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My father and I didn’t wear traditional turkey hunting camos when we killed our first gobbler, a southeastern Ohio longbeard, in 1990. He had on his rabbit hunting gear—canvas pants and jacket—while I was wearing old military surplus cargo pants. Turkey hunting camo today is not only designed specifically for the spring (and/or fall), but you can even find region-specific patterns to match the conditions you hunt in. There is a style, color, and fit for every situation and budget. We rounded up the best turkey hunting camos out there to help you bag a gobbler this season.
Best Overall: Mossy Oak Bottomland
Best for Spring: Sitka Optifade Cover
Most Versatile: Mossy Oak Obsession
Best Old School: Drake Ol' Tom Old School Green
Best Budget: Redhead TrueTimber HTC Green
Best Leafy: Realtree APX
Best Late Season: Realtree Edge
Best Overall: Mossy Oak Bottomland
Key Features
Classic and proven pattern
Versatile in different environments and seasons
Natural tones with a balance of color and shadows
Pros
Effective for multiple seasons and species
Blends well in the woods
Realistic bark texture
Available in a wide range of gear and brands
Cons
Maybe not the best for green field hunting
It’s no secret that Mossy Oak's Bottomland pattern has taken a top spot in the hunting camo world. There is something nostalgic about Mossy Oak, it’s the camo your grandpa wore. Mossy Oak Bottomland Camo helps hunters disappear into the woods. Its subdued, natural color palette blends perfectly with tree bark and brush, making it a solid choice for early spring turkey season. This was my go-to pattern last season when I harvested my Osceola turkey and black bear wearing it. It’s a classic staple for every hunter's closet.
Best Spring: Sitka Optifade Cover
Key Features
Modern, digitally engineered pattern
Ideal for green spring environments
High-performance fabric
Pros
Available in a range of durable high-quality gear
Versatile for various green environments woods, brush, etc.
Great for spring and early fall seasons
Designed based on actual scientific research about animals' vision
Cons
Not the best choice for late fall season
Expensive
Sitka’s Optifade Cover (the brand's first new camouflage in seven years) is one of the best camo options for turkey hunters who find themselves in those spring green environments. The digitally designed pattern helps to distort your silhouette and blend into the background, making it easier to stay hidden. Plus, Sitka produces high-quality breathable materials that keep you cool and comfortable, especially during long sits or run-and-gun hunts. If you hunt in heavily vegetated terrain, this camo will give you the edge you need to stay undetected and seal the deal on a gobbler.
Best 3D: First Lite Specter Phantom Leafy Suit
Key Features
True realistic 3D effect
Natural color and shadows for optimized concealment
Uses dark and light figures to distort and hide the human body shape
Pros
Ideal for close range hunting
Realistic mimicry of vegetation
Designed for flexible environment use
Cons
Not the best for open sparse cover areas
Designed with various environments in mind, First Lite’s Specter pattern is a versatile piece to have in your collection. It works from early to late season and even across multiple species, so you’re not just limited to turkey hunting. First Lite’s designers took a science-based approach, using disruptive shapes and natural contrast to confuse game animals’ vision, giving you the edge no matter where you're hunting. Plus, the lightweight, breathable fabric keeps you comfortable all day, and the quiet materials let you move without spooking birds.
Most Versatile: Mossy Oak Obsession
Key Features
Realistic natural elements, e.g., limbs and leaves
Ghost shadows
Fall tones complemented by spring greens
Pros
Universally applicable
All seasons
Multi-species pattern
Cons
None
I put on a pair of Mossy Oak Obsession bibs over a long-sleeve cotton shirt of the same pattern every opening day of turkey season, and that’s what I wear until the bell sounds. I’ve hunted and killed birds wearing this pattern all across the country. It’s the closest thing to a universal camo, and if I could only wear one camo turkey hunting, it would be Mossy Oak Obsession. You can buy it in any type of hunting clothing—jackets, pants, shirts, vests, or gloves. I’ve worn Obsession from start to finish in any number of states and it always blends in.
