As winter draws closer to an end each year, that familiar feeling returns. During February and March, the mind of a hunter begins to anticipate the upcoming turkey hunting season. It’s almost time to gear up.
As a waterfowl hunter, my equipment gets cleaned and put away in mid-February. There are usually a few weeks of catching up on projects around the house that have been neglected since November. However, the first time the temperature climbs over 60 degrees, I can’t help but think about turkey hunting.
Turkey hunting is extremely enjoyable. The weather is usually very nice. Farmers are working ground and planting crops. The forest is beginning to turn green, and flowers are starting to bloom. Turkey hunting allows you to cover lots of ground, walk through the woods, cross creeks, pick mushrooms, and much more.
This year’s Turkey Hunting Gear List
Since that special time of year is just around the corner, I thought it would be helpful to provide a list of must-have gear for this year. New things are always being invented, and companies across the nation continue to perfect the gear that we have always used.
I have done some research and read some reviews and I believe this article will help you obtain the latest and greatest gear to help you bag a strutting tom this spring.
Some of the links in this post may be Amazon Affiliate links. This means I will get a commission if a purchase is made through one of these links.
Choose the perfect boots for turkey hunting
The style of turkey hunting that I prefer is the “Run and Gun” style. I like to cover a lot of ground. If a tom doesn’t want to play the game, I move on. When covering this many miles in the spring season, it’s important to choose good boots that will keep your feet dry and comfortable all day long.
For this year, based on my own experience, I’m choosing Danner and Lacrosse. The reason I’m selecting two different brands is we need to consider the weather. I could not settle on one winner for boots. Danner takes the cake for the hiking boots that would be used for the dry times and Lacrosse rubber boots if we have monsoons!
I recently bought a pair of Danner hunting boots for an elk hunting trip, and they didn’t let me down. Others seem to love them as well. There are many good reviews online. These boots have a high top for plenty of ankle support. They have good tread for many different terrains, and they’re waterproof.
Check out the pair I recommend. https://amzn.to/4cdNx5l
Your turkey hunting boots may need to be rubber
It is not uncommon to get wet feet while turkey hunting. Try crossing a field or walking through the woods one spring morning and you’ll see what I mean. Whether it’s from dew, mud puddles, or streams, you’re bound to get wet. Therefore, whatever we choose to put on our feet, they need to be waterproof.
For particularly wet days, I often choose to wear rubber boots. This allows me to tromp through water and cross streams without worrying about finding just the right crossing point. For many years I have worn Lacrosse rubber boots and I love them. They are lightweight and extremely comfortable.
Here is the pair I recommend. https://amzn.to/49ZF17J
I even found an option for the ladies. https://amzn.to/3TjePzG
Be sure to have a quality turkey hunting mask
A face mask is an essential item for turkey hunting. With an uncovered face, you will certainly send a tom sprinting in the opposite direction before you know he’s there. I like to have a neck gator-style mask that is ready to pull up at a moment’s notice. There have been countless hunts where a tom has torched off 50 yards away and I needed to be ready quick!
I set out to find the perfect face mask. The one that caught my attention and kept it was this one from Sitka. I love the camo pattern, the neck gator style, and the open-mouth slot. I’m not a tobacco chewer anymore, but that slot sure would be handy for spitting.
Get rid of that nasty old face mask and get a new one. https://amzn.to/49AKty5
Invest in a better pair of turkey hunting Gloves
Lightweight camo gloves are a must-have for the turkey hunter. Believe it or not, even uncovered hands can cause a turkey to head in the other direction. I like to wear my gloves at all times while turkey hunting, so I don’t have to scramble to find them when it’s go time.
Since I like to wear my gloves all day, I like for them to be lightweight and comfortable. For this year, Sitka makes the list again. These gloves have a good-looking camo pattern and reviews say they are light and comfortable. I love the open thumb and pointer finger. This helps you feel the trigger, operate calls, and use your phone.
Check out this years pick. https://amzn.to/3P60DaS
Add some new turkey calls to your gear
It is not possible to turkey hunt without calls. Well, I guess some are talented enough to use just their mouth. But for most of us, we need to buy some calls. In my opinion, the two best kinds of calls are slates and mouth calls. However, I know many people who love to carry a box call. Box calls are great for locating birds since they can reach higher levels of volume. I use a slate until the bird is close enough to start using only a mouth call. I make the switch so I can keep my hands on my shotgun.
After searching around, I settled on this variety pack from ESH. This seems to be a pretty cool group of guys and the calls have many good reviews. Make this the year to replace those worn-out calls!
Check them out. https://amzn.to/4340Jpd
Check out their full website here. ESH Custom Calls
Buy a Good Turkey Hunting Vest
Speaking of worn out, are you still using your turkey vest from 1984? Is it sun-faded and riddled with holes? If so, it’s time for a new one. Every turkey hunter needs a good vest for carrying ammo, calls, and hopefully a Tom!
I am recommending this vest from Tidewe. I bought a Tidewe pack for elk hunting and backpacking and it has served me well up many mountains. This brand is reliable and extremely affordable compared to other brands.
Get yours and enjoy the comfort of a new vest this spring. https://amzn.to/3P2GYs8
Try a New Style Gun Sling For This Turkey Season
I highly recommend a comfortable sling for the shotgun. As I said before, I like to run and gun and cover a lot of ground. This makes a sling a must-have for me.
For this year I wanted to find something new and unique. This cross-body sling from Huntpal caught my attention. I can’t wait to try this out! https://amzn.to/3IoL4au
Use a Tom Decoy This Year to Bring a Tom Closer
When most people think of turkey decoys, they usually think of hens and jakes. However, a buddy of mine figured out a few years ago to start using a Tom decoy. This decoy can be a game changer if a tom is wanting to hang up with hens. If he sees another tom entering his field, there’s a good chance he will come to fight.
This decoy from Avian-X has good reviews and looks very realistic. It comes with a synthetic fan but can be switched out with a real one to make it even more lifelike.
Switch things up this year and use a Tom! https://amzn.to/48BYLgJ
Switch Up Your Tactics and Use a Gobble Tube
What good is a Tom Decoy without a gobble tube? If you want to get his attention these are a must-have. Gobble tubes are handy even without a tom decoy for locating birds while running and gunning.
Here’s one to check out. https://amzn.to/3T0JNv4
Stock up on targets to pattern your turkey gun
Before you go turkey hunting, you must pattern your shotgun. This is shooting at a piece of paper to ensure that enough pellets are hitting the desired spot. Sometimes you will have to change ammunition, choke tubes, or distance to get the desired effect. To help this process I recommend these targets. https://amzn.to/3T42DRN
They have an image of a turkey and splatter with bright colors upon impact. This will make the process much simpler. I used to draw a lot of turkey heads with Sharpie markers on pizza boxes.
Conclusion
I hope this list will help you get prepared for this spring’s turkey season. Get the proper gear and make yourself comfortable this year.
To learn some turkey hunting tactics, check out this post of mine. Turkey hunting-everything you need to know to get started – Stream and Timber
Good Luck
Great article!