Overlooked Gear for New Turkey Hunters
- Justin Campbell
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
A few often-overlooked pieces of gear can help new turkey hunters stay safer and more comfortable in the spring woods.
By Justin Campbell | Equalized Outdoors
The National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual convention in Nashville has come and gone. Calls are out, gear is being checked, and scouting is being done. Anticipation is high, and temperatures have begun to rise, though the mornings are still crisp and cool in many areas.
Our days will soon no longer be short as we roll the clocks forward and say goodbye to the short days of fall and winter. Grasses are beginning to turn green again, and the woods suddenly feel more alive. Spring turkey season is finally right around the corner.
I’ve been fortunate to meet many aspiring turkey hunters in person and online through social media, and naturally beginners have questions. As they honestly should. There’s also not a place that I can recall where the old adage that “there’s no such thing as a stupid question” is truer than the turkey woods.
Change is the only constant when it comes to pursuing these whimsical birds, so be sure to ask—and then ask some more.
Naturally, gear is usually one of the main subjects of these questions, even among veteran turkey hunters. The standard loadouts have been pretty well covered, so instead I want to highlight a few overlooked pieces of gear that can make your hunts safer and more comfortable. For those wondering what we run here at Equalized Outdoors our gear can be found here.
And staying safe starts with your clothes.
Tick Protection
Ticks are a real concern in the spring woods because of their potential to carry Alpha-gal syndrome, which can cause a red meat allergy. While cases are somewhat rare, you’ll still want to give yourself every advantage.
That’s where permethrin comes in.
Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that repels ticks and mosquitoes by inducing rapid paralysis. In more common terms, it’s a spray-on insecticide that helps prevent ticks and mosquitoes from reaching your skin. The application is straightforward as long as the instructions are followed.
Sawyer is the brand I prefer, and I have not had a tick on me while wearing treated clothes. It’s also affordable, and one application can last the entire turkey season depending on your wash frequency, though reapplication won’t hurt anything.
I also started using picaridin to help keep me bug- and tick-free, and I recommend it to every hunter that I talk to.
It is also an insect repellent, but this one is skin-safe and comes in a non-greasy, scent-free lotion, making it ideal for hunters. It adds protection against flies, chiggers, and other insects like gnats that, when combined with permethrin, should keep you largely insect-free.
Sawyer is once again the brand I prefer, but the key with picaridin is to ensure it’s fresh.
Those two combined have allowed me to survive days where I either forget my Thermacell or it runs out of fuel. Not only do these repellents keep you safe, but they also save you from unnecessary movement—which can make all the difference when pursuing gobblers.
Snake Protection
Snake protection is another one that’s often overlooked and, in my opinion, often misconstrued.
The word is that snake boots are uncomfortable, and that may have been the case years ago, but I can assure you it’s not any longer. I personally use the LaCrosse Alpha Agility snake boots and can still put on the miles while remaining fully waterproof and protected.
However, snake boots aren’t your only option.
You can also wear snake-proof gaiters, which allow you to wear your hiking boots while remaining protected. Some gaiters also provide the waterproofing you get with rubber snake boots.
When I’m hunting in any kind of mountainous terrain, I leave the snake boots behind and grab my gaiters instead.
There are several options for snake gaiters at various price points. Personally, I own and use the ScentBlocker Snake Gaiters from Blocker Outdoors, which currently retail for $69.99 on Amazon. They are a bit heavy, but not detrimentally so, and they are also fully waterproof.
On the other end of the price spectrum, you have the Snake Armor Gaiters from TurtleSkin, which retail for $210.99. However, the pair weighs less than one pound, which is advertised as two-thirds lighter than comparable gaiters.
While I have no personal experience with the latter, reviews from around the web speak highly of them.
Final Thoughts on Overlooked Gear for New Turkey Hunters
Consider these as additional tools in your toolkit when you hit the woods.
Nothing is 100 percent, but when combined with good woodsmanship these options should keep you in the woods longer and more comfortable. If nothing else, for me personally, having some form of snake-proof protection gives me peace of mind when walking through the woods.
And if you’re new to turkey hunting and still asking questions about gear and preparation, keep asking them. The turkey woods are one place where curiosity will almost always make you a better hunter.
Hopefully, I never have to write one of these articles as the result of firsthand experience.
Affiliate Disclosure:
Some of the product links mentioned in this article may be affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, Equalized Outdoors may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These partnerships help support our work covering hunting, conservation, and the outdoor community.
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