Squirrel Hunting Vests: Buying Advice and Recommedations

There are very few types of hunting that I find as relaxing and enjoyable as a morning or afternoon spent hunting squirrels. One significant advantage to chasing bushy tails is its simplicity. It’s one of the few hunting sports that doesn’t require any specialized gear. All you really need is a shotgun or rimfire rifle, spare ammo, and a patch of woods on a fall morning.

However, there are some items that make squirrel hunting more enjoyable, and one of those items is a comfortable game vest. In this post, I will discuss my ten best squirrel hunting vest options and the features that make them ideal for hunting the elusive squirrel.

Why wear a vest while hunting squirrels?

When I first started hunting squirrels on my own as a teenager, I did not wear or use a hunting vest. I just stuck some extra shotgun shells or .22 rounds in my pants pocket and hit the woods. Although that approach certainly worked, I did run into situations where I wished I had brought a small game vest. The primary reason I started wearing a hunting vest when squirrel hunting was the vest offered a game pouch area to carry the squirrels, so I didn’t have to try to carry them by hand.

A game vest for squirrels makes perfect sense as it provides the following benefits:

• Offers more pockets to carry additional hunting supplies (when needed)
• Depending on the vest color, it may increase your safety in the woods. For example, a blaze orange vest may help with hunter safety, so other hunters can potentially see you in the woods.
• Depending on the vest style and configuration, it may offer a game pouch area to carry any harvested squirrels.
• Depending on the vest options, it may also offer a seat cushion or backrest or other option to increase the comfort level when hunting seated.

Is a Vest Required to Hunt Squirrels?

Let me be clear here: You absolutely do NOT need a hunting vest to hunt squirrels or be successful hunting squirrels. As a teenager, I hunted squirrels for years without a hunting vest and did just fine.

Depending on the specific circumstances and specific hunting safety regulations, a squirrel hunter vest may offer the following benefits:

• Some hunter safety coverage (if the vest features any blaze orange)
• A convenient way to organize and carry additional hunting gear
• A vest offers an easy method for carrying harvested squirrels if equipped with a game pouch.

However, a vest is not required to hunt squirrels successfully.

Types of Hunting Vests

If you’ve done any research on game vests for squirrels, then you’ve probably noticed that there are very few game vests on the market that are designed or marketed specifically for hunting limb chickens.

Typically, hunting vests fall into one of two categories:

• General Vests
• Specialty Vests

General Hunting Vests

General hunting vests are the most common type on the market and are marketed as a general-purpose vest or a small game vest that will work for most types of hunting. This vest-style typically follows the traditional vest format with front pockets and a rear game pouch. Additionally, this style of vest is generally sleeveless, although a few models on the market are designed with full-length sleeves.

Typically, general hunter vests come in some form of camouflage coloring or hunter orange.

Specialty Hunting Vests

Specialty hunting vests are models that are manufactured or marketed to work for a specific type or style of hunting.

The most common styles are vests built for:

• Turkey Hunting
• Upland hunting
• Waterfowl Hunting

These types of vests are built with specialized features geared toward a specific type of hunting. For example, turkey hunter vests usually feature a special storage pocket for calls, especially scratch-style turkey calls. Another example includes an upland game vest built with briar-proof material for briar protection.

Some of the more advanced vests are equipped with higher-end features like a built-in seat or seat cushion, integrated scent control, and enhanced camouflage options (integrated hood and face cover).

10 Best Vests for Squirrel Hunting

Since there really aren’t any hunting vests on the market made specifically for hunting squirrels, most squack hunters end up wearing either a generic game vest or a specialized hunter vest. The most popular style of specialized vest among squirrel hunting fans is the turkey hunting vest.

Below, I will discuss my ten favorite game vests for hunting squirrels, including why I like each one. Since choosing a vest is a personal decision, I’ll identify vests that I like from both generic hunting and specialized hunting models. In addition, I’ll also list some models that are available in hunter orange for squirrel hunters who may hunt in states that have mandatory orange hunter safety regulations.

