Game holders during duck/upland hunting

[dak0ta]

Hi,

What do you guys use to hold your ducks, geese, and upland birds when out in the marsh or upland hunting? Does it get pretty heavy hauling around the birds? Those straps that one can wear with the ring that fits over the bird's neck, what are those called?

 

[MCgunner]

Bird lanyards is what they're called. I have one with 6 leather straps to slip over birds and I have a much more compact one I carry into the marsh in the same fanny pack I carry my shells in under my waders. It has a wire loop on either end, sometimes need to bend it in a bit to hold the birds securely. Slip the bird's head in the large loop near the strap and slide it down into the narrow part. I bought it at Walmart probably 25 years back. It's still working for me. The other lanyards I won as door prizes at a waterfowl club banquet last season. It'll work, I'm sure, but it won't fit in my fanny pack.

The only upland birds I shoot are doves, leaving Wednesday for north zone opener in Waco Thursday. We either toss the birds in our bucket/seats or in a bird bag attached to the back of a shell pouch belt I wear. Don't really have to walk too far dove hunting, is on one of my buddy's farms and we just get the truck and drive it back to where we were hunting. The lanyard is more important to me for duck hunting as it's on public hunting area and I have to park the truck in the parking area and walk in to the pot hole of choice. I'm carrying carrylite collapsable decoys, shells, shotgun, and marsh chair and pretty loaded down. I just toss the lanyard/ducks over a shoulder. Some day, I'm going to be too old for that stuff. It's already beginning to hurt at age 64. But, I guess it's good for me and it's still fun after all these years.

 

[buck460XVR]

I used to use those lanyards for carrying birds years ago. Have gone to a game vest and never looked back. If for some reason I do not have my vest with me(where do I hold my shells?) I will cut back two toes on the birds foot and stick a small stick thru the tendons and hang that stick thru the loop of my pants. Works very well. This method tho, like the lanyard, will tend to pull your pants down if you bag out.........

 

[1KPerDay]

Upland game I wear a vest with the game bag behind. Can fit five or 6 large pheasants in it. That's the most I've ever been lucky enough to get at a time and that was on a farm. Few grouse are no issue. More than a couple Geese would be a problem.

 

[WhiteFoot]

I use a game strap for waterfowl. For some reason I've always preferred to slip the loop over one of their feet though. Never used it on geese, I've always just holded those in hand. (Gets really heavy if you packed in.)

For upland I have a small cheap backpack that has a game bag in it. I could fit a couple pheasants in it. I like it because I can hold shells, water, birds, granola bars and other stuff in it. I've had it for about 10 years now and the logo/emblem fell off and I can't find it online so I can't get you a brand name. Badlands makes a cool one though (for $150 plus) I got mine as a Christmas present, but I'm sure it wasn't even close to that price.

I want to try a vest this year though, just to see what the differences are.

 

[splattergun]

Waterfowl just get put in a corner of the blind. I don't hunt in swamp woods. Upland game goes in the game pocket of my hunting vest. It's designed for that. Weight is not a problem in the vest due to bag limits and/or my missed shots.

 

[dak0ta]

Thanks all for the input. Time to go shopping Cabelas make good stuff?

 

[1KPerDay]

generally yes. My upland game vest is cabelas brand and it's lasted 5 or so years of infrequent grouse and frequent 3-gun matches (I use it to hold extra mags and stuff sometimes). Purists will probably steer you to the more expensive stuff but mine works fine for me. You can get stuff with hydration bladders and all sorts of stuff. I just carry water bottles.

 

[dak0ta]

I saw that Under Armour entered the hunting market. I own one of their hoodies for waterfowl hunting and it's pretty comfortable, sleek, water repellant and light weight. I see that they sell upland vests etc. Anybody try their stuff?