What to Wear Turkey Hunting: Camo, Colors and Layers

What to wear turkey hunting? Wear full camouflage that matches the woods you hunt: a camo long sleeve shirt or jacket, camo pants, a camo hat, a face mask or head net and gloves. Turkeys have sharp eyesight, so cover skin and avoid any visible red, white or blue. Add blaze orange only where your state requires it, and when moving between setups.

Below is a full checklist, which colors to avoid, how to pick a camo pattern by season and how to layer for cold spring mornings. Shop camo shirts and hats in our turkey hunting collection.

What do people wear when turkey hunting?

• Top: camo long sleeve shirt; add a camo hoodie or jacket for cold mornings.
• Bottom: camo pants, ideally quiet fabric that does not swish.
• Head: camo cap plus a face mask or head net.
• Hands: thin camo gloves.
• Feet: waterproof boots for dew-soaked grass and creek crossings.
• Vest: a turkey vest with a seat cushion and call pockets.

Why cover your face and hands?

Bare skin shines and moves. A camo company's beginner guide puts it simply: "It's crucial that you don't forget to cover the exposed skin of your hands and face, especially since your hands are likely moving a lot" (turkey hunting gear guide for beginners). Your hands work the call and raise the gun, so gloves matter as much as a mask.

What not to wear turkey hunting

The biggest rule is about color. A retailer's turkey clothing guide warns: "Never wear any visible article of clothing into the turkey woods that contains the colors white, red or blue" (Turkey Hunting Clothing Basics). Those are the colors of a gobbler's head, and another hunter could mistake a flash of them for a bird. That means:

• No white socks or T-shirt collars showing.
• No red or blue logos, bandanas or water bottles.
• No flag-print or patriotic shirts as your visible hunting layer; save them for camp or the drive home.

Do you need blaze orange for turkey hunting?

Rules vary by state and season, so read your state's current turkey regulations. Many hunters who are not required to wear orange still carry an orange band or hat for walking in and out, and tie orange near a harvested bird when carrying it out of the woods.

How to pick a camo pattern by season

Match the woods, not the catalog. The same clothing guide notes that in early spring, before leaves come out, "a pattern with more browns and greys is more effective than one that is predominantly green." Later in the season, greener leafy patterns blend better. If you hunt fields and field edges, a grass or bottomland pattern can work well.

How to layer for spring mornings

1. Start with a camo long sleeve shirt.
2. Add a camo hoodie or light jacket for the cold walk in before sunrise.
3. Peel layers once the sun is up; turkey hunting often means sitting still for hours, so pack a layer rather than overheat on the walk.

Turkey hunting shirts and hats

Our turkey designs pair camo patterns with gobbler artwork and your name. The wild turkey camo shirt (from $39.99) comes in Long Sleeve Shirt, Hoodie and Zip-Up Hoodie styles; our hoodie style is polyester brushed fleece with a lined hood. Matching custom caps include the turkey flock camo hat and the gobbler pair camo hat ($34.99 each). These are printed camo apparel, not waterproof or insulated gear, so add a shell in the rain.

Hunting predators after the season? See what to wear coyote hunting, or browse gifts for hunters.

FAQ

What colors to avoid turkey hunting?

Avoid any visible red, white or blue. These are the colors of a gobbler's head and can draw a shot from another hunter.

Can turkeys see camo?

Turkeys see color and movement well. Camo helps you blend in, but staying still and covering your face and hands matter just as much.

Do you need a face mask for turkey hunting?

Most hunters wear one. A face mask or head net hides skin that shines and moves when you call.

What time are most turkeys killed?

Many hunters focus on the first hours after sunrise when gobblers leave the roost, but legal hours and best times vary by state and season.