If you have questions or are still not sure about the best vest style for your needs, I also included a guide to squirrel hunting vests section below. I’ve also included some general squirrel hunting info, along with some tips and tricks.

Hunter Specialties Undertaker Vest

Although the Hunter Specialties Undertaker vest is designed as a turkey vest, it works well for hunting squirrels.

The padded shoulder straps are very comfortable and offer excellent freedom of movement when shouldering the rifle or shotgun. In addition, this vest is loaded with pockets, so there’s plenty of space to carry needed gear or accessories.

Like many turkey vests, this model features an attached foam seating cushion for added comfort when sitting on the ground or on a fallen tree. The padded seat cushion also keeps you dry when the forest floor is wet.

This model is only available in one size but is fully adjustable to fit nearly anyone. I’m about 6’2 and 245 lbs., and had no issues adjusting the sizing to my specific needs.

While this model is exceptionally comfortable, it weighs nearly 3 pounds without any gear, so it’s not the lightest option on the market.

Here are a few places that have this vest available for sale:

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Gamehide Camo Front Loading Hunting Vest

The Gamehide front-loading vest in Realtree Edge camouflage is another good option for those squirrel hunters who hunt in states or areas without any mandatory hunter orange clothing requirements.

This model is a lightweight vest with large cargo-style pockets in the front and a blood-proof game bag in the rear. It’s a relatively simple design but works well for its intended purpose.

If you squirrel hunt in an area with warmer early-season temperatures, this particular model is definitely worth checking out. In my home state of North Carolina, squirrel season runs from mid-October to the end of February. Early-season temperatures in NC can be pretty warm, so a lightweight vest style like this one is ideal.

I will note that the Gamehide sizing seems to run a bit small, so I suggest buying a larger size than usual.

If you’re interested in this vest, here are a few locations I found it for sale:

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Gamehide Mountain Pass Big Game Extreme Vest

The Gamehide Mountain Pass Big Game Extreme hunting vest is ideal for squirrel hunting in cold weather. This vest features plenty of pockets, including an insulated kangaroo-style pouch in the front to keep your hands warm.

This model is a cool to colder-weather hunting vest that may be too heavy for warm-weather use but excels in colder weather.

This model is available in three assorted colors:

• Orange Camo
• Blaze Orange
• Realtree Edge Camo

The color options offer a version that should work for any bushy-tail hunter. The hunter orange version is ideal for use in locations that require some safety orange clothing. The orange camo offers the best of both worlds with some limited break-up qualities coupled with high visibility orange for safety, and the Realtree camo version is an excellent option for those hunters who are not required to wear any orange while hunting.

It is worth noting that the orange camo finish may not meet the minimum orange requirements in states with mandatory bright orange regulations. Therefore, I’d suggest researching your state’s regulations to stay within the law.

Unlike most hunting vests, this model uses a side zipper entrance instead of the traditional front zippered versions. Getting in and out of this vest takes a bit of getting used to, but it is very convenient once you get the hang of it.

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Primos Gunhunter’s Vest

The Primos Gunhunter’s vest is a fluorescent orange hunting vest designed to work for any type of hunting requiring hunter orange for safety.

Although it may look like a plain orange vest, this model offers many well-thought-out features, including the following:

• A built-in license and tag holder area
• Safety harness opening so it can integrate with a tree stand safety harness
• The lining in the game pouch can be pulled down and laid on the ground for a dry place to sit.
• A built-in compass and small LED light are attached to zippers on the breast pocket.
• Hidden hand warmer pockets under the two front pockets.

It’s a well-built and well-thought-out design that works well for squirrel hunting. In fact, one of the pictures on this page is my personal Primos Gunhunter’s Vest, which I’ve been using for nearly 15 years now. Mine serves double duty as a squirrel and deer hunting vest for hunting on public land.

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Mossy Oak Longbird Elite Hunting Vest

As evidenced by the name, the Mossy Oak Longbird Elite Hunting Vest is really designed as a turkey hunting vest, but it also performs very well for hunting squirrels.

