Run-and-Gun Turkey Hunting Gear List
Lightweight, run-and-gun turkey hunting tactics have changed the way many hardcore turkey hunters find success each spring nowadays. We’ve seen lightweight deer hunting gear revolutionalize the run-and-gun strategies of the seasoned deer hunter and newbie alike, but we seldom talk about lightweight options for the turkey hunter.
In years past, I’ve found myself running the Appalachian Mountains of southern West Virginia with enough gear to outfit a small turkey hunting army and it only hindered my abilities when the moment of truth presented itself. Whether it was a dozen calls in my over-sized turkey vest or bulky decoys, I just didn’t enjoy running and gunning for turkeys until I began to fine-tune my turkey hunting gear to fit my needs.
Technology has helped improve turkey hunting gear through the years, especially the implementation of tungsten in place of lead shot. Tungsten ammo or TSS is more dense than lead, allowing you to shoot smaller shot-sized pellets and way more of them in each shell. This results in increased effective shooting distances and many hunters now find themselves chasing gobblers with a .410 gauge! Just like we’ve seen in the deer hunting world, as technology increases the effectiveness of a hunting product, we often see higher price tags with it. It’s no secret that TSS loads cost more, but the improved benefits of this shell out-weigh the high cost for many avid turkey hunters.
Below is the perfect combination of lightweight, run-and-gun turkey hunting gear that’s proven to get the job done!
Steven’s 301 Shotgun – .410 or 20 gauge
This lightweight, single-shot, shotgun took the turkey hunting world by storm last season. It’s cheap, lightweight, and deadly accurate. However, I think this gun is the best turkey-hunting shotgun on the market.
SumToy Custom Choke
I’ve found that Sumtoy Custom Chokes outperforms most of the competition and it’s a perfect combination for this gun and ammo combination. Just do me a favor and tell him where you heard about them when you buy.
TSS Tungsten Turkey Shells
There are several different options of TSS on the market like Browning, Federal, Remington, Heavy-Shot, and more. The only problem is finding it! There aren’t very many places that have it in stock right now. Check out Palmetto State Armory, Brownell’s, and Academy. You can dramatically increase your effective range with TSS but it’s going to cost a lot more money than regular turkey shells.
Vortex Venom 3 MOA
Optics are optional because the T/C Turkey barrel is equipped with excellent fiber-optic sights but I fell in love with the Vortex Viper Red Dot 3 MOA. It’s lightweight and extremely accurate. I haven’t had an issue with battery life but I’m smart enough to change the batteries out at the start of the season each year. If your shotgun doesn’t have the capabilities to mount a red dot sight on it, then check out the Meadow Creek Universal Red Dot Mount. This NO drilling, NO tapping option to mount a red dot optic to your favorite shotgun is quick, easy, and reliable. Head over to our friends at TurkeySeason.com to learn more!
Another great option that provides up to 4x magnification is the Hawke Vantage IR 1-4×20 Turkey Dot Reticle shotgun scope.
Turkey Vest
There are a lot of great turkey hunting vests on the market but be conservative! Not with your money, be conservative with the size of the vest and the amount of storage capacity that it has. You don’t need to bring every single call you own into the woods to kill a turkey. You’ll be much more comfortable and mobile if you downsize the number of calls you carry and the size of your vest. There’s a lot of times that I throw a couple of calls in my pockets and run without a vest. If you have to have a vest, check out the small, lightweight options like the Sitka Equinox Vest, Knight & Hale Run-N-Gun 200, Blocker Outdoors Finisher Turkey Vest, and many others. You can even go smaller by utilizing a binocular harness also! Whatever you choose, throw in a hydration bladder so you can stay well-hydrated on your hunt!
Turkey Calls
When it comes to turkey calls, less is more! Fewer calls mean you can run-and-gun without the extra weight and bulk of an over-packed hunting vest. Learn to use a diaphragm call! You can carry a huge selection of diaphragm calls in your vest or pockets without adding extra weight or bulk. If you must carry other calls, pick up a locater call like the Hooks Custom Calls Harrison Hoot’n Stick. You may also want to carry a nice pot call and/or a box call. My diaphragm call of choice is the Primos Sonic Dome Triple w/ Bat Cut.
Nukem Grab and Go Hunting Blind
The lightest, most portable hunting blind on the market for turkey hunters is the Nukem Grab and Go Hunting Blind. It’s ideal for run-and-gun turkey hunters. Simply deploy it before a gobbling long beard approaches your position to ensure you have cover virtually anywhere. This is especially important for self filming hunts or for a cameraman.
Decoys
Just like turkey calls, there’s a new turkey decoy being produced every day it seems. There are a lot of super-realistic turkey decoys on the market, like Avian X Decoys. However, these lifelike decoys aren’t packable and can be a hassle to run and run with. Consider picking up something lightweight and mobile, such as the Montana Decoy Purrfect Pair XD turkey decoys or a MOJO Outdoors Tail Chaser Max reaping decoy.
Check out our review of the MOJO Scoot-N-Shoot decoy.
KUIU – Lightweight Hunting Apparel
There’s a new camouflage cltohing company on the market every week it seems but when it comes to high-quality, lightweight camouflage that’s built for adventure, it’s hard to beat KUIU! Regardless of the temperature or condition, KUIU has an option for you. The link above will provide more details on the options that KUIU offers run-and-gun turkey hunters.
Boots Built for the Hunt!
Long walks to and from a gobbling turkey can be brutal, especially on your feet. Also, keeping your footing is essential in wet conditions, as spring rains often create a muddy mess. Just ask my buddy Jansen who ruined a hunt after slipping and falling while trying to cut the distance on a longbeard. He fell just inside the timber on while trying to slip out of a creek bottom on the field edge. He hit the ground hard, smacking his head with the barrel of his shotgun, making a lot of noise in the process.
As for boots, my go-to boots are Crispi Boots for longevity and the most versatile boot in my arsenal. For dry conditions and a comfortable walk, Irish Setter Vaprtreks have never let me down. Lastly, if water and wet conditions are expected during the day’s hunt, Lacrosse AlphaBurly boots are my go-to but Muck Boots are good too.
Fox River Socks – Quality socks make the difference
I recently picked up a couple of pairs of Fox River socks and can’t tell you how much more comfortable your feet will feel after a long day of running and gunning. Even with the best boots, you have to have good socks to get the most out of your footwear and protect your feet. Fox River has a wide variety of options for hunting season, including cold-weather socks, as well as warm-weather hunts.
Regardless of your turkey gun of choice, I wish you the best of luck this spring and be sure to tag Hunting Gear Deals on our social media pages with your photos from the field. Also, you need to learn how to How to Protect Yourself from Ticks in the Outdoors.
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