I didn't look, but I imagine there's more then one of these posts somewhere... I've turkey hunted on and off for about 10 years but just got bit by the bug hardcore last year. While putting the duck stuff up this weekend, I pulled my vest down and started going through it.
What are some must haves for you guys? Look forward to learning!
Probably pocket lint..................
Gave up on the vest years ago and went to a fanny pack.
I hunt very light.
One slate
Two strikers
One box
Couple diaphragms
Couple extra shells
License
Knife
Wet wipes
'Bout it
I'm the opposite of Yoder. I carry everything but the kitchen sink. Normally it's 3-4 pot calls (usually slate, glass/crystal, aluminum, and ceramic), 8-10 strikers, a box (could be long or short just depending on what I'm feeling), a scratcher or 3, and my two favorite mouth calls (Hooks Heartthrob and Hooks GC3). That's just on the call side. I always have my water bottle, my clippers, a extra facemask and gloves, my call conditioning baggy (sanding screen, scotchbrite, box chalk), and definitely some TP in there somewhere. I think that's about it? I'm sure I'm missing something lol. 80% of the time I don't use half of what's in there on the day on the call side of things but I've also been in enough situations where a bird was completely quite until he heard something totally different sound wise out of my vest that I still warrant having a load of options as a good idea. Mainly it's because I have an addiction to calls and I feel like that's a good excuse...
* 2 pot calls.
* 2 strikers.
* scratch box.
* crow call. Hardly used.
* owl call. Hardly used.
* foil type helium balloon.(it has "your special"written on it)
* snake bite kit.
* hunting license.
* zip ties.
* my "survival" bag.
* facemask. Seldom used.
* Gloves.
* Shotgun shells.
* Lunch.
* knife.
* Turkey tote.
* 2 water bottles.
* primos slick stick.
* collapsible foam hen decoy. I haven't killed a bird using it for 5 years or so but it does make a nice back pad and sometimes a pillow.
Think that's it. I have my diaphram calls around my neck along with a wingbone and I am set.
Really don't need that much, I carry a slate, a glass and a few strikers. Also about 6 diaphragms. I have four locators. I trimmed down all the stuff I don't need for killing birds and went to a hip pack. The rest of the essentials are along too...
Here's the Pack Dump
I carry lot's of stuff and it's just to much to list and i don't want give away my secret's.. you never know who's trolling the web... or has gps ...
2 pots, 3 strikers, 2 diaphragms, H2O, TP, conditioning kit, shells, ratchet pruners, license. That's about it. I've tried to really cut back in the recent years.
Well the idea was I was going to post a picture of my vest all emptied out. Unfortunately I've spent the last house trying to figure it out from imgur and Flickr and I give up.
I'm like mentioned above, I bring quite a bit but I like being prepared. 2 pots, 1 box, 4-6 mouth calls, 2 locators, tp, licenses with map of wma I'm at, conditioner kit, gloves and mask, water, thermacell, shells....
I can't believe no one has mentioned a thermacell, I can't sit still here in Ms. Woods without one!
1) air horn
2) whistle
3) blaze orange vest and hat
4) ozonic machine
5) snickers bar
6) sunscreen
7) sunglasses
8) lemonade
9) life jacket
10) safety vest
I can't talk about too much more because like Greg Massey afraid someone might pickup on my secrets.
I am really thinking this year
2 pot calls
2 box calls
3 mouth calls
2 extra shells
3 strikers
Gloves
Face mask
Bottle water
Turkey tote
Snack bars
Scotch brite
Chalk
Crow call
That's about it.
And I may only carry 1 box, however I rotate calls depending on location and day. I even change calls throughout the day sometimes.
I wear a cabelas Tatr 2
I may carry toilet paper sometimes I forget.
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And a thermacell
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Quote from: Yoder409 on February 04, 2018, 08:12:47 PM
Probably pocket lint..................
Gave up on the vest years ago and went to a fanny pack.
I hunt very light.
One slate
Two strikers
One box
Couple diaphragms
Couple extra shells
License
Knife
Wet wipes
'Bout it
Add a Thermacell, snacks and water and this what I'll be hitting the woods with this spring.