I like this vest because it uses snap buckles instead of a zipper or Velcro to attach around your torso. The sizing tops out at a 2XL size, but since the vest is adjustable, it will also fit a larger-figured person. I usually wear a 3XL, and the 2XL version fits me with room to spare.

This model features a padded back and a detachable seat cushion designed for optimal comfort when seated on the ground or with your back up against a tree.

The Longbird Elite vest also has 14 pockets for gear and storage. One of the reasons I like this vest is that it’s one of the few turkey vests on the market equipped with a game bag.

Because it’s a turkey vest, Mossy Oak offers this model in seven different camo colors, including:

• Obsession
• Greenleaf
• Bottomland
• Original Bottomland
• Country DNA
• Original Treestand

Like most turkey vests of this size, the Longbird Elite weighs nearly 3 pounds without any gear, so it’s not exactly lightweight. However, the back padding and seat cushion are undoubtedly nice features if you’re a squirrel hunter who likes to hunt while seated at the base of a tree (which is one of my favorite positions).

The biggest drawback with this particular vest is the price, which generally comes in well over $100.

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Browning Upland Strap Vest

If you were looking for a minimal-style hunting vest, then the Browning Upland Strap Vest might be an option for you. This upland hunting vest is more of a non-traditional style, as it uses two over-the-shoulder straps attached to pockets and a rear game bag.

I like this design for squirrel hunting because it works well in hot or cold hunting conditions. During warmer weather, you can wear it over a T-shirt and still be comfortable, or wear it over a jacket in colder temperatures.

The biggest upside with this vest is the minimal design that is ultra-lightweight and easy to wear if you like to hunt on the move.

While this design does have large front pockets for gear, it doesn’t offer the same amount of storage as a traditional vest or turkey hunting vest.

It does feature a large and deep game bag that can easily carry a limit of squirrels. In addition, the rear of the game bag features a safety orange finish, which may meet the minimum safety orange requirements for some states.

However, it’s worth noting that some states have regulations requiring some form of orange on each hunter’s front and rear. In those states, this specific vest won’t meet those requirements.

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Knight & Hale Run-n-Gun 200 Turkey Vest

Another turkey vest worth considering for use with squirrels is the Knight & Hale Run-N-Gun 200 vest. This model’s design reminds me more of a harness than a vest because the vest’s sides are completely open. In addition, all the pockets and pouches are built into the two primary vest straps.

One of my favorite things about this particular vest is its weight. This model weighs 1.5 pounds, which is exceptionally light for a turkey vest. Knight & Hale market this model as the “lightest turkey vest on the market,” but I haven’t tested enough turkey vests to confirm that.

Mossy Oak offers this vest in two different camouflage patterns:

• Mossy Oak Obsession
• Mossy Oak Bottomland

To be fair, this design offers fewer pockets and storage space than some of the more oversized, heavier turkey vests on this list, but that’s a trade-off for the lighter weight.

The weight and design make this vest a good option for warm or cold-weather hunting. In addition, this vest features a comfortable seat cushion that can be used in conjunction with the vest or removed and used on its own.

One more thing about the seat cushion on this model: most turkey hunting vests with cushions feature a small, light, and easily transportable cushion. The downside with that approach is the cushions are not very thick and may only offer minimal cushioning when used. However, the cushion on this Run-N-Gun vest is noticeably thicker and more comfortable than any other on this list. I would definitely rate the cushion on this vest as the most comfortable model I’ve tested so far.

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Gamehide Brown & Orange Front Loader Vest

Another excellent squirrel hunter vest from Gamehide, the Brown & Orange Front Loader vest, is a different-colored version of the Gamehide Camo Front Loader Vest I discussed previously. The only difference with this version is the brown and orange coloring pattern.

This traditional hunting vest design features two large front pockets that will carry most squirrel hunting accessories. The vest attaches to the body using a zippered front and has ample room in the arm areas for freedom of movement.

