By David S. Lewis
Executive Editor, (614) Magazine

Funny thing about hunting, sometimes you know exactly what’s happening, and that what’s happening is working.  Assuming all things go properly, something delicious is going to die, and you’re going to get to eat it.

Other times, it is spring turkey season, and you and your bud will sit in a strange wooden shack in the middle of the forest and use various devices to squawk and scream at each other for what is probably no real reason at all.

My pal and hunting buddy, Andy, lives on a rural southeastern Ohio tree farm. Deer are in hog heaven here for 50 weeks of the year – and hogs love it, too.

Similarly, wild turkeys are abundant in Vinton County and on his farm every moment of the year – except, of course, the two weeks or so when they become the most interesting to everyone.

Andy had just bought his box call a day before the season opened. In the cabin, he’s fluent in Turkese.  As soon as we get to the blind, however, everything breaks down.  The noises emitted from that $12 chalkless hellbox are deafening, at least a hundred times louder than any turkey born after the Second Ice Age.  Sometimes it creaks like a barn door plugged into a Marshall stack; others it shrieks like Rhodan from the old Godzilla movies.

At no point does it sound remotely like a lady turkey, however.

I don’t do much better.  At one point a farmer’s turkey hears my gurgling, and hollers back half-heartedly.  We made small talk for nearly an hour, him gobbling a response to every flaccid rattle I produce.  I assume now that he knew the deal, in which I was trying real hard and he just chose to play along for my confidence’s sake.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have him quite so well ID’d: I grew increasingly excited and impressed with myself, waiting for him to stampede my location, until I realized that he wasn’t the turkey I was looking for.  (I later learned that the little jerk was trained to poop in a litter box.  Clever girl…)

The hours crawl by the days when you’re out in the woods, and I soon realized that I had only one day left.  Some friends on motorcycles had come by and ruined an entire day of hunting, and proceeded to make up for it with some poker and good whiskey.  Before long, I realized that I had one of two options: wake up in two hours, or make my way out to the blind now and pass the night there. It was raining, and I knew that any birds still in the woods would be interested in digging up some worms in the morning, so I hiked out around 2:30 a.m., en route to a turkey blind I would never find.

Andy’s property has been in his family since his grandfather, a Kentucky coal miner, picked it up in the early seventies, as the lay of the land reminded him of the central Kentucky steep hills and long wooded hollers of his youth.  Around 80 acres of land, most of it is either up or down hill.  I headed towards the very back of the farm where I knew the blind to be, wearing only a light jacket and Filson packer hat, as I had left my sleeping bag in the blind.  It was cool, especially with the pouring rain, but I knew I would soon be snug and the possibility of waking up to a randy gobbler was very real; the pines had shown the most promising sign, scratches everywhere and the telltale parallel lines on the dirt trail, the wingtip drags that tell you a dominant tom has been strutting.

My anticipation for the morning’s evaporated in an instant as the battery in the flashlight died and I was thrown into overcast darkness.

I had already been hiking for an hour, and with the clouds over head, there was absolutely no light available.  I stumbled off the trail, and while I could normally have oriented myself somewhat by the sound of the nearby creek rushing with water, the rain cascading down every hill was far too loud for that.  I knew I was in the area…but where was the blind? Frustrated, I finally found a tree to climb, and made my way into the crook of two branches coming out of the main trunk.  My muscles were screaming from three days of hiking, and — apart from my head which Filson’s shelter cloth had kept entirely dry — I was soaking wet.  But, at least I would be near the pines in the morning.  At least I’ll get in a good early hunt was my final thought before I succumbed to whiskey and exhaustion, and amazingly fell sound asleep as the rain fell heavily through the young leaves.

Also amazingly, I woke well after the sun was up; in fact, my jacket had mostly dried off.  Not as amazingly: I was nowhere near the pines I thought I had been hiking through.  I was nowhere near the blind.  And I was nowhere near any damn turkeys.

At least my head was dry.  One more weekend, turkey devils.  I’ve still got one more weekend.

