Turkey hunting equipment has evolved dramatically over the past four decades. Guns, loads, calls and more have improved to the point that some veterans marvel at the change. But, they don’t necessarily fondly refer to “the good old days.”
One of the many thing that has appeared on the market in the past quarter century is the turkey hunting vest. Starting out as a camouflaged version of a simple small game vest, today’s models have enough storage space and other features to allow hunting in style and comfort.
The first nationally advertised commercial turkey vest appeared in the May 1978 issue of Turkey Call Magazine. The Turkey Mc, made by Albert McMillan from Carthage, Miss., sold for $19.95. It wasn’t much more than an olive drab game vest with a padded seat.
Four decades later we’ve got today’s turkey vests with a multitude of pockets. But, what do you do with all that storage space? Most choices are pretty logical, but it’s rather enlightening to take a peek into the turkey vests of veteran turkey hunters and pros I have hunted with to learn their “must haves” and unique equipment selections that might work for you, too.
Tad Brown, a turkey killing veteran for more than half a century, bagged his first bird at 14. He’s the former Product Development Manager and Public Relations Specialist for M.A.D., Lohman and Feather Flex decoys.
“The ideal turkey vest has shoulder straps,” Tad said. “I’m hot natured, so the ones with straps are cooler. A rigid seat, like Bucklick Creek’s, that allows you to sit up in the wide open without a tree is my favorite. As old as I am, I like the gel seat cushions, too.”
Tad likes a big compartment in the back, but doesn’t necessarily use it to carry a game. He uses it for storage for a water bottle, decoys and other items. “I’m not real big on all the gadget pockets up front,” Tad said. “I like two long box call pockets up front. I keep my friction calls, slates and strikers loose in a pocket. Elastic shell loops come in handy, too.
“I like the pull-out orange safety flags,” he added. “One thing I started carrying years ago is a vinyl bank bag with a lanyard tied through the zipper hole. In it I carry uncut mouth calls, ink pens, zip ties, licenses and turkey tags, O rings, extra latex and Band-Aids. A limb saw and a pair of pruners, trash bag, and a compact rain jacket are other items carried.
“I use a coin case-type mouth call case with a lanyard on it,” Tad said. “Sand paper and scratch pads to condition calls, and a compass come in handy, too.”
Obviously, since he designed most of the calls, Tad carries two waterproofed M.A.D. box calls: The River Otter and the Heavy Metal Box calls. “I designed a solid aluminum pot with glass, ceramic or aluminum surfaces,” he said, “and I run them with hickory or carbon strikers.” Tad carries a custom gobble tube made from Osage orange wood. All together, he estimates his vest tips the scales between 20 and 25 pounds.
Ernie Calandrelli is the Director of Public Relations for Quaker Boy Game Calls, and killed his first turkey in 1964. “My ideal vest is something that will last more than one season,” Ernie laughed and said, “and one I can fit enough stuff in it.” The New York native carries the usual array of calls, but modifies his vests in an interesting way. “My personal vest has alligator clips attached to it to let my mouth calls dry out,” he said.
“The pouch on the back has got to be big enough to pack out a turkey,” he added. “I use a Buckwing vest with a fold out seat and I add a Breedlove inner tube to it.” Reminiscent of hunts in thorny terrain, he added “You should have a spare inner tube seat if you hunt in Texas.”
Ernie’s call inventory consists of eight to 10 mouth calls, a slate call, two push button box calls, and a Quaker Boy Hurricane Box calls, “because it’s waterproof.” He adds a face mask, gloves, Thermacell mosquito repellent, sand paper, chalk, three strikers; carbon, hickory and soft wood like cedar or maple. A small digital camera rounds out his turkey vest essentials.
Arkansas’ Turkey-Smashing Brotherhood
Two brothers from Arkansas, Scott and Roger Hook, have different ideas about turkey vests. Scott tends to carry everything he might need, while Roger is more of a minimalist.
President of Hook’s Custom Calls, Scott Hook feels that a hunter can never have too much gear in their vest unless it becomes so heavy it impedes his ability to move quietly through the woods. “I would carry the ‘kitchen sink’ if I thought it had a practical use in the spring woods,” Scott said. “Empty, my favorite vest weighs less than four pounds, but loaded for a day chasing gobblers my best guess is that it would weigh 20 to 25 pounds.”
Scott’s favorite early morning locater is a quality owl hooter, and can be found in his vest, which is nothing unusual. “I carry a vast array of diaphragm calls,” Scott said. “And, I always carry two box calls, a standard Gibson-style box and a long-box. If I am in Rio or Merriam’s country I always reach for the long-box because the pitch is slightly higher and those two subspecies tend to respond better to it. My overall choice of friction calls is a slate.” Scott carries both a slate and crystal glass call, with the slate getting more use. “The slate comes out when I am in need of the softer more subtle calls,” he adds, but if the day gets windy I go to the crystal glass call to penetrate the wind better. Multiple strikers are also a must. I make sure I have at least one striker that will weatherproof friction calls. I then carry three or four others in various woods that allow me to change the sound of my call.
