How many non-vest users.

I pull around a small ATV trailer to carry my flock of 13 fully mounted decoys that also call electronically as well as my Double Bull Bone Collector Stub Hub Invisible Mirror Sheild blind...

I actually have a Mossy Oak Elite vest. I enjoy it, it gets the job done. Kinda hot though. I thought about moving to a "fanny" pack, but have not done so. All I carry is two or three mouth calls, a slate, tube call around my neck, gloves and mask, and some toilet paper. Maybe bottle of frozen water.
 
Setterman said:
I have to have some way to pack birds out since many times I am miles away from the truck.

If I could find a decent solution I would dump the vest in a heartbeat
Click to expand...
Problem solved, get you a turkey tote, either paracord or leather. IMO, there is no better way to pack one out, especially if you track long distances such as myself at times. I started using a turkey tote few years back and haven't looked back. Before that, I threw the old bird over my shoulder and hiked many miles out while holding his feet, but that was when I was younger and worked harder, not smarter. Few links below better explain the concept.

A friend of mine in the pic below makes the leather ones you see here (as do others), but his availability is limited as he gets his leather from Amish guys in KY and only makes the totes periodically.
http://www.turkeydog.org/No1TNlongbeard.jpg

The link below discusses/shows leather as well as paracord totes. Paracord has emerged in last few years as a viable option for a cheaper price. Just make sure the paracord portion that goes over your shoulder where the majority of the force will be is 1.5-2" wide so it will not cut into your shoulder while toting 20lbs+ for long hauls.
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=7 ... urkey+tote
 
Setterman said:
I'm so jealous of the non vest crowd, I would love to not need one and have looked for a solution but come up empty every time. I have to have some way to pack birds out since many times I am miles away from the truck.

If I could find a decent solution I would dump the vest in a heartbeat
Click to expand...

I found a mesh vest to carry out birds years ago similar to below. They don't seem to be made anymore though. With mine being mesh, it folds up into nothing and I store it in one of the pouches.

In addition, I do carry one of the fixed-legged turkey seats and a cushion for my back. Extra clothes, dekes (if used), etc. get strapped to the under side of the seat.

$_35.JPG
 
PalsPal said:
Setterman said:
I'm so jealous of the non vest crowd, I would love to not need one and have looked for a solution but come up empty every time. I have to have some way to pack birds out since many times I am miles away from the truck.

If I could find a decent solution I would dump the vest in a heartbeat
Click to expand...

I found a mesh vest to carry out birds years ago similar to below. They don't seem to be made anymore though. With mine being mesh, it folds up into nothing and I store it in one of the pouches.

In addition, I do carry one of the fixed-legged turkey seats and a cushion for my back. Extra clothes, dekes (if used), etc. get strapped to the under side of the seat.

$_35.JPG
Click to expand...

I saw this a couple of years ago. Seems like a good solution.
 
I personally like to be prepared. To me a vest is a must-have item along with my backpack, cooler, full-size chair and sometimes a soft pillow.
 
Always hunt with a vest. Like said before, back rest, butt pad , carries everything you might need on a hunt. Calls , facemask, gloves, folding saw, pruining shears, tp, empty trashbag, bottle water, food, thermacell, gps, decoys, shotgun shells and even a rainsuit some times. When you hunt public land as much as I do you learn the need for this stuff. I too use a turkey sling to carry my first bird but some times you have a second bird and need to use the back of the vest to carry the second or even a third one.
 
Recoil said:
I personally like to be prepared. To me a vest is a must-have item along with my backpack, cooler, full-size chair and sometimes a soft pillow.
Click to expand...
lmao :D

callemquacktn said:
Always hunt with a vest. Like said before, back rest, butt pad , carries everything you might need on a hunt. Calls , facemask, gloves, folding saw, pruining shears, tp, empty trashbag, bottle water, food, thermacell, gps, decoys, shotgun shells and even a rainsuit some times. When you hunt public land as much as I do you learn the need for this stuff. I too use a turkey sling to carry my first bird but some times you have a second bird and need to use the back of the vest to carry the second or even a third one.
Click to expand...
dang that is a LOT of stuff, and I hunt public land a lot too.
 
