I have never used a turkey hunting vest and was wondering if others hunt without one. I have a bag that I can throw on that is like an army ruck sack. I can get water, snack, 2 box calls, 4 pot calls, a pile of strikers, extra shells, first aide kit, and clippers in. I also have a few small items in the bag. It has straps to tie down a jacket if it gets warm during the day. I also use a seat that has longer legs in the front and a nice pad for sitting on. What do you use while turkey hunting and is it worth looking into a vest at the end of the season when they are on sale?
I start the season with one. Mainly for the cushion. By the end of season Im usually down to my gun,shells,2 pot and 2 strikers.
I've allways used one. I couldn't imagine not having one,that's JMO. If you like your set up and your comfortable,stick with it. Wing Supply always has vests on sale. For Me.... it's all about the cushion. You have to be comfortable.
:anim_25:
I hunt mainly in the deep south, so its often warm. A lot of times I'll use my Beard Buster Belt, to which I've added another big pouch to help me carry all my stuff.
(http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_420956_999_01?hei=380&wid=380)
I wear one when I head to the woods, but if the day wears on and I am having to move on a bird a lot I will drop the vest and carry the call I am running and my shotgun with whatever shells are in it and my gobbler lounger.
I like to wear a turkey vest...because it has convenient pockets, a game bag back pocket sleeve, and hidden blaze orange panels; that I can display while walking through the woods. When I sit down, I'll sometimes use my daypack as a seat, and use my turkey vest seat cushion as a back cushion; against a wide tree.
Closer to midday...if it is warm enough, I'll shed the turkey vest, and strap it to my daypack.
I just started using one last year and I wished I would have bought one a lot sooner.
I hunt in Kansas so mostly agricultural fields around creeks and small wood acreages.
Due to the wide open type of hunting for the most part I sometimes use a ground blind and decoys. I like carrying the dekes in the game bag portion of the vest and the game bag is sure helpful when carrying out a gobbler, gun and gear.
The padded seat is great too. I just bought an inexpensive one at Walmart for $ 40.00 last year but I'll probably invest in a nicer one with more features possibly next season.
I wear them but sometimes if it is to hot then I just grab my favorite calls and about 3 more shells and off I go. They are pretty nice though and I try to use mine as much as possible.
I usually do, but I bought a couple of those ol tom shirts that have a pad in the back, I'll probably wear them when it is late season and I go decoyless.
Used to wear one, but don't anymore. A lot of my hunting last year was from a mountain bike, so I take a strap on seat cushion, a trumpet call, a box call in a belt holster, mouth call, scratch box in shirt pocket, water bottle on the bike and off I go. Anything else I need can ride in the cargo pants pockets.
When I hit the woods without the bike, I carry a small fanny pack with shoulder straps and the strap on seat cushion for water, food, etc.
I found with the traditional style vest with 20+ pockets, I end up filling every one of those pockets and lugging around a vest that feels like it weighs 50 pounds.
Quote from: RutnNStrutn on February 19, 2013, 02:54:18 PM
I hunt mainly in the deep south, so its often warm. A lot of times I'll use my Beard Buster Belt, to which I've added another big pouch to help me carry all my stuff.
(http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_420956_999_01?hei=380&wid=380)
Hey Rutn -- If you don't already, a pair of clip-on suspenders attached to that belt would make wearing that more comfy. Just a suggestion.
I bought one years ago, but never wear it anymore..Too cumbersome. I have a fanny pack and attach all my needed calls to the belt.. When I get to my spot, I take the belt off and have all my stuff close at hand.
I have a few. And have tried to get used to them I just cant. I use a penns woods shoulderbag that is well thought out with copartments inside the main pocket. Pot pouches on the front for easy access. You cant beat it. Plus its eqsy to shed if u need to make a run.
I use one off and on throughout the season, if I'm not wearing it I use a daypack. Both seem to work just fine for me.