The Switzer Ranch is a ranching operation in Northern Nebraska that has been family-owned for 105 years. Here, a true love of the land and the wildlife it supports has been passed down throughout the family.  Sarah and her brother Adam are part of the four generations currently living and working on the ranch.  Follow as Calamus Outfitters, which provides guiding and outdoor recreation at the ranch, prepares for the start of Turkey Season.

As Adam Switzer makes ready for the year’s first spring turkey hunt in the Sandhills of Nebraska three things are at the top of his list for a successful outing; his calls, his dog, and his gear.  As the owner/operator of a professional outfitting business that draws turkey hunters from across the nation, Adam takes his preparation seriously.  In fact, he never stops preparing.  Throughout the year he constantly practices his various calls, works his dogs and keeps a mental inventory of the daily habits of many wildlife species on the Switzer Ranch, the home base of Calamus Outfitters.

I accompanied Adam to set up a blind to be used the following morning by hunters from Texas.  The past week had covered the plains with snow and ice making spring calving on the ranch a bit more complicated but no one here is complaining.  The past year’s severe drought has affected every living thing, testing the resiliency of the prairie and the animals and people that call it home.  It is still hard to tell the full effect the hot dry year had on the turkey hatch, but a strong existing population will undoubtedly weather the dynamic conditions that define the Great Plains.

As we travel through the ranch on our way to Adam’s destination, he intermittently makes clucking noises with the call hidden in his mouth.  I see various calls strewn about the back seat of his hunting suburban as well.  A couple box calls, a worn slate call, and a wing bone call are at the ready.  I ask what his favorite call is.  “Depends on the birds,” he states, in a matter of fact tone.  “Whatever their favorite is, is my favorite.  And that seems to change every year.”

As we pull up to a stand of ancient cottonwood trees poking into the sky above mature cedars, Adam stops the suburban and slides out.  Grabbing his pop up blind, he strides to his selected spot.  Blind placement is key for the morning hunt.  Because Adam has studied the birds throughout the year he has learned the daily habits and travel zones.  He places the blind close to the cottonwood roosting area, angling the main opening towards the faint path nearby.

I ask about his plan for the morning hunt.  He explains that the turkeys will make the first move.  After listening to the birds, he’ll call softly as they become more active.  The objective is to draw the big gobblers in to the decoy for the prime kill zone shot.

As I picture a large tom carefully approaching the decoy my thoughts are interrupted by the excited whines of Adam’s main hunting dog, Number 2.  Contained in the back of the suburban, No. 2 pleads to investigate the area but Adam gently puts him off.  Although dogs aren’t usually associated with turkey hunting like upland game or waterfowl excursions, No. 2 is never left behind.  Not only does he find birds in areas that are hard for man to access, he is on call to quickly retrieve any wounded birds.  Although that scenario is rare, as a guide Adam must be ready to deal with a variety of situations and it seems No. 2 is the main tool for most solutions during hunting season.

As we jump back into the suburban, now on our way to a patch of pasture that No. 2 will be able to stretch his legs in, Adam comments on the predicted weather.  The early morning will be cold, but temperatures will rise somewhat quickly after the sun pops over the hill.  He mentions that his hunters will need to be ready when they enter the blind.  They need to be quiet and stay warm so their faculties will work when the time is right.  Since the blind hunt can last from 5 minutes to 3 or 4 hours he advises his hunters to wear quality gear allowing multiple layers that can be quietly manipulated.  One of his pet peeves is bulky outdoor clothing that makes loud swishing noises every time the body moves.  “It’s hard to be stealthy when the birds can hear your coat from a ¼ mile away.”

We stop to let No. 2 have a romp before we return to ranch headquarters.  As I watch him bound effortlessly through the bunchgrass, I survey the open hills.  Waiting for spring to fully arrive, the sand drinks in every drop of moisture.  I can smell the dampness play with the crisp air.  A sharp-tailed grouse, and then another, is flushed by No. 2.  Adam chuckles and calls him back to the suburban.  Turkey season at Calamus Outfitters starts tomorrow.

