Proper gear improves turkey hunting chances Camouflage, comfort, quiet key to success

Although my wild turkey hunting career has been short, it has been intense. I took up the sport only seven years ago, but have managed to bag five gobblers in three states, and turned down chances at Eastern and Rio Grande Jakes on three occasions. I’m fascinated with these huge, sharp-eyed birds and their keen hearing and stealthy nature.

Every time I meet another turkey hunter or guide I soak up as much knowledge as possible from their experiences. Books, magazine articles and TV shows about turkey hunting also are full of useful tricks and tactics. Perusing and matching wits with a variety of game animals always has challenged and excited me, regardless of the final outcome, but when it comes to wild turkey, well, fanatic might not be too strong a work.

During the short but formative run of my turkey hunting pursuits, considering I’m far from being an expert, three essential keys to regular success have become apparent. Camo, comfort and quiet are crucial to tagging a wily old Tom turkey each season. Assuming the hunting area has a moderate population of long beards and the sport uses a straight shooting shotgun, powerful shells and the correct call, and further assuming the shooter displays patience and common sense, then camo comfort and quiet will determine the final outcome of most gobbler encounters.

Camo

Turkeys have such acute eyesight that not only will they pick up the slightest movement, the birds also will shy away from any form that seems out of place in a natural setting. Head-to-toe camouflage clothing is a must for hunters to adequately blend into the forest. I’ve learned that it’s best to wear two layers of camo clothing. An outer layer will provide warmth in the pre dawn spring chill, and then if the morning becomes really warm and a heavy jacket or vest needs to be shed, having a camouflage long-sleeve shirt underneath will still offer concealment.

Although a down jacket or Thinsulate coat will assure warmth, on rainy days these aren’t the best choice. I prefer a camo-pattern Gore-Tex rain suit to keep dry and hidden. Even on good days I often wear the rain pants over my regular camo pants to shed the dew that will soak through cloth after five minutes of walking through wet grass and brush. On cool, windy days, Gore-Tex will block the wind and hold in body heat to maintain comfort, even during long periods of immobility.

A cap, gloves and a facemask are essential for turkey hunting, since slight head and hand motions are bound to occur as a shooter watches for game and operates a call. Camouflaging the extremities will veil most movements that are done very slowly and deliberately. Caps work better than hats with brims when hiding in thick brush or leaning against a tree, fence post or stump that may hit the brim and displace the hat. Gloves need to be thin enough to operate a call, work a gun safety, and feel the trigger pressure, or they need to have finger slits for a bit of freedom for a couple of fingers at crucial times.

Although biting insects generally are not a problem, ticks can be. Elastic wrist and ankle cuffs will help keep bugs at bay. Tuck pants into boot or stocking tops or use an elastic gator over pants cuffs and stocking tops. L.L. Bean, Orvis and Cabelas all tout a new line of outdoor clothing impregnated with insect repellent. Trying to remain motionless and quiet while being chewed and poked by bugs just isn’t going to happen, so these new bug-proof clothes help with silence and comfort.

For hunters after turkey, deer or waterfowl who truly want to blend into their surroundings, the answer is a Ghillie suit. First used by military snipers, these jackets, pants, coveralls and hoods are adorned with hundred of loose, ragged-shaped pieces of camo material that completely masks the human form.

L.L. Bean’s is Total Illusion 3D with Bug Off while Cabelas offers a 3D Leafy Bugmaster Suit. Each uses an inner garment of fine mesh that will even keep no-see-ums out, and repellent-impregnated camo leaf cut strips as an outer layer. Elastic cuffs and facemask edges, as well as a draw string waist, help keep bugs away, and each Ghillie outfit costs between $80 and $100. All such camo outfits are cut large to go over layers of clothes or even over rain suits.