Like its camo-colored cousin, the Brown and orange version is very lightweight and works well in hot or cold weather. In addition, the blood-proof game pouch is broad and deep enough to carry several squirrels.

Since this vest has fluorescent orange on both the front and rear of the vest, it should meet most orange hunter safety requirements. The only potential issue with meeting those requirements is states that have a minimum amount of safety orange requirements on the front and back.

For example, some states have regulations requiring at least 144 inches of bright orange on the front and back. Although I haven’t explicitly measured the amount of safety orange in the front, I don’t think it will be sufficient to meet the 144 minimum amount.

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Scentblocker Torched Turkey Vest

Scentblocker recently changed the name of this vest, so you may see it listed as the Torched Turkey Vest or listed as the Shield Series Finisher Vest. Although the names are different, they are the same vest.

Like most turkey hunter vests, this model also performs well for squirrels. Weighing in at 2 pounds, it is not the lightest turkey vest I’ve tested, but it’s certainly one of the lighter ones on the market. The lightweight makes this vest usable for squirreling in warm and cold weather.

This camo-finished model is available in two sizes: medium/large and X-large/2X-large. While it offers a certain amount of adjustment, it’s probably not a good option if you wear a 3X or up. I usually wear a 3X and find that it’s still a little snug on me in places, even with the adjustments maxed all the way out. Also, if your chest measurements are larger than 52 inches, I’d stay away from this model.

From a pocket and storage standpoint, the vest has more than enough room for most squirrel hunting equipment. One key feature I like about this model is the large rear game bag. Being built to hold a harvested turkey means that this game bag is large enough to accommodate a daily limit of squirrels.

Like many turkey vests, this model features a padded seat for added comfort. While I like the idea of having a padded seat since I routinely hunt squirrels while seated on the ground, there were two things about this seat that I wasn’t crazy about:

1. The seat is non-detachable, which makes getting adjusted just right on the ground to be a bit challenging.
2. The cushion is super thin and not all that comfortable for long periods of sitting. It does a fine job of keeping your rear dry, but it certainly isn’t the most comfortable seat cushion I’ve tested.

Assuming that you can make the limited sizing work, this is a better-than-average option for squirrel hunting and is priced exceptionally well for a turkey hunting vest.

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Will Primos Signature Series Turkey Vest

This turkey vest was designed by Will Primos, the founder of Primos Hunting. Although designed specifically for hunting turkeys, it works quite well for hunting squirrels.

This vest is a well-thought-out model that is both comfortable and durable. It’s designed with many, many pockets and tons of storage. This model has more pockets on the inside and outside than any other turkey vest I’ve tested. Some of the pockets are designed for specific products, like a box call, but most of them are versatile enough to be used for other items as well. It even has a water bottle pocket on each side, which is nice as I do like to carry water when I hunt.

The vest is equipped with a padded back and also features a detachable seat cushion that is thick enough to be comfortable.

One major selling point with this vest is the sizing options. Primos offers this vest in the following sizes:

• Medium
• Large
• X-Large
• 2X-Large
• 3X-Large

Those expanded sizes mean this vest works for the bigger guys (like me).

Overall, it’s a great vest, but there are two things that I’m not really crazy about:

#1 – The Weight

This vest weighs 4 pounds without any loaded gear. With gear, it’s more like 5 to 7 pounds. While the weight isn’t an issue for me in the winter, it’s not a weight I want to carry around during the warmer temperatures.

#2 – The Price

While this is definitely a top-shelf turkey vest, it’s also one of the most expensive turkey vests on the market.

The price may put this vest out of reach for some squirrel hunters, but if you happen to hunt turkeys and squirrels, then the cost becomes more palatable.

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Guide to Choosing a Game Vest for Squirrel Hunting

As I previously mentioned, there aren’t any hunting clothes manufacturers who sell or market a hunting vest or game vest dedicated to squirrel hunting. Because of that, most bushy tail hunters end up either using a generic hunting vest or a specialized hunting vest that they adapt for use with squirrels.

Let’s look at some factors to keep in mind when shopping for a busy tail hunting vest.

