The Value of Quality Turkey Gear
The Value of Quality Turkey Gear
Choosing quality gear isn’t just about bragging rights; it’s about investing in your hunting experience and ensuring success. It means less frustration, more comfort, and ultimately, a better chance of ethical harvests and lasting memories. By prioritizing quality materials, construction, and performance, you equip yourself with the tools needed to approach the hunt with confidence and respect for both the animal and the outdoors. Investing in quality turkey gear is an investment in your hunt, your comfort, and ultimately, your success. Here’s why quality matters and how to choose the right tools for the trade:
Tools of the Trade
Your gear arsenal consists of crucial tools that are needed to perform flawlessly under pressure. Ensure your shotgun fits you comfortably and functions reliably. Invest in regular cleaning and maintenance. Having a good cleaning kit will be invaluable.
Choosing the right choke for your preferred ammo and shooting distance is vital for tight shot patterns and ethical harvests. The goal for patterning is to get your pattern dialed in to a tight group, so sit and use a rest to keep the shotgun steady to avoid movement and deviation. Determine a good pattern at 30 yards or 40 yards and know your shotgun’s range. If you can, try out a few different chokes and ammo. Not all ammo will pattern the same with your gun, so it comes down to finding ammo you trust, that patterns well with your gun and your choke.
Get Your Calls
You need to be a decent caller and have a few different calls. Practice with quality diaphragm, mouth, box or slate calls to master realistic turkey vocalizations. When it comes to turkey hunting, having the right turkey calls and knowing how to use them can significantly improve your chances of success.
Diaphragm (mouth) calls are some of the most popular and versatile turkey calls. They fit inside your mouth and allow hands-free operation. With practice, you can produce realistic yelps, clucks, purrs, cutting sounds, and even gobbles. Diaphragm calls are lightweight and easy to carry in the field.
Box calls are great for beginners. They consist of a wooden box and a paddle. With a little practice, you can create various turkey sounds. Box calls are loud and effective for long-range calling. Pot calls use a slate, aluminum, or glass surface and a striker. You can produce soft purrs, clucks, and yelps.
In the early mornings as the songbirds start to wake up, I like to use some type of locator call that is not a turkey call. Something like a hoot owl seems to produce good gobbles without scaring or alerting birds. Locator calls help you pinpoint the location of turkeys roosted, then I might have a good idea on where to set up. Remember that confidence in calls is essential. Choose the ones that you feel comfortable using and practice to improve your calling skills. Happy hunting
When you sound realistic, then consider using realistic, durable decoys (hen, jake, strut) strategically placed to entice cautious gobblers. Remember, ethical use involves offering turkeys a fair chance to escape.
There is no replacement for knowledge and experience. Hone your calling skills, and practice responsible hunting methods. Let the value of quality turkey gear be the foundation upon which you build your turkey hunting journey, not a substitute for ethical principles and safety.
by Jessica Graham
April 2024