I tried the tote bag thing, and a turkey tote and both were not conducive for me. The turkey tote was a huge issue when coming off really steep terrain or cliffs as I often do during a hunt. And killed my shoulder and back as well.

The bag was a nightmare both times I tried it. Once the dang thing ripped open and I ended up carrying a bird over the shoulder style for several miles. Which sucks beyond description if you've ever done it, I couldn't feel my arm for a while afterwards.

The other time the bird wouldn't fit in the bag, which blew my mind but it actually happened. Again a several mile hump out.

I actually snagged a bag for a Avian X decoy this week and it just might work. It seems big enough and if I doctor up the carrying strap it just might do the trick.

I prefer to throw them over my shoulder, it's the way I grew up hauling one out, but the terrain I hunt here and distances I travel make that brutal.
 
catman529 said:
Recoil said:
I personally like to be prepared. To me a vest is a must-have item along with my backpack, cooler, full-size chair and sometimes a soft pillow.
Click to expand...
lmao :D

callemquacktn said:
Always hunt with a vest. Like said before, back rest, butt pad , carries everything you might need on a hunt. Calls , facemask, gloves, folding saw, pruining shears, tp, empty trashbag, bottle water, food, thermacell, gps, decoys, shotgun shells and even a rainsuit some times. When you hunt public land as much as I do you learn the need for this stuff. I too use a turkey sling to carry my first bird but some times you have a second bird and need to use the back of the vest to carry the second or even a third one.
Click to expand...
dang that is a LOT of stuff, and I hunt public land a lot too.
Click to expand...
I think what might set us apart is the size of the area we hunt and length of time we spend on a hunt. As long as time permits I will stay out all day to kill a bird. Some of my best spots I walk an hr before I even pull a call out. Most people I know are casual about turkey hunting and do it to have something to hunt while waiting on deer season. For me I feel like I have too.
Good thing about it is I do what works for me and you do what works for you. Nothing wrong with either style.
 
Lol @ REN. We'll probably start seeing the leather fanny packs at the NWTF banquet in the coming years, most likely with a Duck Commander logo on them.... :D
 
Setterman said:
I actually snagged a bag for a Avian X decoy this week and it just might work. It seems big enough and if I doctor up the carrying strap it just might do the trick.
Click to expand...

The bag I posted a pic of above doesn't appear to have it, but mine also has a strap that comes from each side of the bag, under the arms, and snaps in front of my chest. This keeps it from swaying as you walk, and helps keep the weight distributed.

So, while modifying, you might add one if it doesn't already have it.
 
callemquacktn said:
catman529 said:
Recoil said:
I personally like to be prepared. To me a vest is a must-have item along with my backpack, cooler, full-size chair and sometimes a soft pillow.
Click to expand...
lmao :D

callemquacktn said:
Always hunt with a vest. Like said before, back rest, butt pad , carries everything you might need on a hunt. Calls , facemask, gloves, folding saw, pruining shears, tp, empty trashbag, bottle water, food, thermacell, gps, decoys, shotgun shells and even a rainsuit some times. When you hunt public land as much as I do you learn the need for this stuff. I too use a turkey sling to carry my first bird but some times you have a second bird and need to use the back of the vest to carry the second or even a third one.
Click to expand...
dang that is a LOT of stuff, and I hunt public land a lot too.
Click to expand...
I think what might set us apart is the size of the area we hunt and length of time we spend on a hunt. As long as time permits I will stay out all day to kill a bird. Some of my best spots I walk an hr before I even pull a call out. Most people I know are casual about turkey hunting and do it to have something to hunt while waiting on deer season. For me I feel like I have too.
Good thing about it is I do what works for me and you do what works for you. Nothing wrong with either style.
Click to expand...
I take turkey huntin pretty seriously but it sounds like you might hunt bigger and tougher public land than I do. I don't usually go more than 2 miles from the truck and often find turkeys long before then. I killed one last year 1 1/4 mile from the truck. The next day, I killed one a couple hundred yards from the truck, on the other side of the same road.

I'd probably be packing a few extra things if I hunted where you do
 

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