The best thing about my job is that I get to play around with a lot of cool, new gear before it ever really hits the market. While working on the new turkey gear section for OL's March issue this past winter, one of the things I probably liked the most was Mossy Oak Apparel's Dixon Limited Edition Turkey Vest.
Yeah, you don't usually hear the words limited-edition and turkey vest combined, but this thing is pretty sweet. The first one was auctioned off during SHOT Show in Orlando and brought $5,000!!!! I hear the NWTF bought it to place in their museum.
Created in honor of the late Bob Dixon, a longtime member of Mossy Oak's executive team until losing his battle with cancer in 2003, only 1,986 vests are being made—in honor of the year Mossy Oak camo was founded. The first 100 numbered vests are being filled with turkey calls from companies like Cody Calls, Drury Outdoors, Knight & Hale, Lynch, Pittman Game Calls, Primos and Woodhaven. Other accessories will be included from Carry-Lite Decoys, Nikon and Therma-Cell. The first 100 vests are being sold through auctions to raise money for the Dr. Arnold S. Leonard Cancer Research Fund.
The rest of the vests will be sold at "key retail partners throughout the country" Mossy Oak Apparel reports, with a percentage of the sale price also going to the ASL Cancer Research Fund. As soon as I find out where some of these key retail outlets will be, I'll let you know. Oh, and the retail vests won't include the full outfit of calls bringing their suggested retail price to a much more reasonable ballpark of $159.
But don't just buy one of these vests for the reason that the cause you'll be supporting is a vital one, buy it because it is one awesome damn vest. Here's what I said about it in OL: "Claw rubberized gun sling-style straps hold the vest over the shoulders. Ten external front pockets house everything from box calls to strikers, including a patent-pending striker conditioner pocket. There are also an internal box call pocket, shell loops and five accessory pockets. Generous back padding aids comfort as does the 3-inch thick seat cushion held in place by silent magnetic closures."
In addition, the neoprene striker pockets hold your strikers perfectly. There are also decoy stake pockets on the rear of the vest. The roomy game back can be zipped flat when not in use or opened up for toting a bird or gear. The inside of the vest is lined with Mossy Oak's first pattern, Bottomland, while the outside is the company's renowned Break-Up.