Shotgun "Chest" Bag

[BrownBear]

On opening day I ran across something that never occurred to me before. Shoulder bags are a severe nuisance and don't work well when you're laying down to hide, then sitting up to shoot while sitting.

Back in the days of lead shot I used a muzzleloader for all my duck hunting for several years, but I never ran across the problem because I was didn't make bags then and was using my upper coat pockets for shooting supplies.

Long and short of it, my thoughtful crafting of a new "duck" bag left out some critical thinking. Not only is the bag in a bad spot for laying down and loading while sitting, it's hanging too low if the water gets suddenly deep.

Anyone have examples of "alternative" bags for waterfowling- something other than shoulder bags and belt bags. I'm thinking best would be something suspended between the shoulder straps of my waders or hanging round my neck so it stays central on my chest when laying down and in easy reach for loading while seated, yet above the waterline when wading.

Thanks for insights and examples from anyone with more brainstorms than me! :hatsoff:


Moderators- If this belongs in the Accessories section, so be it. I've put it here in The Craftsman because I'm planning a build and looking for examples and advice from other builders.

 

[roundball]

"...waders..."

Well...only saying this from the "practical" point of view since you're already wearing modern waders:
Couldn't you just use a little fly fishing vest under your coat...they have many small pockets right there on their front panels, easy to access, above the water line, etc.

 

[BrownBear]

Couldn't you just use a little fly fishing vest under your coat...they have many small pockets right there on their front panels, easy to access, above the water line, etc.

Oh, heck yeah, and I have lots of those including chest packs. But that's too easy! :rotf:

In fact I've built leather bags of all sorts for fly fishing just because I'm more inclined to build than buy.

In that spirit, I'm looking for leather solutions for waterfowling, too. I have no doubt our forebears were too tough to bother with waders, but they still had to keep their supplies dry. I can't imagine there are historic examples of what I seek, but would love to see them if they exist.

 

[poordevil]

Miller, who painted fur trappers, made a pic of someone wearing a shot pouch on his chest. I made one like it and instead of wearing a belt over the strap to prevent it bouncing around, I have some wangs on the bottom of it to tie to my belt. I really like it.

p

 

Here ya go! :wink:

 

[BrownBear]

All I'd have to do is teach the little guy how to hand me the right wads as I need them!

 

[Stumpkiller]

I don't wear waders when hunting, but have Filson and other bibs and the center pocket is a handy place for my wad tin. I suppose I could use powder containers in the shell loops (I have a bunch of Nalgene sample bottles about the size of a 28 gauge shell).

How many shots do you go through in a m/l duck hunt? I'd say a 44D bra with a leather shot pouch on one side and a revolver size powder flask on the other ought to work nicely.

That's the story I'm stickin with after THE ADMIRAL unpacked my cabin gear back at home a few seasons back. Been wearin one since.

 

[BrownBear]

How many shots do you go through in a m/l duck hunt? I'd say a 44D bra with a leather shot pouch on one side and a revolver size powder flask on the other ought to work nicely.

That's the story I'm stickin with after THE ADMIRAL unpacked my cabin gear back at home a few seasons back. Been wearin one since.

:rotf:

Reminds me of the guy who came home from a grueling hunt and complained to his wife that she failed to pack any clean socks for him. She replied "But honey, I put them in your gun case." :grin:

As for how many shots on a hunt, the most I recall making in the days of lead was 13 for a limit of 7 mallards. Lots of ops along with less than par shooting. More typical on a good day of hunting is half a dozen shots, however many birds that translates into on a given day.

Good thing it's not for ptarmigan hunting with our 20 bird limit. How about a 44EEE bra? :shocked2: