Well I seem to be a little stuck... I know some of you guys carry a decoy in your vest, which I would like to do also. In case the time arises that I feel I need a decoy I can simply pull it out of my vest and use it.
I have a Montana Jake decoy which folds up real nice and I have an Avian X Jake decoy which is collapsible, also have a decoy bag with the avian X.
I finished doing the speed seat mod to my grand slam vest the other day. While I do like the mod, I notice that when I throw my folding Montana decoy in the back it tends to bulge out the back and unhook the seat from the magnets.
Which pushes me to my actual concern about carrying a decoy in the game bag.
1) It think it will be hard to slip through the woods when having a decoy pushing out my vest and the seat getting un hooked. Just overall widening my profile.
2) I could technically carry my decoy In The decoy bag but that's just another thing I need to lug around versus just chucking it in the back. Good chance I may not even need it.
Thoughts?
The Avians work great, but they are bulky to carry, especially when running n gunning. I just ordered a Primos Photobomb foam Jake decoy that collapses well, and is lightweight. Looks real good too. I have a collapsible inflatable Cherokee hen that looks real, and has fooled them. I am going to try to carry them in my vest, will let you know how it works. I don't like lugging anything but gun, and vest. I cover lots of ground in the big woods....
The magnet problem seems to be a recurring theme for those that use vests with them. I would suggest just sewing a snap buckle to the vest back and seat to eliminate the issue of the seat falling down. ...Just a thought...
When I used the foam decoys, I would occasionally just stuff them in the front of the vest...especially if I was just moving to the next spot. I also did that when I was carrying a bird out in the vest game pouch.
I have tried a few different methods (including using the game bag). Nothing as of yet has beaten the method of simply using the shoulder bags supplied with the decoys though...
I must be one of the few hunters that uses the game bag to actually carry a dead turkey. One of the areas I hunt is generally a 1/2 mile to mile steep uphill walk back to the vehicle if I am successful... I have found no other more comfortable means than the actual game bag to carry a bird this far...
The one time I decided to use the vest to carry decoys, and did not have decoy bags with me, I probably had my longest walk out with a bird... My sling also happened to break on that hunt. So I had to carry the decoys, the gun, and put the turkey in the vest (and as it turned out, I never even used the decoy). That was the hunt that made me decide that decoys were NOT necessary on long run & gun hunts.
Were I a more avid or adamant user of decoys, I would probably make some simple slotted bag that was easy to throw over the shoulder.
Just skip the decoy.... problem solved. Someone had to say it. :)
Great info, great post....
Quote from: Hobbes on March 26, 2020, 03:08:33 PM
Just skip the decoy.... problem solved. Someone had to say it. :)
Exactly. No problem created = no problem to solve.
If dead set on carrying decoys, the Cherokee decoys mentioned are probably one of the most collapsible units around. Won't know they're there. I use the Montana purrfect hen and jake if I feel I need decoys on a run n gun hunt. But I rarely use decoys if traveling. Since I'm typically on short hunts these days, Montana hen and avian gobbler decoy if I'm using them.
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Great info, thx
I always carried couple feather flex decoys in my vest, that always made a good cushion for my back again a tree. If i decided not to use them. I just used piece of paracord to tie them together in the vest. But i ditch the vest 2 year ago for satchel.
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 26, 2020, 07:54:32 PM
I always carried couple feather flex decoys in my vest, that always made a good cushion for my back again a tree. If i decided not to use them. I just used piece of paracord to tie them together in the vest. But i ditch the vest 2 year ago for satchel.
Probably should've mentioned I don't wear a vest much these days either. Been using a vestless shirt, primos freaky seat and this year I'm gonna try a Tom Teasers bag. In a case such as this, decoys go in the Avian bag. But I don't use them often enough to get excited anymore. Which is sad because I literally bought the Avian last year thinking I would. My buddy generally brings his along so I usually leave mine behind. Having said that, they do carry well in the decoy bag when carried.
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I get what you guys are saying about no decoys. I'm also not much of a decoy person. But I'd rather have one if I need it, then go home empty handed.
I'm gonna mess with my vest a little more and hopefully I can figure something out. If not I'll just ditch the decoy.
Quote from: Mossberg90MN on March 26, 2020, 09:10:31 PM
I get what you guys are saying about no decoys. I'm also not much of a decoy person. But I'd rather have one if I need it, then go home empty handed.
I'm gonna mess with my vest a little more and hopefully I can figure something out. If not I'll just ditch the decoy.
Don't get me wrong i still carry decoy , just in it's on bag. But i like my Glenda Green satchel.
Quote from: Mossberg90MN on March 26, 2020, 09:10:31 PM
I get what you guys are saying about no decoys. I'm also not much of a decoy person. But I'd rather have one if I need it, then go home empty handed.
I'm gonna mess with my vest a little more and hopefully I can figure something out. If not I'll just ditch the decoy.
I'm not telling you not to use them. If you want to, go for it. I do when I feel it's needed and won't in any way pull any punches when it's called for. Lots of guys say hunting with a decoy isn't hunting. I don't see where it's any different than fooling a bird with vocalizations or calling an elk into bow range. I just don't carry mine a lot because my buddy brings his. If he didn't, I would.
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