Brian Koch started Ultimate Upland in 2010 to be the most comprehensive resource for upland hunting enthusiasts. Since then it has grown into a community where bird hunters congregate and share their love for the sport. Koch strives to be the hardest working bird hunter in the country and aims to reach hunters and fans with detailed accounts of Ultimate Upland adventures.

I think the level of exertion at sporting clays courses should extend beyond the trigger finger. The name “sporting clays” implies a certain level of physical activity. But, a number of courses have paths for vehicles and even golf carts for transporting shooters and their gear from one station to the next. Distances between each shooting location are generally 40 yards and up. For us, upland hunting is an active sport that involves a fair share of hiking. So when we shoot sporting clays to practice bird gunning, we prefer not to drive a vehicle from station to station. We walk. And we don’t push a glorified stroller with a gun rack that some courses provide, either. We lug the gear and guns between volleys, just like we would in the field. This also allows for a healthy dose of banter, and time to keep a close eye on the score.

There’s no monetary wager between my nephew Zach and I when we shoot clays. The stakes are simple and immediate: lose the station and you lug the shooting bag to the next.

Big whoop, right? Well, Filson’s Sportsman Bag can make that lugging a bigger deal than you might think. In the main compartment Zach and I stash 300 rounds of 20-gauge shells, because even if the course is only 100 clays you still can never have enough ammo. It looks as though we’d easily be able to stow 16 boxes of 20-gauge and still have room for our two cameras, mini-tripod and various POV video accessories that we pack to chronicle the round.

In the rear outside pocket we put all our gun cleaning gear: rags, oil, cleaning rod, grease and barrel snake. And during the round we stash our shotgun socks in this compartment for safe keeping too.

In the front zippered pocket goes hearing protection, shooting gloves, eye protection, choke tubes and wrenches and cell phones for two shooters. In the pockets on either end we place keys, drinks and the scoring clipboard. I’m pretty certain we’ve intentionally made this bag as heavy as possible to inflict the worst punishment for poor shooting.

With the hefty bridle leather strap, thick canvas and beefy zippers you just know this Filson bag is built to take a beating. I’m not real certain what it weighs when fully stocked, I just know the added heft never stings quite as much as the reason you’re carrying it in the first place. So the best course of action is to get a Filson Sportsman’s Bag and make sure your shooting buddy carries it the entire time.

When the round is complete we remove the cameras, restock the shells and there’s room to stow two Filson shooting vests for the next outing. I suppose one could use this Sportsman’s Bag for any sort of travel or adventure, but why would you want to when it’s perfect for shotgunning?

Brian Koch started Ultimate Upland in 2010 to be the most comprehensive resource for upland hunting enthusiasts. Since then it has grown into a community where bird hunters congregate and share their love for the sport. Koch strives to be the hardest working bird hunter in the country and aims to reach hunters and fans with detailed accounts of Ultimate Upland adventures.

When wild bird hunting seasons end it leaves a pretty large void in our schedule. Both the dogs and I must cope with the withdrawals from time afield and adjust to the looming summer doldrums. Seven months is just too long to rest on laurels. I always dread that final day of hunting, but this year I started planning well in advance to help fill the vacuum.

Over the winter my nephew Zach researched and reported on medieval weaponry for his sophomore high school English course. Given the current climate for anything weapon related in schools I was actually somewhat amazed the report didn’t land him a suspension or on the terrorist watch list.

I’m blessed with an abundance of nieces and nephews. When one expresses an interest even remotely related to my passion I run with it. In my mind catapults and claymores are precursors to the modern tools of the trade which I use all hunting season. You have an interest in swords; let me tell you how that relates to upland hunting. I’m fairly certain there are few topics safe from my associating to pursuit of birds. I suppose the ease of which I make creative connections is likely just a result of recent reflections of my bird hunting legacy.

