Go Back   Professional Soldiers ® > Hunting & Fishing > Feather

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-19-2015, 12:35   #1
craigepo
Quiet Professional
 
craigepo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern Mo
Posts: 1,541
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?
__________________
"And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his gods?"
Thomas Babington Macaulay


"One man with courage makes a majority." Andrew Jackson

"Well Mr. Carpetbagger. We got something in this territory called the Missouri boat ride."
Josey Wales
craigepo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2015, 12:40   #2
The Reaper
Quiet Professional
 
The Reaper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,779
Quote:
Originally Posted by craigepo View Post
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
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910

De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
The Reaper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2015, 13:02   #3
Box
Quiet Professional
 
Box's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: State of Confusion
Posts: 5,746
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...
__________________
Opinions stated in this post are solely those of the author, and in no way reflect the opinions or policies of The Department of Defense, The United States Army, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, The Screen Actors Guild, The Boy Scouts, The Good, The Bad, or The Ugly. These opinions are provided purely as overly sarcastic social commentary and are not meant to be used for mission planning or navigation.

"Make sure your own mask is secure before assisting others"
-Airplane Safety Briefing
Box is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2015, 13:18   #4
JJ_BPK
Quiet Professional
 
JJ_BPK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: 18 yrs upstate NY, 30 yrs South Florida, 20 yrs Conch Republic, now chasing G-Kids in NOVA & UK
Posts: 11,901
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..
__________________
Go raibh tú leathuair ar Neamh sula mbeadh a fhios ag an diabhal go bhfuil tú marbh

"May you be a half hour in heaven before the devil knows you’re dead"
JJ_BPK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2015, 11:31   #5
craigepo
Quiet Professional
 
craigepo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern Mo
Posts: 1,541
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.
__________________
"And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his gods?"
Thomas Babington Macaulay


"One man with courage makes a majority." Andrew Jackson

"Well Mr. Carpetbagger. We got something in this territory called the Missouri boat ride."
Josey Wales
craigepo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2015, 14:05   #6
mark46th
Quiet Professional
 
mark46th's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orange, Ca.
Posts: 4,941
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...
mark46th is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2015, 16:29   #7
craigepo
Quiet Professional
 
craigepo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern Mo
Posts: 1,541
Quote:
Originally Posted by mark46th View Post
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...
__________________
"And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his gods?"
Thomas Babington Macaulay


"One man with courage makes a majority." Andrew Jackson

"Well Mr. Carpetbagger. We got something in this territory called the Missouri boat ride."
Josey Wales
craigepo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2015, 14:42   #8
cbtengr
Area Commander
 
cbtengr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,810
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.

Turkeys.jpg
__________________
The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
cbtengr is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:07.



Copyright 2004-2022 by Professional Soldiers ®
Site Designed, Maintained, & Hosted by Hilliker Technologies