Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

I know there are a lot of different apparatuses as far as turkey totes. I've been around hunting culture for a long time and up until recently I had never seen these leather straps. Where did these come from and where did that start? Who's credited for it?

obviously theres a lot of methods, but i was just wondering where the leather strap come from

George Mayfield was the first I saw using one. Probably goes back farther but I'm not sure


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Some guy got bored and thought it'd be more comfortable/trendy to carry a gobbler like his old lady's purse.

Life Hack: Turkeys are born with built in handles. Their legs! :z-dizzy:

Quote from: nyturkeyduster on April 02, 2025, 09:35:03 AMSome guy got bored and thought it'd be more comfortable/trendy to carry a gobbler like his old lady's purse.

Life Hack: Turkeys are born with built in handles. Their legs! :z-dizzy:

im with ya

Quote from: ScottTaulbee on April 02, 2025, 09:32:14 AMGeorge Mayfield was the first I saw using one. Probably goes back farther but I'm not sure


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i will look him up!

Built in handles are nice, but with walks out sometimes a few miles long, I really do enjoy a good tote.


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Quote from: NYturkey on April 02, 2025, 09:48:30 AMBuilt in handles are nice, but with walks out sometimes a few miles long, I really do enjoy a good tote.


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Agree- makes a huge difference on a heavy bird with a long walk

I'm pretty sure Gene Nunnery talks about one of the "Old Pro's" using a leather strap to carry out a gobbler, and that when doing so, the head of the gobbler should always be in front. That's in his book, "The Old Pro Turkey Hunter" when describing someone who hunted in the early part of the 20th century.

Quote from: Deere92 on April 02, 2025, 10:21:13 AMI'm pretty sure Gene Nunnery talks about one of the "Old Pro's" using a leather strap to carry out a gobbler, and that when doing so, the head of the gobbler should always be in front. That's in his book, "The Old Pro Turkey Hunter" when describing someone who hunted in the early part of the 20th century.

roger that. cool i didnt know

I bet they were using them in the 1700s.

Just kind of a twist on the old duck strap...no?

Old pro turkey hunter by gene nunery talks about using strap totes

Quote from: nyturkeyduster on April 02, 2025, 09:35:03 AMSome guy got bored and thought it'd be more comfortable/trendy to carry a gobbler like his old lady's purse.

Life Hack: Turkeys are born with built in handles. Their legs! :z-dizzy:

;D  Yep, anybody that doesn't carry a turkey out by his handles...no matter how far the walk...should lose his turkey-hunting man card.  ;D  :toothy12:  :angel9:

I carry one of these.  It's blood proof and I leave bird in it until I get home so no blood in car.    If you went down some of the hollows I do you guys would still be trying to get out of there without both hands.  lol.  It only takes up a lil bit of my game bag.   If I'm within a 1/2mi  of truck I just grab er and go though. 

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250402/db5f9b1106383e89ecfb485712540dcd.jpg)


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Quote from: GobbleNut on April 02, 2025, 02:57:16 PM

Quote from: nyturkeyduster on April 02, 2025, 09:35:03 AMSome guy got bored and thought it'd be more comfortable/trendy to carry a gobbler like his old lady's purse.

Life Hack: Turkeys are born with built in handles. Their legs! :z-dizzy:

;D  Yep, anybody that doesn't carry a turkey out by his handles...no matter how far the walk...should lose his turkey-hunting man card.  ;D  :toothy12:  :angel9:

. Looks like i am turning in my mancard now, sir.
I have carried them out about every way there is. A tote is most comfortable for me on long walks. Glad that I am trendy in one area at least. Oh wait, I use one of those high dollar fox vests as well. Guess I am one  bugee b$%!h 

Quote from: Happy on April 02, 2025, 06:40:13 PM

Quote from: GobbleNut on April 02, 2025, 02:57:16 PM

Quote from: nyturkeyduster on April 02, 2025, 09:35:03 AMSome guy got bored and thought it'd be more comfortable/trendy to carry a gobbler like his old lady's purse.

Life Hack: Turkeys are born with built in handles. Their legs! :z-dizzy:

;D  Yep, anybody that doesn't carry a turkey out by his handles...no matter how far the walk...should lose his turkey-hunting man card.  ;D  :toothy12:  :angel9:

. Looks like i am turning in my mancard now, sir.
I have carried them out about every way there is. A tote is most comfortable for me on long walks. Glad that I am trendy in one area at least. Oh wait, I use one of those high dollar fox vests as well. Guess I am one  bugee b$%!h 

I agree with the life hack guy, let them use their legs!
I call them all the way back to the truck bed. THEN I shoot. :camohat:

I have a tote from Otis leather . But it's a just a leg tote. Really no difference in carrying by the legs . To be fair though... I'm I'm cleaning a bird on the road , I use the tote as a gamble to clean them with because I can choke it on the tree and have 2 leg holders . If I'm carrying a bird far enough or need 2 hands to climb out ... I just put him in the back of the vest...... not worried about blood ... don't know why anyone would be . But i prefer the sore elbow if I'm toting one .... I deserve it , and I owe it to him to suffer a little on the walk out.