Spring Turkey Hunting Gear and Tactics

Turkey Hunting Gear and Tactics for a Successful Turkey Hunt

Coming out of the frost of winter is the chance to feel alive again like the budding forest around you. The start of a new cycle that will end with the cracking of brown leaves in November.

You’re back out where you feel the most comfortable to play to ultimate trick on a bird that thinks they know everything. It’s hard to beat the first days of sunshine and warm weather than spring in Pennsylvania.

From Lake Erie to Middle Creek, turkey hunters are dusting off old gear and old stories for another 30 days of spring thunder.

Continue reading to learn more about the important spring turkey hunting gear and tactics you need to implement to have a successful spring turkey hunt.

Spring Turkey Hunting Gear

Unless you’re Matt Morrett you probably never listed “Wild Turkey” as a second language on a job application. Even if you’re not a long-time turkey hunting professional it doesn’t mean you can’t get the same results as the pros.

Just past the checkout desks where you’re welcomed to the store, you’ll find a large selection of today’s best turkey calls from Zink, Quaker Boy, Primos, and more.

From box to slate and diaphragm to locator calls, the racks have what you need to fool this year’s gobbler.

This year one of the best values for the money is the Zink Z-Pak package containing three diaphragm calls. If you need to hit the ground running this season with a new set of turkey calls, this is it.

Containing a split reed cut for ease of use, a cutter style cut for quick cuts and yelps, and a combo cut for that old raspy hen sound. A free Turkey Time University DVD comes with the package showing you how to use not only the mouth calls, but friction calls as well like box and slate calls.

You’re going to need something to carry those shiny new calls in along with your shells and snacks. If you’re new to turkey hunting, many seasoned pros will tell you an essential piece of gear is the turkey vest.

A lightweight carry-all vest worn over your camo for quick easy access to all of your turkey fooling tools. You have plenty to choose from with the best this year has to offer. Check out the Knight and Hale Run N Gun 200 Realtree Edge Turkey Vest on our website.

The ultimate tactic that can seal the deal or end the morning early is a turkey decoy. When in competition for hens, male turkeys don’t want to see other options for the female turkeys in the woods.

A male turkey decoy could be enough to bring him in close, and the other side of that coin is a female turkey decoy that could bring him in closer if he’s looking for a mate. Lightweight and affordable this year we have the Flextone Thunder Jake Turkey Decoy.

Spring Turkey Hunting Tactics

Most of us who’ve hunted at least one spring turkey season in the past know it as a morning pursuit. Up and in the woods before dawn when the woods begin to wake up.

Changes to the season’s laws have allowed for all-day hunting in the last two weeks of the season. Where the first two weeks can force you out of the woods by the strike of noon, some of the best hunting can happen when the season is almost over so don’t give up if you don’t have success early.

If you decide to get your money’s worth out of the license fee, and wouldn’t mind sleeping in a little, aim to hit your hunting spot from 8 am to 9 am. Hen turkeys tend to leave gobblers mid to late morning to nest leaving the tom turkeys free to wander the woods.

Most turkey hunters have left by this time as well usually in search of breakfast and a nap. Use your calls softly and sparingly, take your time working the woods and have fun.

There’s a lot to be learned from hunting the “off” times when there’s not as much hunting pressure and these birds are free to do what they want to do.

As always be safe, know your target, and good luck!

We’re always happy when successful hunters bring trophies of all sizes to the store, so feel free to stop by and show us when you fill that tag!