Years ago, I had the perfect turkey hunting vest, one that comfortably stored a selection of box calls, pot calls and their accompanying hardwood strikers, mouth diaphragm calls, locator calls, five shotgun shells, a bottle of water, a Little Debbie oatmeal pie (a must for every spring turkey hunt in my opinion) and even my first generation collapsible decoy.
Sadly, that vest eventually began to wear out and give up the ghost after too many trips into thorny cactus and mesquite tree flats on my Texas hunting grounds, a development that necessitated finding a replacement.
And truth be told, I’ve never really been satisfied with the models I’ve used since then, remaining on an ongoing quest to find the perfect new turkey hunting vest offering all of the storage features and options I want in a friendly layout that is rugged, dependable and easy enough to use.
Here are seven of the best turkey-vest options I’ve found.
Alps Outdoors NWTF Grand Slam Turkey Vest
With a kickstand frame and padded fold-away seat, there is virtually no spot in the spring woods where a gobbler getter can’t get comfortable and sit a spell thanks to the new NWTF Grand Slam Vest. Add in a smart-phone sleeve that allows a hunter to see the phone while it’s still tucked away in the pack, not to mention a variety of call pockets (for mouth calls, friction calls, locator calls and a box call), striker pockets, water storage options and shell loops and this vest has a serious leg up on its competitors. With side compression straps, this new vest from Alps Outdoors, which comes in both Mossy Oak Obsession and Mossy Oak Bottomland, is a sure fire winner in the woods.
Alps Outdoors NWTF Super Elite 4.0
With a total of 22 storage pockets, this Super Elite vest gives hunters two large slate call pockets (with padded dividers included), three striker pockets, a silent box call pocket, two mesh diaphragm call pockets and a blood-proof breathable game bag. Add in a removable 2.5-inch thick fold away seat cushion, a chest cell phone pocket, a variety of mesh panels, a quiet cotton liner, two sizes (Medium/Large and X-Large/XX-Large) and a Mossy Oak Obsession exterior complete with a NWTF patch and it’s easy…
