Turkey Hunting Gear: Must-Haves for Beginners vs. Experts

Turkey hunting is an exciting and challenging pursuit that requires skill, patience, and—most importantly—the right gear. Whether you’re just starting or have years of experience in the field, your equipment plays a crucial role in successfully calling, concealing, and taking down a turkey. But not all gear is the same. Beginners need simple, easy-to-use equipment, while experts refine their setup with advanced tools and specialized strategies to increase their success rate.

In this guide, we’ll break down must-have turkey hunting gear for beginners and seasoned experts, helping every hunter optimize their setup.

The Evolution of a Turkey Hunter’s Gear

What Beginners Need vs. What Experts Refine

• Beginners focus on getting the essential gear to cover all aspects of the hunt—basic calls, simple decoys, and a reliable shotgun.

• Experts fine-tune their gear, using specialized calls, ultra-realistic decoys, and

  

  advanced optics to increase their efficiency.

Cost & Investment in Gear

• Beginners often start with budget-friendly, versatile gear that balances quality and affordability.

• Experts invest in high-performance, specialized gear that enhances precision, stealth, and adaptability in the field.

Must-Have Turkey Hunting Gear for Beginners

Basic Turkey Calls for Beginners

Turkey calls are critical for drawing gobblers into range. Beginners should start with easy-to-use calls before mastering more advanced techniques.

Best Beginner Calls:

• Box Calls: Simple and effective, great for producing loud, realistic turkey sounds.

• Recommended: Primos Box Cutter Call

• Slate Calls (Pot Calls): Versatile and user-friendly, allowing for softer, more controlled calls.

• Recommended: Zink Thunder Ridge Slate Call

Simple & Effective Decoys

Decoys are an essential part of turkey hunting, providing visual confirmation to curious gobblers. For beginners, a simple hen and jake decoy combo is enough to attract dominant toms.

Best Beginner Decoys:

• Hen Decoys: Used to lure in gobblers looking to mate.

• Recommended: Avian-X LCD Hen Decoy

• Jake Decoys: A young male turkey that challenges dominant toms to approach.

• Recommended: Flextone Thunder Creeper Jake Decoy

Basic Shotgun & Ammunition

A 12-gauge or 20-gauge shotgun is the most common choice for turkey hunting. Beginners should pair their shotgun with a turkey-specific choke and load to improve accuracy.

Best Beginner Shotgun Setup:

• Shotgun: Remington 870 Express 12-Gauge

• Ammunition: Winchester Long Beard XR

• Choke: Carlson’s Long Beard XR Choke Tube

Essential Camouflage & Clothing

Turkeys have exceptional eyesight, making proper camo clothing essential for staying hidden. Beginners should focus on basic, full-coverage camouflage to blend into the environment.

Best Beginner Clothing:

• Jacket & Pants: SKRE Gear Hardscrabble Jacket & Uinta Pants

• Boots: LaCrosse Alphaburly Pro Boots (waterproof & scent-free)

• Face Mask & Gloves: Reduces exposed skin and movement visibility.

Budget-Friendly Optics & Accessories

Optics help hunters spot turkeys before setting up their calls and decoys. A simple rangefinder and binoculars are great for beginners.

Best Beginner Accessories:

• Rangefinder: Bushnell Prime Rangefinder

• Binoculars: Vortex Diamondback HD Binoculars

Advanced Turkey Hunting Gear for Experts

Advanced Turkey Calling Strategies & Gear

Experienced turkey hunters master multiple types of calls to replicate realistic turkey communication.

Best Expert Calls:

• Mouth Calls (Diaphragm Calls): Hands-free operation for calling while aiming.

• Recommended: Woodhaven Red Wasp Mouth Call

• Gobbler Locator Calls: Used to shock-gobble turkeys into revealing their location.

• Recommended: MAD Boom Box Gobbler Locator

Realistic & Specialized Decoys

Experts use ultra-realistic and motion-based decoys to mimic natural turkey behavior and lure in wary gobblers.

Best Expert Decoys:

• Breeding Hen Decoy: Creates a more realistic setup.

• Recommended: Dave Smith Decoys Breeding Hen

• Full-Strut Gobbler Decoy: Aggressive toms will challenge a perceived rival.

• Recommended: Montana Decoy Fanatic XL

Precision Shotguns & Ammunition

Experts are moving beyond standard shotguns, opting for high-performance semiautomatic models and premium ammunition that offers better range and stopping

power.

Best Expert Shotgun Setup:

• Shotgun: Benelli Super Black Eagle 3

• Ammunition: Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS

• Choke Tube: JellyHead Maximum Turkey Choke

Tactical Hunting Gear for Stealth & Performance

Expert turkey hunters customize their vests, blinds, and seating gear for better stealth and comfort.

Best Expert Hunting Accessories:

• Turkey Vest: SKRE Gear Hardscrabble Vest

• Ground Blind: Primos Double Bull SurroundView 270 Blind

• Seat Cushion: Hunter Specialties Strut Seat

High-End Optics & Scouting Technology

Experts use premium binoculars, rangefinders, and trail cameras to track and pattern turkey movement before hunting season.

Best Expert Optics & Tech:

• Binoculars: Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD Binoculars

• Trail Camera: Moultrie Mobile Delta Cellular Trail Camera

Transitioning from Beginner to Expert Turkey Hunter

Learning & Practicing Calling Techniques

• When to move from box calls to mouth calls.

• Using locator calls to track gobblers before the hunt.

Refining Decoy & Setup Strategies

• Experimenting with different decoy arrangements to increase success.

• Adjusting decoy placement based on turkey dominance and season.

Fine-Tuning Shooting & Gear Preferences

• Upgrading to semi-auto shotguns for follow-up shots.

• Using better optics for precise scouting and tracking.

Conclusion

Beginners should focus on essential, budget-friendly gear, while experts refine their tools with advanced gear and tactics. Investing in the right gear for your skill level will enhance your hunting experience and increase success. Explore our top-rated turkey hunting gear and get ready for your next hunt!