Carrying a game bag and cartridges/bag in the fiield

[casts_by_fly]

Hii guys,

 

I am curious how you all do it. I have always used a strap vest with a game pouch in the back and two cartridge pouches in the front. I can carry just over 2 boxes of cartridges in the two pockets and the rear game pouch will hold 7-8 pigeons or 4 pheasants comfortably, but past that things will start to fall out the edges. Normally that is fine for capacity, but for roost shooting in the spring (coming up in 2 weeks) I might shoot 10-12-15 birds in an evening. I have detailed in another thread what my perfect game bag would be, but that doesn't exist. So i guess that most guys carry either (1) both a game bag and a cartridge bag or (2) throw cartridges loose into a game bag. Anyone care to feed back on how you do it? I'm thinking ~50 cartridges and a solid amount of game/birds.

 

thanks,

rick

[aister]

Game bag and a cartridge belt plus a spare box in the bag if I think I will need it.

[Big Mat]

Cartridge bag and game bag, its not hard to carry and its not like you have them over your shoulder when shooting

[malkiserow]

I'd have a think about the cartridge to birds in the bag ratio first..... 50:15 ? maybe a bigger game bag?

 

I take a box of carts in a pocket and If I want to an extra box in the game bag with an additional netting bag (and a length of paracord to hang it) for any high ish numbers of birds shot.

 

I never really shoot "high" numbers roost shooting anyway. Decoying is altogether different.

[welshwarrior]

Roost shooting 25-35 cartridges in my pockets. Game bag sits on the floor whilst I'm shooting.

[casts_by_fly]

hi gents,

 

i think I have my solution- a bigger game bag to handle the birds, a box in my pockets and a spare box in the bag. Since I am planning to shoot my 20 more this year, a box takes less space so pockets are enough. I thouught there might be an elegant solution but maybe not.

 

thanks

rick

[shootgun]

26 on the cartridge belt, 2 boxes in the game bag(i have dedicated pockets for those) as i like to keep my jacket or trousers pockets empty., is more comfortable to move around. I have a game carrier in the game bag, just in case i'm shooting better than i normaly do

Edited January 18, 2014 by shootgun

[Scully]

I think a lot depends on the number of birds you expect to encounter.

Beaters day would require a cartridge bag but no game bag as all birds are collected and put in vehicles following each drive.

Syndicate days a full pocket of cartridges will suffice but again no game bag.

Rough shooting days full pocket of cartridges but game bag is a must.

Hide shooting no game bag but BIG box (250) of cartridges as there's usually two of us.

The only snag with a game bag is that everyone expects you to carry their birds! But that doesn't mean you have to of course.

[casts_by_fly]

I think a lot depends on the number of birds you expect to encounter.

Beaters day would require a cartridge bag but no game bag as all birds are collected and put in vehicles following each drive.

Syndicate days a full pocket of cartridges will suffice but again no game bag.

Rough shooting days full pocket of cartridges but game bag is a must.

Hide shooting no game bag but BIG box (250) of cartridges as there's usually two of us.

The only snag with a game bag is that everyone expects you to carry their birds! But that doesn't mean you have to of course.

You're not far off what i do. I come from a rough shooting background as that is what we call hunting in the US. For that, my strap vest is perfect. Not terribly many cartridges needed in a day, but you need them handy. You also need a way to carry the game all day as sometime you are walking a couple miles in the hills with a brace of pheasants on your back. I more or less still use it for all of my shooting, but for syndicate days i leave it in the car and just drop a box of cartridges in my pockets which covers me for a drive or two. For duck and goose flights i carry it as my extra gear is in the pockets like ear muffs, face mask, glove, etc. For roosting though it works perfectly if i only have a couple birds to carry. The problem is the good nights where i shoot a dozen. Then the open edges of the vest mean birds can fall out. I have lost a bird or two walking back to the car in the dark this way, thus why i am looking at something bigger.

 

I think i am going to get the fair game waterfowl sized game bag and give it a go. It is the biggest i have found yet and looks good quality.

 

Rick

[scotslad]

I carry my game bag which usually has my cartridge belt inside it (saves the boxes oppening and gettin lose shell every where, and is quiet) and usually have a pocket full. Find it easier to load out of pockets and fill if/when needed from belt

 

I usually use game carriers for carrying anything more than a couple off birds, carriers are really cheap and cope well with a lot of birds whereas game bags are too expensive and don't last that long if ur putting a bit of wieght in them especially if ur picking up on big estates, but the biggest thing for carriers is u can carry a few and when u fill 1 can hand it to someone else to carry (beaters) and u still have others to fill. Dog leads can be handy too for that

[al4x]

Just what I was about to say a carrier would seem the obvious and easy answer

[casts_by_fly]

If by carrier you mean the loops of wire on a leather throng, forget it. I really don't like them. When i walk, i don't have game in my hands as the gun is at the ready. That would mean having it on a belt or shoulder strap. I don't want them dangling around my legs. If i am putting it on a shoulder strap i might as well have a game bag. And, i have seen heads pop off when in carriers. I have thought about them before and it is a non starter.

 

Thanks

Rick

[scotslad]

I think they are the best thing ever and rarely put more than 2 birds in a bag, i have ruined too many bags carrying game in the past. A decent bag is 60+ quid

 

My game bag is a glorified man bag which holds all my odds and ends inc carriers, and any more than 2 birds usually goes in the carrier which is carried on ur shoulder so i can still walk and shoot no problems. Better for the game too as not sweating in ur game bag.

The heads come off because u have run their necks, not due to a game carrier, seen the same thing happening on game carts when birds braced if can't touch the floor, i've had birds fall out my game bag before, nothing more annoying when u have walked for a long wounded bird ur dogs have found it and u realise it must off fell out ur bag on the way back