What's in your vest?

[kickingfrog]

Took the guns out of the safe today for some fresh air. Changed the choke tubes from late season pairings back to early (never did make it out for "one last hunt"). Figured I should go through and clean-up my main vest. I found a grouse feather stuck on the inside mesh.


In one of the pockets I found a lost shell, 4 granola bars and 2 more feathers. It got me to thinking about what others keep in their vest.

I try to always have: latex gloves, flagging tape, fast food napkins (since you can't always find leaves), a few granola bars and a whistle/compass/temp gauge. The feathers were unintentional but now I wonder if I should keep them in there for luck.


My licence is also in there but it's with my fishing tackle right now. Various other items will get switched out depending on the day and I usually have a small folding knife or upland multi-tool on my belt.

You?

[Species8472]

Similar to you but with the following additions:

- flask of 16 year old Lagavullin
- jerky
- cohibas
- hurricane proof lighter

Edit to add:

- ziploc bag with a few bandages and polysporin

[Rodbender]

YES keep the feathers I had one I kept in my hat not on the outside in the brim always shot grouse wife washed my hat (not with my permission) never saw a grouse again till I found a road kill Grouse and put another feather in my cap(so to speak)

Same roads I hunted same spots superstition maybe but that's how I see it

[terrym]

A handful of those nice purple shells. A whistle. A Dogtra2500 T&B handset. Bottle of water and some azzwipe. Usually enough to get us back to the truck.

[sharps4570]

- Pair of clear shooting glasses (personally very important for me and I suppose also for folks who may have experienced twigs snap back with substantial force and hit eyes)
- Mini first aid kit including some painkillers, small roll of flattened TP
- Whistle, compass, GPS
- Leatherman Wave + a 5in fixed blade bushcraft knife (worn on my belt)
- Lightweight headlight
- Lighter + a firestarter
- 10ft coiled length of paracord
- 8ft of Gorilla duct tape wrapped around a credit card sized plastic
- A water bottle + a small flask of tea, couple sandwiches and some dry munchies
- 8-10 shells (20 or 28)

[finsfurfeathers]

In the vest water, GPS with spare batteries, pruning shears. Most of the other items listed above in the jeep save the alcohol that's at home.

[kickingfrog]

Bottle of water and some azzwipe. Usually enough to get us back to the truck.

How exactly is that measured???


That 16 gauge shell is a bit of a mystery as I'm quite sure that I brought the 20 for the last few trips.

[kickingfrog]

YES keep the feathers I had one I kept in my hat not on the outside in the brim always shot grouse wife washed my hat (not with my permission) never saw a grouse again till I found a road kill Grouse and put another feather in my cap(so to speak)

Same roads I hunted same spots superstition maybe but that's how I see it

My wife found a pair of my hunting pants and washed them. Took me a while to find them since they were folded... and in a drawer. I told her that they hadn't been washed since they became hunting pants. She asked: "Can the birds smell you?" Well... no... but.... never mind.

[trimmer21]

Small flashlight,compass,folding hunting knife,several Ziplock baggies,baby wipes,license/tag wallet,shell holders full.

[kickingfrog]

On a side note, any good luck charms that you're willing to admit to? I don't necessarily have one but I have carried an empty shell from a memorable shot for a while afterwards. I do like the idea of keeping a feather (on purpose) in the vest and/or my hat. I do have tail feathers as book marks in each of my grouse books.