Best Turkey Hunting Gear

Whether you’re just getting in to turkey hunting or are looking to upgrade some of your old kit, here’s some of the best turkey hunting gear on the market.

Whether you’re a beginner or you’ve been turkey hunting for years, every season brings a new wave of gear to the market. Some of it’s good, some of it’s not, and some of it is simply functional. Almost all of it has a place, and depending on your budget, most of what’s available today will do just enough to bring an old, wary gobbler into range. This guide is a collection of gear I’ve found success with over the last few seasons across a variety of situations and states.

How I Chose This Gear

I started turkey hunting during the very first youth season in Vermont in 2001, and since then, I’ve chased longbeards throughout New England and spent time in the woods in Florida, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. This year I’ve got trips planned for Colorado and beyond. I’m a gear-head by nature and love testing new products, but I also mentor youth hunters—and I’ve done so for more than 15 years. That means I look at gear through multiple lenses: first-time hunters who need simple, reliable tools; old-schoolers who prefer proven setups; and the new, innovative products that genuinely add value. For this list, I focused on equipment that has held up across different hunts, different states, and different hunting styles, with an emphasis on practicality, durability, and real-world performance.

• Best Shotgun: Mossberg 500 Turkey
• Best Ammo: MIGRA TSS Turkey
• Best Binos: Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD 10×42
• Best Rangefinder: Vortex Triumph HD
• Best Blind: Game Winner Stealth View HUB Blind
• Best Decoy: Avian-X HDR Hen
• Best Call: Dave Halloran Hen Pot Call
• Best Vest: SITKA Equinox Turkey Vest

Best Shotgun – Mossberg 500 Turkey

This one is tough, because I like a lot of different shotguns. That said, the gun I’ve killed the most turkeys with is a Remington 11-87. It’s a semi-automatic with a 28-inch barrel. My brother bought it for me years ago as a mixed-use gun, but over time it’s become my favorite turkey gun. The chamber handles both 2 ¾- and 3-inch shells, and it’s an all-around great shotgun — even though it’s no longer in production.

Another oldie but goodie is the Mossberg 500 Turkey. I had a standard pump 500 back in the day and loved it, but the 500 Turkey is a straight killer. It’s a pump-action with a 22-inch barrel, which makes it ideal for tight quarters in the woods. I’m comfortable running the fiber-optic sight, but for those who prefer a red dot, it’s optics-ready for easy installation. At $679, it’s an affordable way to get into the field with a high-performing turkey gun.

Best Ammo – MIGRA TSS Turkey

I have been chasing turkeys long enough to have hunted many years with lead loads. Only recently has Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) become a craze – but it comes at a cost. TSS has increased in price every year, and now, it’s even harder for manufacturers to find. Last season I had the chance to do a TSS test, and my favorite load was MIGRA TSS Turkey – I shot turkeys with both their 12- and 20-gauge loads in 2025. The 3-inch 7/9 stacked load is devastating for longbeards and, like others, carries a lot of energy downrange.

Other top TSS includes APEX, Boss Tom, and Rogue, which shot surprisingly well out of my Remington 11-87 with a Jebbs Choke.

Best Binos – Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD 10×42

I had never used the Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD 10×42 binoculars until a turkey hunt in 2024, and I didn’t realize what I was missing. Over five days hunting in Vermont and New York, we covered big timber, smaller brushy areas, and large agricultural fields. The binoculars performed flawlessly the entire time. With Leupold HD clarity, the glass was lightweight and easy to use, and we could see clearly from early morning while roosting birds through last light — even in extremely low-light conditions.

I wouldn’t call them entry-level optics, but they easily outperform their price point for a quality pair of glass. Beyond light transmission, the glare reduction stood out the most, making it easier to spot turkeys from mid-morning through sunset, especially when glassing open ground.

Best Rangefinder – Vortex Triumph HD

I don’t rely on a rangefinder much when turkey hunting, but in open areas it can be a real asset. The Vortex Triumph HD has earned a spot in my kit for those situations. My son put it to work this fall from the bow stand and found it easy to use and reliable, even in low-light conditions. The non-slip, soft-touch grip is easy to hold with gloves or in cold, wet weather, and the two-button interface makes switching modes quick and straightforward. 

