Turkey Tech

Turkey hunting has undergone a dramatic transformation thanks to technological advancements. Hunters now have an array of tools to enhance their experience and success — while giving you, the dealer, ample opportunity to procure additional sales to complement a turkey gun purchase.

These innovations, from electronic game calls to GPS mapping apps, have made scouting, calling and strategizing more effective. They have also made Tom Kelly’s 1973-era turkey textbook, Tenth Legion, more relevant than ever.

Technology is far more pervasive than we might think in the turkey-hunting community. After pondering what it has done and how it has made a difference, I’ve broken it down into 10 areas and provided examples of related products designed to support turkey hunters. Let’s look:

1. Advanced Game Calls

Electronic turkey calls (where legal) now mimic a wide range of turkey vocalizations with precise accuracy. Some models come with preloaded sounds or Bluetooth connectivity, allowing hunters to use their smartphones to remotely control the calls. This helps draw turkeys in closer and adapt to different scenarios.

The Primos Hook Up Magnetic Turkey Call features a unique magnetic hinge design for realistic, easy-to-use turkey sounds.

2. High-Tech Decoys

Modern decoys are designed with realistic movement and lifelike details. Motorized decoys simulate turkey behavior, such as strutting or feeding, making them highly effective at fooling even wary birds.

The Avian-X LCD Strutter Decoy mimics a strutting tom with lifelike detail and realistic posture. For movement, the Mojo Scoot-N-Shoot MAX Decoy adds subtle tail-fan motion to attract dominant gobblers.

3. GPS & Mapping Apps

Mapping apps like OnX Hunt or HuntStand provide detailed topographical maps, property boundaries and waypoints. These tools help hunters scout locations, mark roosting or feeding areas and easily navigate the terrain. GPS functionality ensures hunters know where they are, even in remote areas.

The OnX Hunt app provides property boundaries, public land access, topographical maps and waypoints for marking turkey roosts. HuntStand allows hunters to plan routes and share location data with hunting partners.

4. Trail Cameras

Cellular trail cameras allow hunters to monitor turkey activity in real time by sending photos and videos directly to their phones. This technology helps identify patterns in turkey movement, roosting spots and feeding times, enabling more strategic hunting.

The Tactacam REVEAL X-Pro cellular trail camera captures high-resolution images and sends them directly to a phone. It also has night vision and customizable detection zones for monitoring turkey activity around the clock.

5. Shotgun Innovations

Modern shotguns and ammunition, such as tungsten super shot (TSS), deliver tighter patterns, increased range and improved lethality. Adjustable turkey chokes enhance accuracy and enable hunters to adapt their firearms to various hunting conditions.

The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 (SBE3) in 28 gauge is significantly lighter than its 12-gauge counterpart, making it easier to carry during long hunts or in rugged terrain. This is particularly advantageous for hunters who prioritize mobility or hunt in areas requiring lots of walking or climbing. The smaller gauge produces less recoil, making it more comfortable for extended shooting sessions and allowing hunters to stay on target for follow-up shots, if necessary. This is ideal for youth or hunters sensitive to heavy recoil. The SBE3’s inertia-driven system ensures reliable cycling even in tough field conditions.

Look for commercially available TSS loads specifically designed for 28-gauge turkey hunting:

• Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS (28-gauge, #9)

• Apex Ammunition Small Town Blend (28-gauge, #9 or #9.5)

• Browning TSS Tungsten Turkey (28-gauge, #9)

6. Camouflage & Concealment Gear

Advances in camouflage technology, such as 3D leafy suits and breathable fabrics, help hunters blend seamlessly into their surroundings while staying comfortable during long waits.

The SITKA Gear Equinox Turkey Vest integrates cutting-edge camouflage with practical features like storage for calls and decoys. The ASAT Vanish Pro Leafy Suit provides unmatched concealment for blending into natural surroundings.

7. Hearing Enhancement & Protection Devices

Hearing aids and electronic earmuffs amplify subtle turkey calls while protecting hunters’ ears from the sound of a shotgun blast. This is particularly helpful for locating distant birds.

