Turkey Hunting Equipment to Maximize Your Experience

For many turkey hunters, spring turkey hunting is more than a sport—it’s a tradition that spans generations. Hunting wild turkeys in the turkey woods requires skill, patience, and the right gear to ensure success. While expensive equipment isn't always necessary, many hunters agree that having quality turkey hunting gear enhances the experience. Whether you're a new hunter or a seasoned expert chasing gobblers, understanding the turkey hunting essentials can make all the difference.

Essential Turkey Hunting Gear: What Every Hunter Needs

A well-prepared hunter needs a mix of firearms, camouflage, accessories, and personal protection gear. A successful turkey season relies on choosing the right gear and understanding its use. Unlike big game hunting, hunting wild turkeys requires precise gear to match their incredible eyesight and elusive nature.

Firearms and Ammunition: Selecting the Best for Turkey

The right turkey gun is crucial for a successful hunt. Most turkey hunters prefer a 12-gauge shotgun, while others opt for a 20-gauge for reduced recoil. A full choke or turkey choke improves shot density, making it easier to hunt turkeys at longer ranges. Pairing your firearm with the right turkey load ensures a clean and ethical harvest.

Key Considerations for Turkey Guns:

• Choke Selection: A turkey choke tightens the shot spread, increasing precision.

• Optics & Sights: Many hunters use red-dot sights or ghost ring sights for improved accuracy.

• Ammunition: Look for high-velocity shells with clean-burning powder for better performance.

Turkey Calls: Communicating with Gobblers

Mastering turkey calls is essential for chasing longbeards. There are several types of turkey hunting essentials when it comes to calling:

• Box Call: Easy to use, great for realistic yelps and loud calls.

• Slate Calls: Requires a striker, ideal for softer, controlled clucks and purrs.

• Diaphragm Calls: Hands-free calling, allowing hunters to stay concealed.

• Locator Calls: Mimic an owl or crow to get a gobbler to shock gobble.

Many turkey hunters prefer carrying a few options to adapt to different conditions.

Camouflage and Apparel: Staying Concealed in the Turkey Woods

Turkeys have keen eyesight, making camo patterns a must. The Mossy Oak Bottomland and Realtree Edge patterns blend into most environments. A complete kit should include:

• Turkey Vest: Holds gear like locator calls, box calls, and ammo.

• Face Paint & Head Net: Conceals exposed skin from sharp-eyed birds.

• Rubber Boots: Essential for wet conditions and protection from pesky bugs.

• Gloves & Hunting Pants: Provides stealth and protection against early season chills.

Hunting Accessories: Enhancing the Hunt

Hunting accessories can be very effective in enhancing a hunt and provide an array of benefits and advantages. Staying dry is also critical when it comes to caring for a hunter's feet, with quality hunting boots being an essential component of hunting apparel.

• Decoys: Using a gobbler decoy attracts dominant toms.

• Trail Cameras: Monitor turkey movement for consistent patterns.

• Gun Cleaning Kit: Keeps your shotgun in top condition.

• Firearm Case: Ensures safety while transporting your semi-auto or pump-action shotgun.

• Insect Repellent: Keeps pesky bugs away during long sits.

Sold separately, these hunting gear items can enhance your turkey hunting success.

Innovative Hearing Protection: AXIL Cutting-Edge Solutions

Hearing protection by itself is utterly important to anyone using firearms, whether for sport, hunting, or training. However, AXIL provides multiple options with added benefits that can enhance a hunting experience and make a hunter more effective and aware. From simple inexpensive plugs to advanced ear muffs that provide accessibility to Bluetooth devices and increased spatial awareness. AXIL has developed cutting-edge technology that can provide hunters with a tactical edge even in the rugged outdoors, providing comfortable, intuitive earbuds designed to function in harsh environments. Being able to hear Turkey from farther away and knowing what direction they are coming from well in advance while providing your ears with the best protection available, should be an essential objective for any hunter.

Advanced Tactics for Turkey Hunting

Patience is imperative for a skilled hunter. It seems like a simple tip, however, a hunter doesn't always have a perfect call or perfect location, but being able to wait it out has helped many hunters bag prime game.

Using decoys is another advanced technique for hunting turkey. Especially using them to draw in hens which tend to be more inquisitive and can be drawn in by decoys. Also, looking for roosting trees, tracks and upturned leaves, essentially tracking.