Vest Materials

Nowadays, hunting vests are available in a variety of materials, and some work better than others for squirrel hunting. Let’s look at a few of the more common materials and discuss their pros and cons.

Ballistic Nylon

Some vests on the market are made from or use ballistic nylon as a foundational material. Because of its briar-resistant properties, ballistic nylon is especially common on vests geared toward upland bird hunting.

While that’s an extremely useful feature for upland bird hunting, it’s not as crucial for hunting squirrels. In fact, having too much ballistic nylon on a vest can create noise issues, as the nylon makes noise when it comes into contact with almost any other material. This can be problematic when trying to position for a shot, and the vest creates noise that potentially alerts the squirrel to your presence.

In addition, those vests can be excessively noisy when trying to creep quietly through the woods, especially when a branch or limb scrapes across the nylon lining.

However, a vest with a bit of ballistic nylon typically won’t create those same noise issues.

Polyester

Polyester is a popular vest material because it’s relatively lightweight, quiet, and can be treated as water-resistant. In addition, polyester is durable and holds up well over time.

The one drawback with polyester is it tends to hold odor longer than a natural fiber like cotton. This drawback means that polyester-based vests need to be treated for odors more frequently if you’re using one for hunting a species like deer. However, since squirrels don’t have a good sense of smell, it’s not as big of a deal.

Cotton

Another material commonly used in hunting vests is cotton or a cotton blend. Cotton fiber is a soft material that doesn’t cause static electricity and is very comfortable against the skin.

The downsides to cotton include the fact that it shrinks and fades when washed in hot water. The other potential issue with cotton is that it’s heavier than polyester, so there’s usually a slight added weight factor with vests manufactured from cotton.

Vest Design

Another factor to consider is the vest design. Typically speaking, most hunting vests on the market today follow one of the following design formats:

Traditional Vest

A traditional-style hunting vest is one that follows the design format seen with traditional clothing vests. That particular style is usually a one-piece, wrap-around design with arm holes or slots for the arms and a center attachment location where the left and right sides of the vest meet and attach together. This style of vest is also commonly called a front loading hunting vest.

The traditional hunting vest is the most common and well-known style of hunting vest and the type that you’re most likely to see in a gun store or hunting store.

This traditional style is commonly seen with general all-purpose game vests and upland game vests.

Tactical Style Vest

The tactical-style hunting vest borrows its design and layout from the popular tactical-style vests seen in military and law enforcement. This style of vest usually comes in two variations:

1. This is a spin-off of the traditional tactical vest, with full vest coverage of the entire back and front of the torso.
2. A tactical vest variation uses two primary straps running vertically along the front and rear of the torso, with pockets and pouches attached to those two straps.

This tactical-style hunting vest is very popular in the turkey hunting community and is a common vest format for turkey hunters.

Minimal Vest

The minimal vest style consists of two primary straps running vertically up and down the front and rear of the torso. Those two straps attach to a game pouch in the back and generally mate to two primary bags or pockets in the front of the vest.

This vest style typically offers fewer pockets and less overall storage space than tactical and traditional vests. However, the primary upside of minimal or minimalist vests is the weight reduction compared to the other two vest styles.

The minimalist hunting vest is most commonly seen in upland bird hunting vests, which are almost a spin-off of trap shooting vests.

Vest Color

Although I touched on this topic briefly above, another factor to consider when buying a hunting vest is the vest color.

Typically, hunting vests are available in one of three colors or finish options:

• Some Camouflage versions (and there are many patented camo finishes on the market today)
• All Blaze Orange
• Combination of blaze orange and another color

Let’s talk about each color or finish in greater detail:

Camouflage Finish

If you’ve recently been shopping for a new hunting vest, you’ve probably noticed that several models on the market are available in some form or version of camouflage. In states that do not have a mandatory blaze orange safety requirement for squirrel season, camouflage vests are the most popular choice, hands down.

