds, even my nonhunting wife wished to join me and visit my menagerie. Rather than suffer the cost, extra work and logistic nightmare of erecting two adjacent stands, my answer was to purchase a two-man tree stand. In all I checked more than 17 different stands by six manufacturers, each with diverse features, and the Partner Plus built by Big Game Tree Stands offered options head and shoulders above the others.

The three main qualities that drew me to the Partner Plus were spaciousness, safety and security. Standing 16 feet high at the shooting rail, this unit has a roomy 36-by-45-inch platform, a 14-by-44 padded seat that folds up out of the way and padded back and arm rests. In the way of safety, this stand offers a wide, heavy-gauge ladder with banister rails for handholds and extra wobble-free rigidity. A full, padded shooting rail surrounds the hunters when sitting, but flips effortlessly and quietly out of the way for entry and exit. Two heavy- duty ratchet straps plus a stabilizer arm secure the stand in place and another pair of straps firmly fasten the ladder to the tree.

Thanks to a 500-pound capacity, Partner Plus really is a two- man stand and as such comes with two TMS-certified full- body safety harnesses. Since the ladder easily separates into three sections, the entire unit easily fits into a short-box pickup bed when disassembled. The only downside of this great stand is its weight of 125 pounds, which requires two people to tilt it into place and secure it as well as to take it down. A camo blind kit offering full enclosure to hide movement may be purchased separately as can an umbrella attachment which provides dry comfort on the wettest days.

Big Game’s Partner Plus retails for $280 at most outlets. Check this outstanding outfit out online at www.biggametreestands.com or call 1-800-268-5077 with questions. Hunting excursions with a son or daughter, a camera- toting companion or even “the better half” just became simple, safer and more enjoyable.

Browning’s best

Just in case you don’t have a rain suit for those windy, wet fall days hunting waterfowl or sitting in that tree stand, Browning has you covered-literally. Their new Dry-Lite rain jacket and pants is one of the most compact, lightweight, yet extremely durable sets of water repellent clothing I’ve ever used. Each piece stuffs into its own small carry bag, which seems hardly large enough to accommodate a pair of gloves, and then easily fits in a hunting jacket pocket or game pouch.

Dry-Lite is comprised of a high-density tricot in combination with a new waterproof, wind-proof, breathable fabric called Pre-Vent. The jacket offers raglan sleeve construction with adjustable watertight hook-and-loop cuffs as well as an adjustable attached hood with drawstring closure and molded brim. Two hand-warmer pockets and the full-front closure are secured with Waterguard zippers and there’s a draw cord in the bottom hem.

Dry-Lite pants feature zip-to-knee cuffs with Waterguard waterproof zippers, elasticized cuffs and an elasticized waist with drawstring and belt loops. One rear hook and loop closure security pocket allows a wallet or licenses to be kept dry and close at hand. Including carry bags, jacket and pant combos weigh a mere 1.2 pounds and are available in mossy oak new break-up, mossy oak brush and loden. Sizes range from small to 3XL with average retail on the pants running $90 and $131 for the jacket.

Despite how lightweight this material is, how comfortable it fits and how well it compresses for storage and transport, Dry-Lite is unbelievably tough, tear-proof and wear resistant. Outdoorsmen can learn more on line at www.browning.com or telephone customer service at 1-800-333-3288.

Cold weather armor

Cold weather is a major adversary of most Maine sportsmen. Whether it’s spring trolling or fall deer hunting, snowmobiling or cross country skiing, ice fishing or late-season sea duck gunning, snow, sleet and freezing temperatures regularly affect the duration and enjoyment of many outings.

I’ve tried wool, goose down, layered synthetics and a dozen other combinations, as have most devout Pine Tree cast-and- blast enthusiasts, with moderate success. Last fall and winter, however, I finally was able to spend hours motionless in a layout goose blind on frozen, snowy ground, entire mornings in a tree stand surrounded by sleet and frigid winds, and all day tending ice fishing traps during sub-zero wind chill conditions.

Just like in the age of knights, damsels and dragons, modern man needs armor as well, in this case Under Armour. This full line of cold weather clothing products consists of materials made possible by the modern miracle of technology, and boy do they keep outdoorsmen warm, dry and comfortable despite Jack Frost and Mother Nature.

Without getting into the boring textile innovations and engineering, Under Armour long johns and long-sleeve shirts provide a compression fit using material that wicks perspiration off the skin rather than absorbing it. This microfiber gear actually aids the human body in regulating temperature to assure comfort and enhance performance levels. As an end result, a thin, body-lining layer of high-tech material combined with an outer layer of medium denseness allows Under Armour to provide full comfort in the coldest conditions. Rather than several tiers of heavy clothing, two layers of this modern outdoor armor allows wonderful mobility regardless of extreme cold.

Start with a base layer of a ColdGear long-sleeve mock turtle neck undershirt, compression fit leggings (long johns) and a set of ColdGear boot socks. Follow up with a set of Armour Stealth Extreme Cold bib overalls, fully waterproof, breathable and ultra quiet with ArmourLoft insulation. These overalls feature PU abrasion panels on extreme wear areas, side knee-high boot zippers, a cargo chest storage pocket, elastic glove holders and hand-warmer pockets.

An Armour Stealth Extreme Cold parka tops off the outfit. Pockets and flap closures are magnetic, there’s a fixed hood with a welded laser-cut breather built in and strategic venting provides temperature control and ease of motion. Top this off with an Under Armour ski hat and a set of ColdGear shooting gloves to meet and beat winter at its worst. All of this gear comes in at least three camo patterns for hunters, as well as several other colors for other sporting endeavors.

Prices vary by size, color and camo choices and can be found online with photos, descriptions and other information at www.underarmour.com. A call to 1-888-7-ARMOUR will provide answers to any other questions regarding Under Armour ColdGear clothing. I wish I had started with a couple of layers of ColdGear rather than three or four less effective pieces of insulated clothing, it would have saved me money and misery.

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached via e-mail at bgravesoutdoors@ainop.com