Best pack for archery turkey hunting

Vangysway

FNG
Joined
Feb 12, 2018
Messages
75
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Well, to start off, I'm a complete rookie, so you'll have to forgive my naivety.

My main focus will be Southern CA Mule Deer and CU Elk hunting, however, I plan on doing some Turkey hunting as well. I'd imagine a 5000+ ci long range pack is not the right fit for day hunting turkey, so I'm curious to know what you guys use to pack in decoys, possibly a blind, and hopefully a bird.

I'll be doing my first turkey hunt on the 14th for the Colorado Spring opener. This also happens to be my first hunt ever. I purchased a Badlands Superday pack for full day turkey hunts, but now I'm wondering if this was the correct choice or not.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to learning from all of you experienced gobbler hunters.

-Alex
 
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
1,962
Location
Iowa
I carry my blind, chair, tripod, etc in a Blind Hog. I don't typically have to hike real long distances so I don't know how carrying the pack all day would be, but to carry all that stuff at once, it works really well.
 

sveltri

WKR
Joined
Jun 22, 2016
Messages
822
Location
SALIDA
I've never packed a blind in, but last year my 14'r worked great for 2 inflated Avian-X dekes. If I were to pack a blind in, and gear, I think I could come up with a good way to get the blind between the frame and bag, and then carry everything else in the bag (with garb-it if necessary). Good luck on your hunt!

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boom

WKR
Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
3,185
funny. my turkey pack-in is relatively short, but it is my suckiest.

i use my Mystery Ranch Dragonslayer. i fill the inside with stuff. lunch, ammo, etc. calls, binos.

outside, i strap on stuff beverly hillbilly style. my ground blind, my tiny blind chair. this year, add my tripod i've converted to my shooting rest. i hang the decoys off the top of the ground blind. i must look like i am running away from home.

i carry the weapon..bow or (this year) my air rifle..and my other hand i carry the shotgun. it is the longest short walk ever. coming out, i am in less of a hurry so i make multiple trips. i am on private land, so if it is a multi day hunt, i fold stuff up and hide it in a bush.
 

Jimss

WKR
Joined
Mar 6, 2015
Messages
2,074
A lot depends upon your decoys and what style of decoys you are using, the length of your hike, and steepness/brushiness, etc of the terrain . If you use full sized decoys similar to DSD's that don't collapse than you'll likely need a lot larger volume pack to fit decoys. If you have a full sized jake plus 2 hens it will take up a large volume of space. If you use decoys similar to miss perfects (collapse to the size of your hand) you can likely get by with your daypack. I got in a fairly lengthy battle with a guy on bowsite that swears using DSD's inside their bags plus a pack works great. I hike long distance through super steep, rough country in Colo and some of the areas I hunt in Nebraska and my preference is miss perfects plus a small decoy with a fan on it. If I'm hunting fairly close to the truck I may add a couple Avian X that collapse fairly well. I don't carry or use a blind at all and prefer to stay mobile and use the terrain to hide me. I carry my shotgun or bow on a sling. Remember that you may have a tom or 2 to add to your load on the way out!
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
2,244
If your backpack can hold a decoy and a 20lb bird, it's fine.

My pack is about 6000ci without the lid. I tighten the straps and it's about daypack size. It's easy to drop an inflatable half strut jake decoy in with plenty of room for snacks, water and extra clothes. I had two gobblers in it walking out in South Dakota a couple years ago. A few days before that, it was good for a bison skull and gobbler. I've thrown a few more in it since. I'll never wear a turkey vest again.
 

boom

WKR
Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
3,185
my MR DragonSlayer.

i had by brother carry the decoys, or they would have been hooked over the blind. it's heavy..but the MR is a tank. i typicaly strap things on more symetrically, but we had to go!

cliff april 9 2018 037.jpg
 
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