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Turkey chair, seat pad, or butt on the ground?

DB4x4 said:
Which do you prefer for spring gobbler, and why?
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Chair.

Why?

I usually turkey hunt with my brother. Three years ago we struck up a Tom that was on us fast. I had to take cover in a spot with a few inches standing water. No kidding, I had a bullfrog under my turkey chair. My brother hunkered down a few feet away and got the Tom. Mosquitos were so bad I didn't think I could be still much longer. Can't imagine sitting in cold water would have made it any easier.

I got the chair the day after taking my first Tom. I was using a Lone Wolf sit and climb seat pad, and the bird hung up so we had to wait and work him in. By the time I got that one, I couldn't feel my legs. Purchased the seat that same day, and I have been enjoying it ever since.

Sitting on the ground is miserable. My dad used to bring us with him deer hunting when we were too young to hunt, and he'd have us stand against a tree like a statue all day. That was way better than turkey hunting without a chair.
 
I have a phoenix shooting bags pad that clips onto the MOLLE of my vest and I just unclip it when I want to sit down. It stays out of the way when I'm walking around and I hardly know its there
 
For turkeys, I use a turkey chair. I rescued it when a friend of mine sung it off it the bushes after a rivet popped on it. I fixed it and have been fixing it for years. It's gotten to be a good luck charm of sorts, so I keep repairing it. There have been times I don't have the few seconds to set it up, so I just sit on the ground but usually I am in it. I've had it at least 10 years and have $5 in it.

I have been shooting my compound out of it since turkey season ended here. I think it will be good to go for some bow hunts in the really thick stuff where there are no trees. I've also shot a handful of deer out of that chair back when I still gun hunted.
 
Plebe said:
Can't imagine sitting in cold water would have made it any easier.
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Reminded me of my first turkey. The hunt was in the river bottoms and struck some birds about 8:30-9am. Started moving towards them and when I thought I was getting pretty close I hit a big slough. I figured I was getting really close to the 100 yard mark from the birds and the slough looked to be 50-60 yards across with a small rise on the far side. Started across the slough and by the mid point the water was about 4" below crotch level. As the water began to shallow as I got close to dry ground I eased down on my knees and knee walked to the point my knees were out of the water but feet werent. I made a cluck and 3 note soft yelp and 5 full fans went up right in front of me but I couldnt see anything but the tops of the fans. Hens started clucking and purring and the gobblers got fired up. There were two spots just slightly left of center where there were gaps in the undergrowth all the way to dirt where I could see even with the top of the little rise. I put the bead in the first gap and within 20 seconds or so ol' redhead popped into the gap and I hit the trigger. 15 or so turkeys went airborn and I jumped up to see if I killed the one I was shooting at. I could see flopping out about 25 yards and took off sloshing water every where because my knee boots were still half full. Not quite half way to the bird there was a small blow down and when I went over it there was another turkey flopping. I had a moment of panic thinking surely the other one was going to be a hen. Checked the first bird, jake. YES!! Ease over to the second bird and it was a jake too. WOOHOO!! Had at least 5 full fan gobblers inside 30, fired one shot and had 2 jakes and couldnt have been more happy if it had been a 200" buck. Skeeters had bit me more times than I could count, was cold and soaked up to my crotch but when I flipped those to birds over all of that went right out the window. Didnt notice and didnt care. Jeez just thought about it. That was spring 1987.
 
i used to have one of the alps grand slam vests. has the seat with the kickstand legs/frame in the back that lets you sit up against brush instead of a tree. rarely used it for that and sat up against a tree 99% of the time anyway.

This yr i bought a run n gun 200. really comfy pad and much lighter. lets me swing to the side way easier. One thing i absolutely hate though is the pot call holders. hoping they stretch out because they are an absolute PITA to get it in and out of so far.
My wife uses a thermarest pad with a sling on it since she doesnt carry much else besides her gun and maybe a hen decoy. Dry butt, super light and comfy.

The chairs elevate too much for keeping a good shooting position off your knee. You could use a shooting stick but thats one more thing to carry. Ive done both ways. If you have to turn the shooting stick can get you busted if it falls or makes too much noise.
 
I have the TideWe kickstand vest and a Cabela's Deluxe lounger. I thought I preferred the lounger, but my sit this morning was in a spot I sat in with the vest a few days ago and I was very uncomfortable in the chair due to the angle of the ground. The vest could compensate, but the chair couldn't.

Basically I use the vest if I'm going to run and gun (or if my daughter is using the chair) and the chair if I'm going to sit and stay.
 
The old Bucklick Creek vests…. TheOG’s made here in Kentucky (I think) had the best heavy duty fold down/up seats with a magnet but the best part was the nylon webbing straps on each side that you could cinch up and were self supporting. So you didn’t need a tree to support your back. I sold both of mine and wish I kept the seat part of one of them to carry in the bird bag.
 
woodsdog2 said:
The old Bucklick Creek vests…. TheOG’s made here in Kentucky (I think) had the best heavy duty fold down/up seats with a magnet but the best part was the nylon webbing straps on each side that you could cinch up and were self supporting. So you didn’t need a tree to support your back. I sold both of mine and wish I kept the seat part of one of them to carry in the bird bag.
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Bass Pro/Cabela's new version of this vest is ok, but I like the thicker butt pad and recliner arms on the TideWe or similar vests.
 
DB4x4 said:
Which do you prefer for spring gobbler, and why?
Click to expand...
Ol Tom Turkey vest padded seat cushion - Ol Tom Turkey pants with built in knee pads- Ol Tom Turkey Shirt with built in spine pad and a Turkey Dave footrest. Run and Gun 90% of the time. My idea of fun isn' t staring at a field all day. It's hard for me to sit in one spot too long. I move it or lose it!
My wife says I lost it a long time ago!!
 
10essee said:
View attachment 84508I just started using these little low turkey chairs. Can’t believe I waited 30 years of sitting my a** on wet ground, tree roots and just being uncomfortable when having to sit for extended periods before I got one. Best thing I’ve ever bought.
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I agree. This is the chair I use. It's not perfect, but better than butt on the ground. I don't always use a turkey chair, but when I do, I use this one.
 
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