Camo up, boys and girls! With the turkey hunting season right around the corner – hunters need the best gear to maximize their success. Here’s your ultimate guide to the best turkey hunting gear 2026 from BassPro/Cabela’s, including everything from turkey hunting clothing to the best turkey ammo.
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Turkey Hunting Gear for 2026: New Ammo
We cannot go hunting without ammo – so, let’s check out what the new load is for this season’s 2026 turkey hunt.
If you’re new to wild turkey hunting or a seasoned pro, the right turkey ammo and gear are essential. Wild turkeys are hardy birds. Bagging one is hard enough, especially when not using the correct shell size.
The best turkey loads for hunting and the rule of thumb is – in the field, use a #6, a #4 in the brush, with a full or an extra full turkey choke. Most, including us, will typically use a #5. Before you decide on a shot size, check your turkey hunting regulations!
Migra TSS Stacked Custom Turkey Shotshells
The Migra’s Stacked Load 3″ shotshell is a new turkey hunting ammo at BassPro for 2026. It’s designed to help you drop a gobbler effortlessly. Each shell contains 545 premium tungsten supershot pellets with a muzzle velocity of up to 1,200 fps. It’s a blended shotshell of a 40% #7 and 60% #9 shot and comes in 12 and 20-gauge turkey loads.
9 shot size is a popular choice amongst turkey hunters. It has a denser patterning with more pellets, whereas a #7 has a decreased density. The Migra TSS is a happy medium, offering excellent pellet count and pattern density.
Herter’s Strutter Lead Turkey Shotshells
Another new shotgun shell for hunting turkey in 2026 is the Herter’s Strutter Lead Turkey Shotshell. This turkey ammo is a #5 lead shot load cushioned in a buffering compound with a velocity of 1,260 fps.
Depending on how tightly your shotgun is patterned, you should get an effective range of 40 to 50 yards with this shot. It’s designed to have a true flight for optimal accuracy. Unfortunately, Cabela’s Canada does not carry either of these best turkey load as of yet.
The YETI LoadOut GoBox is built tough for outdoor hunters and adventure‑seekers. See the LoadOut GoBox →
Best Turkey Shotgun for 2026
Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter Pump-Action Shotgun
If you’re looking into a new turkey hunting shotgun for 2026, look at the Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter Pump-Action Shotgun. It’s wrapped in a Mossy Oak Obsession camo pattern to help blend with the spring woods. This model, in particular, includes:
- Fibre-optic sights,
- A recoil pad,
- A back-bored, chrome-plated bore
- An inertia-assisted pump-action for fast follow-up,
- An extra full turkey choke tube.
See how S&J Hardware customized a Remington 870 to make it the best shotgun you’ll ever find!
Why is it crucial to use a specific choke tube for turkey hunting?
The short answer is that it will provide a tighter group of pellets further down range, but your kill shot distance will vary based on several factors including choke, shot size, shell size and velocity.
Chokes are designed to constrict the pellets as they leave your gun, allowing them to travel a greater distance as a group. Wild turkeys seldom come in at close range, that is why you need a choke with a tight pattern to travel the distance.
When hunting turkey, most hunters will opt for a full choke, which has a narrow pattern and can travel up to 70 yards, dependent on shot size and shell size. The second option is an extra full choke, which we use. It has a more dense pattern and can travel beyond 70 yards to knock down a gobbler.
NOTE: It is important that you perform pattern testing your gun before going out! Knowing the shotgun patterns, spread, and the effective range it can travel will lead to the success of a takedown.
Check out our Rifle Cleaning: Time Tested Techniques to Preserve Your Gun guide.
Turkey Gear 2026: Best Turkey Calls – Which One Should You Choose?
New to this year’s turkey hunt are various styles of turkey calls for 2026, everything from box calls to signature mouth calls. Here’s how you can choose the right turkey call based on your experience level.
Turkey Box Calls 2026
For a beginner turkey hunter, a box call is where you want to start. It’s easy to use and creates sounds that are realistic to what the wild turkey makes.
There are a few new turkey box calls to BassPro / Cabela’s this year, the first is the Zink Calls Ridge Talker. This poplar box with a cherrywood paddle call is unique as it carries the high-pitched sound of a young hen. It’s also designed to sound like two different hens!
On the other hand, the FoxPro turkey call is your traditional box call, but waterproof. For beginners, many hunts were cancelled because of rain. With this call it allows you to keep your hunt going.
Mouth Calls
Ah, the mouth call. There is a love-hate relationship with these. Some love them, while other hunters have a nasty gag reflux preventing them from using these calls.
Diaphragm turkey calls are known for having a complicated and long learning curve that takes hours of practice to master.
New to BassPro/Cabela’s for the 2026 turkey hunting season is Beau Brooks’s signature series of mouth calls from Power Calls. These calls are meant to be easier to use.
The Batwing, an all-around turkey call, produces a loud, long-range tone and is Beau’s preferred choice. The Mockingbird, however, was designed by him and is meant to deliver pure-sounding yelps, while having a raspy backend.
From those who have tried both, the Batwing has positive reviews and is the preferred mouth call.
Friction Calls
Pot calls produce a wide range of sounds and are somewhat easy to use. It takes some practice to master yelps, purrs, clucks, etc. The volume and sound depend on the call’s surface and how you use your striker.
Turkey Hunting Gear for 2026 Upgrades: What’s New in Pot Calls?
Last year BassPro/Cabela’s released their version of the turkey friction call, which was enclosed in a walnut pot.
