BOWTREADER WEEKLY: Top Gear for Turkey Season

Guess what? 

Turkey season is here in less than a month. 

Our 3D tour starts in exactly a week. 

The next 3D location will be announced soon. 

And as for right now? 

SITKA JUST RELEASED A NEW COLLECTION OF TURKEY HUNTING GEAR! 

New items were released this Monday in our store, just in time for people coming in to get tuned for the season! 

We love turkey hunting, but no one can deny that it can take a serious strategy not to be seen by them. People say they aren’t the smartest and that's probably true, but if you’ve ever hunted them, you know they can spot a patch of bare skin from 50 yards away and see movement even better.

So, we all knew it was only a matter of time before digital camo was tested in turkey hunting!

If you’ve read our blog about digital camo, you should begin to understand just how important it is to choose your pattern wisely, and why digital camo is ultimately the best choice. The patterns that have been created can be hard to detect for humans which means they leave most animals utterly oblivious.

Has it ever been tried on turkeys? The answer is yes, and we can only assume it went pretty well — now items exclusively for turkey hunting have been added to Sitka’s products!

The new products were released on Monday and we can’t wait to use them! Old favorites and newbies, this is our list of top turkey hunting items for this year.

#1 EQUINOX GUARD HOODY

Sitka just released this product Monday. We had a few reactions but among them was “It's about time!” 

The Equinox Guard Hoody helps prevent contact with insects in three distinct ways: limited skin exposure, bite-reduction fabric and built-in Insect Shield®. Comfortable and moisture-wicking—especially in hot, humid conditions—it’s made from a SITKA-developed ultra-lightweight, breathable, tightly knit stretch fabric that helps prevent mosquito bites. It features a breathable mesh facemask and a long tail that tucks into your pants for maximum chigger/tick protection.

The main feature that's making us so excited? The insect shield!

If you are anywhere around us, if it's spring, or if it's remotely, mildly warm outside, you are probably experiencing the same problem with bugs. They’re awake. The good news is that the turkeys like it. On the other hand, that little flick of the wrist to get the mosquito by your left ear to go away? They saw that. 

Digital camo muddles movement so even an occasional swat is likely to have little effect — with this right knit fabric meant to stop bugs, you shouldn’t have to move in the first place! This item (along with the others in the turkey collection) also has odor control features to shield hunters on a number of levels. AND it has what we like to call a breathable beard hider. So you can breathe while hiding the turkey-scattering hair growing on your face.

#2 EQUINOX GUARD PANTS

Same features as the hoody but in pants form! Both have every size and color known to Sitka. Breathable fabric and zippers on the sides make these pants ideal for staying cool while preventing bug bites. Underneath the zippers is a liner (gaiter) for ticks and fleas for extra protection… and they have every pocket you could possibly need!

The pant is made from a lightweight SITKA-developed fabric that promotes airflow and features zippered leg vents that expel heat when moving fast and zip up for extra protection. Internal leg gaiters helps prevent against ticks and chiggers from crawling up your legs when worn under socks.

#3 EQUINOX GUARD GLOVE

These gloves have everything you could expect from the previous two items. They function as regular gloves — the only difference is the missing index and thumb areas so you can still shoot your bow with ease! The wrist cuffs are tight to fit under long sleeves so they protect even more from bugs!

Ultra-lightweight, breathable, tightly knit fabric and Insect Shield offer maximum protection and coverage. Nylon Cordura® built into fingertips and between fingers provides durability in all the right places and AX Suede palm ensures long life. Long cuff offers full protection when worn with the Equinox Guard Hoody.

We can’t help but wonder how they would perform in fishing…

#4 EQUINOX TURKEY VEST

This is no traditional turkey vest. Sitka took a pack-like approach and developed a comfortable and efficient vest based on the movement and organizational needs of run-and-gun turkey hunting. It has ample yet minimalist storage — including magnetic-closing pockets — to keep box calls, pot calls, strikers and other tools organized and dry. Adjustable straps create a secure fit; a drop-down seat deploys and cinches back up quickly and securely.

Comfortable and efficient with tons of pockets? Count us in.

#5 PECKER WRECKER TURKEY CALLS

These have been a favorite of ours since our first turkey season of getting people outdoors. 

Pecker Wrecker Calls are great for their diversity, the many different models, and their portability. Whether you have mastered the ability to use a pot call or you prefer diaphragms, this is our recommendation for turkey calls! We have used these for everything from calling turkeys in the field to on our porch and we almost always get the animals to talk back.

They were designed and built by a local hunter in Georgia who wanted to up his game in the field. When it comes to innovation he has clearly created a great product!

With these top-of-the-line turkey season essentials, you're bound to have a great season! Stop by the store and get all the gear you need, because it's coming up quick!

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