A couple of extra camouflage ideas include shotguns done fully in camo patterns to hide movement and glare, and one-man pop-up blinds. Some sports opt for portable camouflage cloth curtains attached to small stakes about 2 feet tall in lengths from 6 feet to 12 feet. Whatever camo pattern you select to wear, hide in or crouch behind, be sure to pick a color scheme that comes fairly close to the shades and tints of foliage you plan to conceal yourself among.

Comfort

We have partially addressed the necessity of comfort in selecting the correct clothing to keep us warm, dry and insect free, but if a turkey hunter is to sit immobile for hours at a time there are other considerations. Try to find a spot of ground to sit on without rocks or roots, or even a site that’s level so you’re not fighting against leaning one way or another. Even level, even ground gets uncomfortable and perhaps even cold or wet after an hour of immobility.

If a stump, tree trunk or rock is used to lean against to help break up the shooter’s silhouette, that can get painful on the back and neck too. Discomfort soon will lead to shifting positions, and eventually to more evident movement and perhaps noise that could spook a nearby gobbler. This is where a cushion of foam, neoprene or soft rubber with a waterproof camouflage cover will save the day.

Some soft seats even come with an attached backrest and a carrying strap for hands-free transport. Many multipocket camo vests, made especially for turkey hunters, also feature a drop-down seat cushion up to 21/2 inches thick. A few vests and seat cushions come with adjustable straps to secure the padded back rest in an upright position to support the shooter in case there are no trees or logs to lean against.

Sturdy, low-to-the-ground portable seats also aids the effort for comfort. Collapsible and adjustable legs assure such earth-hugging seats can be set level on the most uneven and rocky spots. Some have strong, wide webbing for seat support while others use cloth or foam, and a few models have a fold-up back rest.

Aluminum frames assure a sturdy, lightweight seat that keeps hunters a few inches off the rough, cold or wet earth. Legs all have dense rubber tips to prevent sinking into soft ground. All models are painted in camo schemes and have a carry strap or shoulder harness to keep hands free and noise to a minimum.

A wide, padded camouflage gun sling is another asset for long treks into hunting spots where it helps to have hands free. In the same vein, headlamps are a great hands free, comfort and convenience. My last item of comfort is a shooting stick. I use a monopod extendable version that can be set at any height from 24 inches to 5 feet tall and has a rubber lined V gun support.

Shouldering a shotgun and than having to hold it steady for long periods can lead to missed shots. If a hunter has to lower the gun back down, a turkey moving closer is likely to spot the motions and spook. Waiting too long to raise the shotgun also can scare approaching gobblers. Using a shooting stick allows the gunner to place the barrel on a stable support that takes most of the weight, and wait motionless and patiently even if a turkey hangs up and takes 15 minutes to wander into range.

Quiet

Don’t confuse silence and quiet; silence is the desired result of moving stealthily and sitting on a stand quietly. Selecting certain clothing and gear can help turkey hunters stay quiet. Try to avoid Velcro and snap closures, in favor of buttons and magnets. That old standby material, wool, is quiet when moving through brush and warm when sitting still. Other soft and quiet options for outerwear, rain gear, backpacks, fanny packs, gear bags and cushions or seat covers include fleece, chamois or special cotton-poly blends with names like Silent Weave, Seclusion 30, Microtex, Silent-Pro and Microsuede.

Excess noise while moving to a selected hunting spot and setting up or when a turkey hunter moves a bit to call or even shoulder a shotgun will be detrimental, so wear soft, quiet clothing and preserve the silence. Before heading afield, check your gun safety, calls and portable seats to assure they function very quietly with no loud clicks or snaps when adjusting gear and settling, and particularly when a big Tom is approaching. Use elastics to secure box calls during transport and to hold slate calls and strikers together to prevent any undue scrapes or scratches until you’re hunkered down and actually ready to call.

Coaxing a wary, suspicious Tom turkey within shotgun range is seldom an easy feat, but it’s certainly one of the most exciting and challenging endeavors a Maine sportsman can enjoy. Give yourself every advantage by paying particular attention to camo, comfort and quiet, and here’s hoping your long beard is a real bragging size bird.