New, this year is the Bone Collector Dynamite Glass Friction Turkey Call. Using the 2-piece diamondwood striker on the clear glass surface inside the walnut pot produces sharp, loud, high-pitched sounds. The value of this turkey pot call is that it’s compact and tucks nicely into a pocket or hunting vest. A glass call also performs better in the rain.
Also, new is the FOXPRO Crimson Hen call in both ceramic and slate. Both feature a glass tone board to help reproduce soft sounds, while the top layer helps create loud yelps and clucks. They are also constructed from Brazilian Cherry wood and arrive with a one-piece flared tip striker. One difference is the slate striker is made from hickory, whereas the ceramic is Ipe.
Generally speaking, slate calls are quieter and produce a more subtle sound than glass calls – glass calls also perform better in the rain and are a must-have turkey hunting supply!
Turkey Hunting Gear 2026 Must-Have Accessories
Ask any hunter, and you’ll get those who love their decoys and those who have them but don’t use them. A hunter who has mastered locating and calling usually doesn’t put out any decoys. If they do, it’ll be one or three. Other hunters rely heavily on temptations to attract big ol’ Tom. A lone hen or a small flock of hens facing away from you will grab Tom’s attention.
New Turkey Decoys for 2026
The lightweight, realistic Cabela’s Pro HD Upright Hen Turkey Decoy has the pose of a dominant hen, which will attract a Tom. Another pose to add to your spread is Cabela’s Pro Feeder/Breeder Hen. This hen features a relaxed position, which is attractive to those shyer turkeys. If you want to rustle some feathers, add a young Cabela’s Pro Jake Turkey Decoy to the mix.
All these decoys come with a heavy-duty stake, are easy to set up, have realistic features and best of all, come with their drawstring bag for easier transport.
Binoculars
Temperatures during a spring turkey hunt shift around a lot. From a cold morning to a warm afternoon, back into a chilly evening. These temperature shifts will cause your binoculars to fog up, which is not ideal when trying to get a visual on your target that has better eyesight than you.
The Vortex Diamondback HD Binoculars are not only fog-proof but waterproof too! These binoculars feature a wide field of view of 330′ at 1000 yds. The lenses have an anti-reflective and multi-layer prism coating to enhance colour, and clarity and provide increased light transmission to help you spot your gobbler in the bush.
Turkey Blind
Turkey hunting blinds are great to have, but not technically needed. We prefer to lean against the tree and go from there. If you’re hunting grounds with no cover, you’ll need a ground blind, like the Cabela’s Specialist HV180 to conceal yourself.
The Specialist turkey blind is an easy and quick setup that offers one-way see-through windows, is water-resistant and features a silent door and windows. It also arrives with a carry bag and ground stakes for easy in-and-out hunting.
Cover Up – the Wild Turkey CAN SEE YOU!
Wild turkeys have incredible eyesight and can spot you way before you can even see them. Make sure you cover up as best you can with the right turkey clothing. The less exposed skin you have, the better your chances.
You can go with a hat and neck gaiter, or opt for a balaclava-style gaiter. Both these options are affordable – no need to break the bank here.
Save your money for more comfortable and quiet turkey hunting jackets and pants. Look for options made with breathable fabric and moisture-wicking properties to keep you dry and comfortable during long hunts. Don’t forget the hunting gloves! Spring turkey hunts can get chilly, if you already have gloves, you can add a liner to stay warm.
When it comes to camo patterns, Mossy Oak Bottomland is a popular among turkey hunters. It provides excellent concealment in various terrains. Remember, the right camo pattern can better your hunt!
For footwear, opt for a pair of snake boots or rubber boots. Snake boots offer protection against potential bits, while rubber boots are great for keeping your feet dry in the wet, muddy spring conditions. Both options come in various camo patterns to match your hunting outfit.
Pro Tips
Well, there you have it – 2026’s new turkey hunting gear from BassPro/Cabela’s to get you out there bagging that gobbler. Here are a few expert tips to maximize your chances of bringing that turkey down!
- Practice Your Shotgun Patterns: Before the season starts, spend time pattern testing your shotgun with different chokes and turkey loads to find the best combo.
- Focus on Turkey Scouting: Spend time scouting your hunting area. Look for roost sites, feeding areas, and signs of turkey activity.
- Set Up in the Dark: Turkey’s spook easily and will not come down from roosting if they see you.
- Decoy Positioning is Vital: You want the gobbler to strut by you to get to the decoys. If you think or hear the turkey coming in from the right, you want your decoys to be 25 yards to your left, positioned at a 45-degree angle from you.
- Master Your Calls: Practice with different turkey calls to mimic the different sounds that turkey make.
- Carry a Few Calls: Remember to bring a few different types of turkey calls with you. These birds are stubborn and will prefer one call over the other. Nothing is more upsetting than waking up early, setting up and calling with no action!
- Don’t Overcall: Calling too often can make turkeys suspicious. Aim for a few, realistic calls and wait for a response.
- Practice Patience: If a turkey hangs up, don’t rush your next move. Patience is key to successful turkey hunting.
- Bring a Locator: Use a coyote or owl locator to get a response from a gobbler. Learn when to use the right locator!
- Time Your Hunts: Early morning is the best time to hunt turkeys or about 30 minutes before they roost.
Hunt safely with our Dos and Don’ts Hunting Guide.
Beginner Turkey Hunting Gear
New to turkey hunting? We have an in-depth post on the type of hunting gear needed for beginners and why. Or, if you’re curious about the relevance of camo clothing and a turkey’s eyesight, this is a fantastic post to shed light on improving your chances of taking down that bird.
Remember, a successful turkey hunt is a combination of the right gear, proper techniques, and patience!
👉 What do you think about these latest gear picks from BassPro/Cabela’s?
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