Blade design is an art that has been around for millennium. Because the basic functions and requirements of the knife haven’t changed since first wielded, it’s a great case study of what people have done to improve it. When I informed our friends at Benchmade about my saber smitten nephew they were quick to invite us on a VIP tour. Benchmade is a leader in modern blade development and they help nurture new concepts by inviting interns to participate in their design process. It is a testament that good ideas can come from anywhere. I find it important to show Zach that besides knives just being cool, there are reasons for form and function. And there are people bringing these concepts to fruition. The power of an idea is a lesson I wish I would have learned earlier in life, but now I get a redo with my nephew. We just have to get from rural Ohio to the Benchmade headquarters in Oregon.

Luckily the end of bird hunting season times up really well with Spring Break. So I’ve wrangled Zach into a cross-country road trip which will cover over 5,000 miles in just 10 days. Along the way we’ll shoot, hike, camp and explore our place in the great outdoors. Wyatt our black lab will join us for some training, entertainment and to keep the varmints from camp at night.  Zach seems excited for the adventure but is likely oblivious to the amount of tutoring I have planned or the posterior pain that comes with infinite days behind the wheel.

It’s early spring so we’re preparing for a mixed bag of elements along much of the route. Luckily Filson recognized the merits of this odyssey and agreed to outfit us for any conditions which we might encounter. From the rugged Rockies to spring torrents of the Pacific Northwest we’ll be putting our new Filson gear to the test as other explorers have for over a century.

There are common threads to most of the great memories from my youth; exertion and accomplishment. Turns out that things that come easy are easily forgotten. The current trend toward sedentary existence puts a generation at risk of having no formative tales. My hope for this Off-Season Odyssey is that my nephew learns observing life will never be as satisfying as seizing opportunity.

It’s the eve of our departure and the gear is loaded. At the crack of dawn we’ll pour into the truck to start our first 16-hour day of driving. Somewhere in Illinois we’ll stop for a round of sporting clays to stretch the legs. And here Zach will learn another lesson: even with the faster reflexes and better vision that accompany youth, you can’t outshoot your uncle.

For over two decades, George Hickox has shown all levels of owners how to train great bird dogs.  More often than not, the secret to a successful day in the field starts with a solid upbringing.  Learn what small steps to take early on in your dog’s development to ensure many happy memories are made on the hunt.

The first twenty-week period of the dog’s exposure to life is referred to as the imprinting stage.  During this psychological developmental stage the canine youngster can develop good habits through proper training and environmental control.  Puppies are monumentally impressionable during this critical period of the imprinting stage.  It may only take one repetition of a negative association to forever scar Pupster.

During the imprinting stage, there are a number of well-documented critical periods.  The ability of a canine to learn to live with people and other dogs is substantially diminished after twelve weeks of age.  The most critical period for the youngster to develop a positive association with humans is from six to eight weeks.  A dog denied positive human contact until the post twelve-week periods will very likely make a not as good a companion.  Studies have shown that human contact for only twenty minutes at a time for only a couple of times a week is adequate to create normal development.

Owners should implement a program designed to maximize the dog’s ability to learn.  Stages are not finite in each dog.  It is important to recognize that each pup has unique prenatal and neonatal stimuli and is influenced by his own genes as well as his mother’s hormones.  However, the concept of critical periods and the sub stages can serve as an excellent guideline.

The prenatal period is the time the fetus spends in Mom’s womb.  There are indications that mothers that experience high levels of stress during pregnancy produce pups with a decreased ability to learn and demonstrate behavioral extremes.  A healthy mother, properly fed, exercised, and housed in a proper environment is important.  The neonatal period occurs from birth to two weeks of age.  At whelping the pup’s brain is not fully developed. During this period the sensory abilities of scenting, hearing, seeing, and touch are poorly developed.  The way mom treats her pups during the neonatal stage will affect the pups in later life.  These early experiences have a tremendous effect on the dog’s mind.

The transitional period is the time the sensory abilities turn on and the pup’s awareness of the world around him begins.  The pup receives stimuli from his environment, which can affect him the rest of his life.  During the neonatal and transitional periods, people play an important role in developing the puppies’ bodies and minds.  By the transitional period puppies should be regularly handled and picked up.