Mastering mouth calls is essential as well, mostly because they require virtually no movement. However, simply making mouth calls isn't enough, learning to time calls less often and with longer periods of silence. These are all advanced techniques perfected over time by experienced turkey hunters. The most advanced tactic is trial and error honed over more time spent in the field.

Scouting and Setup: Laying the Groundwork

As mentioned above, scouting is an essential aspect of Turkey hunting, and using hunting decoys as well as learning their habitats will contribute to successful hunts. Setting up a tom (male turkey) decoy can draw in hens, but needs to be placed strategically, meaning within relatively close shooting range, or in clear view of treestands or other concealed structures. Many hunters experiment and customize different layouts after identifying feeding areas and hone their setups over time, even considering how they shoot and which side they like to aim from. A Successful hunter can customize their layout to optimize their vision, awareness, and shooting.

Hunting Strategy: Engaging the Gobbler

Detailed well thought-out hunting strategy will take time to develop. However, once mastered, scouting and layout will exponentially improve results. Turkey calls can attract a gobbler and many hunters have specific methods. If patience is a priority, developing effective calls with box or mouth calls will bear fruit and bring in the birds. A hunter needs to keep in mind the effect that the elements can have on calls and decoys, with wind and rain affecting both.

Turkey Hunting Gear FAQ: Expert Advice

What is the best…is a common sentiment applied to equipment and accessories. However, the adage applies, if there was a “best” everyone would have it. Ultimately the best gear and strategies are the gear and strategies that best suit the individual hunter. A Remington 870 is possibly the most well-known and respected turkey-hunting shotgun around. However, several offerings by other manufacturers can be considered more suitable for beginner hunters. The best way to choose the “best” gear is to consult the experts. Experts are not always available, so talking to friends and family who hunt is also the best option. Examine their equipment and ask questions.

The internet is a profound source of info, so much so that it can be overwhelming, however, best sellers can be researched and great deals and special offers can be found, allowing financial flexibility to experiment with different equipment. Reading FAQs on different hunting sites is also a great way to learn about gear, equipment, and techniques. It's a learning process, regardless of experience level. Even hunters who have been at it for decades will usually admit that they are still learning. The hunting community is generally friendly supportive and welcoming to new members. This can be a great environment for continued learning..

Wrapping up: Essential Tips for Turkey Hunting Success

Turkey hunting is an American tradition that has persevered for generations. That being said, there are always changes in technology, regulations, and techniques. By understanding turkey hunting essentials, a new hunter can embark on a hunt with a solid foundation of confidence and knowledge. Equipment and tools are various and the scale of cost and value is tremendous. Turkey shotguns can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. It's been said that a true expert never blames their equipment, this applies aptly to hunting and skill at arms.

Don't focus on price points as quality equipment isn't reserved just for high-price tagged items. The checkout page can be a great place to search for special deals and help a new hunter acquire gear and accessories for lower prices. Most hunters use a friend or family member's or friend's shotgun on their first trip out. This applies to other equipment as well. A good friend who acts as a guide is probably the best way to transition into the world of turkey hunting and can also help with choosing equipment and learning strategy and technique.

Turkey Hunting FAQs

What type of shotgun is recommended for turkey hunting?

A reliable shotgun is crucial for turkey hunting, with 12-gauge shotguns preferred for their power. However, 20-gauge shotguns provide a lighter alternative while still being capable of downing a turkey effectively.

Why is a turkey-specific choke important in turkey hunting?

A turkey-specific choke is important because it tightens the shot pattern, which increases the hit probability at longer ranges. This enhancement is critical in improving the lethality of your shots.

What are some effective types of turkey calls?

Effective types of turkey calls include box calls, slate calls, and diaphragm calls. These calls are used to mimic turkey sounds like yelps, clucks, and gobbles, which are essential for attracting turkeys.

What should I look for in camouflage for turkey hunting?

Effective camouflage for turkey hunting should match your hunting environment to blend in well, as turkeys have sharp eyesight. It is also recommended to use face paint or masks to cover any exposed skin.

What are some strategic tips for setting up a turkey hunting spot?

When setting up for turkey hunting, position yourself strategically near roosts but not too close to avoid spooking the birds. Utilize a mix of decoys and consider your calling strategy based on turkey responses, adjusting the intensity as necessary.