Handful of shells
Handful of mouth calls
3-4 strikers
Couple of pots
Box call
Owl hooter
Crow call
Scotchbrite/sand paper/chalk
Headnet
Gloves
Thermocell and extra stuff for it
Wet wipes
Couple blue shop towels
And a 3' mini tape measure to measure the beards. If it's under 12" I leave the bird for the coyotes, after all they gotta eat to.
1 trumpet
1 scratchbox
1 diaphragm
Thermacell
Seat
Shells
Hat, mask, gloves, etc
Gun-surprised nobody else takes theirs, just the shells. Haha.
Try to go as light as possible the last few years. The older you get, the heavier the gear gets.
Thread bump since I was curious about what others took.
One pot call
One striker
Box call
Two diaphragm calls
Turkey wing to simulate hen flying down (I've yet to kill a bird straight off the roost)
Gloves
Facemask
TP
Quart of water
Snacks
Turkey tote
Toilet Paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought I lightened the load this year but my vest is still heavier than it was years ago when I just grabbed two or three mouth calls.
Aluminum pot
Maybe a waterproof one
Crystal pot
Longbox
Scratchbox
Strikers
Mouth calls
Conditioning supplies
Water
Gloves
Hat
Face mask
shells
Zip ties
License
Pen
Lighter
Binoculars
Owl hooter
Crow call
Goose call
Silent dog whistle
Small light in case a bear blows at me in the dark, somehow it's important to identify how far away they are. Used not too often so the batteries are prob dead
Compass
Thermacell w extra mats and butane
A squealing hen call
That fake nut cracking sound thing
An ozonics so the birds don't smell me
Just kidding bout the last 3
Knight n Hale Moonshiner Crystal Pot
Knight n Hale Aluminum Pot
American Strutter Ceramic Pot
Custom Slate
Box Call
4-5 mouth calls
Hooter
Crow call
Face mask and gloves
TP
Chalk and conditioning pack
Extra Shells in case an army of turkeys attack me
Gallon ziplock bags in case I kill one way back in yonder somewhere
Drinks and snacks
Way too much stuff! I keep telling myself I'm going to go lighter every year. I take a bunch out....then have a panic attack and put it all back in.
I really need to convert my turkey vest into a tree squirrel vest since I stuff all of my turkey stuff in a large fanny pack. I do carry a light with a green bulb which I've read, and experienced, that it doesn't spook turkeys. Also, I've usually got two black plastic garbage bags, one that goes under my ground lounger to keep my butt dry and the other to go over my "stuff" if it rains. A head net to keep off the mosquitoes and buffalo gnats is a must if you are hunting in a swampy area. Then, the usual 3-5 calls, strikers, etc. Oh yeah...be sure that you've got a tissue packet or two for the inevitable "call of mother nature".
So much stuff that if I fell in a lake I would drown.
Third weekend in NY coming up and I should do some house cleaning.
Pitiful part is that even with all that I carry I still am missing something every time out.
This weekend I'm going to rest a bit and not run and gun as much. Going to breakout the decoys and head to the fields and relax in my gobbler lounger.
thermocell
tp
box
slate pot
aluminum pot
crystal pot
ceramic pot
outlaw hen
mouth yelpers
gloves,mask
crow call
turkey tote
chalk,scotchbrite
wing
thermocell refills
and usually an ole gobbler :OGturkeyhead:
I don't carry a pack.I take 3 shells in my gun, a knife, a phone, a lighter, 1 slate call, a bottle of water, chewing tobacco, binoculars around my neck, a wool hat.
What's this vest you speak of?
i'm getting old so i pack pretty light....
i usually carry one decoy depending on the time of year. sometimes one jake sometimes a "breeder" hen in the carry bag which i put on ground and sit on.
tenzig pack with kick out chair legs
1 either pot call and striker OR lynch jet slate and conditioning tools for slate/pot
1 box call i can gobble on
couple of extra shells
facemask and gloves
i think there is a crow call in there somewhere?
if its hot, i carry my thermocell
Easier to post a pic than to type it all up!! :lol:
(https://i.imgur.com/RDfU6D0.jpg)