Still not sure if I want to use the backpack that I have, get a turkey vest, or get a fanny pack.
Can somebody please give me some reasons why one would be better than the other?
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on April 01, 2015, 01:43:07 PM
Still not sure if I want to use the backpack that I have, get a turkey vest, or get a fanny pack.
Can somebody please give me some reasons why one would be better than the other?
I have a vest, and personally would never go to the turkey woods without it!
It is easier to keep your stuff organized, they come with a seat cushion, and so many, many pockets!
Plus, easier to haul a gobbler out in a game pouch. they get heavy toting them over the shoulder.
Quote from: chatterbox on April 01, 2015, 01:45:46 PM
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on April 01, 2015, 01:43:07 PM
Still not sure if I want to use the backpack that I have, get a turkey vest, or get a fanny pack.
Can somebody please give me some reasons why one would be better than the other?
I have a vest, and personally would never go to the turkey woods without it!
It is easier to keep your stuff organized, they come with a seat cushion, and so many, many pockets!
Plus, easier to haul a gobbler out in a game pouch. they get heavy toting them over the shoulder.
:agreed:
I use a backpack. When I go out in the mornings, it's usually in the 40s, so I have to wear a coat. Can't see being comfortable with a vest on top of that. If I'm hunting late May, I sometimes wish I had a vest.
Quote from: chatterbox on April 01, 2015, 01:45:46 PM
...
Plus, easier to haul a gobbler out in a game pouch...
This a definitely an advantage of using a vest.
I'd feel naked without my vest and would feel like I was moving around too much having to fumble for things in a backpack. Have hunted with buddies that use fanny packs and they like them. You can always try using the backpack and then get the vest/fanny pack later on if it feels like its not working.
I agree with all the reasons given to use a vest.
I love my vest and like the others, I'd never go without it. I do occasionally have to leave it behind at a tree if I need to make a sudden move on a bird. Then I just have my mouth call and my gun.
-If it makes a difference, I will most likely be running and gunning with a partner my first weekend hunting. No telling what I will be doing my second weekend hunting (Only hunting two weekends this season.).
I can get a Turkey Thugs fanny pack from WM for only $20.
Tried a lot of things, always go back to a vest.
Quote from: chatterbox on April 01, 2015, 01:45:46 PM
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on April 01, 2015, 01:43:07 PM
Still not sure if I want to use the backpack that I have, get a turkey vest, or get a fanny pack.
Can somebody please give me some reasons why one would be better than the other?
I have a vest, and personally would never go to the turkey woods without it!
It is easier to keep your stuff organized, they come with a seat cushion, and so many, many pockets!
Plus, easier to haul a gobbler out in a game pouch. they get heavy toting them over the shoulder.
this. Organize it the way you want and then never take anything out. Grab the vest and grab the gun and go hunt. That way you know where everything is and never have to try to remember where you put something. Good luck choosing
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I wear a vest and have for years. The advantage to the vest is I know where everything is located and it's available instantly. I also unhook the clasp in the back of my vest and strap my bird across the game bag and rehook the clasp. Then I have both hands free and the weight is distributed evenly. It makes it alot easier on those long hikes back to the Jeep.
I'll do all three, vest (tac tater II) backpack (band lands ultra day with a double pot call pouch and box holster on the belt) or fanny pack. The backpack is my all day option because I can get my morning layers in there with some food and lots of water maybe a gps and map along with the calls and stuff I need. Vest on most hunts where I might be bouncing from property to property and just want my calls on me. The fanny pack is just for a short quick hunt I just need a few things along to hunt and it's hot so I don't want anything extra on my back.
If I'm using decoys they are in the decoy bag but I have just stuffed one hen in her backpack before.
I am a vest man too, I will use a fanny pack also if I am away from my vehicle for more that 5 or 6 hours. I am a big guy and need fuel and water
I have and used all 3.
My vote goes for a vest, with lots of pockets/compartments.
Makes finding thing much easier and less noise.
another vest vote
Think my buddy just bought a vest at Cabelas for like 50 bucks off
I have always been a backpack guy even use a fanny pack only sometimes but this year I decided ill try another vest so I got the Tater 2 . Im sold!! I can put my coat and a decoy in the rear. everything eles I need is in the vest. the seat is the most comfortable ive used and the padding in the rear of the vest allows me to lean back against the tree like no other.
will I go back to a pack?..no way
I love a vest. Especially if you are covering a lot of ground. Everything you need, all well organized.
Does a vest not cover up a leafy suit while you are sitting up against a tree?
Yea it covers the very vest parts :) Vest here always.
Cabela's Tactical Tat'r 2 vest for me also....I like being able to access my vest pocket while wearing it, a backpack you would have to remove, when things happen , and many times it happens fast..I feel like accessibility is a must..I've had times when I barely got sat down and had birds coming, my calls were easy to get to using a vest..I don't feel a backpack allows this...plus my Tat'r vest has a real nice seat cushion to sit on..IMO that Tat'r vest can't be beat.
