Our readers should probably know by now, but I may have an obsession with turkey hunting. It’s the most frustrating, difficult, and exhilarating hunt (for me) outside of Elk or Moose. With turkey season just 18 days away and counting down, I wanted to give our readers some things I’ve learned that help with my turkey hunting.  These 4 items have helped me go from hunting weeks without a bird to going 3/4 in my last 4 turkey hunts. Obviously, there are many other items that important to turkey hunting, but these 4 are often overlooked or overthought.

1. Turkey Call

I think this goes without saying in the hunting community, but you need a call in the Spring to get the birds close enough to shoot. I have been working with a mouth call for a year now and I’m honestly not that good at it. I need to practice a little more, but in the meantime, I use a box and slate calls on all turkey hunts. I always recommend using a box call for beginners because it’s so easy to use. There are about a million videos on YouTube teaching you how to use a box call, so it’s unacceptable to not be able to use a box call. I have 3 box calls and I use them interchangeably. I do prefer my H.S. Strut® Closer Turkey Box Call by Hunter’s Specialties® on most days because it’s affordable and has gotten me 2 of my last 3 birds.

H.S. Strut® Closer Turkey Box Call by Hunter’s Specialties®

The H.S. Strut Closer Turkey Box Call is one of my favorite box calls to use, especially when the weather is dryer. Even though it’s waterproof and doesn’t degrade, I find that my box calls sound different in the rain and I use a slate call for worse weather. Regardless, I don’t think it’s necessary to break the bank on turkey call unless you’re a professional. This box call is really easy to use and will make most sounds, including a purr, click, yelp, and drum. If you’re located near a Sportsman’s Warehouse, you’ll find an impressive collection of turkey calls and equipment. If you’re looking for professional help, research guys like Kyle Ott, Steve Rinella, and The Hunting Public. They all have a strong presence on YouTube and podcasts so you can access the info whenever you want.

2. 5.11 Tactical Response HL XR1 Headlamp

When it comes to headlamps, I believe it’s important to have a high-quality light that can be transitioned into different light modes. For example, during deer season it’s easier to not spook a deer because most are still bedded down when you enter the woods (if you’re prepared). Unfortunately, turkeys sit high in the trees and can easily see the light from your headlamp. Everyone has heard of 5.11 Tactical due to their incredible cargo pants, but fewer people have heard about their gear for whatever reason. I highly recommend buying a pair of their cargo pants, but the Tactical Response HL XR1 Headlamp has everything you need for both deer and turkey season.

The 5.11 headlamp uses a bright 1,000 lumens with a 2-hour run time or a new mode, called flood mode that preserves the power and lasts 6 hours. When you’re turkey hunting, I recommend switching to the red COB light and keep the light in your hand to light the ground. Turkey’s have an incredible vision with the perfect light resolution, so if you show a little more light discipline, you’re more likely to keep the birds unaware of your presence.

The bright white light can shoot up to 135 meters in front of you to light up just about anything, including any turkeys that are near you. I always recommend carrying an extra light battery, just in case you’re light dies early or you leave it on without knowing. The 5.11 Tactical Response headlamp uses only 1 battery, either the CR123 or 18650. You can buy both of those from Amazon and keep your dry bag to carry with you.

3. Turkey Vest

There will always be a debate about the need for a turkey vest, but I don’t know any hunter that has one and regrets their purchase. In my first year hunting, I didn’t use a vest and had to carry my box call, slate, shells, light, snacks, and water in my backpack. I normally hunt with a backpack anyway, but turkey hunting requires much more stealth than hunting deer, in my opinion. I know some guys just wear a fanny pack to hold their calls and ammo, but that’s not practical if you have to lay down, crawl, or move fast. You’re going to be jingling louder than Santa’s Sleigh Bells and all turkeys will be gone.

ALPS OutdoorZ Super Elite 4.0 Turkey Vest

You can buy turkey vests anywhere from $30-$500, depending on the brand and the number of accessories and material used. I have 2 vests now with my more expensive one being the ALPS OutdoorZ Super Elite 4.0 Turkey Vest. The reason I like the ALPS Outdoorz so much is the versatility it has with the adjustable setting to fit almost every body type. If it’s a little colder outside and need to wear an extra layer, I can easily adjust the strap to accommodate thick clothing without rendering the vest unusable. It features 22 total pockets to add anything from a mouth call to a box call, snacks, lights, ammo, chapstick, and anything else you can think of needing for a turkey hunt.

The ALPS Super Elite 4.0 vest comes with a blood-proof breathable game bag to easily carry your bird out of the woods while keeping your hands free. The mesh panels on the sides and back of the vest allow air to circulate through to prevent you from sweating your butt off. As with every turkey vest, this one comes with a 2.5" thick seat cushion that easily stores behind your back when walking and deploys instantly as you unhook the strap that holds it up. A really cool finish to this vest is the cotton liner that is designed to prevent any noise when moving. The vest only weighs 3 lbs when it’s unfilled and evenly holds the shoulder straps on your shoulders so you don’t get a pinched nerve or an uneven distribution on your shoulder or back.

ALPS OutdoorZ Super Elite 4.0 Turkey Vest

$99.99

at Sportsman’s Guide

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Prices accurate at time of writing

4. Hunting Boots

Hunting boots are often one of the most overlooked items that hunters miss when preparing for a hunt. With the warmer temperatures around the world, we’re seeing more insects, especially ticks. In past decades, a lot of ticks would die off from the winter cold, but since we have fewer freezing days than we have had in past years, the ticks are surviving and multiplying at a dangerously fast rate. There are more friends than I can count that have had Lymes disease as a result of being outdoors so often.

Irish Setter MudTrek Snake Boots

There is a lot to like about these boots, including the snake protection and waterproof insoles. Each boot weighs 2.75 lbs but feels even lighter due to the neoprene rubber material and even weight distribution from the top to the sole of the boot. I know hunting in the south, we see a lot more snakes than most hunters see in the midwest and north. For me, I do not hunt in the woods in the Spring without snake boots on. I really like the wide boot opening so I can wear a couple of pairs of socks and still have room to tuck my pants inside my boots for better protection against ticks. I wouldn’t wear these boots in the mountains because they don’t offer the support or traction needed to climb over rocks and dirt as a Danner boot would have.

Irish Setter MudTrek Snake Boots

$204.99

at Sportsman’s Guide

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Prices accurate at time of writing