1915 - 35 Hunting Vest

During the early 1900s, saw the increasing regulatory efforts and the emergence of the conservation movement. The Lacey Act of 1900 banned market hunting in the U.S., and the Migratory Bird Act of 1913 (later replaced by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918) aimed to protect migratory birds and was a key step towards state and federal regulation of hunting. Hunting was a popular activity for various segments of society, but motivations and targets differed. On one hand, you have the working-class and poor men who often hunted for sustenance, targeting animals such as squirrels, raccoons, and possums. On the other hand, elite, wealthy, white men engaged in sport hunting for leisure and social enjoyment, focusing on game birds like doves and quail, as well as fox hunting.

Both opposites of society did have one thing in common, the equipment they used. While bows and arrows were still used by some, firearms were a primary tool for hunting. The .30-06 Springfield rifle, introduced in 1908, became a popular choice for hunting large game like bison, deer, and bear. Other popular gun choices for hunting include: the Winchester Model 1894, Savage Model 99, 12-Gauge Shotguns, Winchester Model 1897. Regardless of social class, both commonly used hunting vests, like the one we have on display, for hunting and other purposes. The vest holds 39 12-Gauge shells sleeves,with enough room for a wool shirt underneath and a buckle adjuster in the back allows for some size adjustment, this vest was made from a tan heavy, plain woven cotton fabric called a duck cloth.