claw sling is my preference but they are stiff and thick it swings when i setup and if i squeeze it with my forearm of my gun it makes that awkward. thought i was the only one annoyed with a sling when setup on a gobbler, but after watching some turkey hunts i see i am not alone. curious to whats your preference...do you not use a sling, unhook it to shoot, or let it on?
I use claw sling's mostly in the wide and slimline, i usually take my sling off during setting up if the time allows...
You may like the limbsaver kodiak air sling. It's thinner
and less bulky thean the claw. I use both and also remove during setup.
I pull mine off when i set up. If i get up and need to move a short distance i just leave it in my vest. I put it back on for the walk out, or if i'm walking some distance to another location. I love the Quake sling, but also love the boonie packer safari sling. It gives you the option to carry in front of your chest, and drops away when you mount the gun. It's nice and wide, easily adjustable, and has rubber non-slip woven into sling. Really spreads out weight and stays put.The front carry option probably isn't that useful for turkey, but i like it when waterfowl hunting standing in water in waders keeps the gun in a accessible spot and dry.
If I have time I prefer to take my sling completely off. Sometimes I will leave it on the butt stock and just take it off the magazine tube. I have killed turkeys both ways tho
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Not even sure what brand my slings are. Probably Allen or something equally as cheap. I wouldn't have a dedicated gun without a sling. I leave it hooked up and as-is all day long in any situation.
I hate to carry my shotgun without it while turkey hunting. I leave it attached and it's never really been a problem for me.
Sling
Take off at set up, have for 30 years.
Mine comes off.
I use the claw walking in, moving, and back to the truck... I have killed turkey w it on but I don't pattern my gun with it on and see no reason to have a sling dangling while a bird is approaching. Besides the fact my shotgun shoulders and feels better w it off.
I either take mine off or tighten it all the way down. I have a pistol grip on my gun so it stays outta the way.
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I use the Claw sling on all my shotguns I have slings on. I never take them off.
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I use an old leather sling with quick detachment on Remington 870 and unhook the front by the forearm while set up then attach again when I move setups. I learned this from a early turkey hunting video and I think it was Denny Gulvas . It's a perfect setup for me
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Have the claw on both my guns and never take them off. Personally I have never had any problems with them.
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Claw, never have removed it, I cinch it up tight when setting up, never had any problems (knock on wood)
Always on and never mess with it, I use it for padding while it lays on my knee.
I have never had a situation where the sling was a problem! Never even thought about it until I saw videos where guys were removing it.
You know Dave does it so it must be necessary.
I've been using Butler Creek neoprene slings for over 25 years but after watching Steve Rinella on Meat Eater and reading the recommendations here on the forum I new I needed to move up to the next level in my sling department. So I bought two different styles of Quake Claw slings and used them on one hunt, I then gave both of them away. They don't slip but they just felt like a big heavy piece of rubber on my shoulder. If I remember right they weigh in at about 10oz. each, so I'm back using my Butler Creeks and no, I won't be buying the $299.00 Steve Rinella pot call either. :TooFunny:
All my turkey hunting shotguns have slings. I find it interesting that several here have indicated they detach the sling when getting ready to shoot. I can't remember an instance where the slings on my guns got in the way at the moment of truth.
Besides the convenience in lugging the gun around, especially if one walks quite a bit while hunting, one reason I prefer slings on my guns and on the guns of others I hunt with is for safety, if for no other reason. A properly slung (?) gun is vertical, or nearly so, at all times. I have seen too many hunters carrying guns without slings become careless about where their guns are pointing.
Even though I insist that anybody I hunt with not carry a loaded weapon while traveling in the woods, I have almost invariably had some folks get careless at where their guns are pointing, and that possibility seems to be greatly exacerbated when somebody does not have a sling on their gun. A properly carried/shouldered gun with a sling eliminates that problem almost entirely. :icon_thumright:
I have a sling for every gun. I have a sling addiction as well and I have occasionly taken them off when sitting, that was something I never did until spring of 2006 and when I started hunting with a new buddy and he has done it since he was a kid. I only detach it the odd time if I am in thick slash,so I don't get hung up.
