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Top Turkey Gear for Spring Gobbler Season

Bowhunting turkeys is hard, but having the right gear can get you in the game like never before.

Top Turkey Gear for Spring Gobbler Season

(Photo courtesy of Primos)

For turkey hunters, few sounds are as sweet as the lusty gobbles of lovelorn toms in the spring. Simply stated, hearing a bird sound off is nothing short of music to the ears.

While locating a tom gobbling on the roost or right after fly-down isn’t uncommon, getting them to come in to you can be a whole, different ballgame, especially if there are hens nearby. Some days, it seems, it takes every call, trick and tactic you have in your arsenal, with the turkeys still winning at day’s end.

With that in mind, from calls and decoys, to vests and apparel, here are some of the hot, new products that are designed to help increase your odds of success in the field:

Primos Photoform Decoys

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These decoys take realism to a whole, new level by printing imagery of real turkeys on 3D molded forms. The Leading Hen is designed to draw in other hens and toms, while the Strutter is made to attract gobblers that think they may have lost their ladies or are looking to show others who’s boss. These lifelike decoys not only help fool wary gobblers, they won’t chip and peel through repeated use. The hen decoy weighs only 7 ounces, while the Strutter checks in at 2 pounds. Both are collapsible and fold up, making them easy to carry as you move from spot to spot. Just pull them out and they pop right into shape! $79.99-$129.99 | primos.com

Millennium Turkey Seats

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Having a comfortable and easily adjustable seat is crucial when you’re trying to minimize movement in the turkey woods, and Millennium designed its TU1 Field Pro and TU02 Run ‘N Gun seats with this first and foremost in mind. Perfect for crossbow hunters who sit on the ground, these seats consist of durable, powered-coated aluminum frames and Millennium’s ComfortMAX fabric in Mossy Oak Obsession camo pattern.

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The Field Pro, which weighs 6.4 pounds, comes with a fully adjustable back, allowing you to set up in an area even if you can’t find the ideal tree to sit against, while the Run ’N Gun is a lightweight seat (4.2 pounds) that can be easily adjusted for sitting on uneven terrain. The Field Pro is 20-inches wide by 17-inches deep by 21-inches high, while the Run ’N Gun checks in at 20x17x6 inches. $79.99-$89.99 | milleniumstands.com

NOMAD Spring Turkey Collection Featuring Mossy Oak Shadow Leaf

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NOMAD’s new spring turkey apparel is sure to stand out by allowing you to blend seamlessly into your surroundings thanks to one of Mossy Oak’s most popular and versatile patterns. Shadow Leaf, Mossy Oak’s second-ever camo pattern, is designed to break up your outline and shield you from a turkey’s keen eyesight. The pattern is featured prominently on NOMAD’s new Pursuit Collection items including the long-sleeved shirt, quarter-zip long-sleeved shirt, t-shirt and pants, all of which are designed with breathable, moisture-wicking fabric to keep you comfortable while afield. The pattern is also found on NOMAD’s new turkey hunting vests, ponchos, gloves, gaiters and other accessories. Prices Vary | nomadoutdoor.com

Montana Decoy XD Turkey Decoys

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Montana Decoy’s photorealistic decoys have long been an industry standard for their lifelike appearance. The company’s new line of XD turkey decoys takes that realism to another level. XD stands for Extra Detail, with enhanced color and detail to model a wild turkey’s natural iridescence. Additionally, the new decoys use Perfect Pose Technology that allows for additional adjustment. The Jake Purrfect XD, for example, can be set in a feeder, looker or brawler pose. The Hen can be set in a standing, feeding or breeding pose. The decoys remain incredibly packable, with the Jake decoy compressing from 34 inches long unfolded to just 9x3 inches when folded. $79.99 each or $129.99 for a set | montanadecoy.com

Ameristep Pro Series Extreme View Blind

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This dynamic, new blind offers almost everything turkey hunting aficionados want when it comes to concealment and functionality, with plenty of interior room, 12 large windows for shooting and a one-way, see-through mesh design so you can locate the birds but they can’t see you. The blind’s pentagon shape reportedly offers 37 percent more floor space than similar blinds — providing ample room for archers to draw and shoot — and can easily accommodate two or even three people. The eight triangular and four vertical windows cover almost any shooting angle imaginable while offering 270 degrees of clear visibility. Setting up and taking down the Extreme View is a simple task due to the blind’s spider hub frame, and opening and closing the windows can be done quickly and quietly thanks to their silent-slide design. $219.99 | ameristep.com