I tried on a vest at Sportsman's Warehouse and I gotta be honest, I didn't care too much for it. I think I am going to use the backpack since I will only be hunting six days this season.
It's easier and more comfortable to set up on a bird with a vest. In addition, your arsenal of calls are more accessible during crunch time.
If you do the backpack, find a way to keep your essential calls accessible, pointless in having calls in there that you can't get to. I'd at least get the WM fanny pack to go along with the backpack.
The only calls I am planning to use are mouth calls. Shouldn't be hard to keep them close by. I have a slate but not sure if I will be using it. I like the idea of a backpack because I can throw an MRE in there, along with a couple of water bottles, and still have room for other stuff (sweater if it's cool in the am, etc...). I may look into the WM fanny pack if the backpack does not work out for me next weekend.
I'm a fanny pack guy. Vest get full of non essentials and end up weighing me down. I bring 1 pot, 1 box, 1 scratcher and 2 mouth calls. If a bird dosnt like one of the variety I bring then that old Tom is meant to live another day
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on April 01, 2015, 09:16:35 PM
The only calls I am planning to use are mouth calls. Shouldn't be hard to keep them close by. I have a slate but not sure if I will be using it. I like the idea of a backpack because I can throw an MRE in there, along with a couple of water bottles, and still have room for other stuff (sweater if it's cool in the am, etc...). I may look into the WM fanny pack if the backpack does not work out for me next weekend.
If you don't have a bunch of calls don't get a vest, the best part of a vest is a way to organize all the calls.
Save your money, you might need it to pay for a full body turkey mount!
Quote from: TauntoHawk on April 01, 2015, 09:29:41 PM
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on April 01, 2015, 09:16:35 PM
The only calls I am planning to use are mouth calls. Shouldn't be hard to keep them close by. I have a slate but not sure if I will be using it. I like the idea of a backpack because I can throw an MRE in there, along with a couple of water bottles, and still have room for other stuff (sweater if it's cool in the am, etc...). I may look into the WM fanny pack if the backpack does not work out for me next weekend.
If you don't have a bunch of calls don't get a vest, the best part of a vest is a way to organize all the calls.
Save your money, you might need it to pay for a full body turkey mount!
Yeah, I figured once I got a vest, I would feel like I needed to buy the stuff to fit in the pockets.
another vote for a vest....got to have mine
I started using a dove vest over top of a military surplus field jacket before there was such a thing as a turkey vest. It was just handy to have cap, mask, gloves, calls, and ammo all in something that is easy to wear. My vest is about like an extension of myself. I know which pocket everything is kept in and it is always ready. Grab the gun & vest & go. I almost don't feel like I'm turkey hunting if I don't have my vest on.
Jim
Get a vest. Keep your gear in it not strewn around and when its time to hit the woods all you got a grab is it.
Can't beat a good vest for turkey hunting, as many have already stated.
I would personally never use a backpack or fannypack for turkey hunting. I use a backpack for bowhunting deer, and hate digging through the thing. It seems everything you want ends up on the bottom, and just can't see using them, when you have a vest option, that keeps everything orginized.
The vest I've been using for quiet a few yrs. is a White's Leafy with zip off sleeves..don't think they make the Leafy anymore.
The Leafy part is one of the main reasons I use it. That and to carry a bird out in, I can't stand to carry one over my shoulder and have that bloody head flop on my backside..it just annoys me. I don't use the cushion.
If you are only going to be using mouth calls, then a small backpack would be a good idea.
However, I would have to consider myself a dang good diaphragm caller (which I am not) to not take my other calls in the woods. Having multiple calls isn't such a bad thing. Check out some of these "professionals" on here. They are pretty good callers but still bring their arsenal when entering the turkey woods. Nothing says you have to get all your calls this year. I may get a new kind of call or upgrade one of my existing calls each year. It is only as expensive as you make it.
I ditched the tactical tatr and went with a MOLLE type system with pouches. I used AK47 magazine pouches to hold my box calls, two tactical pouches for my slate and locator calls, a large all purpose pouch for gloves, headlamp and face mask. I love the versatility of the MOLLE system, you can store strikers in the webbing between pouches and even clip on the thermacell. I'm able to still carry a backpack for an all day hunt or decoys if I've roosted them. The only downfall is no pouch on the back to carry the bird and it doesn't have an attached seat so I just made a little carrier out of 550 cord and bought a death at straps around the waist from cabelas.
I purchased the Turkey Thugs waistpack. I figure I can use it for turkey and deer hunting. It looks like it should hold all my calls (several mouth calls, a slate call, and two owl calls) plus one or two bottles of water and a couple of snacks.