SHOT Show: Turkey Hunting Gear for the 2018 Season

Back in the long-ago '90s, before social media and Google, some ammo and shotgun manufacturers pushed both 10-gauge guns and loads for turkeys. Print magazines touted these big and bold offerings. And it's with just a little touch of nostalgia we begin with this Magnum Blend load from HEVI-Shot. MSRP: $40.99 per box.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)

Fast forward to 2018, and the turkey-hunting trend is moving in another direction. The 20 gauge is getting a lot of attention. And HEVI-Shot offers a load for this choice too. MSRP: $22.99.

Check out some other HEVI-Shot options here.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)

New ammo always gets a turkey hunter's attention.

New Grand Slam shotshells extend the range and lethality of conventional turkey payloads, putting as many pellets as possible in a 10-inch circle without breaking the bank. Federal Premium engineers wanted a shell that performed comparably to other high-end lead offerings while maintaining the former Mag-Shok price point.

Grand Slam shells use high-quality copper-plated lead pellets that produce dense patterns and ample energy. The shot is delivered via the Flitecontrol Flex wad, which opens from the rear and allows a controlled release of the load, resulting in thick, even patterns through standard and ported chokes. Also, buffering prevents pellet deformation for more consistent patterns.

Grand Slam is available in 10-count packs. Offerings include a 3-inch 20-gauge load with 1 5/16 ounces of No. 5 shot; a 3 1/2-inch 10-gauge load with 2 ounces of No. 4 or 5 shot; a 2 3/4-inch 12-gauge load with 1 1/2 ounces of No. 5 shot; a 3-inch 12-gauge load with 1 3/4 ounces of 4, 5 or 6 shot; and a 3 1/2-inch 12-gauge load with 2 ounces of 4, 5 or 6 shot.

Federal Premium Grand Slam MSRPs: $14.95 to $23.95 per box. Cost varies with shotgun gauge, shell length and payload.

(Photo courtesy of Vista Outdoor.)

TSS is surely a popular acronym these days among turkey hunters.

It's an integral part of Federal Premium's Heavyweight TSS and 3rd Degree loads. The material is more than 20 percent denser than Federal Premium's previous Heavyweight shot, which has a density of about 15 grams per cubic centimeter. Further, it's 56 percent denser than lead.

TSS is an alloy comprised primarily of tungsten, Federal Premium's shotshell engineer Adam Moser said. It has a density of 18 grams per cubic centimeter and is harder than steel. The increased density retains velocity, and the hardness prevents pellet deformation, which improves pattern efficiency and penetration.

Dan Compton, Federal Premium's shotshell product line manager, explained the physics behind the material's effectiveness.

An object with higher density will maintain its energy longer in flight than a less-dense object, he said. In pellets, the increased density will extend the lethal range of the payload. Denser pellets fly farther and penetrate deeper.

But the advantages don't stop there. Because of its increased density, you can use a smaller TSS pellet to deliver the same amount of energy of much larger lead shot.

A No. 9 Heavyweight TSS pellet carries at least as much penetration energy as a No. 5 lead pellet at all ranges, Compton said. This means you can greatly increase the pellet count of a payload by using a smaller shot size, but penetrate as much or more because of the increased density. Overall pattern densities are increased, so there are more hits on the target.

Moser said a 13/16-ounce load of No. 9 TSS has about 295 pellets, and a 1 1/8-ounce load carries about 408 pellets. For comparison, a 2-ounce load of No. 4 lead has only about 270 pellets.

Heavier TSS payloads carry more astonishing, approximate numbers. A 1 1/2-ounce load of No. 7 TSS has 282 pellets, and 1 3/4- and 2 1/4-ounce loads have 330 and 423 pellets, respectively. With No. 9 shot, a 1 3/4-ounce load has 635 pellets, and a 2 1/4-ounce load features a whopping 814 pellets.

Of course, such swarms of shot result in improved patterns. Testing conducted at Federal Premium's factory proved a 3-inch 12-gauge load with 1 3/4 ounces of No. 5 lead shot will place about 100 to 130 pellets in a 10-inch circle at 40 yards. However, a 3-inch 12-gauge load with 1 3/4 ounces of No. 7 TSS shot will put about 200 hits in a 10-inch circle at 40 steps, and an equivalent load of No. 9 TSS shot will tally about 350 hits.

Plus, downrange penetration is far better with TSS compared to larger lead pellets.

By comparison, No. 7 and No. 9 TSS pellets retain more downrange velocity than a No. 5 lead pellet with the same muzzle velocity, Moser said. Greater downrange velocity, increased density and the smaller surface area of TSS pellets lead to more penetration energy at all ranges.

Important note, directly from the company: The Heavyweight TSS .410 load does not feature the full-length Flitecontrol Flex wad. Instead, it uses a specialized (also full-length) wad designed to prevent direct contact of TSS with the barrel.

Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS MSRPs: $29.95 to $49.95 per box. Cost varies with shotgun gauge, shell length and payload.

(Photo courtesy of Vista Outdoor.)

3rd Degree with Heavyweight TSS is yet another offering for this coming season.

Turkey hunters are already familiar with the proven concept and performance of 3rd Degree, which uses a three-stage payload that makes you far less likely to miss close turkeys but can still kill birds at 40 to 50 yards with appropriate chokes. Now this revolutionary shell is even better.

