Turkey Hunting Gear Checklist

Posted by Tom Hennie on Apr 15th 2025

Table Of Contents:

Turkey Hunting Shotguns & Archery Gear
Turkey Hunting Camo & Clothing
Turkey Hunting Equipment
Full Turkey Hunting Gear Checklist

Turkey hunting either in the Spring, which is most popular, or even in the Fall is a popular hunt for beginning hunters, seasoned sportsmen, and everyone in between. While you can successfully turkey hunt with the minimal gear of just a shotgun, we have compiled a checklist of the best turkey hunting gear for you to increase your odds of getting a bird in your freezer.

There are a few main categories of the best turkey hunting gear, and to make things easy to make your turkey hunting gear checklist we will break it down for you here:

Turkey Hunting Shotguns & Archery Gear
Turkey Hunting Clothes and Camo
Turkey Hunting Equipment

Turkey Hunting Shotguns & Archery Gear

The two ways hunters get turkeys on their plates is by bow, and shotgun. It is personal preference on what strategy you want to take as both methods can prove to be very effective. With each way you choose, there is a bit more than just a bow or shotgun that you will need, so let’s look at our full list, but also be sure to check out major archery brands like Mathews and Hoyt which are very popular amongst bow hunters.

Turkey Hunting Archery Equipment

If you are a bow hunter chasing down a Tom or waiting for it to approach you, a high-quality bow and archery equipment is at the top of your list for turkey hunting necessities. Some factors you should consider on your bow are the draw weight and length. The draw weight on your turkey bow is typically 50 pounds or more. The draw length will be dependent on your size, but if you are unsure, check out this video on how to determine the proper draw length. Some of the best bows for turkey hunting that we can recommend are the Bear Archery Royale RTH Right Hand 50 LB MOSSYOAK DNA which axle-to-axle is 27”, has a 290 fps speed, and a draw weight of 5-50 lbs. This is an excellent and affordable turkey hunting bow.

Turkey Hunting Shotguns

When it comes to the best shotguns for turkey hunting, look no further because this is our expertise. A good turkey hunting shotgun needs to be reliable, typically either a semi auto shotgun or pump action shotgun, and typically a 12 gauge. Two of the best turkey shotguns are the Mossberg 835 and the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3. Both shotguns are 12 gauge shotguns that are reliable and trusted brands, which are covered in camouflage to conceal you on your hunt. Some other things to consider would be upgrading your choke to your shotgun to improve your range and spread of the shot as well as the 12 gauge ammo you use, we suggest the Winchester Super-X Turkey 12 Guage ammunition.

Turkey Hunting Camo & Clothing

Great eyesight, don’t NEED it but highly recommend it, textured or plain, match your local forage, camo tops, pants, boots, gloves, face mask, hat, face paint, vests / packs, etc. Any veteran hunter will tell you turkey have incredible eyesight, and while camo is not totally necessary, it is highly recommended. Most experienced turkey hunters will wear hunting camo from head to toe. One of the best recommendations we can make is to use camo that matches your local surroundings for that time of year, obviously avoiding any neon orange or other bright colors, and never wear any red, white, blue or black as these colors can resemble the gobbler on the turkey, as well as the colors on a hen’s head. On top of having good camouflage the best thing you can do is avoid poorly timed movements as the turkey can see this and be scared off.

Let’s start from the top and work our way down with some of our favorite turkey hunting camo.

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Turkey Hunting Camo Hats

A great turkey hunting hat will keep your head warm and protected while also incorporating the camo into the hat. This can be done with either a beanie style hat or a traditional baseball cap style camo hat. Some of our favorites are the Sitka Jetstream beanie. While this beanie has a bit of orange in it, you can opt for another great pick the Kings Camo Trucker Hat. Another great pick is to wear a camo jacket or hoodie so that you can pull the camo hood above your head, but we will explore those options later. On top of hats, you will also want to consider a full face cover, or camo face paint to cover your skin which a turkey would easily be able to see if you were not to use them.

Turkey Hunting Camo Jackets & Packs

What camo you are going to wear on your top, whether it is a long sleeve shirt, or a full camo jacket all depends on the weather you will be hunting in. If it is warm and a long sleeve shirt will keep you plenty warm, one of our favorites is the Scent Blocker Shield Series Fused Cotton Long Sleeve Tops. This long sleeve camo shirt is generally for deer hunting, but with multiple color and camo options this can make for an excellent turkey hunting shirt. For colder weather you can opt for a Kings Camo Mens Hunter Hoodie, but if you really need warmth and weather protection the Artic Shield Heat Echo Sherpa Jacket is an elite option with a great camo pattern this is one of our best turkey hunting jackets.

