Getting ready for turkey season - Equipment checklist. In continuing this three part series, we will look at what can be done now, to better prepare you for the upcoming turkey season. The Camo Connection. Every year, the two major camo companies come up with the newest and best camo patterns that are sure to revolutionize hunting success. All of them are good - for deer or duck hunting, but few have the true green colors for spring turkey hunting. The main objective is to blend in and stay hidden. You must wear a full face mask and gloves and be extremely careful not to have white socks or parts of your skin showing. For safety purposes you should never wear blue, white or red as it emulates the head and neck colors of an excited gobbler.Many turkey hunters throw their turkey camo, head nets and gloves in a pile in a closet, shop or garage. Besides mildew gathering, this makes a perfect nesting place for brown recluse spiders, which leave a poisonous and painful bite. Wash your camo, fold it up and seal it in a dry location, preferably in a plastic tote. This will also allow you to maintain an inventory of your turkey hunting clothing and allow you to purchase any necessary items prior to season. Tip: I like to use scent free detergent. Even though turkeys have a poor sense of smell, I have in more than one occasion had a deer snort their shrill alarm whistle and bust an incoming turkey right out of my set-up. Can you hear me now?No, this isn't a commercial for Verizon Wireless. It is simply some tips that will help ensure that the three main types of the calls in your arsenal are in proper working condition when you hit the turkey woods.Box calls: Your wooden or acrylic box calls must be stored in a dry location. It is a good idea to replace the inexpensive chalk each year for the striking surface. Tip: Buy some large rubber bands that will help prevent them from squeaking while you walk with them in your turkey vest when wrapped around the body and moving surface of the box call. Diaphragms: Your mouth calls need to be sorted by preference, reed amounts etc. They should be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Trim your diaphragm calls well before season and practice daily in making purrs, clucks, fly down cackles and yelps. Tip: Keep your diaphragm calls in your vehicle and practice calling while you drive. This will give you plenty of time perfecting your calling technique and prevent you from driving your significant other crazy by not practicing at the old homestead. Slate and Friction calls: Here again, moisture can be the worst enemy in using these types of calls. Keep them dry and store them in neoprene, zippered call holders. Make sure that you have plenty of fine grit sandpaper to keep the surface roughed up. The accompanying striker must also be kept dry and the tip roughed up for better surface contact. Each of these calls has certain sweet spots for making the various vocalization sounds. Take a permanent laundry marker and circle these spots on each call to help you quickly find them in the woods. Tip: For beginning turkey hunters, who are not yet adept at using diaphragm calls for luring birds in close, Muzzy Products has a slate call holder that straps to your leg and allows you one-handed calling. Letting the ladies lure them in.Decoys can be instrumental in giving a longbeard a visual image to seal the deal of your calling. A good setup consists of two hens and a jake as a mature gobbler will not allow the younger upstart to have his own personal harem. Make sure the decoys have not lost their paint and shine. I use permanent colored markers to touch up worn spots and chipped paint. It is also a god idea to clean them with Armor All to give them a little shine and protection after you touch them up.Tip: Don't throw away old or bent arrows. They make excellent turkey stake replacements. When using the three bird setup I recommended, face the jake decoy head on in the direction you want the gobbler to come in on as the mature bird will come in face to face with the jake to show his dominance. The hens should be facing away from the jake and the gobbler to feign disinterest in their male counterparts who are looking for love in all the wrong places. Summary:Equipment preparation is essential in becoming a successful turkey hunter. You should also put all of your calls and equipment in the same pockets of your turkey vest each time so you won't be fumbling around, looking for them when time is of the essence. In the last part of this series we will look at scouting and patterning gobblers, as well as tactics for success. Until then be safe and enjoy the great outdoors and always remember that our kids truly are our most precious natural resource. They are our future.See ya, Rob Any views expressed by third parties on this Website are solely those of the third party and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ol' Tom, its staff and associates. Ol' Tom, its staff and associates assume no responsibility for the accuracy of any statement made by a third party. |