Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland has been hunting wild turkeys for more than 50 years. When he first started working as a videographer for Mossy Oak, Cuz was traveling, filming and calling turkeys for about 72 days a year for many years. Today Cuz is Senior Vice President of Media Services at Mossy Oak in West Point, Mississippi, and still is one of the best turkey hunters ever.
Many turkey hunters look like pack mules because they carry so much gear into the woods to try and help them take gobblers. But I like to hunt light, and the older I get, the lighter I travel when turkey hunting.
Turkey hunting requires specialized gear and tactics to be successful. One of the most important considerations is having effective camouflage. With their incredibly sharp eyesight, wild turkeys can easily spot something that looks out of place. Using proper camouflage and concealment techniques is critical to get close and have a good shot opportunity on these wary birds.
Why Camouflage Matters for Turkey Hunting
Turkeys have some of the most acute eyesight in the animal kingdom. Their vision is sharper and has a wider field of view compared to humans. Turkeys can also see color much better, detecting even the slightest movements and color variations in their surroundings.
This is why camouflage is so important for turkey hunting Your goal is to blend into the environment undetected. Good camo helps break up your outline and prevents the birds from recognizing you as a potential threat Any sudden movements or mismatched colors will likely alert a turkey and send them running the other direction.
In addition to their sharp vision, turkeys rely heavily on their eyes to stay safe from predators. They do not have a strong sense of smell, so they depend on their vision as their first line of defense. Camouflage helps hunters beat a turkey’s visual defenses.
Matching Camo Patterns to the Terrain
To be effective, your camouflage needs to match the predominant colors and patterns in the area you are hunting The surroundings can vary greatly depending on the region and habitat.
In the eastern forests shades of green, brown and grey work well. Camo with leafy patterns blends into the deciduous trees and vegetation.
In the open prairies and agricultural areas of the midwest, lighter tan and brown patterns mimic the grasses and croplands.
The mountainous western states have a mix of darker greens and grey to match the conifer trees and rocky outcroppings.
Changing seasons also alter the color palette. Early in the year, bare trees and brown leaves require camo with twigs, branches and earth tones. As spring progresses, shades of green take over until full summer.
Having camo suited for the specific terrain and season where you hunt is ideal for concealment. Versatile patterns that incorporate multiple shades and textures in one camo work great for adapting to changing environments.
Full Camo Coverage for Concealment
To maximize your concealment, camouflage needs to cover your entire body, not just your torso. Turkeys have a wide field of view so any exposed skin or contrasting color can give your position away.
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Head & Face – A camo facemask and hat conceals these high contrast areas. Even darkening exposed skin helps.
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Hands – Camo gloves hide hand movement when calling.
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Arms – Long sleeve shirts and jackets keep arms blended in.
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Legs – Pants or gaiters break up the silhouette of legs and boots.
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Feet – Boots or overcovers with camo, brush or leaves disguise human foot shapes.
With full camo coverage, you blend seamlessly into the scenery. The more concealed your body, the closer you can get to a turkey without them noticing.
Natural Camouflage Enhancements
Camouflage clothing provides a good base layer of concealment. You can further enhance it using natural materials found in the environment.
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Sticks, leaves and branches – Weave them into your hat, shoulders and back to mimic vegetation.
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Dirt or mud – Helps darken light skin and gear that may stand out.
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Grass and bushes – Place them in front of you or create a blind to conceal your silhouette.
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Facepaint – Use dark green and brown colors to eliminate glare and skin contrast.
Blending real nature elements with your camo helps the disguise and breaks up your outline even further. Just avoid using bright fall leaves or mismatched vegetation.
Motion, Sounds and Scents
Camouflage clothing is essential but other factors can still give away your presence. Avoiding movement, noise and scent is just as critical.
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Stay completely still when turkeys are close. No excessive calling or adjustments.
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Mask sounds like Velcro and gear rattling that are out of place.
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Play the wind right to keep human scents from reaching turkey’s location.
