Turkey Vests & Other Important Gear

Over the years of hunting turkey, my approach has evolved. I’m constantly picking up little ‘nuggets’ from more experienced hunters or things I’ve learned first hand when I get schooled by a wise ol bird. 

As my tactics and gear has transitioned, I’ve selfishly built the products that work seamlessly with how I hunt. That being said.. A hammer isn’t always the right tool for every job, so having a couple options in my arsenal enable me to be efficient and adapt to the circumstances and hunt. 

Here’s a few setups and pieces of gear to consider:

SUMMIT Turkey System:

The Final Rise Summit Turkey System leveraged the modularity of our design and let the end user get more value, use and mileage out of their kit. The goal was to create one vest that with the right accessories and pairings, could excel in the turkey woods, uplands and even hunting waterfowl where a couple decoys and a ways to carry your birds back to the truck was all you needed. 

In short, our Summit Turkey system is a spin off of the upland system and incorporates a few key options to make it more optimal in the turkey woods. 

• Turkey Seat - I won’t lie.. Big, bulky, HEAVY turkey seats always had me scratching my head. We searched out a high density EVA foam that was a fraction of the size and weight but provided equal comfort. Our turkey seat is compatible with any Final Rise vest (meaning you can turn your upland system into a turkey setup) and provides quick deployment, comfort and it weighs almost nothing. A triple whammy in our book!

• Turkey Pouches - Organization is crucial when working a bird and turning and opportunity into a punched tag. Our turkey pouches have ample sleeves, stretch material and pockets to put all your calls, shells, etc. into a place where you know exactly where they are when you need them. 

In summary, if you’re looking to put on the miles, need to carry water, carry a bird out in the vest, and have every piece of kit to create success with you at all times, the Summit Turkey system is a slam dunk. 

Chest Rig System:

I absolutely love chest rigs. When I only have a couple hours to hunt and need to go light and fast, our Final Rise Chest Rig has the ability to check all the boxes for a simple and very functional turkey system. 

From a box call attached to the MOLLE rail on the bottom of the vest to using the velcro turkey accessories to organize my mouth calls, shells and strikers, I can have all the fixing at my finger tips and in a compact setup that helps me get in and get out, without concern. 

For a longer walk, you can even swap out the box call pouch and put a 16oz water bottle. It’s truly one of the most universal pieces of gear we offer.. And when turkey season is over, its right at home on the river, lake or out hiking with the kiddos. It’s like a fanny pack..but for your chest.

My Turkey Guns:

While it seems that TSS is a thing of the past anymore, I fortunately have a hoarding issue and have enough shells rolled, and shot on hand, to last me for another 100 shells.. I doubt I’ll use it all in my lifetime. 

TSS has made sub-gauges the most lethal gun in the turkey woods. I shoot both a .410 and 28 gauge Tristar Viper G2 for my turkey setups. 

The thing I love the most about these guns is the pistol grip. It keeps my elbows down, my outline narrow and it’s easy to handle ‘off-hand’ if I need to shoot left handed. It’s just that much more comfortable for being setup for extended periods of time where a birds in eye-sight but hasn’t quite made it to the tip of your boots. 

Topping each of these guns are Burris Fastfire red dots and boy do I enjoy them. I have both the version 2 and 3 of them and honestly prefer the 2 for the easier to operate toggle switch on the power. With gloved hands, it’s got that tactile ‘click’ so I know it’s on and I can go to work. 

I wont say red dots are a cheat code, but whether it’s me, my wife or one of my nephews shooting the gun it’s simply ‘put the red dot on their neck and squeeze’. With the right power settings and taking the time to sight them in, they can be extremely dependable and help put birds in the bag. 

Camo:

I don’t camo up for hunting that much anymore, but turkeys are critters I respect enough to cover all my bases. 

Leafy suits are great option because I can rock them over a t-shirt, a baselayer or even a hoody when the temps are cool. I’ve used and enjoyed the First Lite Leafy suit for a handful of years because I like how the leafs actually stay ‘up’ and break up your outline. Lots of suits are like giant rags and other than blending in with the colors, they still give you a human profile, which is what I believe animals notice far more than colors. 

Pro Tip - I’ve spray painted my leafy suit quite a few times, depending on where I’m hunting and the time of year. The paint not only gets the color tones right, but it also makes the leafs more ridged, which again, aids in profile break-up. 

Calls:

Because I’m an avid elk hunter, diaphragm calls are my go-to. The sounds, volume control and having both hands free are all win/win/win. I don’t have a preferred brand of calls, and often use elk calls honestly, but it all comes down to practice and understanding what you’re saying to the birds and what they’re saying back. 

Beyond the mouth calls, I almost always have a box call. The reach and ability to strike birds at distance is essential where we hunt. There aren’t a lot of birds, there’s tons of topography and it’s usually a little windy. Being able to reach out and strike birds to create more opportunities has been an ‘x’ factor time and time again when I’ve chased birds. 

Summary:

Gear is cool but just being out hunting is way more cool! Regardless of your vest, gun and tactics, do what tickles your fancy and is FUN. If it’s safe and legal, do your thing and enjoy your time in God’s creations.