Gear and more Gear.
I guess I’m a little uneducated when it comes to Turkey hunting. I will readily admit that I’m still learning how to hunt these wary birds, but what I was also not to well-informed about is the shear amount of gear that you have to take along in order to kill these X-ray vision gobblers.
Heading to my hunting spot of choice the other night, I realized this fact as I was loading up and heading out. I had a pop-up blind on my back, a side pack connected to my belt, a gun in my hand, and a turkey decoy occupying the other hand. Pop-up blind, turkey call, the Thermacell, binoculars, a different kind of call, a knife, shells, gun, decoy, another different kind of call. The list goes on and on to hunt these thunderchickens. How many different calls are there? The choices are endless.
I think deer hunting is much simpler. I know that a lot of you will disagree with that, but I don’t think I carry nearly the same amount of stuff into the woods when I’m hunting whitetails as opposed to the number of items I have in my possession for one turkey hunt. I started to realize why they make those neat little turkey vests and started to think that I need to invest in one for next year. I also think it helps my argument that they don’t make a “deer vest”! See what I mean?
I’m truly going to consider a turkey vest purchase next year. Maybe it can keep me from resembling the Micheline man when I head into the woods. Talk about bulk!!!:)
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Turkey vests are lifesavers! You definitely need one!
Mark has only been turkey hunting a handful of times and has never gotten one. Which is unlike Mark. I just really don’t think his heart is in it like deer hunting.
Arthur, every hunter gets wrapped up in the gear bug, especially when they start out after a new quarry. This is what has driven the hunting business into a huge growth industry, even while the number of hunters is constantly declining.
Not that a lot of those gadgets and gizmos aren’t great to have. After this season, I’m already looking into a new decoy (a strutting tom) and a gobbler tube, even though my current turkey gear (calls, dekes, etc.) barely fit into a huge storage box.
But I’m also reminded that all this “stuff” isn’t necessary for a good hunt. The other morning I rolled out with a mouthcall, a slate, and a decoy. I admit, I’d have carried the Thermacell if I’d remembered to bring it, but other than that, I was running trim and light.
I set up with my hunter in a nice little gathering area and I proceeded to call birds down the mountain with nothing but the slate. No fancy boxes, push-pull calls, or anything else. Just a piece of wood on a piece of slate.
It sure gave me something to think about.
I to am beginning to realize like yourself how much stuff you need. I have been reading, listening and talking to other turkey hunters and all I got to say is I think a good turkey vest is on my wish list for next year as well.
I haven’t gotten into turkey hunting as much as I would like to yet, but I have still had my eye on those turkey vests. I think it would be great, even if I only get out a couple of times per year!
The graphic I was talking about is the gobbling turkey in the top right hand corner…if that has been there all along, I am really not very observant (just ask my wife about that!)
Arthur I am sorry to hear you became a victim of the turkey hunting gear devil. As Phillip pointed out, hunters can easy get wrapped up in the gear bug. I remember my first years of turkey hunting I thought that I need to carry at least half of Cabela’s catalog into the woods.
Over the years I learned that if I have more gear than what can fit into the pockets of my pants, turkey vest and a small back bag I am way overloaded.
Here is my short list for you, maybe that helps you.
Shotgun (of course)
3 shotgun shells (Most times I only get one shot)
2 slug shells (I live in bear country, a shotgun going off is like a dinner bell for them)
1 small knife
3 turkey calls (1 box call, 1 glass call, 1 slate call, 2 strikers. (Never used a mouth call, never felt the need I need one.)
2 roll up turkey decoys (optional)
1 GPS and 1 compass (never trust electronic gadgets alone)
1 roll toilet paper (It has many uses)
1 roll blaze flagging tape (to mark my stand site and decoys if there are other hunters in the area)
1 blaze orange hat and vest (I wear these items on my way in and out in areas where there are other hunters)
1 turkey hunting vest that comes with attached seat cushion
1 thermos of coffee, a few nutrition bars and sandwiches.
1 rain suit (optional)
1 small first aid kit.
1 small flashlight
1 cellular phone
That is all that I need and all I will take with me on a short trip. For a wilderness trip I may take a tent, stove, sleeping bags and whatever else I need to be comfortable and safe.
Never used a blind, never felt the need to own one. They are, in my opinion to cumbersome to set up and need additional camouflaging to break the outline up.
Good luck next time and lighten your load.
-ov-