Extra shells, head net and gloves are also found in Scott’s vest. “I don’t know how often I have sat by a tree with my head net and gloves off to call, only to have a bird respond on the next ridge. In the excitement of moving I’ve realized I’ve lost a glove or head net. Having spare gloves or a head net can make the difference in carrying out that old gobbler or watching him run off because he saw something he did not like.”
When Scott goes into the woods he prepares to stay for the duration. “Thirst and hunger impair our ability to stay in the field,” he said. “Staying with the birds for long periods in the spring often makes the difference for me. I carry a couple of bottles of water and a piece of fruit or some type of jerky. There have been several instances where I have taken a turkey mid-day only because of my ability to stay in the woods while others were at the local restaurant.”
Roger Hook has an impressive number of longbeards to his credit. Over the years, this Arkansas native has joined various turkey call company pro staffs, called and won competitively, as well as judging several regional and national calling championships.
“I always make sure that I have two extra pairs of gloves and masks,” Roger said, “because I often hunt with other people.” The 53-year turkey hunting veteran recalled past hunts when hunting companions forgot their masks and spooked gobblers.
“I carry a compass every time I go into the woods,” Roger said. A pair of 8×20 compact Leica binoculars and a Scorpion mini flashlight by Streamlight are also essential tools. “I’ve always got three extra shotgun shells with me,” he said. “I’ve got those to loan out to people who are hunting with me, too. And, a handful of wire twist ties come in handy to put tags on a gobbler’s leg.”
“I always have 12 diaphragm calls in my vest,” Roger added. “Three containers hold four calls each: One container will have a split ‘V’; a 2 ½-reed cutter call; and a new call that I make myself, which is a modified version of a cutter call that has three reeds. I’ve always got a box call, too.” Displaying some family loyalty, Roger shared his preference for the Bantam Box made by brother Scott’s company Hook’s Custom Calls. “It’s a small box call that’s easy to store,” Roger added.
“I typically use a slate when I blind call,” Roger said. “The slate is a little softer, but I carry a glass call mostly for locating birds, and I use a number of strikers, like hickory, bubinga, rosewood, or carbon. A tube call made from a medicine bottle and a Turpin yelper complete my list of calls.”
“A pair of decoys: a jake and hen ride in the back of Roger’s vest. “That’s usually why I’m wearing a vest,” he added. “I’ve got a half gobbler wing that I use early of a morning to imitate a bird flying down from the roost, too.”
Roger’s two primary locator calls are a Turpin crow call and a M.A.D. Calls owl hooter. “If’ I’m hunting Rios of Merriam’s, I’ve always got a M.A.D. coyote howler, too,” he said.
Last, but not least, Roger carries an Avery turkey tote, since the game pocket is usually filled with gear. “The turkey tote saves wear and tear on his shoulders,” he concluded.
Ronnie Ballinger, from Sugar Tree, Tennessee, has been chasing spring gobblers since 1973, and has killed so many that he’s lost count. The retired Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency construction supervisor said that “I’ve had a dozen, but most of the seats on today’s turkey vests could stand to be a bit thicker.” Ronnie’s top pick is the Red Head Bucklick Creek model he picked up at the Nashville Bass Pro Shops. “It’s light and comfortable and it really fits me good,” Ronnie said. “I’ve killed turkeys that I wouldn’t have been able to kill because of that vest. I can sit and stay put longer.”
There’s nothing unusual about his selection of calls, which include a slate and a glass friction call with three strikers. And he’s not too picky about mouth calls, either. “I don’t really care, but I usually carry a Quaker Boy Old Boss Hen and some of the new ones with green latex,” Ronnie said. “I’ve got some of the old Perfection double-reeds that work well, too.”
Even though he’s pretty laid back about most of his calls, Ronnie’s box call he carries is something special. “I cut down a persimmon tree about a hundred yards from where I killed my first gobbler,” he recalled. “I took a piece of the log to Robert W. Clifft in Bolivar, Tennessee, and he made what has become my favorite box call.
“Turkey calls weren’t all the prevalent when I got started, and I’ve always kept things kind of simple,” Ronnie said. “I’ve got an old scratch box that I came up with a few years ago, and I carry a wing bone call made by another call maker from Bolivar.”
Other accessories Ronnie carries includes one extra shotgun shell, a scrub pad, a glass conditioner and a Ziploc bag for his box call, just in case it rains.
Comparing your turkey vest inventory with these veteran gobbler getters. It’s a great way to prepare for your next sunrise duel this spring.
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