I honestly carry my shotgun in my left hand on top of where barrel begins about 90% of the time I rarely use my sling unless I need it.It's there just in case.
I always remove mine unless the bird is right on top of me when I sit down. Just another moving part to be seen or get hung up on something. The removal habit started many years ago in a duck blind.
Always remove the sling when setting up unless the bird is right on
top of me.
I ran the Butler Creek slings for many years and really like the way they feel. They do slid more than the heavy rubber claw slings, but not much. My primary reason for switching from Butler Creek was I would wear a sling out 1.5 season of turkey hunting. You could see through the stitching and neoprene at the point where the sling attached to the gun.
The Butler Creek slings actually made my 10#+ gun feel lighter, just not durable.
I am glad some of you have never had an issue at setup with the sling hanging up on your knee, specially if you need to switch shoulders or if the belly of the sling swinging has never spooked a turkey for you. You have been lucky or not have set up on that many turkeys, pick one. The sling will spook a turkey for you sooner or later.
Mostly I take mine off at set up but i have killed both ways. Its all about whether I'm going to stay put for a while or on the move.
I keep Butler Creek on all my shotguns and rifles. I've seen no reason to change them
I've never taken a sling off while hunting and never understood why people take them off, as far as I can remember, I've never had a sling cost me a shot at a turkey nor a deer
I use slings on all my turkey guns. butler creek padded and just a standard 1&1/4" strap sling. I generally like to take my sling off when i get set up though.
I have Claw slings on my turkey guns and leave 'em there even when shooting. If the set up may need it, I take the front loose and let it lay. I may look into a lighter sling this year, especially for the single shot.
I leave mine on. Tightened up when setup. It actually helps keep the gun put when I'm balancing it on my knee while running a call
Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Calls
I have the Claw on my deer gun, but All my Turkey guns have Vero Vellini slings. They never slip, are padded, and light weight. They come in wide widths too. Haven't found any sling that compares in comfort and weight. I have some that are 20 years old that look like they came out of the package....
Always used a sling, never been a problem. Didn't know it could be a problem til reading this thread.
All my turkey guns have slings. When using the Super Sling 2 models I leave them attached and just tighten them up so they do not move. When using my "Claw or Vero Vellini slings I remove them from the front swivel stud but leave the rear attached and then I place the sling behind me. I don't want anything loose moving around at a critical moment.
I want to let all my forum friends know about something regarding carrying shotguns on your shoulder. With the advent of short barrels, all the way down to 18.5, please realize that when you use a sling, if you do not pay attention to the angle of your gun, the barrel can point dangerously toward your head. I know it sounds strange, but trust me, I've seen it. Just something to be mindful of. I sure want all of us to be safe, return home to our loved ones with a nice gobbler......be safe...
I use claw slings on my turkey guns and don't take them off when I sit down however I do put it directly under the forearm and in my hand then hand on knee or rest the sling on my knee— I could see if you left it dangling in the loop position it might cause a little movement or hang something if you needed to move or turn
I have Slogan Outdoors rubber slings on almost all rifles and shotguns including my crossbow.
Never take mine off. Haven't seen the need. As for brand, it's generally something cheap. Butler creek most times. I've got a couple leather ones that get traded back and forth between rifles and a couple neoprene that go back and forth on my shotguns. I won't leave the house without a sling on the gun. And, as often as I catch grief for leaving them on the guns while hunting both deer and turkeys, I've yet to see where it's been a hindrance. Lucky? Perhaps. I'll worry about such things when it becomes an issue.
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I use Paracord slings on all my turkey guns and never take them off. I will often use the sling to put my elbow in to help steady the gun for the shot and make sure the sling does not move.
Use the claw sling, always leave it attached. Never had an issue
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Quote from: Tom007 on February 26, 2022, 06:21:58 PM
I want to let all my forum friends know about something regarding carrying shotguns on your shoulder. With the advent of short barrels, all the way down to 18.5, please realize that when you use a sling, if you do not pay attention to the angle of your gun, the barrel can point dangerously toward your head. I know it sounds strange, but trust me, I've seen it. Just something to be mindful of. I sure want all of us to be safe, return home to our loved ones with a nice gobbler......be safe...
