Rob Keck,
NWTF CEO:
Six mouth calls
One or two box calls (long and short box)
A trumpet yelper
Tube call
Locator calls (crow call and coyote howler)
Slate, aluminum and glass calls (one of each)
Six strikers
Ratchet pruners
Brown greaseless box call chalk
Sandpaper and emory cloth
Two deer antler turkey totes
Compass
Roughing stone for glass call
Toilet paper
Shotgun shells
Binoculars
Thermacell
Camouflage face nets and gloves
Q.: What’s the one thing you feel that you must have in your turkey vest when you go to the woods?
A.: “It’s hard to say, because everything you carry out into the woods is important to have. However, if I have to pick one thing, it would be my box call. I couldn’t leave it at home,” said Keck.
Carl Brown,
NWTF Chief Operating Officer:
10 mouth calls
Two or three box calls
Six strikers
Glass, aluminum and slate calls (one of each)
Locator calls (crow call, owl hooter and coyote call)
Ratchet cutters
Binoculars
Water bottle
Camouflage face nets and gloves
Shotgun shells
Turkey tote bag
Compass or GPS
Seat
Thermacell
Q.: What’s the one thing you feel that you must have in your turkey vest when you go to the woods?
A.: “Having a good box call is something I would absolutely want in my vest,” said Brown.
Dr. James Earl Kennamer,
NWTF Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs:
Eight mouth calls
Slate call
Glass call
Four strikers
Three box calls (to provide different pitches)
Chalk
Sand paper
Locator calls (crow and owl)
Coyote call (when hunting out west)
Thermacell
Leatherman Tool
Two flashlights
Federal shotgun shells (3 inch, #6, 1 7/8 oz loads)
Compass
Turkey tote
Hand prunners
Folding saw
Folding knife
Flagging
Extra face mask and gloves
Chapman chair
Toilet paper
Chap stick
Q.: What’s the one thing you feel that you must have in your turkey vest when you go to the woods?
A.: “I wouldn’t leave out my pruners/saw for cutting shooting lanes. They have made a difference in many hunts for me to make the kill,” said Dr. Kennamer.
Chris Parrish,
Two-time Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Champion and five-time Champion of Champions:
Four mouth calls
Box call
Slate call
One striker
Locator calls (owl hooter and crow call)
Compass
Water and snacks
Two pairs of camouflage gloves and face masks
Tick and mosquito repellent
Decoys
Two-way radios when hunting with a friend
Cell phone
Rain suit
Q.: What’s the one thing you feel that you must have in your turkey vest when you go to the woods?
A.: “I would say the most important thing other then calls, would be my cell phone, which could save your life,” said Parrish.
Matt Van Cise,
Two-time Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Champion:
Cherry box call
Crystal call
Aluminum call
Two or three strikers
Clippers to cut brush
Locator calls (owl hooter and crow call)
Several mouth calls
Decoys (couple of hens and a jake)
Compass
Ammunition
Extra face mask and gloves
Binoculars
Tick repellent
Knife
Safety pins
Water and snacks
Q.: What’s the one thing you feel that you must have in your turkey vest when you go to the woods?
A.: “This is probably a given, but I have to have a diaphragm call,” said Van Cise. “The kill isn’t the most important part to me, it’s communicating with the birds that I love.”
To receive more spring tips for the best hunting tactics or improving your land for more wildlife, click on the NWTF link on this blog, or call the NWTF at 1-800-THE-NWTF.
(Courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation)
