How to Choose the Best Camo for Turkey Hunting

The turkey tags are purchased, the shotgun is patterned, and your drives now entail practicing turkey calling for the upcoming turkey season. But wait, what are you going to wear? Hopefully, nothing blue, red, white or black, as these colours will only get you into a world of hurt. Well, my fellow turkey hunters, let’s look at how we can go undetected with the best camo for turkey hunting.

Spread the Love

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through our links result in a small commission to us at no charge to you. We only recommend products that meet our brand standards based on testing and first hand use by our authors.

Best Camo for Turkey Hunting Starts with Colours

Do you know what colours should a safe hunter avoid wearing when hunting for wild turkey?

Most don’t! So, while sitting still up against a big tree waiting for a turkey to strut by, or come down from roosting, what are you looking for besides the obvious? What differentiates a turkey from any other bird or animal?

You’re looking for colours, like red, the colour of the turkey’s head and wattle. You’ll also watch for blue, to distinguish a female hen from a male tom. Since the wattle and snood can change colour depending on the bird’s health, you’ll also be on the lookout for white. And lastly, black, the turkey’s feathers.
 
If you are subconsciously looking for these four colours, what do you think your fellow turkey hunters are looking for? It’s why you CANNOT wear anything that will make it hard for hunters to distinguish you from a turkey.

How Turkey’s Eyesight Affects Your Camo Choice

Wild turkeys have the best eyesight in the woods! They can detect the slightest movement over long distances. By long, I mean about 60 yards. Because they have seven different types of photoreceptors, turkeys can see many colours and are sensitive to UV light.

With the ability to turn their head slightly, the turkey’s field of view is nearly 360 degrees. That gives them the advantage of seeing in all directions.

And if that’s not enough, their eyes can scan their surroundings separately, which is cool and creepy at the same time. Turkey, however, does not see well at night, hence the roosting in trees.

Here is another fact of equal importance: remember how the turkey is sensitive to UV light. Well, guess what – if you’re using laundry detergent that brightens or whitens your clothes, then guess who can see you glow!!! These detergents leave a UV residue behind that accumulates over time.

I highly recommend that you launder your hunting clothing with detergents like Grangers or Dead Down Wind. Grangers, which we use on our more expensive hunting gear, is fantastic. However, it is on the pricey side. If you have already washed your turkey camouflage hunting gear, you should consider spraying your clothes with a UV killer.

Facts do not have to be boring, especially if it helps achieve the desired result. Now that we know what these wild turkeys see, which is pretty much everything better than you, the question becomes, how do you blend in with the turkey habitat?

Is Camo Necessary for Turkey Hunting?

Yes, absolutely – camo everything – well, may not your hunting boots or hunting gloves. But don’t pattern with any old camo – be strategic. Here is where your clothing choice becomes complicated. Since these birds can virtually see everything and are skittish to the slightest movement, matching your turkey pants, jacket, hunting shirt, turkey vest and face mask to surroundings is vital. You need patterns the will break up your outline.

This means you must choose the best turkey camo for hunting in forests and fields for the season. Different camo patterns worn in early spring will not be the same as in early fall. Here’s why.
 
By the way, this post is just about the best turkey-hunting camo patterns. Make sure you are wearing the appropriate layers for the hunting season. If you do take off a layer, ensure that the pattern continues into your underlayer (camo shirt) / merino wool base layer if hunting in what starts as a cool morning and works into warmer weather. The same applies to an afternoon turkey hunt.

Fall Turkey Hunting Camo: Colors & Styles for Effective Concealment

How to choose turkey hunting camo patterns does not have to be difficult. Since you’re hunting from the ground, the key is to pattern for the surroundings you’re hunting. So, let’s start with the fall turkey hunt. 

Depending on the region you hunt, the early fall trees are still leafy. The foliage is already turning, with colours ranging from yellows, reds, and browns to greens. The ground is sparsely covered with leaves.

The ground is sparsely covered with leaves. Opt for predominately brown camo for fall turkey hunts.

The best turkey hunting camo for the woods would be camouflage patterns like the Realtree APX. Being patterned with tree bark, branches, brownish leaves and pine needles in a mix of yellows, browns and very little greens, helps break up your appearance in the woods.

For turkey hunting in the fields, you want to wear something that is patterned with reeds, grasses, corn, wheat, etc, in a brown, beige and gray colouring. A go-to camo pattern would be the Realtree Max7, which is designed to help you blend in with marshes or open areas.

Shifting into a later fall hunt or early spring when the trees no longer have foliage, you are now in a predominately brown and grey environment. Here is where a ghillie (leafy suit) works very well. Or you can opt for a camo pattern like the Realtree Timber, which helps you blend in with the surrounding leafless trees. 

Digital Camo for Turkey Hunting

If you’re into a more digital pattern like those found on Sitka, Optifade Subalpine would be your best bet for early fall hunts. This pattern will also fare well in the spring as the digital camo pattern consists of a combination of brown, cream and green. Consider something like Sitka’s Open Country turkey camo pattern that’s predominantly brown and greay for a late fall or early spring hunt.

Best Camo Patterns for Turkey Hunting

Below are examples of the above-mentioned turkey camo patterns. For reference, we used Realtree and Sitka, but similar patterns can be found with brands like Mossy Oak, Kuiu, King, etc.

Best Camo for Spring Turkey Hunting: Pattern & Gear Recommendations

Depending on the hunting zone, your spring woods may still be gloomy-looking, meaning no appearance of buds. In this case, a leafy suit (Ie. leafy ghillie suit) is still a recommended camo for early season turkey hunting. If your budget doesn’t permit a leafy turkey hunting suit, find a camo pattern like the Realtree Timber to help you blend in with the leafless trees and leafy ground. 

When hunting woods with signs of fresh growth, opt for something like the Realtree Edge spring camo patterns and colouring. This patterned camouflage for turkey hunting also works great in the early fall when the leaves change to a yellowy brown. 

Essential Turkey Hunting Tips

Turkey Camo FAQ’s

Concluding the Best Camo for Turkey Hunting Success

Remember that the turkey’s behaviour and eyesight play a vital role in the success of your hunt. Make sure you choose a camo pattern best suited for the hunting season. That means natural-looking gear! It’s even a good idea to wear a camo face mask and camo gloves to help blend in. All that’s left is to position yourself by that big ol’ oak tree, grab your slate calls, box calls or mouth calls and wait for that ol’ Tom to eat an acorn. If you see the turkey look in your direction and you move, it’s game over! Remember, you only have a single shot.

I hope you found my Best Camo for Turkey Hunting guide helpful. I would love to hear what your favourite camo pattern is.

Bookmark this post on Pinterest for future reference!