Slings

A gun sling is the cheapest upgrade that changes your whole hunt. It frees both hands for climbing into a stand, glassing, or dragging a deer, and it keeps the rifle off your shoulder joint on the long walk back. The wrong sling slips, digs in, and swings into brush at every step.

We stock padded slings for heavy rifles, ultralight slings for hunters counting ounces, and waterfowl-ready slings built to shed water.

Padded, ultralight, or waterproof

• Padded, for heavy guns and long walks. The Summit Ridge Flexible Comfort Sling spreads the weight instead of concentrating it on one strip of shoulder.
• Ultralight, for mobile hunts. The TrekLite Ultra-Light Sling and the Nimbus cut weight for hunters already carrying a saddle and sticks.
• Waterfowl and wet weather. The Ducks Unlimited Legacy Gun Sling handles a wet marsh without soaking through and staying heavy.
• Budget and backup. The Trail Blazer Lightweight Sling is the one to keep in the truck for the gun you did not plan to carry.

Width, swivels, and noise

Wider webbing carries better under weight. Anything under an inch will cut into you with a heavy rifle over a few miles. Check your swivel studs before ordering, since most hunting rifles take one-inch swivels and some shotguns take none from the factory. Then work the sling in your hands before opening day. Stiff nylon squeaks against a jacket, and a squeak at 30 yards is the same as a shout.

Also see gun cases, and check rifle dates in our Missouri deer season guide.