Turkey Hunting Gear Checklist – Sportsman's Inventory

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This checklist covers what to bring for spring and fall turkey hunting. Turkeys see color and movement very well, so much of the gear is about staying hidden and still. Use it as a starting point, and adjust it for your state’s rules and how you like to hunt.

01Licenses and paperwork

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Hunting license
Turkey tag or permitSpring and fall tags are often separate. Check what your state requires.
Harvest reporting infoMany states ask you to report your bird within a set time. Save the phone number or app ahead of time.
Landowner permission, if on private land
Pen and zip ties for tagging

02Camo and clothing

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Camo jacket or shirtBrowns and grays suit early spring and fall. Greener patterns suit late spring.
Camo pants
Face mask or face paintA bare face shines in the sun, and turkeys notice.
Camo glovesYour hands move more than anything else. Cover them.
Camo cap
Waterproof bootsMorning dew soaks through fast.
Rain gear that packs small

03Calls

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Box callEasy to learn and loud enough for windy days.
Slate or pot call with strikersBring a spare striker and a scuff pad to rough up the surface.
Mouth callsThey free your hands. Try a few, since fit varies from person to person.
Locator callAn owl or crow call can make a gobbler shock gobble so you know where he is.
Kee-kee or young turkey callHandy in fall for calling a scattered flock back together.
Chalk for the box call

04Shotgun or bow gear

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Shotgun patterned for turkeyShoot paper at a few distances before the season. That tells you how far your gun really works.
Turkey choke tube
Turkey loads you patternedHunt with the same load you tested. A different load can pattern very differently.
Gun sling
Bow, arrows, and turkey broadheadsA ground blind helps hide the motion of drawing.
Rangefinder for bowhuntersRange a few trees or your decoys when you set up.

05Decoys and blind

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Hen decoy
Jake or strutter decoyCan pull in a bossy gobbler, but may push off a smaller bird.
Decoy stakesHard ground eats cheap stakes. Bring a spare.
Bag to carry decoysKeep decoys covered when you walk so they don’t look like a live bird.
Pop-up ground blind, optional

06Seat and comfort

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Seat cushion or vest seatYou may sit against one tree for hours. A good seat keeps you still.
Turkey vest with pocketsHolds calls, shells, and snacks where you can reach them quietly.
Tick and bug protectionMany hunters treat clothes (not skin) with permethrin. Follow the label.
Water and snacks
Headlamp and spare batteries
Small first aid kit

07Safety

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Blaze orange for walkingSome states require or recommend it. Wear it on the walk in and out.
Orange wrap for your birdA turkey over your shoulder can look like a live bird. Cover it in orange.
No red, white, blue, or black showingThese colors are on a gobbler. Check socks, undershirts, and gloves.
Charged phone in a pocket

How to use this list

Spring and fall hunts use mostly the same gear. The big changes are the calls, the decoys, and how warm you dress.

In spring, you’re trying to call a gobbler to you. Hen yelps, clucks, and purrs do most of the work, and a hen decoy gives him something to look at.

Fall is different. A common plan is to find a flock, scatter it, and sit tight where the birds split up. Then use kee-kees and yelps to call them back together. Check whether your state’s fall season allows hens, gobblers, or both.

Before your first hunt, do a dry run. Sit against a tree in your full setup for an hour. You’ll find the thing that rattles, the pocket you can’t reach, and the spot that makes your legs go numb.

One last safety habit: if you hear another hunter calling nearby, don’t sneak toward the sound. Stay still, and call out in a loud, clear voice so they know you’re there. Never wave or use a turkey call to signal another hunter.