Wisconsin's pheasant season opened at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, and today, October 19, the daily bag limit doubles from one rooster to two. If you hunt the Upper Midwest's stocked-bird properties, that single change quietly shifts where the birds are and what you should be wearing to chase them. This is a buying guide for one specific piece of gear, the Mule Original Waterproof Bibs, and an honest look at who should buy them and who should not.
What the Wisconsin numbers actually tell you
The Wisconsin DNR is releasing about 65,000 pheasants on 82 properties this season, and stocking ends November 19, earlier than in past years because of budget shortfalls. Several properties also close at noon on weekdays from October 19 through November 3. Those three facts matter more than the headline number.
First, a finite, front-loaded stocking calendar means the easy birds are gone fast. Opening weekend pressure on a stocked property is brutal, and the roosters that survive the first 72 hours do what any pressured bird does: they leave the open grass and sit tight in the worst cover on the property. Second, a two-rooster limit starting today gives a hunter who found birds on Saturday a reason to go back on a weekday, and a noon closure means a short, hard morning rather than an all-day walk. That is an inference from the regulations, not a DNR statement, but it is the pattern that makes cover-ready pants worth more than a light fabric that looks good in the truck.
The practical takeaway: after opening weekend, you are hunting cattail edges, willow thickets, multiflora rose and blackberry. That is exactly the terrain 1,000-denier briarproof fabric was designed for.
What the Mule Original Waterproof Bibs are
Mule (made by Okie Dog Supply) has built briarproof upland gear in the USA for close to forty years. These bibs use 1,000-denier briarproof material, doubled on the legs, with a treated liner inside and out that adds a moisture barrier and holds body heat. Per the manufacturer's listing, the features that matter in the field are:
- 24-inch YKK zippers in each leg, so you can get them on over boots
- Riveted and double-sewn construction, with two heavy-duty buttons on each side
- A deep chest pocket with snaps and D-rings for electronics, plus a separate shell-loop pocket that holds almost a day's worth of shells, including .410s
- A double-rolled hem on the briarproof legs
Price is $139.99 for Small through XL, $146.99 for 2XL, $153.99 for 3XL and $160.99 for 4XL. Brown is the color we are featuring. There is also a green version of the waterproof bibs.
The honest caveats
Venator has not field-tested this gear; this guide is built from the manufacturer's specifications and our own read of how pheasant season is shaping up. Two details from the maker's own description are worth taking seriously. Water can get in through the zipper teeth or through a puncture, so these are water-repellent bibs with a waterproof-treated liner, not a fully seam-sealed rain shell. And briarproof fabric is stiff and heavy compared with a soft-shell upland pant, so if you hunt open prairie in warm weather you will be hotter than you want. In that case look at the unlined Mule Plain Bibs ($129.99 and up) or the Comfort Tuff Bibs, which use a lighter fabric with briar protection only where thorns hit: calves, thighs and chest.
Sizing: the mistake that wrecks bibs
Mule's own guidance is unusually specific, and it is the most useful part of the listing. Choose your bib size from your jean waist size (27-30 is Small, 31-33 Medium, 34-38 Large, 39-42 XL), but go one size up if your t-shirt size is larger because of a belly rather than broad shoulders. For inseam, order about two inches shorter than your regular pants, because bibs hang from your shoulders and thick briarproof fabric does not bunch like denim. Long bibs drag, and the boot kick-out catches the back hem. Stock note: XL in the 30 and 32 inseams, 2XL, and most 4XL sizes are down to one or zero units, so size early.
Who should buy these
Buy them if
You hunt stocked or pressured pheasant properties after opening weekend, work thick cover behind a dog, or chase grouse and woodcock through alder and briar. The shell-loop pocket also suits hunters who carry a day's worth of shotgun shells and want them off the belt.
Skip them if
You mostly hunt standing corn and CRP grass in warm weather, or you want a true waterproof shell for sitting in a duck blind. For that job, look at our rain gear collection.
A simple upland kit
If you want the full setup, pair the bibs with the Mule Original Briarproof Front Load Vest (from $114.99), which has a waterproof-lined game bag that unzips to dump birds, and a safety orange knit cap ($8.99). The three together come to $263.97 at the lowest sizes. Check your state and property rules for blaze orange requirements before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Mule bibs fully waterproof?
No. The maker says the liner is treated to repel water and the outer layer naturally sheds it, but water can enter through the zipper teeth or a puncture.
What size should I order?
Match your jean waist size to the chart, size up if your t-shirt size is larger because of a belly, and order the inseam about two inches shorter than your regular pants.
Are they made in the USA?
Yes, per the manufacturer's listing.
When does Wisconsin pheasant season run?
October 17, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with a one-rooster limit on opening weekend and two roosters per day starting October 19.
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