Walker’s Razor XV 3.0 Headset amplifies subtle turkey calls while protecting hearing from loud shotgun blasts. Another option is the AXIL GS Extreme earbuds, which combine hearing enhancement and noise protection.

8. Drones (Where Legal)

Drones equipped with cameras can scout large areas to locate turkeys. However, their use in hunting is regulated in many areas, so hunters should always check local laws.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro drone is compact and has a high-quality camera for scouting terrain. In states where drones are permitted for scouting, they help hunters locate potential turkey activity in hard-to-reach areas.

9. Weather & Activity Apps

Apps that track weather patterns, barometric pressure and moon phases can help predict turkey activity. Many hunters use these tools to plan hunts during peak activity times.

The HuntWise app provides detailed weather forecasts, barometric pressure changes, and optimal turkey activity times predictions. The ScoutLook Hunting app offers wind direction and solunar calendars to plan hunts effectively.

10. Portable Blinds

Lightweight, pop-up blinds with advanced materials provide superior concealment while being easy to carry and set up. These blinds allow for more flexibility when setting up in prime locations.

The Rhino 180 See-Through Hunting Blind uses see-through fabric to provide excellent visibility while keeping hunters concealed. The Primos Double Bull SurroundView Blind offers 360-degree visibility for an immersive hunting experience.

The Dark Side Of Technology

Technology can sometimes work against turkey hunters as well. How? Here are 10 considerations.

1. Over-Reliance On Technology

Hunters who lean too heavily on GPS apps or electronic calls might neglect the skills to read the terrain, interpret turkey behavior or produce natural-sounding calls.

2. Disturbing Natural Behavior

Overusing drones or electronic calls can disrupt turkey populations by causing unnatural pressure or habituating turkeys to these technologies, making them more wary and more challenging to hunt.

3. Ethical And Legal Concerns

Some states restrict electronic calls or drones for scouting. Hunters unfamiliar with these regulations may inadvertently violate these laws, leading to fines or license revocation. Some hunters may also simply cheat, but that’s not new to hunting with or without technological advantages.

4. Decreased Hunting Skills

Trail cameras and decoys with lifelike movement may reduce hunters’ need to rely on woodsmanship (e.g., tracking or stealthy calling).

5. Cost Barrier

Advanced technologies like GPS mapping apps, premium decoys and cellular trail cameras are expensive. New hunters or those on tight budgets may feel excluded or disadvantaged. (Speaking of expensive, TSS shotgun ammo often comes with interest-free financing.)

6. Reduced Engagement

With Nature

Constant reliance on gadgets like weather apps or hearing enhancement devices may distract hunters from the natural rhythms of the woods, taking away the immersive experience of being outdoors.

7. Risk Of Malfunction

Batteries running out on electronic calls or trail cameras malfunctioning can leave hunters unprepared. Relying on faulty equipment might compromise the hunt.

8. Increasing Pressure On Public Lands

Easy-to-use GPS apps and mapping tools have made public hunting lands more accessible, increasing hunter density. This can lead to overhunting and more competition for resources.

9. Ethical Perception By Non-Hunters

Non-hunters may view certain technologies, like drones or electronic calls, as “unfair advantages” — potentially harming the public image of hunters and hunting as a fair chase sport. Other hunters have their opinions as well, and chances are they’ll voice them far more loudly than non-hunters, especially in the troll-safe haven of today’s social media communities.

10. Technology Addiction

Checking apps or cameras frequently might detract from the meditative and patient aspects of turkey hunting, turning a peaceful outdoor experience into a tech-driven exercise. Then there’s smartphone addiction, which may have single-handedly saved more animals than PETA ever could.

Finding the Balance

Technology has undeniably enhanced turkey hunting, making it more efficient and enjoyable for hunters, and created more opportunities for you to sell to them. However, hunters must strike a balance by maintaining traditional skills, respecting wildlife and adhering to ethical and legal standards.

By combining modern tools with age-old woodsmanship, turkey hunters can preserve the essence of the sport while reaping the benefits of innovation.

Ironically, even the best technology today still pales in comparison to the exceptionally brilliant and often frustrating wild turkey. It continues to outsmart even the most experienced and best-equipped hunters today with the same bird brain it has had since God issued it thousands of years ago. 

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