Turkey

If you're looking for the best caliber for turkey hunting, consider a 12-gauge shotgun. With its power and pattern density, it's the most popular and versatile choice among hunters. Smaller shotguns, such as the 20-gauge or .410 bore, can also be effective, and so can certain rifle calibers (though be sure to check your state's rifle laws before heading out).

The best turkey hunting tools help hunters scout smarter, find land, mark sign, track wind direction, and adjust to changing weather conditions. HuntWise combines mapping layers, land ownership data, markers, offline maps, topographic tools, and HuntCast weather features to help turkey hunters plan setups, locate birds, and hunt more effectively.

The 12-gauge is a go-to turkey-hunting shotgun, but with modern ammunition such as Tungsten Super Shot (TSS), the 20-gauge is fast becoming an option for hunting birds at greater distances.

Hunting turkey on public land requires scouting, early access, and adapting to hunting pressure. Success comes from locating less pressured areas, arriving early, and using subtle calling techniques to avoid competition from other hunters.

The best turkey calls for beginners include the box call, mouth calls, and the push-pin call.

North Carolina's 2026 spring turkey season opens in early to mid-April with a season bag limit published by the North Carolina Wildlife Agency. Fall turkey runs in October-November where offered.

Decoys play a pivotal role in turkey hunting. The key to their effective use lies in realism, strategic placement, and using the right amount. Various factors, including the season and flock sizes, can influence their success. 

As the landscape changes in color and the days get slightly warmer, hunters across North America prepare for exciting hunts. If you haven't already been out for a turkey hunt or chased down a coyote or wild hog, you may be wondering what to hunt before deer season rolls around again.

Have you ever been out in the field and wished the animal you were hunting would come closer? Using a decoy might be the answer you are looking for.

Even if you're still in deer-hunting mode, Thanksgiving is upon us. In just a couple of weeks, hunters, friends, and family will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving day while enjoying a tasty bird.

You've got a hunting area mapped out in your hunting app. How do you share it with your hunting buddies?

We recently talked with John Dudley about turkey hunting with a bow. While he emphasized that he’s not a turkey expert and bowhunting turkey is a different type of challenge than hunting deer with a bow, he shared some unconventional approaches to bringing home a tom each season.