Stupid-Smart Turkey Gear

by
posted on April 1, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
stupid_smart_turkey_gear_f.jpg

Editor's Note: Frank Miniter has put each of the products listed below to use, and discusses a few of them in his feature story "10 Stupid-Smart Turkey Tactics." You can read that here.

Crazy Big Box Call
You’ll almost never use these huge boat-paddle calls, but now and then they can make a bird shock-gobble. Frank Recommends: MAD Bang Box.

GPS
Mark roost sites, where and when you heard gobbling, and so on. It might feel stupid to pattern a gobbler, as what you really want to do is call him to you, but figuring out where he goes and where he’s comfortable is smart. Frank Recommends: Garmin Oregon 700.

Gimmicky New Call
Every now and then a company comes out with a turkey call that is downright silly. A box call with slate glued to it, a pump with a diaphragm on one end that makes a sound like someone is sitting on a chicken. The thing is these calls do sound different, and making a different sound than everyone else can bring in a gobbler. Frank Recommends: Primos Bombshell.

Kayak
It can pay to find birds that haven’t been pressured. Sometimes a stream or swamp can make certain places not worth the trouble to those who don’t pack a boat. Frank Recommends: Ascend FS10.

Latest

Savage Arms Donates
Savage Arms Donates

Savage Arms Donates Five 250th Anniversary Rifles to IHEA-USA

Savage Arms has donated five Axis 2 Pro 250th Edition rifles to the International Hunter Education Association–USA (IHEA-USA) in recognition of the 250th anniversary of American independence. Only 60 of the rifles were produced.

5 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before My First Elk Hunt

I grew up hunting whitetails in the Midwest, and while I thought I was in “elk shape” on my first western hunt, I quickly learned that chasing elk at high elevation requires an entirely different level of fitness. You’ll likely hike for hours, oftentimes at high elevation, and many of trails you’ll follow are filled with deadfall and uneven rocks. If you’re fortunate enough to fill your tag, the real work starts. 

Ruger Halts Production of Several Models

On Oct. 13 Ruger issued a memo to distributors informing them that after an exhaustive internal review of its product portfolio—that weighed demand, manufacturing expense and complexity—production of four revolvers has been halted. Pending orders were cancelled. 

Head to Head: The 6.5 PRC vs. the 7mm PRC

Hornady's Precision Rifle Cartridge series has been a hit among hunters and target shooters alike, and within the lineup, the 6.5 PRC and the 7mm PRC have proven to be extremely popular. Let’s take a closer look into what makes this pair tick, and which might make the best choice for you.

Arizona Asks Public to Look Out for New World Screwworm

On Sept. 17 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)—working with the New Mexico Livestock Board and New Mexico Department of Agriculture—announced that a horse was identified with a New World screwworm (NWS) infested wound in Grant County, N.M, which borders southern Arizona.

Smart Optics 101

Smart optics are changing the way hunters and shooters approach distance, accuracy and confidence in the field. Rangefinding riflescopes, dial-up turrets and integrated ballistic systems are no longer gimmicks. They work, but only if you take the time to understand them and use them to their full potential.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.