Designing a turkey hunting vest
 

After years of sticking stuff in cargo pockets or a butt-pack, I am going to assemble a turkey hunting vest. I would like some input.

I am thinking of making it from military surplus webgear. I need a good suspender-and-belt system. Will also require drinking water storage. Need to be able to carry calls and ammo, maybe a cell phone and a tag.

I think I have some of the old Korean war h-harness suspenders, maybe a couple of SAW drum pouches. I probably have an old pistol belt, but damn those things are uncomfortable.

Ideas?

Judge, have you ever used the 550 cord closure on a pistol belt?

Depending on how your weight is distributed, it could work for you.

Or you could just get one of the Camelbaks, they go from basically a stripped down sleeve with straps to a pretty good sized ruck.

TR

an old military surplus AK-47 chest rack and a low end camel back will do everything you are asking for 50-75 bucks. The mag pouches on the vest will hold your calls and the grenade pouches on the sides of the vest will hold most cell phones - you can usually find them on e-bay for well under 20 bucks.
With a little patience you can grab a M.U.L.E type camel back for 20-30 bucks from e-bay

MOLLE gear will cost significantly more...

I never had enough pockets, so I used an old ruck, no frame. It also made a fair seat or pillow. I found one that was fairly smooth on the outside so it didn't get caught on the brush.

BUT,, if you are looking for a vest, take a peak at the old Medic vests at your local army/navy store.

The US aviators vest CMU-33 is all molle, front & back, customize as required.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Army-Avia...item4d2e77b22a

or the older USA molle vest:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOLLE-Medic-...item2ede51af87

The Brits were late to the molle centric trend and made some nice gear:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-2000S-U...item417dc644be

The did a nice molle vest after a while:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MLCE-MTP-MUL...item462931caeb
And the ruskies
http://www.ebay.com/itm/russian-army...item2344227d36


Arktis makes some nice Brit kit

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...Text=&_sacat=1

PS: I used ebay for ease of search, this gear may be found at better prices on the net..

Screw it. My court reporter said she could make me one. I'm going to pirate some MOLLEesque gear. Crap, might even make one that I can use for turkey, pheasant, quail, etc.

If you ever come out here to California to hunt quail with me, make sure your gear is lightweight. These little buggers run like Hell, especially the Gambel's quail in the desert...

I am all about the lightweight gear. These pheasant hunts lead to some long days of walking. And some of the country is really dry, so you have to carry water for you and the dogs.

I have a decent bird vest, but it's only decent, made by Columbia. I don't have a turkey vest. And, I keep looking for stuff commercially-made, and everything sucks and is way overpriced. So, I'll just piece together some military stuff.

Maybe I'll go into business and start making some of that fat cash...

75 yds out
 

Thought about you today when I looked out back of the house. These guys have been feeding down in the timberline each morning but today moved up pretty close to our house. It did not take much noise to get them running. Good luck with your vest and your hunt.

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