What gear

[John donovan]

I'm completely new to this and I'm looking to get a list of must haves to take with me. I currently don't have a vest and at this time haven't decided if I will get one. I may get a fanny pack though. Thanks for the help.

[dirt road ninja]

 

My must haves are pretty simple.
Shotgun, shells, phone, and a mouth call.

My list of stuff I carry more often then not is much longer.
I wear a vest and carry a gobbler lounger (It may get left on a road, but it makes it out the truck a lot), bottled water, 2 or 3 pot calls, 6 or so strikers, 1 box call, 12 diaphragm calls, crow call , a small supply of conditioning tools,  when warm a thermocell with extra butane and inserts, face mask, gloves, pocket knife, pruning shears and the items listed in my must haves. This is what I carry most of the time. If the weather is bad I will throw a rain coat in the back of my vest. I will carry decoyes a few times a season as well.

[John donovan]

Thanks bud!

[dirt road ninja]

When your first getting started it can be easy to focus on equipment. I highly recommend reading A Fork in the Road by Col. Tom Kelly. It will cover the basics and simplify things , I just finished reading it agian and enjoy it every time. That 20 dollar book will probably help more than 100's or 1000's in new gear. Good luck.

[The Cohutta Strutter]

Welcome John! You have come to the right place. Also, around the first of the year is a good time to get out scouting and looking for new areas to hunt. Strutter...

[Swampchickin234]

At the beginning of turkey season, I look like the Michelin man with all my junk. Once I've crossed 2 sloughs or topped a ridge, I quickly shed the nonsense.  I love just the simple cotton button up shirt and pants at the beginning of the year with my good ol vest.   Like I say, at the start, it feels like I have 5 million things.   After a couple hunts, I carry 5 or 6.  A box call, pot call, 4-5 mouth calls, phone, shells, gun, and bottle of water. (If public land national forest, take GPS and compass to be safe), face mask and gloves and that's about it.  You don't need a bunch of nonsense to chase those turkeys    However, it is a fun hobby to spend money on junk.  I do anyways lol.   When it gets hot, I go to treklite style clothes, cool boots, gun, and a couple calls and that's it.   Good luck and happy new obsession!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[davisd9]

X2 on Fork in the Road! It is geared to new hunters but has good reminders for veteran hunters!


Sent from the Strut Zone

[mgm1955]

All great advice, but Denny's point is spot on. If you have a call you are proficient with and a gun that shoots where you want it to you can kill turkeys. What you add after that will depend on many things. You are on the right site to get your questions answered. Good luck, welcome to the addiction!!

[alclark2]

I bought a cheap walmart turkey thug vest and it was a great investment. I had calls, shells, gloves, mask, and all kinds of gear in pockets. Now, just grab the vest and go. I don't use my decoys anymore for the most part. Thermacell is good if there are a lot of mosquitos. I carry more calls than I probably need. Water, snacks, cell phone, etc.. Once you get out there you'll figure out what you want to carry around and what you don't. Another nice thing about the vest is it usually has and attached seat to make you more comfortable. 

At the minimum you need a good sounding call and a gun.. Camo is debatable...

[guesswho]

A call you can use well
A gun you have patterned and know where it hits

And access to property that has turkey's.

[wscrst]

I am a beginner as well.  I love the recommendation to reading some good turkey hunting books.  The gear selection will make more sense.  Plus, you will probably bag more turkeys based on tactics than gear (veterans, correct me if I am wrong).  I have personally enjoyed "Hunting Pressured Turkeys" by Brian Lovett.  It is the fourth book I have read on turkey hunting.  All were obtained at the local library.

[willy8457]

I agree with a call you can use well and a gun that patterns well.  The rest of it is personal preference. Don,t get caught up in you have to use a mouth call, or a box call or a pot call . Use what you are best calling with.  Are you hunting spring or fall  ?  Getting set up and knowing  when and how to call is sometimes more important than how you sound.

[John donovan]

I plan on hunting spring and fall. We're lucky enough to have two separate seasons here. I want to run & gun as well as set up and call in, both seem fun in their own ways.

[davisd9]

Stay away from run and gun. Hunt slow and never let birds know you are there. Patience will get you a long way but also knowing when it is time to make something happen is good as well. Good luck!


Sent from the Strut Zone

[trkehunr93]

Stay away from run and gun. Hunt slow and never let birds know you are there. Patience will get you a long way but also knowing when it is time to make something happen is good as well. Good luck!


Sent from the Strut Zone