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Check out these 18 turkey hunting gear essentials that can help you maximize your time in the woods this spring.
18 Turkey Hunting Gear Essentials. Very few things in life bring on excitement like a thundering tom, but finding the right turkey is half the battle. Hunters must often cover expansive amounts of countryside to find a turkey that’s willing to work. Staying mobile while being fully prepared means carrying the right gear in your vest. Here are 18 essentials to turn you into a mobile turkey-killing machine.
Calls 18 Turkey Hunting Gear Essentials
Some of the most important pieces of turkey hunting gear, diaphragm calls, slate calls, and box calls all have distinct benefits, and sometimes wandering gobblers will respond to one and not the other. Be prepared with a variety of options, and make sure your mouth calls aren’t clicking in their case as you walk. Use a soft-sided case to reduce noise.
Facemask and Gloves Turkey Hunting
Wear a full mesh mask in warmer weather and a spandex mask when the temperature drops. Choose one you can wear around your neck and pull up in a hurry instead of the over-the-head models. Cut the index fingers out of your gloves so you can feel the trigger when the time is right.
Binoculars
Having a good set of binoculars is critical for glassing through cover and across terrain. Use an 8x pair for a wider field of view, and make sure it’s tough enough to handle the elements without weighing you down. The TRACT TORIC 8×42 binoculars are made for this.
Binocular Harness
If you haven’t upgraded your neck strap to a TRACT binocular harness, this one piece of gear will revolutionize your setup. By transferring the weight from your neck to your core, you’ll greatly reduce fatigue and won’t have to worry about your binos dangling on a crawl or getting caught in brush.
Decoy
Decoys can make or break a hunt, especially in open country or on public land. Pressured toms can become wary of hearing a call without seeing the source, and as hens and toms begin pairing up, a strutting tom decoy can invoke competition among birds that are with hens. The intruder can draw them away from a flock looking for a fight. Find one that’s compact and lightweight, such as what you’d find at Montana Decoy.
Butt Pad
Strolling gobblers regularly move to a hen’s location hours after they hear a call – often without a responding gobble. Waiting out curious toms can be particularly lethal, especially on public land or quiet days. Bring a thick foam pad to keep from getting uncomfortable.
Tick Spray
Tick-born illnesses like Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome can leave a lasting impact. Use a product with permethrin or DEET, but don’t apply directly to skin. The oils on your skin will dampen their effects.
Water Bladder
Like ticks, dehydration is a real problem for turkey hunters. Carry a water bladder with a long hose to greatly improve your longer sits. Just make sure it’s not in between you and the tree when you lean back.
Multitool
For small mechanical emergencies, carry a multitool. Try to find one with a soft case and a belt loop so it is immediately accessible and to reduce the number of things shifting around in your vest.
Handheld Pruner
When setting up for a charging gobbler, removing twigs and brush is imperative. While breaking branches is always an option, the sound of snapping brush is not characteristic of a turkey. Quietly cutting branches can literally be the difference in life and death.
Fence Step
When quickly moving on birds, having a way over obstacles is essential. An aluminum fence step fits on any standard barbed-wire t-post. Keeping one in your vest can make crossings a breeze.
Headlamp
Early morning is prime time. Wear a headlamp with a red-light feature, and turn it off as you near a roost. Familiarize yourself with the flashing light feature so you don’t accidentally send a strobe through the woods.
Snacks
Snack preference obviously varies from person to person, but make sure whatever food item you bring isn’t packed in a loud wrapper. Bring a small Ziplock bag to store your snacks.
Extra Socks
Moisture is the great enemy of a turkey hunter’s feet, especially on long hunts. Carrying a dry pair of socks can mean the difference in hunting the next day or nursing sore feet.
Compass or GPS
It’s easy to get disoriented in the turkey woods. Always check your location to know your way out or if you’re approaching private land.
Toilet Paper
As for important turkey hunting gear, or anytime you’re in the woods all day, this is one item that needs little explanation. Just make sure to always practice proper etiquette when discarding the extras.
Extra Shells
While missing or crippling a bird is never the goal, it is a distinct possibility. Carry enough ammo to handle the job.
Hunting License
Buying a license is only the first step. Keep your license on your person to prove your both legal and ethical.