New 3rd Degree payloads are comprised of 40 percent No. 7 Heavyweight TSS shot, 20 percent No. 6 Flitestopper lead and 40 percent No. 5 Premium lead. The No. 6 lead pellets form a forgiving close-range pattern, the copper-plated No. 5 lead delivers lethal performance at mid-ranges, and the No. 7 TSS pellets allow dense, lethal patterns at 40-plus yards. And the new Flitecontrol Flex wad works with ported and non-ported chokes to maximize the characteristics of each shot type, opening from the rear and staying with the shot column longer than conventional wads to deliver full, consistent patterns.

3rd Degree Heavyweight TSS shells are available in five-count packs, with a portion of sales going to the NWTF. Loads include a 1 7/16-ounce, 3-inch 20-gauge; a 1 ¬æ-ounce, 3-inch 12-gauge; and a 2-ounce, 3 1/2-inch 12-gauge ‚ all with 5, 6 and 7 shot.

The company also recently told us the payload for the 20-gauge 3rd Degree increased from 1 7/16-ounce to 1 ¬Ω-ounce.

Federal Premium 3rd Degree with Heavyweight TSS MSRPs: $21.95 to $25.95 per box. Cost varies with shotgun gauge, shell length and payload.

(Photo courtesy of Vista Outdoor.)

All of the new 12- and 20-gauge Federal Premium turkey loads also feature improved hull printing with unique details.

A small tape measure graphic, in 1/8-inch increments, is printed on the hull.

(Photo courtesy of Vista Outdoor.)

We got early word of this new turkey recliner at the ATA Show in Indianapolis earlier this month.

Storage options are many on the new Tenzing TZ TR18 Turkey Recliner in Realtree EDGE. Most are within easy reach as you walk to locate gobblers or set up for turkeys while calling. Recliner features include a total of 10 compartments and five organization pockets. The channeled, air-cooled back rest is a feature turkey hunters will like while on the move and sitting. Spring-loaded, adjustable aluminum legs will provide sturdy support. And it weighs just 5.25 pounds. It's Tenzing's lightest turkey hunting pack/chair ever.

Tenzing TZ TR18 Turkey Recliner in Realtree EDGE MSRP: At the ATA Show, we'd heard this new turkey recliner would run $199 or so. Official word: $219.99. The new TZ TV18 Turkey Vest will cost you $149.99. We're told both will be available at licensed Tenzing dealers in early 2018.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)

Pockets. A nice seat cushion. Like.

Ask me what I need in a turkey hunting vest, and the first thing I'll likely say is "pockets." And lots of 'em.

In this new vest, you'll find pockets for your phone, pruners or other gear. Zippered accessory pockets, diagphram pockets, a box call pocket, pot call pockets and another pocket with four striker slots nearby to round out the options.

After pockets, the next most important thing I look for in a turkey vest is a seat cushion.

Even run-and-gun turkey hunters eventually sit down to a turkey. After all, that's the idea. Strike one and call it in. This cushion will allow you to be both patient and comfortable as you wait for that gobbling bird to work its way into range.

The Knight & Hale RNG-200 Turkey Vest in Realtree EDGE has plenty of options for turkey hunters on the move. MSRP: $84.99.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)

The Flextone Lil' Nasty, and the all-new Lil' Double and Lil' V, are custom crafted for folks who are tired of stuffing a full-sized diaphragm into their mouths when there isn't room for one. These new undersized diaphragm calls feature the same traditional cuts and reed configurations found in full-frame calls, but offer a more streamlined profile and compact design. Easy to blow, these calls are perfect for women, youth or any turkey hunter with a smaller palate.

Flextone turkey calls. Lil' Double and Lil' V: MSRPs $4.99 each. Lil' Nasty: $7.99.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)

Adding a gobble to your hen yelping can pull in a hung-up tom. The Thunder Shaker Gobble call allows a single hunter to use a mouth call to create hen sounds, then add a realistic gobble. It's a tactic a number of us longtime fall turkey hunters have used in the fall as well.

Editor's note: Gobbling during spring gobbler season is up to the discretion of turkey hunters, as safety is always a consideration.

Thunder Shaker Gobble: MSRP $17.99.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)

Editor's note: Please check back with Realtree turkey hunting after the upcoming NWTF Convention for even more coverage of turkey calls.

Want to start a spirited conversation in turkey camp? Introduce the subject of choke tubes.

Counter with the "best turkey gun" conversation. Old-schoolers might likely toss the good ol' Remington 870 pump into the mix.

This choke tube "fits most Remington shotguns," even if yours sport wrap-around Realtree camo tape like mine. MSRP: $31.95.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)

Look at any turkey hunting forum discussing choke tubes, including posts we make on Realtree social channels, and you'll likely see someone mention Carlson's. Why? The company offers a wide range of options for all the many turkey hunting shotguns out there, including Benelli. MSRP: $49.95.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)

And of course HEVI-Shot offers many choke options for a variety of shotgun makes and models.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)

Truth: There are times I'd never use a four-wheeler for turkey hunting.

More truth: Turkey hunts in remote Wyoming locations, and in other western states over the years, wouldn't have happened without those four-wheelers. And I credit these units with contributing to success on those campaigns.

The Yamaha Grizzly EPS in Realtree Xtra – available since June 2017 and seen on the SHOT Show 2018 floor – is also perfect for your backcountry hunting needs.

(© Steve Hickoff photo)