There was a time, and it wasn’t that long ago, when turkey hunters didn’t wear vests. They simply put their shotshells, calls, and other gear into the pocket of their Carhartts, and off they went.

Modern turkey vests have come a long way since those early days. Now they have integral frames, call-specific zippered pouches, lanyards, shell loops, and padding. And some with built-in seats that ...