I used to use a vest, but now I carry a backpack with everything I need and a separate cushion for sitting on. Its alot more comfortable and conveinent
I dont go anywhere without my vest. The easiest part is I know when I'm going hunting all I do is throw my vest and gun in the truck and off I go. I know I take to much stuff but if I leave something out it's usually what I need.
TRKYHTR
Hunted many years without one. Now I can't imagine why I didn't have one years before, sure is nice to put a bird in with a long walk back to the truck.
I use one. Very convenient having all of your stuff organized in different pockets. I just picked up a new one from wing supply with a thicker seat cushion than my old one, and hopefully it will retain my strikers a little better than the old one. I used to throw everything in a day pack and strap an inflatable cushion around my waist but I like using a vest better.
Nope, not in ohio. Last year on our Kentucky trip I used one but didn't carry anymore than what I would normally carry in my fanny pack. I take the seat cushion off as well. Only reason I wore it down there is to carry water. You never know which side of the mountain your going to have to climb.
What I carry:
Fanny pack
Face mask (usually worn around neck until its time)
870 SM with sling
Camo pants, shirt and hat
Danner pronghorns
Inside Fanny pack:
5 shells
3-5 pot calls
7-8 strikers
Sandpaper
Couple of soft call bags to keep noise down
have always used one if I am going to be in a blind or know I not moving I can slip out of it and still have my stuff at hand. like most prob. carry to much but its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it (lonesome dove)--for me its like going bass fishing without a tackle box never know what they will bite
I haven't worn one in a few years. There is only one thing I wish for at times and do not have, a extra bottle of water.
I use one I like the pockets and a good seat helps m set still longer
I used a vest back in the 1980's then swore off of them cause I lost too many calls out of them - till about 5 years ago I started back with them again
I liked to use a army map/messenger bag to keep my calls and gear then place the rest in my pockets
But I now have a BPS vest with the padded chair built into it - its very practical for me
I use a vest because I like to pack my turkeys out in the game bag with the blaze orange out. Some places I hunt on public property I have killed a turkey 6 or 7 miles from the truck. Couldn't imagine lugging a 20lb bird over my shoulder for 3.5hrs.
Quote from: appalachianstruttstopper on February 19, 2013, 11:27:27 PM
I use a vest because I like to pack my turkeys out in the game bag with the blaze orange out. Some places I hunt on public property I have killed a turkey 6 or 7 miles from the truck. Couldn't imagine lugging a 20lb bird over my shoulder for 3.5hrs.
If I were shooting my birds 6-7 miles from the truck I would be carrying a 1 gal ziplock instead of a vest. For the breasts and tag. Spurs and beard but there light.
I can't imagine turkey hunting without a vest.
Going turkey hunting without a vest would be the equivalent to going deerhunting without a treestand... I just don't do it.
I usually do,especially for the first setup of the day. If we spot a bird and need to make a quick move from the truck to the woods, I'll just grab my gun, shells and a diaphragm and go.
haven't used a vest in about 10 years
I use a vest most of the times, if im doing lot of hiking I opt for a good back pack with seat strapped to the bottom, if its a quick dash out of the truck i just grab mouth calls, 2 pots, 2 strikers, and a crow call and wear my ol tom shirt
Where i hunt its pretty warm so I carry a fanny pack with all my goods.
Quote from: mikejd on February 19, 2013, 11:50:41 PM
Quote from: appalachianstruttstopper on February 19, 2013, 11:27:27 PM
I use a vest because I like to pack my turkeys out in the game bag with the blaze orange out. Some places I hunt on public property I have killed a turkey 6 or 7 miles from the truck. Couldn't imagine lugging a 20lb bird over my shoulder for 3.5hrs.
If I were shooting my birds 6-7 miles from the truck I would be carrying a 1 gal ziplock instead of a vest. For the breasts and tag. Spurs and beard but there light.[/quote]
If you get caught on National Forest in VA with a ziplock bag with a turkey breast in it, legs and beard in your vest, you'll be ticketed for poaching. And the parking area is where the warden's tend to hang out.