In addition, most brands of hunting apparel have their own patented camo pattern. So, you will see camouflage hunting vests in at least 20 different camo patterns on the market. Some examples of popular camo patterns include:

• Realtree Edge
• Mossy Oak Bottomland
• Mossy Oak Obsession
• Mossy Oak Greenleaf
• Mossy Oak Original
• Bottomland Realtree
• Timber Realtree Max-1

With all the different camo options on the market, it shouldn’t be hard to find one that works for your squirrel-hunting needs.

Complete Blaze Orange

Although I’ve briefly touched on the blaze orange topic earlier in this post, it’s worth revisiting in an effort to keep you legal while hunting.

The hunter-safety rules vary significantly from state to state, with some having very stringent rules about wearing blaze orange while hunting and others only requiring blaze orange clothing while hunting certain species.

Let’s take my home state of North Carolina as an example:

In North Carolina, a hunter is required to wear a blaze orange cap, hat, or garment that is visible from all sides while hunting the following game species with a firearm:

• Bear
• Deer
• Rabbit
• Squirrel
• Grouse
• Quail
• Pheasant
• Feral hogs

In addition, any hunter hunting deer during the firearms season, regardless of the hunting method, has to follow the blaze orange requirements.

So, when I’m squirrel hunting in North Carolina, I must wear some kind of blaze orange garment visible from all sides. However, when I hunt on public land during deer season, I prefer to take the safer route and wear the brightest blaze orange hunting vest I own, which offers the highest chance of not being mistaken for a deer.

Some states have blaze orange requirements based on wearing a blaze orange item that is a minimum size as measured in square inches. And other states may not require any blaze orange during squirrel season.

Here’s a great resource that lists the hunter safety requirements for every state: Hunter-Ed.com

Those state-by-state requirements are the driving force behind the large number of entirely blaze orange hunting vests.

Combination colors with blaze orange

The final vest color popular on the market is combination colors integrated with blaze orange. One popular color within these combination colors is orange camo, which consists of a blaze orange background with added black camo patterns to help conceal your outline.

If the camo blaze orange color interests you, I would recommend checking with the regulations in your state because, in some states, orange camo doesn’t meet the state blaze orange requirement.

Other popular color or finish combinations for hunting vests include:

• Blaze orange and brown (which is popular for upland or bird hunters)
• Blaze orange and camo – In this option, the hunting vest actually features portions that are blaze orange and portions of the vest that are camo colored.

Capacity for Squirrel Hunting Gear

Another factor to consider when choosing a new hunting vest involves the number of pockets and overall storage capacity. For most squirrel hunters, a key reason for wearing a hunting vest is the hands-free storage the vest offers.

When I squirrel hunt, I need a vest that has the pockets and capacity that allow me to carry the following items:

• Spare ammunition
• Squirrel calls
• Binoculars
• A small first-aid kit
• Water bottle or bottles of water
• An emergency rain poncho or jacket

To be fair, I probably hit the woods carrying more gear than the average squirrel hunter, but I prefer to carry gear that I might need instead of needing gear I should have carried with me.

Game Pouch

When it comes to a vest for hunting squirrels, I very much like having a game pouch or game bag attached to the vest. Having a game pouch offers me a hand-free method of carrying any harvested squirrels that is far more convenient than carrying them by hand or using a dedicated squirrel carrier.

The only downside I’ve seen with game bags on a vest is that the bag’s material isn’t blood-proof or is made of a cheap material that lets blood soak through.

If I had a choice between a squack hunting vest with an attached game pouch or a vest without, I’ll always take the model with the game vest because I like the functionality and convenience the game bag offers.

FAQS

Will a turkey hunting vest work for squirrel hunting?

Most turkey vests make excellent hunting vests for squirrels and are very popular with squirrel hunting fans. The lone drawback to turkey hunting vests is their higher costs because they are specialized hunting vests.

Do you have to wear an orange vest for hunting squirrels?

I saw that question being asked so much I dedicated this entire blog post to the topic of wearing orange while squirrel hunting.

As I come across other questions related to this topic, I’ll update this page.