When it comes to hunting packs it is really important to choose a high-quality hunting pack to carry all of your hunting equipment. We will review the necessary hunting gear later, but a good hunting backpack will really elevate your experience. Some things you should look for in a good hunting pack is ample storage, gun or bow storage, comfort and ergonomics, durability, and scent control. Some of our favorite hunting packs include the Alps Pursuit Bow Pack Realtree Edge since it is an affordable option, has bow storage, great camo pattern, and plenty of storage for all of your gear. If you have the budget and are looking for an elite hunting bag the Badlands 2200 Pack Approach is loaded with storage and has a excellent camo pattern to keep you hidden from the Tom’s when waiting for that perfect shot.

Turkey Hunting Pants

When it comes to your hunting pants for turkey, there are a couple of things you will want to keep an eye on for the best pants for your turkey outing. Obviously, the camouflage will matter as you want to avoid being detected. We also recommend considering the durability, comfort and mobility, and the practicality of the pants meaning things like multiple pockets, gaiters, and zip vents which all make the hunting pants warm but also breathable without sacrificing storage and function. One of our favorite hunting pants options is the Sitka Timberline Pants which are water resistant, the rear and knees are reinforced with waterproof nylon so you do not get wet, knee pads for extra comfort, and tapered legs with low-profile waist that won’t bunch or chafe under a hunting pack.

Turkey Hunting Boots

Good turkey hunting boots need to be waterproof, camo patterned, good traction on multiple terrains, and of course comfortable! Typically, hunters will use two types of boots, a classic boot style and a rubber boot style, luckily, we have both for you to choose from. One of our more traditional style boots is the Itasca Snare Waterproof Camo Boots, which have the proper camo print, a waterproof but breathable membrane, comfort cushion insole, and a lightweight traction outsole making this an excellent hunting boot. Another great option is the Rocky Sport Pro Pull-On Rubber Snake Boots, they offer a rubber outsole, snake proof protection, camo print throughout, and a steel shank for extra arch support, making this an overall great boot for wet conditions or if you are hunting somewhere with snakes in the area.

turkey hunting gear checklist the best turkey hunting equipment

Turkey Hunting Equipment

Outside of your camo and shotgun to get the job done there are a few more things to add to your turkey hunting gear checklist before you head out. We will discuss some of the most important things to bring with you and provide a list of other turkey hunting gear you may want to bring along.

Turkey Calls

While not completely necessary, one thing many turkey hunters swear by is the turkey call. This is a device that imitates the vocal noises wild turkeys make primarily to attract them. There are mouth calls, slate calls, pot calls, box calls, and push-pull calls. A good turkey call mimics turkey vocals realistically, is easy to use, and can produce various vocalizations of wild turkeys. Two turkey calls we suggest are the Zink X-Lady Split Diaphragm Turkey Call, and the Quaker Boy Turkey Locator Gobble Shaker Thunderbird. Both of these turkey calls are fairly easy to use, affordable, and can produce several turkey vocalizations to help you bring in that next bird.

Turkey Decoys

Decoys make a great advantage in many types of hunting. Turkey decoys are an excellent addition to your gear list if you are going to wait for Tom’s to come to you. A good turkey decoy is realistic looking, durable, can stand easily, and ultimately attracts turkeys into your shooting range. There are several ways to promote decoy attraction. A flock dynamic can entice lone turkeys to join for a sense of security, while a single hen decoy can draw in a Tom that is looking to mate. Additionally, a strutting Tom decoy can cause other Toms to feel threatened and challenge or even attack your decoy. Feeding decoys can present the illusion of food in the area which can attract flocks of turkey looking to feed. Whatever decoy set up you decide to go with we recommend our Avian-X LCD Strutter Decoy for a strutting Tom option or the Flextone Thunder Chicken Breeder Decoy for a breeding hen decoy display.

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Full Turkey Hunting Gear Checklist

Now that we have gone over some of the most important turkey hunting gear and equipment, we have a full list of all the things you may need on your turkey hunting trip. After you read the list feel free to contact us with any questions and let us know how your turkey hunting went!