Turkey Vests Bests 2022
Blooms and booms fill the bottoms as spring hunters begin their turkey seasons across the south. The lengths many turkey hunters will go through over these few weeks are a test of spirit. Whether you're crossing county or state lines to find your hunt, we wish you success and safety this year.
As an admittedly novice turkey hunter, this year's NWTF Sport Show had me thinking about turkey season differently from the start. Turkey hunters aren't just built different - their prize forces them to think different. While some build a sanctuary for wildlife to call home, turkey hunters visit a temple that only God's creation can design (though woodsmanship has its place). No matter the hunt's outcome, payment for these visits are time and humbling moments.
This spring the Camoretro marketplace broke site visit and sales records with the release of the 2022 Spring Turkey Collection. There's no better time than now to list your spring or turkey geared goods to list on Camoretro's marketplace. If you'd like to see only the vests from the 2022 Spring Turkey Collection, check out the Turkey Vest Collection that we pulled together especially for this blog entry.
The Common Thread blog explores this industry through the goods we all use and is meant to be a resource for the Camoretro community. For this entry, we prompted 5 industry figureheads with a few questions about their choice of vest, goals, and outlook for the 2022 season.
Please take the time to follow these guests and their brandsthrough the following social media channels!
Q: What are your experiences and/or achievements in the turkey hunting space?
Jason Bradley Hart:
I began turkey hunting in the 90s as a teenager and became obsessed when I joined the Tenth Legion in 1995. Since then I have been fortunate to chase the wild turkey in 49 states, Mexico and Canada taking 22 Grand Slams (one with every American gauge, archery and muzzleloader), 5 World Slams and a US Super Slam (harvesting a turkey in all 49 states). I also co-founded and serve as the GM of NOMAD where I help build and sell turkey hunting gear.
Josh Raggio:
I am by no means a professional hunter, but love the sport of chasing turkeys in the deep south. Blessed to have a family farm, I don't travel much to turkey hunt, fail more than i succeed, but get lucky every now and then.
Hunter Farrior:
Founder of Spring Legion, Amazon Best Selling Author of Ballad of a Turkey Hunter, Host of The Spring Legion Podcast.
Do yourself a favor and grab or gift a copy of Hunter's book Ballad of a Turkey Hunter at Springlegion.com or check out their new product releases!
Cade Trickey:
This will be my 13th spring as a turkey hunter. I do not consider myself to be a good Turkey hunter, however I do believe that there are few that love it and appreciate it as much as I do. I give credit to my uncle Mark and my mentor Jim Safley for teaching me to play the game the way God intended from a young age. Turkey hunting is my absolute favorite thing in the world.
Gary Stanton:
I started turkey hunting in 2020 and it’s my favorite thing to do. What I love about it is the things you learn in the woods, every time is something new. When you get the opportunity to harvest one, it’s an accomplishment you remember forever but, want to do it again the very next day.
Gary's band Muscadine Bloodline's new record “Dispatch to 16th Ave.” was played through during the creation of this blog
Q: Would you rather fight a turkey the size of a game warden or 10 poult sized game wardens?
Jason Bradley Hart:
I’m always up for a duel with a mean bird, I have a lot of friends in wildlife law enforcement and most are good people!
Josh Raggio:
Game wardens all day
Hunter Farrior:
I’ll take on a turkey in any shape or size
Cade Trickey:
I'm fighting the game wardens. The thought of a turkey with 5" spurs is pretty intimidating.
Gary Stanton:
I’m poult size so, I like the David and Goliath angle
Q: Any goals or big plans for the 2022 season?
Jason Bradley Hart:
Now that I have completed the US Slam last season, I have more time to go back and hunt with family and friends.
Josh Raggio:
Turkey hunting is my escape from the daily grind of the call shop. Just hearing one gobble close enough to make your heart jump out of your chest on a cool crisp morning does it for me.
Hunter Farrior:
Being a new father to a baby girl, Eva, is by and large the top goal and plan for this spring. A few others to note are trips with The NWTF as part of their Turkey Call TV series and OutHere Co.’s “Pawn Shop Shotgun” film. Mostly hunting within the southeastern states and at least one long-haul trip out west for a late season fix.
Cade Trickey:
My goal this Spring is to Turkey hunt often and appreciate every day. I hope to hunt a couple different states but I’m not too caught up in the numbers right now. I just wanna be hunting.
Gary Stanton:
Finish my Grand Slam and hunt some new states.
Q: What vest do you plan on running this year?
Jason Bradley Hart:
I am running the new NOMAD Bull Lounger in 2022. I helped design it and the adjustable frame seating system is unlike anything ever produced. We launched the new NOMAD Bull Lounger at the NWTF Convention in Feb of 2022.