Because turkeys generally get in nice and close, it is not always a must. But when I set up for an extended period of time, I will range a few key objects, especially in an open field. The Triumph will pick up a single corn stock or clump of grass, which is sometimes all you need to have a gobbler step into range. They easily fit in a turkey vest, bino harness, or jacket pocket without getting in the way. Vortex’s lifetime unlimited warranty makes it a no brainer.

Best Blind – Game Winner Stealth View HUB Blind

My very first turkey was shot out of a blind, and since then, a hub blind has lived in the bed of my truck all season — you just never know when one will be needed. While I enjoy moving and playing chess with a gobbler, there are times when a blind is the right call, and lately that’s been the Game Winner Stealth View HUB Blind. Especially when hunting with kids or multiple people, it allows you to get closer to the action and set up exactly where you want to be, rather than settling for the nearest tree.

For the price, it’s a solid hub blind. The 300D poly-coated fabric is water resistant, the hubs are easy to set up and break down, and once it’s popped open, it’s sturdy even in a stiff wind. The material is a little noisy during setup, but that’s a non-issue once you’re in place.

Higher end blinds like Primos Double Bull Surround View or the Muddy Infinity Blind offer more features and longer life expectancy, but for the price, entry level hub blinds provide a sturdy option for a lot less money.

Best Decoy – Avian-X HDR Hen

Everyone knows there are a ton of decoy options on the market for turkey hunters, but only a few are truly effective when it comes to fooling wary birds. I bought the Avian-X a while back, and it’s been my go-to decoy ever since. I like to keep my decoy setup simple — partly because I hate carrying extra gear in the woods, but more importantly because less is often more in a lot of situations.

There are definitely times when a feeding hen or a breeding hen and jake combo make sense, but in many cases, especially in taller grass, I prefer an upright body that’s visible from farther away. Once a bird commits, the realism and detail do the rest. The HRD line is extremely durable, which I appreciate, and the carbon stake and included carrying bag make it easy to get in and out of the field, and to store during the offseason.

Best Call – Dave Halloran Hen Pot Call

I purchased the Halloran Hen glass call ahead of last season and was excited to give it a whirl. I have had a mix of older and new calls, from slate to glass, but they were losing their luster and I wanted a new call. The Dave Halloran calls have a solid reputation in the industry and I liked having the two strikers designed specifically for the call. 

It has a smooth yet raspy sound, is easy to use, which was great for teaching my son to call. I was able to vary the pressures to achieve both loud and quiet. Inside the blind, or the next tree over from a roosted gobbler at first light, the call was a pleasure to use. I highly recommend the conditioning stone for an extra $8. Toss it in your vest and kiss sandpaper goodbye.

Best Vest – SITKA Equinox Turkey Vest

When I first started turkey hunting, we never wore vests. It was always long sits in the blind or a one and done roost hunt before school. Back then, we didn’t know much about vests, but now I’d be lost without it. The best all-around vest is the SITKA Equinox Turkey Vest. There are other vests that are great for different applications, but the SITKA vest holds all I need for gear, and has a small pack that holds layers, when the weather is variable, or drinks and snacks for long hikes.

I prefer not sitting long enough to get sore, but sometimes the birds do not cooperate and you have to wait them out. The SITKA vest does a fine job, but it’s not made for sitting for hours. Other thicker vests have big foam pads, such as the Alps Outdoors Grand Slam Vest, which also allows you to sit anywhere at any time – however, it’s 2.5 pounds heavier than SITKA’s.

Best Accessories and Other Gear:

SITKA Equinox Guard Hoody and Pant: When insects are an issue, like they often are in the spring, SITKA’s Guard platform has you covered. Treated with Insect Shield at high heat, the material kills ticks and other bugs on contact and is impenetrable to mosquitoes — so you can check both of those off the list.

Game Winner Turkey Chair: Available exclusively at Academy, this turkey chair is a lifesaver. I used it in Oklahoma this spring, and there’s a reason guides love it. You can use and abuse this $30 chair, and it’s still extremely comfortable for long sits. It’s a bit heavy, but for a pack-in hunt, it’s a no-brainer.

Williams Knife Co. Bird Knife: Made for the bird hunter, processing turkeys has never been easier. With an oversized handle and precision, surgical-size blade, it’s perfect for small game and a great price.

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