Chapter 5 – May 4, 2023
Gearing up: An introduction to turkey vests
By Eric Braaten/WDFW
Turkey vests come in a variety of styles. Seen here from left to right are a traditional vest, a yoke-style vest, and a strap-style vest. (Eric Braaten/WDFW)
The options
The turkey vest was conceived as a result of the need to have gear easily accessible with minimal movement and providing hunters a means to set up on a bird quickly and comfortably. Two main styles you will find on the market are strap and shoulder-yoke. Strap styles have two shoulder straps, typically made of nylon webbing. This design provides adequate support for lightweight to medium gear while the shoulder-yoke styles have a padded shoulder yoke that provides better support for heavier loads.
A variety of storage pockets are arranged for convenience for the average turkey hunter. Pocket configurations vary by manufacturers, but many vests offer pockets for box calls, pot/friction calls, ammunition, and larger items. Padding on the back of the vest and an integrated seat cushion (some seats are detachable) make for a comfortable sit while set up leaning against the base of a tree.
Game bags at the rear of the vest allow for you to pack decoys, clothes, and a turkey, once harvested. Camo fabrics vary but help you blend into your surroundings. Be sure to choose a vest made from soft, quiet material. Swishing or shuffling sounds caused by noisy fabric will alert or even spook turkeys in close. Also consider pocket closures: Zippers, magnets, and snaps are quieter, while Velcro can be noisy.
Many turkey vests are “one size fits most,” but some manufacturers are now making sizes specifically for men, women, and youth.
A turkey vest offers plenty of custom-fit storage for your calls and other gear. Some models have integrated seat cushions that can be deployed for quick, comfortable set-ups. (Eric Braaten/WDFW)
You can see from my vest dump, I carry a lot of gear. A turkey vest helps me keep everything organized and accessible. Plus, it allows me to set up quickly and quietly against a tree with minimal movement, which is more challenging with a traditional hunting pack. (Eric Braaten/WDFW)
Turkey vest pro tips:
- Carrying water in a vest can be heavy, so consider using a water bladder system to distribute weight evenly, especially on long-distance hunts.
- Place car keys in a zippered vest pocket. Losing keys afield is not a pleasant experience.
- Bring food for the day. Hunting burns calories. If hunting with kids, take plenty of snacks.
- Put medication in a sealable sandwich bag and put it in a zippered vest pocket.
- Bring extra battery chargers (banks or solar) for your cellphone. Battery consumption increases quickly when using GPS, hunting apps, and taking video/photos, etc.
- Be sure to prepare for dealing with mosquitos and ticks. Wearing a head net and treating your clothing and gear with Permethrin is a common best-practice among turkey hunters.
- Parachute cord, zip-ties, and tape have many uses in the field.
- Extra ammo. Sometimes you go through it, sometimes you don’t. I keep a few extra rounds in my vest.
- Tape measure and scales to score your turkey are sometimes nice to have.
- Take a survival kit including matches, lighter, space blanket, compass, candle, etc.
- Extra gloves, face mask, clothes. Sometimes you lose things afield or forget them at camp.
- Clean/wash and store your vest at the end of the season.
For more information on a variety of turkey hunting topics, be sure to read through our 2022 Turkey Takeover blog series as well.
