doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What do you carry in you upland vest

Interesting. Given the character of the few "bar/PO/diner/general stores" that pass for "towns" in some of the desert areas I hunt, maybe carrying a blackjack would be a good idea anyway.

S&W SS Model 60-10 .357 3" with .38 Special +P. Note foot on check cord



And possibly under-gunned in SE AZ

I like to travel lightly.

Usually my Filson vest has a dozen or so shells, a small bottle of water, crow and squirrel calls, a piece of fruit (usually an apple) and a watch. I also have an old pair of Orvis gloves tucked away for the cooler days.

Drew: I don't see anyone in your bottom photo with those Gokey snake boots on. Wonder if any of them have a S&W .357 Mannganummm ????

The spot satellite tracker is interesting http://www.findmespot.com/en/ , I may have to look at that if I ever go on my retirement fantasy hunt, which is to start hunting in August in Alaska and coming south as the seasons open until I get home to Kansas.

I had a friend at work who runs like a gazelle suggest GPS watch instead of the garmin gecko as it has the addedd feature of tracking how far you walk.

Though I have never run into traps where I hunt I have gone ahead and just purchased a Conibear 330 on ebay in order to learn and practice opening it, just in case.

I never realized how many on this board hunt out in desert country. I have seen California Quail running all over the place at Ft Bliss TX and Ft Irwin CA, but I was always working and could not hunt them. Not sure I want to if I have to back pack water.

Two things I have added to my vest as the result of this thread have been a length of parachute cord and a pair of Hemostats.

I did notice one item that I carry that I failed to list which is a quail whistle. I developed a technique of whistling up coveys before first light and at last light when I was scouting ground and still use it. I collected about fifteen different calls, but use one by Curtis Breland 99% of the time these days. On occasion during normal hunting after a covey flush I have found the call can sometimes work for finding singles. Preserve birds are much more susceptible than wild birds, and many wild birds other than first light and last light do not respond at all.

I agree with the sentiment on weight some have noted. I believe one of the reasons (other than the setter) I do not waterfowl anymore is that I found upland hunting a leaner affair in terms of gear, set-up, and take down. I still have all my waterfowl stuff for the day when I go back to it.

That said weight does matter, which is why I do not often carry water or a great many shells.

That's a lot more than a couple ounces Mike, but I get what you're saying. I was more referring to guys who worry about 5 or 6 ounces of gun weight and then wear a vest that weighs 10 lbs .

One of the great mystery on the High Plains is why so many hunters feel a need to pack the weight of a full box of shells crammed into every pocket after all the shell loops are filled, in the anticipation of shooting just three birds.

No one knows why, but so many do. My guess is they don't know that those pockets are for things really needed, must of those items, itemized by posters in this thread.

RCC you are right. Eight huns, four sharptails, and three roosters require only fifteen shells. And my Filson can't hold all that game. That is why I need a sling for my gun. I can hang the gun on my shoulder and get a few birds in each hand.



Best,

Mike

Good evening Mike,

Have you ever known your buddy who packs all those shells around, to run out of ammo?

I haven't.

Take care and good hunting this year.

In Texas the limit on bobwhite and blue quail is fifteen. I have been in a situation that, after a long, long, walk, (miles and miles from the truck) we were finally in the birds. My buddy Guion ran out of shells and I sold him five shells at $10 per cartridge. I could have gotten $20 each if I had been really hard hearted.

But I agree that a box has always been enough for me for one walk on any flushing bird hunt I have been on. But getting $10 per cartridge out your hunting buddy is priceless.