The U.S. Military’s “Super Dog” program demonstrated that neurological stimulation occurring from three to sixteen days following whelping have a profound effect forever.  Recommended stimulation involves tickling between the dog’s toes, holding the pup in both a vertical position, perpendicular to the ground, with the head up and the head down.  Further exercises should include holding the pup in the palm of the hands with the nose pointing to the sky.  Puppies exposed to stress during this period are more adept in handling stress when exposed to new situations, training, or corrections down the road.  Not only does the breeder determine the pedigree, the breeder should prepare the pup from birth until the buyer takes possession of the hopeful.

The socialization period occurs from four to twelve weeks of the pup’s development.  Weaning from mom’s milk, exposures to outside influences, or lack of exposures, are critical to sculpturing the pups’ personalities.  If a pup from four to six weeks of age misses socialization with other dogs, the pup is more likely to be fearful of dogs.  Correspondingly, if the youngsters are denied people contact from six to twelve weeks, the dogs will lack proper social skills with humans.  The greater the exposures the pup encounters during this critical period, the more likely the pup will demonstrate improved social skills, emotional soundness, and an open mind towards new learning.

During the socialization time frame a fear period occurs normally around eight to ten weeks. During this fear factor stage, the pup is much more inclined to permanently associate fears. The pup that is frightened during the fear factor stage may take a long period of time to return to normal, if ever. If the pup has not been properly developed prior to the onset of the fear stage anything that the pup associates with the fear with may always be a fear stimulus throughout the dog’s life.

After sixteen weeks, the pup becomes less susceptible of the paired association.  After twenty weeks, the imprinting stage is really on the down side.  A dog’s personality is pretty much made by five months of age, the rest is teaching.  After twelve weeks of age, the pup should explore independence.  The pup that bonded with you and stuck with you like glue would rather run through the fields with no never mind to what you want.  If the pup has been properly developed in the neonatal, transitional and socialization periods, now is the time to lay the groundwork for more advanced training that lays down the road.  Basic obedience, and creating good habits and behavior are all taught to the dog in the twelve to twenty week period.  A dog that has heard “Here,” “Here,” “Here,” and did not respond and got away with non-compliance is a big deal.  It will require more pressure later on to enforce compliance.  And no dog exhibits more style and more confidence with more pressure.  By introducing good habits, enforcing an effort to respond in a timely fashion to a known command and rewarding success we can mold the dog into the partner we are seeking. Don’t baby the dog, spoil the dog, and let the dog blow you off.  Short repetitive sessions of yard work will pay huge dividends down the road.  If the dog does not learn to learn, take mild pressure, handle stress, and look to the owner for direction at this time, a window is forever lost.  By implementing yard work at this age, you will train with less pressure.  And less pressure is better.

‘In Your Words’ explores the incredible stories we’ve received from Filson fans across the globe.  Send us your own experiences with our clothing or product here for a chance to be featured on the Filson Life blog.  Thanks to Sonny from Erie, Colorado for his story and support, here’s to many more years in the field.

I have spent the past 24 years serving as a law enforcement officer. When I do get a chance to take some time off, I find my most memorable experiences are times afield or fly fishing; away from traffic, phones and deadlines. My year is spent upland bird hunting in the Fall and Winter with a springer spaniel and casting a fly in the Spring and Summer, and the Fall if it doesn’t interfere with upland bird hunting. I enjoy seeing new land and water and have come to rely on quality gear. These Filson chaps are my second pair over many years of upland bird hunting in South Dakota, Kansas, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania. They are great at keeping me dry and warm and get butter soft over time. I highly recommend these. You won’t be disappointed. Each sportsman has only so many opening days and days when the “hatch is on.”  Enjoy every second of it with family and close friends. The time to live is now.