I've noticed this too! I sling my guns (18.5" and 20") upside down, so that the butt is in the air, this way I can keep my right hand on the barrel and know where it's pointing at all times.
Safest way to go if I'm in the rear and my buddy is on point. If we strike up a bird, naturally I'll crouch as I come up to him and make our plan.
Always have one on, and on all 4 of the turkey guns. This one adjusts super easy and will hold tight to the gun.
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MK M GOBL
Quote from: Chris O on February 26, 2022, 12:16:53 PM
I use an old leather sling with quick detachment on Remington 870 and unhook the front by the forearm while set up then attach again when I move setups. I learned this from a early turkey hunting video and I think it was Denny Gulvas . It's a perfect setup for me
What I do with either a neoprene or Claw sling. If there's time, I unhook at the front. Been doing it for years, so probably picked it up off a Gulvas video as well lol.
Always. I don't understand why people unhook it but to each their own.
I have one on every turkey gun I have, usually take it off when sitting if I have the time. Quite frankly, I still haven't found one I'm perfectly satisfied with.
Esse quam videri
Wouldn't turkey hunt without a sling. Add quick release ends to my claw sling so the forearm comes off when I sit down.
I just use a cheap Allen. I never understood why folks unhooked them until two seasons ago. Set up tight on a bird and he pitched all the way to me, landed 10 yds to my left. I let him walk behind a big pine and swung my gun to him, half way through the swing my sling hung on my knee almost costing the shot. Luckily it didn't but I am more mindful of that sling now !
A sling is a must for me and I've had a lot of them. The claw slimline is far and away my favorite.
Claw sling and never remove it. Never a problem and never knew so many had issues with them lol.
I don't like those shorty barrel guns! Still not used to a 23", no way I want anything shorter!
I often carry mine barrel pointed straight forward and rest my arm on it to keep it in place, sling is always on!
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Claw, don't remove.
I've always removed my sling when big game hunting and when I set up on a turkey. I've put a Franchi 48AL 28 ga into a dedicated turkey gun. Have a Claw for the first time. Gonna see if I can shoot with it in place.
I carry my gun with a sling, since my hands are full and my plan is to come out heavy!!
I remove the sling from the front for 2 reasons(but reading the posts I could be wrong) 1. I don't want it to get caught on anything 2) if the sling moves forward/back I am worried that it would make a noise to scare the birds if they are close. I only remove the front now as I have left slings in the woods of leaving without a bird.
I also remove mine from my deer rifle.
I use a claw sling. Just tighten it up when I sit down and it doesn't move or get in the way
Claw sling on deer and turkey guns. Don't remove.
I put my camo light weight sling in my shoulder bag folded up with a velcro strap around it.....only time I take it out is when I got to throw that bird over my shoulder or hands are full with whatever. Walk with my 6.0 lb Stevens 301 in hand and always ready to mount if needed in a hurry. Situations can happen fast chasing this ole bird and lot of movement getting that gun off your shoulder, so I never use a sling unless above.
Have never even thought of removing it and I can't even see how it gets in any way.
Bowguy, I agree it does not get in the way, but for me it does take a little more effort to mount the gun as quickly if traveling should you have an opportunity arise. To each his own, but I prefer not on gun unless I need it for caring my gun.
With few exceptions, I've kept a sling on my shotgun for both deer and turkey seasons. On my first trip out, schlepping my father's Model 12, I noticed how cumbersome it was to go tromping through the woods with both hands full. By the next year, I had my own shotgun, a Rem 1100, and it sported a sling.
The big thing for me is having both hands free while I'm walking.
It's on 100% of the time...just backwards. When I sling the gun on my back it's oriented muzzle down butt up. I find it catches less limbs that way. The when setup the thinner more flexible portion is up front and not really in the way.