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Believe it or not, turkey season is just around the corner. The winter thaw is almost upon us, and as the weather begins to warm up, turkey hunters everywhere start to get the itch. Part of the joy of spring turkey season comes with the return of spring vegetation, which is an added blessing for hunters looking to take a big tom this year. Turkey are notoriously finicky and cautious birds, and concealment and stealth are vitally important. This is why hunters welcome the green leaves of spring. They can use all the extra cover they can get, and it’s certainly a departure from the dead leaves and fall colors of deer season. However, this also means you need to adapt your hunting apparel to the spring vegetation. Here are eight suggestions that will match the budding green leaves of spring.
Jackets / Shirts
Ideally, you’ll have warmer spring temperatures to contend with this turkey season, and you’ll want to keep your winter parkas in the closet. Instead, you should opt for a few camo layers that you’re able to peel off should temperatures rise while you’re hunting. If you don’t have a camo base layer, this is the time to invest in one. Why? If you get too hot, you can take off your top layer and still hunt in the base layer. Aside from that, lighter zip up jackets and even sometimes just a thin camo shirt are good recommendations for warmer turkey hunting situations. Here are a few recommendations:
First Lite Halstead Tech Fleece Shirt
The RealTree Max-1 pattern is perfectly suited for turkey hunting, especially with its green brush elements. As a bonus, this pattern can also be used in certain fall hunting environments, and it is suited for rocky, desert terrain as well. This Halstead Tech Fleece also sports Xeolite Scent Control tech which is a bonus in hunting seasons where scent control is important. Designed to be used as a next-to-skin layer or a secondary layer over a base layer, this First Lite fleece will keep you operating silently in the bush with polyester and spandex grid fabrics.
Predator Camo Spring Green Adrenaline Jacket
Instead of opting for mimicry camo common in most turkey hunting lines, you can try the concealment patterns from Predator Camo in your spring turkey hunting pursuits. This Spring Green Adrenaline Jacket offers unique, large contrasting colors that work to break up your pattern, and the color scheme should work with most spring vegetation. This jacket is lightweight and perfect for those warmer spring hunting, and it can repel light rain, which is always nice to have on those wet spring hunts.
Kryptek Mandrake Valhalla Shirt
Another departure from typical turkey hunting patterns, those who hunt in very lush, green environments might find the vibrant green of the Kryptek Mandrake pattern perfect for their needs. This Kryptek Valhalla Shirt is lightweight and built to stretch on the wearer, perfect for those stealthy spring turkey hunts. While not for every hunter, this tactical inspired zip-up shirt could provide a distinct advantage with it’s green and brown coloring scheme.
Kings Camo Hunter Long Sleeve T-Shirt
The Kings Camo Hunter Long Sleeve T-Shirt is an apparel selection where less is more. This simple shirt doesn’t offer much in the way of insulation, but on a very warm day that might be just right for you. This Hunter Long Sleeve offers other warm weather advantages like breathable Birds-eye Micro Holes and a quick drying slick material. Best of all, this shirt from Kings Camo won’t break your budget at just under $30.
Pants
The same approach to jackets and shirts applies to pants. You want your pants camo to match your surroundings, and they should be rugged enough to withstand brushing against branches as you travel to your blind or sit on the ground. Aside from the obvious choice of matching pants with the above jackets and pants, here are a two other standout products.
ScentBlocker Trinity Alpha RealTree Xtra Pants
The biggest advantage of the ScentBlocker Trinity Alpha Xtra Pants might be the mobility they offer. These pants sport a 100% polyester soft micro fleece that operates silently while in the bush, and articulated knees ensure you can move around efficiently while crouching in the blind or on the ground. The RealTree Xtra pattern might be better tailored for fall hunting, but it will work just fine in early spring environments as well.
Trail Crest Cambrillo 4 Pocket Sweat Pants
For something a little different, the Trail Crest Cambrillo 4 Pocket Sweat Pants offer maximum comfort and a quiet performance while in the field. The dominant green color of the Cambrillo pants fits most spring hunting environments as well. The one downside is the cotton-poly fabric, which isn’t ideal in any wet environments like damp ground or days with light precipitation.
Facemasks
A facemask is a must-have in any turkey hunting scenario, and those who don’t wear one will be spotted by a cautious turkey no doubt. Here, breathability and maximum concealment are the important elements to consider, but don’t forget to choose a mask you can see out of well and one that won’t snag on your bow during each draw. You’ll see two dominate styles in facemasks. First is the mesh style which offers superior breathability but isn’t very comfortable in colder environments. The other style uses a solid fabric weave that is more suited for colder days but can be a bit stifling on very warm days.
ScentBlocker Trinity RealTree Xtra Facemask
A good example of what to look for in a facemask can be found in the ScentBlocker Trinity RealTree Xtra Facemask. Its contoured design fits snugly over your mouth and nose, but there is still enough of an opening around the eyes to allow for a decent field of view. This facemask is made of 94% polyester, and this construction is suited well for warmer days where you want each breath to escape rather than warm up the surrounding mask.
Gloves
Similar to a face mask, you won’t want to leave your hands exposed for an observant tom to spot. However, once again those heavy duty gloves aren’t going to cut it, and you’ll want thin camo gloves that you can operate your firearm or bow with. Of all the apparel listed here, you can get away with gloves that don’t exactly match your environment if your budget is tight.
Kings Camo Lightweight Gloves
One of the best examples of turkey hunting gloves comes in the Kings Camo Lightweight Gloves. These thin gloves use a lightweight 4-stretch material, and rubberized palm grips ensure you keep a grip on your shotgun or bow even in damp conditions. Whatever you decide on, you’ll want gloves that offer a wide range of movement while still keeping your hands concealed.