Josh Raggio:
I'm using the Sitka Equinox Turkey Vest. This will be my second season running this vest and is perfect for me as I am a run and gun type hunter. The fit, functionality, and comfort is perfect for what I look for in a vest. The design allows me to carry just enough gear without the bulky weight, and the seat adjustment allows for much more comfortable walks. It also saw me harvest my first Rio last year in Kansas on film!
Hunter Farrior:
A Mossy Oak Bottomland vest, made by Alps. Lightweight, simple design, and tight fit play a major roll. Purchased for $30 2-3 seasons ago bargaining with a vendor at a trade show. Worn throughout a Single Season Grand Slam, and has seen several states.
Cade Trickey:
Alps Impact with modified rubber claw straps inspired by the Mossy Oak Bob Dixon vest. I also really liked the built in stadium style chair that allows you to lean back and relax on uneven ground or without a white oak backrest. It’s not to bulky but has enough room to carry what I need. This is my first spring using this new vest. So far so good. Definitely an upgrade from the last one I wore for 5 years
Gary Stanton:
A vest made by the Alps brand that has since been discontinued. Conveniently stores a box call and crow call. I've used it for two years and it’s small so it makes me carry the essentials and nothing extra.
Q: What do you look for in a turkey vest?
Jason Bradley Hart:
Plenty of purposed and general pockets, lightweight with a great seating system. I’m in the business of designing and selling turkey vests so I am a very tough critic! Pay close attention to the way pockets open and close. If zippers aren’t used, call and other items tend to get lost.
Josh Raggio:
Comfort, functionality, fit. No excessive pockets because as turkey hunters we always find something useless to fill those pockets with which just adds unnecessary weight. This vest also has an area for a hydration pack with is nice. Avoid anything noisy, uncomfortable, heavy (if youre a run and gun guy), velcro.
Hunter Farrior:
Quietness. Functionality and simplicity. A thin seat with a high & tight fit. I’ve never used a bell nor a whistle to call a turkey in.
Cade Trickey:
I like storage but some vest are overkill IMO. I don’t need a special pocket for my thermacell or a hard case for my yelpers. I need a pocket to put 3 yella shells, gloves and a face mask and one for a slate slate call and a couple diaphragms. And a big game pouch in the back is a necessity for me. Using a weak magnet to hold the seat cushion on the back of the vest is one of the most annoying things. Any good vest should have a large game pouch on the back.
Gary Stanton:
Compact is a must. Avoid excess comfort. Turkey hunting isn’t made to be comfortable.
Q: Care to share some advice for turkey hunting newcomers?
Jason Bradley Hart:
Go as often as you can and don’t call too much. Study as much as you can about the biology of the wild turkey and realize, you will fail more than you win and that is ok!
Josh Raggio:
Walk, walk walk. Don't use an atv. Get in early. Patience (which i lack). Practice calling with all forms of calls. Always Always Always pattern your gun. Look at the sub gauges. The ammo is becoming much better. You don't have to lag around a 10 or 12 gauge any longer! Don't get caught up with defining your hunt success based on a kill. Take it all in. The time in the outdoors, time with friends and family. All of these other aspects create a "successful" hunting experience.
Hunter Farrior:
Get out in the turkey woods and learn from the birds. They’ll teach you everything you need to know. It’s crucial to appreciate the early humblings from turkeys. You’ll thank them in the long run.
Cade Trickey:
My advice to a new turkey hunter is to take less advice from online and let the turkeys be your teacher. The ONLY way to become a better turkey hunter is to learn from experience. The woods will teach you way more than anyone on Facebook. Have a learning mindset and enjoy the heck out of it
Gary Stanton:
Go with people better than you.
Q: Have any encouragement for turkey hunting veterans?
Jason Bradley Hart:
Spend as much time in the woods as you can with friends and family. When life comes to an end no body says they wished they would have worked more. If you aren’t a member of the NWTF and you turkey hunt, I encourage you to do so. Give back more to turkey hunting than you take and good luck this spring!
Josh Raggio:
Keep teaching the younger generation your techniques. Take a kid hunting!
Hunter Farrior:
The next generation of turkey hunters are going to determine the future of turkey hunting - make sure we’re teaching them to appreciate the spring woods, leaving them better than they found it.
Cade Trickey:
Although we see a lot of negativity on the internet It has been awesome to see Turkey hunting grow in popularity recently and more people are standing up for the Wild Turkey than ever before. There is an incredible amount of passion and respect in the turkey hunting niche. It ain’t all bad folks. Good luck this spring and always remember there’s a lot more to Turkey hunting than just taking an animals life. Enjoy the process
Gary Stanton:
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