Every hunter needs to have the best of the best to comfortably return from the field. We’ve compiled our personal selections for the holidays. No matter the caliber they tote, the field conditions in which they trot, or the game they chase – we have your gifting options covered. From tin cloth pistol or rifle cases to the reliability and weather resistance of the legendary Field Coat, check our recommendations for this holiday season.

1. Tin Cloth Grip Case – Long used for safe, handsome, and rugged transport of a treasured pistol. Now lined in green/black plaid with an interior pocket. The perfect gift.
2. Tin Cloth Field Coat – This classic is renowned worldwide for its versatility and features. Featuring side and front loading game bags, pleated action back for freedom of movement and pockets for all necessities in the field. The wool lined collar and dry finish shelter cloth add comfort and protection.
3. Filson Shooting Shirt – Abrasion resistant, double-layer protection, blaze orange, Made in the USA. The comfort and design will support proficient shooting skills while maintaining warmth. Our shooting shirt can’t be beat.
4. Double Hunting Pants – Carefully crafted from shelter cloth with an extra layer of durable tin cloth in high-wear areas guarantees these heavy-duty pants exceed all expectations. Opt for the leather bindings at checkout – they won’t disappoint.
5. Filson Carrier with Vacuum Bottle – Stay hydrated, stay caffeinated, and stay warm. Stanley teams up with Filson for this on-the-go item. 15 hours of warmth are now at your finger tips, whether coffee or soup. A requirement of cold-weather hunting.
6. Uplander Insulated Boots – An insulated, light-weight, fast drying boot is necessary. Our cork soles will keep feet comforted and dry on approach to hunting country. The leather wears well with age and always reveals true character.

Filson’s own, Jack Duggan, gives a first-hand account of the 2012 Duck Season Opener.

Every year around spring time I get the itch, the excitement of knowing that Duck Season is getting closer and closer.  Throughout the summer and fall anticipation of the upcoming season begins to consume my thoughts; day dreaming of the 4 am wake-up, layering up in my gear, and setting out for the breezy wetlands of the Pacific Northwest. I go through the mental checklist of what gear I have, what gear I need, what spots we will hunt, and I meticulously study the latest copies of Ducks Unlimited. All of this preparation leads up to opening weekend, and the day which so many people like myself long for.

I have vivid memories of being a young boy, sitting with my dad in the cattails of the Columbia Basin, watching our chocolate lab retrieve Mallards in the frigid waters of Eastern Washington. Like many future duck hunters my dad bought me a Red Rider BB Gun to carry with me to the blind. I remember sitting in the blind next to my dad, holding my BB Gun, while he held his Ithaca and reached for his duck call’s that are strung with silver bands. The experience was wonderful and I recall the desire and excitement to one day sit side by side with my dad hunting as an equal.

The 2012 Duck Season opener was October 13^th, and, once again I am happy to say that I hunted with my dad, along with my best buddy and our Chocolate Lab Annie. This year we set up on a plot of private land located on the Columbia River. The weather called for blue sunny skies, 15 mph wind gusts and 65 degrees. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Although I was hopeful, I didn’t want to make any predictions.  After arriving at the blind, my buddy and I waded out into the crystal clear water and began to set our decoys, the jerk line, and spinners.  My dad positioned the boat around the corner, set up our stools and hunkered down with Annie. With 40 deeks set and the jerk line rigged-up we waited for the birds to start bombing in on us, or so we hoped.

Within 15 minutes we had all taken multiple pass shots which shook the cobwebs off and helped us get back into the swing of things. By 10 am we had multiple groups of Mallards, Pintails and Redheads committed and dropping into our spread. Annie made many impressive retrieves and she refused to take her big brown eyes off of the sky.  Opening morning turned out to be a great success resulting in my leather strap to be strung full of birds.

The next morning my buddy and I set out for a new spot to hunt along a smaller river. We arrived late, around 9 am, due to a disappointing attempt at the Steelhead opener. Shaking off the funk of coming up dry for Steelhead, we set our deeks and huddled into the cat tails without stools or a dog. It was much warmer than it had been the day before so we decided to lose some of our outer layers; we made sure to wear our face masks to block the shining sun.  Almost immediately the birds started pouring in. From left, right, up high, fast and low the ducks were everywhere. With cupped wings soaring in, mallards made passes around our back sides and long lean pintails screamed by directly in front of us. Geese honked their way in from miles out and landed right in our spread.  Before we knew it, we had our limits.