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Use a turkey blind to conceal subtle motions like drawing your bow.
Stealthy hunting skills complement good camo by eliminating sensory cues.
Following Regulations on Camo Use
Almost all states allow camouflage clothing for turkey hunting on private lands. But some have restrictions when hunting public lands.
For example, certain public lands prohibit using artificial blinds or concealing hunters through camouflage. Some states ban full body camo suits that completely encapsulate a hunter.
Be sure to check regulations where you hunt. Follow all rules on public land use. On private property, discuss with the owner any limitations they require.
Key Takeaways on Camouflage and Turkey Hunting:
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A camo outfit suited to terrain helps concealment.
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Full coverage hides contrasts of exposed skin and gear.
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Natural elements enhance disguise from a turkey’s perspective.
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Stealthy hunting compliments good camouflage.
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Follow regulations on public and private land.
With sharp vision rivaling the best prey animals, wild turkeys present a difficult hunting challenge. Using effective camouflage and concealment levels the playing field and allows hunters to compete against the turkey’s keen eyes. Blending into the surroundings unnoticed is critical to success.
BEST CAMOUFLAGE FOR TURKEY HUNTING
Camouflage is a critical ingredient for successful turkey hunting, and Mossy Oak Bottomland is always a great choice. I often like a pattern with a little bit more green in it like Mossy Oak Green Leaf or Obsession. However, if you’re a northern hunter, the woods may not have any green in them in the early season, so you may choose Bottomland. Camouflage is a big deal in turkey hunting because to get a turkey really close, you need to be almost invisible. When you’re turkey hunting, you don’t have to have a pop-up blind or a half blind, you just have to look like the woods and be camouflaged from the top of your head to the bottom of your boots – including a camo head net, camo gloves, camo pants and shirt and camo boots. The legs of my turkey-hunting pants are longer than the pants I normally wear. Then when I sit down, my pants legs won’t come up and show the tops of my boots and socks and alert a turkey of my presence.
BEST TYPE OF TURKEY VEST
You also need a quality turkey vest that includes a comfortable cushion to sit on, lots of pockets and a big game bag in the vest’s back to carry your turkey. A cushion is so important because when you sit down to call a turkey, you may be sitting there for a long time. If you happen to sit on a root or a pebble, you won’t be able to sit still for very long. So, the more comfortable you can get, the longer you can sit still and not move. You need lots of pockets in your turkey vest for shells, insect repellant, a wide variety of calls, a bottle of water, a sandwich, some snacks, pruning shears and maybe even a folding saw that you can use to create a natural blind.
The Importance of Camo for Turkey Hunting
FAQ
How important is camo when turkey hunting?
Do you need camo gloves for turkey hunting?
Do you need a camo shotgun for turkey?
What camo to use for turkey hunting?
What Camo should I wear when hunting a wild turkey?
Wild turkeys have incredible eyesight, so you will want to conceal your movements as much as possible while out hunting. A good camo pattern for the terrain you are hunting is essential. Mossy Oak is the official camo of the NWTF and its Obsession pattern is our go to each spring.
Why is Camo important for turkey hunting?
That’s why having the best camo for turkey hunting is important for staying hidden when you’re chasing wary spring gobblers. One spring morning, I propped against a large water oak inside a shady treeline with my shotgun resting on my knee.
What kind of Camo do turkeys wear?
Camo can be as simple as a basic pattern that best fits your local surroundings to brands that incorporate texture into their camo patterns. An example of textured outfits for turkeys includes First Lite’s Phantom Leafy Suit Top ($90). The nice thing about this type of camo is that it can easily go over clothes you already own.
Can you fill a Turkey tag without wearing camouflage?
Turkeys have unbelievable eyesight. And though you can certainly fill your tag without wearing camouflage, many seasoned turkey hunters will recommend it from head to toe. Camo can be as simple as a basic pattern that best fits your local surroundings to brands that incorporate texture into their camo patterns.