Primos Double Bull SurroundView Stakeout Blind

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Bowhunters who like to cover ground when pursuing turkeys but still want the concealment advantages of a blind will appreciate this super-portable option from Primos. At 37 inches tall and 59 inches wide, the Double Bull SurroundView Stakeout Blind offers plenty of cover to hide movement and keep you from being noticed. The blind’s one-way, see-through walls allow you to observe all the movement in front of you without having to reposition yourself for a better vantage point, and the three shoot-through ports provide ample space for various shooting angles, something that’s ultra-important for archers. Although the Stakeout Blind weighs only 4½ pounds, its two-hub design provides a sturdy framework that keeps it erect when open, while also lending itself well to easy to setup and takedown. Comes in Mossy Oak Greenleaf camo. $124.99 | Primos.com

The Grind Outdoors Grinder Box Call

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Box calls are one of the easiest turkey calls to master, and The Grinder will have you producing realistic wild turkey sounds in no time. This Made-in-the-USA call is crafted with a cherry lid and quarter cut/sawn sycamore; it’s custom tunable with two lid holes and hand finished for added protection. With the ability to serve up yelps, clucks, purrs and more, you’ll be on your way to fooling a gobbler in no time. $59.99 | thegrindoutdoors.com

Avian-X HDR Strutter and HDR Feeding Hen Decoys

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Customization is a hallmark of the state-of-the art Strutter Decoy, designed to fool even the wariest of toms. The decoy comes with both a flag head (red/white/blue) to represent a more passive longbeard, as well as a white head to simulate the dominant bird handling most of the breeding, giving bowhunters options while afield. The Feeding Hen Decoy imitates a mature, relaxed hen, helping to put birds at ease, and pairing two or three of them together is sure to lead to deadly longbeard setups. Both the Strutter and Feeder feature a blow-molded design for long decoy life, true-to-life paint schemes and flocked rump sections for added realism. They’re lightweight, easy to set up and break down, and they come with their own carrying bags, making them perfect for quick setups or run-and-gun hunting. $249.99 (HDR Strutter), $139.99 (Feeding Hen) | avian-x.com

Recommended


Will Primos Turkey Vest

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As a turkey hunter, it’s essential to have everything in your arsenal right at your fingertips, especially as the birds are closing in. The new Will Primos Turkey Vest, designed by Will himself, offers numerous interior and exterior pockets for holding archery accessories, calls, facemask, gloves and more. The lanyard D-rings allow you to tie on locator calls, mouth call pouches and other gear, while specially designed pockets are available to accommodate your slate and box calls. The vest’s adjustable shoulder straps and buckles allow fine-tuning for a comfortable fit, while the padded back means you’ll be able to sit still longer while in the woods. The 3-inch-thick padded seat drops down quickly from the back of the vest when a fast setup is essential, or it can be removed entirely if unneeded. The vest, which comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo, is available is sizes M-3XL. $199.99 | Primos.com

The Grind Half Strut Jake Decoy

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The realistic head, body and iridescent feather colors of The Grind’s Half Strut Jake Decoy are designed to help lure in toms for deadly results. Made for quick decoy sets, even in the dark, the Half Strut Jake is perfectly balanced to produce movement in even the slightest breeze. The decoy is constructed of tough yet lightweight EVA material designed to hold up to wear and tear, while the heat treated, textured paint process helps resist scratches and painting flaking. The decoy comes with a two-piece motion stake with footstep to allow for east setup even in the hardest dirt. One look at this youngster with ‘their’ hens and gobblers will come running. $59.99 | thegrindoutdoors.com

Thorogood Infinity FD Series Non-insulated Boots

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If you travel through swamps or lowlands to get to your favorite turkey spot, this waterproof footwear is an excellent option. These boots feature reinforced rubber bottoms with multi-traction, self-cleaning outsoles for solid footing. The Infinity FD Flex-Drive compound in the boots offers excellent shock absorption and fatigue-fighting energy return, while the anti-microbial wicking liners keep feet dry and comfortable. They come in RealTree Timber camo. $180 | thorogoodusa.com

Hunter Specialties Butski “Original” Cutter

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How good can a turkey call be? Well, if it’s crafted by one of the sport’s legends, it’s a safe bet it will help seal the deal on reluctant toms. The Butski “Original” Cutter is a three-reed mouth call developed by National Wild Turkey Federation Hall of Famer and three-time Grand National Championship winner Paul Butski, who came up with the cutter call in the 1980s as he was in the midst of winning some of the nation’s most prestigious turkey calling championships. Stretched super tight, this call is built for aggressive yelping and cutting, but it can also produce the more subtle hen sounds needed to lure a cautious gobbler into bow range. Less than the cost of a movie, this highly affordable call will lead to loads of excitement this spring. $9.99 | hunterspec.com

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