The holidays are upon us. It’s that dreaded time of year when we rack our brains trying to remember that “perfect” gift that we saw for someone while traveling down an Amazon wormhole—and that Google history tab isn’t giving up any clues. Don’t hit the panic button just yet. We’re here to help.
The great thing about the holidays is when it's all over, the opening of turkey season is just around the corner. To help any passionate turkey hunter that's close to you prepare for those unexpected “sick days” and early morning jaunts to some gobbler's roost, we’ve compiled a few items they’ll appreciate in the field, as much as they will seeing them wrapped under the Christmas tree. Think of it as an investment—help a turkey hunter bag birds and there’s a greater chance of a wild-game holiday feast next year.
If you know someone who prefers to hunt turkeys alone, there's no need for them to carry big, portable blind into the field—just half of one. The Primos Double Bull Stakeout blind is essentially a V-shaped curtain with no roof that conceals a hunter for a full 180-degrees, which is perfect for setups against vegetation or a tree. There are three triangular shooting windows, it's 59-inches wide and 37-inches tall, and it weighs only 4 ½ pounds. However, the best part is the upper half is made of SurroundView mesh, a one-way screen that lets hunters see out, but animals can't see in. It's a great gift for anyone getting into turkey hunting, or someone that enjoys moving around to several setups throughout the morning.
I've never met a snake that I liked. Well, perhaps that's a little harsh. Let's just say there isn't a species slithering on Earth that doesn't command my respect. From the tiniest garden variety to serpents coiled and ready to unleash their venom, I take precautions to avoid them all. If you know someone with similar issues, the waterproof and snakeproof Redhead RCT might just be their new favorite boots. This pair reaches 16-inches high to protect part of the calf and the entire outer fabric is constructed with TuffTex which is puncture-proof. Each pair weighs just four pounds and the foam-padded collar and tongue makes it easy to slide them on and off. There are also rustproof eyelets, breathable and odor absorbing footbeds, and the lug outsoles grip rocks like magnets. The RCTs are comfortable, durable, and great for getting out and about.
Earlier this year, Leupold announced the addition of a new scope to its VX-Freedom lineup, the VX-Freedom Red Dot Sight (RDS), and the timing couldn't be better. Red dot sights are slowly but surely earning a solid reputation from turkey hunters everywhere because it's easy to see the precise aiming point in any conditions. The RDS has scratch-resistant lenses and Luepold's Twilight Red Dot System, which is designed to offer a crisp picture in different lighting scenarios. The sealed tube prevents any fogging and there are MOA adjustments for both elevation and wind. Weighing in at just seven ounces, it's a lightweight tool someone might not even be able to tell is on their shotgun. There is a battery-saving sensor that turns the device off after five minutes of inactivity, it's waterproof and shockproof, and a terrific gift for any turkey hunter that didn't fill a tag because of a missed shot.
Any turkey hunter worth their salt knows the value of a realistic decoy setup, and there are many makes and models available that have fooled birds for years. However, Avian-X recently introduced what might be their most realistic deke ever—the HDR Jake. Avian says HDR stands for heavy-duty realism, which is why this decoy stands out. It's painted with amazing details and lifelike features that anyone could easily mistake for the real thing. Each blow-molded decoy even comes with two interchangeable heads for submissive or aggressive poses. If you really want to prank the turkey hunter in your family, put an HDR under their bedsheets Godfather style and wait for their alarm to go off Christmas morning.
There are some people that just can't dance, some people that can't sing (even in the shower), and some people that can't cluck, cut, and yelp like a turkey. Sadly, little can be done to help folks in the first two categories, but if you know someone that likely falls in the third, don't worry, there's help. Primos, which for decades has made calling easy, created the Foggy Bottom Snuff Tube turkey call specifically for gobbler hunters that can't sing a turkey siren song at daybreak. Using a molded reed similar to the reeds used on other easy-to-use Primos calls, anyone can learn to sound like just another hen in the flock in no time. If you're looking for a suitable stocking stuffer for a tone-deaf turkey junkie, this is it.
If there's anything I try to avoid when hunting, it's sweating. For those that are also "temperature challenged" like myself, clothes like Banded's Lightweight Technical Hunting pants are a great solution. Not only are these pants lightweight, they're breathable, and when it's dark and cold, there's just enough insulation to ward off the shivers. Made from a four-way stretch fabric, there are roomy pockets in the front and back, and articulated knees so the material doesn't bind as you move about. Banded even had the foresight to waterproof the knee and seat areas—two areas turkey hunters constantly plant on the ground—and integrated gaiters over the shins.
Nothing says Happy Holidays more than giving the gift of ammunition. I know it sounds like I'm joking, but I'm not. Wrap up a box of Federal TSS turkey loads and put it under the tree for your favorite turkey hunter and watch their face light up when they open it. You can thank me later. Actually, since TSS (which stands for tungsten super shot) appeared on the gobbler scene, it's been praised because tungsten is much heavier than lead, but less dense. Translation: it flies far and hits hard. What's more, pellet patterns remain tighter at closer distances, which has light-gauge shotgun fans excited because dropping gobblers with a .410 is now a reality. Just make sure you select the correct gauge size before clicking the buy button.
When HS Strut designers began building their Undertaker Chest Pack, their goal was to create something that allowed turkey hunters to carry all the gear they'd need in the field, but in a lightweight, organized system perfect for someone that doesn't want to wear a vest, or prefers a "run-and-gun" tactics. There's a loop on the bottom to hold a box call, a sleeve on each side to hold slate- or glass-call strikers, and a clip on top to hold diaphragm calls. The main compartment is large enough to hold things like a facemask, gloves, or any other accessories, and there's a shotgun shell belt that holds up to seven shells. But the most prominent feature on this pack is the molded dropdown chest case. Magnets keep it closed, but it easily (and quietly) pops open to webbed pockets and additional storage space. The four-point harness is comfortable, completely adjustable, and includes quick-detach connections if someone needs to quickly shake it off. This is a great gift for anyone that doesn't like to carry a lot of heavy gear while they're chasing toms.
Dave Smith Decoys has been making a name for themselves the last few years as producers of some of the most lifelike decoys on the market. With so much work and detail going into each product, the decoys aren’t always the cheapest available, but once you own one of DSD’s true-to-life replicas, you’ll likely never need any other decoy ever again. The Mating Motion Jake Decoy includes all the realistic details DSD puts into all its products, but it also employs a hand-operated motion system, which really makes this decoy come to life in the field (especially if you use it in conjunction with a mating hen). Lightweight and easy to transport, the jake has iridescent features and reflections like real turkey feathers, and because the molds are made from a self-healing material, you don’t need to worry about accidentally peppering it with shot.