The opening weekend of the 2012-2013 Duck Season was a great one. By far, the highlight of my opening weekend was a triple that I bagged on that second morning – three ducks with three shots in succession. I waded out deep into the water to retrieve the birds. I picked up one, a Pintail, and then the second, a Drake Mallard. But the best part of this year’s opening hunt came when I had finally trudged out to the last bird, a big Pintail, and pulled it from the water. I held the bird up and saw that it was a banded duck, a perfect ending to my 2012 Duck opener.

Scott Linden of Wingshooting USA is a dear friend of Filson who has taught us many shooting tips and lessons in the field over the years. Scott helps us find more birds by scoping out their water sources in today’s lesson.

Bird hunting is tough. Tougher without a dog. If you’re between dogs – or for some unfathomable reason choose not to own one, you’ll find more birds by thinking like a fisherman and trolling for them.

Game birds would often rather sit tight than fly if they think you’ll pass by. Given the choices (run, fly, or freeze), holding still is a pretty good option. No avian predators, no teeth, fangs or claws can wreak their havoc when you’re hunkered under a buffalo berry bush.

So move slowly just like you’re in your boat, and stop every few yards. Birds may think you’ve found them and panic into flight. Trollers vary their speed with direction changes. Make your bird-hunting route a zigzag, too. If you’re stealthy, all the better. A bird that can’t quite figure out exactly where you are because you’re quiet is a bird ready to panic – into the air.

On the surface these unorthodox tactics may make more sense for fishermen, but you’ll get over it when you put more birds in the bag.

Ben Smith of Arizona Wanderings is gearing up for the opening of Arizona Turkey season on April 27th. It’s much more than packing up the truck and the buddies and heading out on the hunt. Ben helps us all prepare for the season with these expert packing tips so we can take home the prize winner.

With turkey season right around the corner here in Arizona, I’ve begun the process of pouring over maps, doing a bit of scouting, and organizing gear for opening weekend. As I started to gather some essentials, here are five key pieces of gear that are critical for success during turkey season.

A well-patterned shotgun:
Arguably the most important piece of equipment is your shotgun. Knowing where your gun shoots and its range can be the difference between success and failure in the field. Many turkey hunters make the mistake of heading into the field without patterning their shotgun.  Taking a Saturday morning at the gun range to pattern your gun is the first step in being a successful turkey hunter.

A turkey vest:
One of the best purchases I ever made was a designated turkey vest with a drop down seat and plenty of pockets. When running and gunning in the ponderosa pines of Arizona, it is important to be able to set up quickly, quietly, and comfortably. Having all your different calls organized so that you can easily switch styles of calls is very important when trying to fool a tough tom.

Locator Calls:
Finding turkeys can be a real trick sometimes. In order to locate birds, it is common to use a locator call, either a crow call or an owl call. The loud call, echoing through the woods can sometimes illicit a turkey to gobble and give away his position. This gives the hunter a chance to set up and try to call the turkey to him.

Turkey Calls:
One of the great things about hunting spring gobblers is that the hunt is auditory. Calling to a turkey and having him react to your clucks and purrs can be one of the most exhilarating and addicting experiences. Typically, when organizing my vest, I like to take at least one box call, two or three slate calls, and several more mouth calls. Overkill? Maybe. Truthfully, it may only take one call to make that gobbler come to you, or you may call through your whole arsenal before he’s willing to wander over for a look.

Orange:
Safety is extremely important and with more hunters in the field, you can never be too careful. I always like to tuck a blaze orange hat or beanie in my game pouch for after the hunt. If I get lucky and am able to tag out, I want to be walking through the woods with a turkey over my shoulder wearing plenty of orange