30 Years of Turkey Hunting in the West: The Gear, Calls, and Lessons I Trust Most

Written By Robert Poor of Arizona

Hello, my name is Robert Poor from Arizona. I’ve been a turkey hunter my entire life. My father hunted turkeys, and my grandfather before him. Turkey hunting runs deep in my family.

I grew up during the boom of turkey reintroductions — what many hunters still consider the golden era of turkey hunting. A lot of us were raised on the work of Will Primos, Knight & Hale, and The Drurys. We learned from cassette tapes, VHS videos, and hours of mouth call practice that irritated our parents, the dog, and probably the neighbors too.

After more than 30 years of chasing turkeys across the West, I’ve narrowed down the gear and calling setups I trust most in the field.

Turkey Calls I Trust After 30 Years

Pot Calls

I usually carry a couple of different pot calls. Over the years, I’ve drifted toward the custom call market — makers like Mad Hatter and Halloran. Partly because they perform, and partly because I appreciate the craftsmanship as much as the hunting itself.

I prefer a man-made surface that can get loud when I need volume but still runs well in wet conditions like mountain rain, snow, or heavy morning dew. Out West, conditions change fast, and reliable sound matters.

That said, I’ll always carry a slate call too. Nothing beats the soft tree yelps, clucks, and purrs of a quality slate call. Pair it with a couple good strikers, and you can carry an entire flock in very little space.

Box Calls

There’s always a box call tucked somewhere in my vest. It’s one of my favorite tools for striking a quiet midday gobbler or cutting through wind in big Western country.

Mouth Calls and Turkey Trumpets

I always keep a mouth call in my bino harness — or sometimes already in my cheek — but over the last decade I’ve leaned heavily on a trumpet call.

There’s just something about a trumpet that flat-out gets gobbles.

I can work a bird from the initial strike all the way to the gun with one piece of gear and a lot of confidence. Honestly, I’d sooner forget my shotgun than my trumpet.

They’re not the easiest calls to learn, but once you figure out how to run one quietly and master the soft stuff, they become absolutely deadly.

Locator Calls for Western Turkey Hunting

When it comes to locator calls, I believe in using whatever gives you confidence.

Over the years, I’ve carried everything from crow calls to peacock calls, but owls and coyotes work best for me. Most of the time, I can mimic both using calls already in my vest — or simply my natural voice.

My Turkey Hunting Vest Setup

All of that gear — plus plenty more I probably don’t need — gets packed into a Final Rise Mossy Oak Bottomland Summit vest. I’ve been running it for about four seasons now.

It carries gear, hydration, and awkward items like seats or harvested birds comfortably for miles. More importantly, it keeps me organized without turning into a full pack-mule setup.

Truthfully, if I have room, I’ll carry too much.

Why I Wear a Leafy Suit for Turkey Hunting

Another important piece of gear for hunting turkeys out West is a leafy top.

It layers well, helps regulate temperature as the day warms up, and adds depth and shadow that flat camouflage sometimes lacks. Plus, I can peel it off in town afterward and look like a normal human being again.

The Best Boots for Hunting Turkeys in Rough Terrain

Footwear matters more than almost anything out here.

After more than 20 years working as a wildland firefighter across the West, I’ve become a big believer in mountaineering-style boots for turkey hunting. Brands like Scarpa, Zamberlan, La Sportiva, Lowa, Asolo, Crispi, and Vasque have all earned my respect over the years.

Good boots make all the difference when you’re covering miles of rough country day after day.

What Keeps Me Coming Back to Turkey Hunting

What always drew me to turkey hunting is that it’s about more than simply killing a bird.

It’s woodsmanship. Patience. Conversation.

You’re trying to convince one of the sharpest-eyed, most paranoid animals in the woods that your story is real. That chess match is what keeps me coming back year after year because a turkey still has a remarkable ability to humble a man.

By the time spring rolls around, I’m ready to leave behind the noise of the world and walk the woods unencumbered.

A few calls. A vest. A shotgun. Maybe a good friend beside me.

Working a bird honestly, on his terms, in places that start to feel more sacred with time.

The older I get, the less gear and gimmicks I want. Strip the board down. Make the game simpler — and harder.

I want to know I solved the riddle fair and square.

And somehow, every season ends the same way:

Tired. A little beat up. Already missing spring mornings. Already looking forward to hearing another gobble roll through the dark next year.