Best Old School: Drake Ol' Tom Old School Green
Key Features
Universal applications
Geographic variety
Excellent combination of lights and darks
Pros
Many apparel choices in Old School pattern
Works well in most environments
Cons
Dark for late season
I started wearing the Old School Green camo pattern before it was known to be vintage. This Drake Ol’ Tom quarter zip—featured in Old School Green—has a fleece lining that lends a soft and comfortable feel. Old School Green can be worn all through turkey season straight into crappie fishing and onto early September Canada goose, teal, and squirrel seasons. It might be a little dark for late season gobblers, but it will still get the job done.
Best Budget: Redhead TrueTimber HTC Green
Key Features
Blend of fall and spring with browns/greens
Garment specific: Quarter zip; quiet polyester fabric
Garment specific: Chin guard
Pros
All-season versatility
Multi-species usage
Coast-to-coast application
Cons
None
I am partial to patterns like TrueTimber’s HTC Green that feature an abundance of greens and/or lighter tones with a subtle background of darks. To me, something like that seems to blend better across the board and has applications from the Southeast to the Northwest. Plus, it works for other pursuits, including predator hunting, September doves and teal, and other small game. I like this Redhead half-zip hoodie in TrueTimber HTC Green because I can throw it on quickly for an afternoon hunt and not have to bother with t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, bibs, or jackets.
Best Leafy: Realtree APX
Key Features
Features lifelike design with balanced depth and contrast
Versatile color pattern
Multi-environment use
Pros
Blends well with various backgrounds
Usable across species
Good for early spring and late fall season
Cons
Not the best for open flat land terrain
Realtree APX is a well-rounded camo pattern that gives turkey hunters flexibility across different terrains and seasons. Newer to the Realtree line, it blends the brand's proven classic look with a modern abstract design. With a mix of natural tones, depth, and contrast, it helps disrupt your silhouette, making it harder for turkeys to spot. Designed to adapt to various environments and species, this camo pattern is a worthy investment—really a one-and-done purchase.
Best Late Season: Realtree Edge
Key Features
Heavy on darks and lights
A smattering of greens
Good depth in the pattern
Pros
Excellent Northern US pattern
Great for early season
Widely
Cons
Dark for late season
Mossy Oak Realtree Edge is a great early season pattern. It has a background heavy in hues ranging from white to black and captures the shadow concept almost perfectly. Popular among deer hunters in the fall due to the darker base, this pattern will blend in almost anywhere. Realtree Edge is a good camo for the first half of turkey season, but once the green foliage starts to come in, think about switching to something with more light green in the pattern.
How We Picked The Best Turkey Hunting Camos
I based my camo selections on what I’ve been wearing turkey hunting for the past three decades. That means all of these patterns have pretty good resumes of killing turkeys. I like certain patterns for early season vs. late season, and I favor particular patterns for different regions of the country. Here are some of the criteria I look for in turkey hunting camos:
Concealment: Does the camouflage work as intended? How well does it break up the human outline?
Pattern Appropriateness: What conditions and regions will the camo excel in? Late season or early season?
Durability: How long does the camo last? And does it keep the pattern without fading?
Price Point: Are you getting a good value for what you pay for?
What To Consider When Choosing Turkey Hunting Camo
Think about where and when you hunt turkeys. How drastically does the foliage change throughout the season? Are you looking for one piece of camo to get you from opening day to the end of the season? Here are a few more considerations that will help point you toward the best turkey hunting camos.
Pattern
Look for a pattern that matches the habitat you hunt in. I wear darker patterns in early season and then transition to lighter greens as the season progresses. Adding a wide variety of patterns to your wardrobe will keep you prepared for the changing foliage throughout the season.
Terrain/Environment
Where you hunt will help determine what camouflage you eventually purchase. You want the camo to best match the conditions you hunt in, but you also want to make sure the fabric is suited for how you hunt. Think about insulated items, breathable clothes, and rain gear. Make sure you can find the right gear with the camo pattern you want.
Price
Price varies drastically among camo nowadays. What you’re really paying for is what that camo is printed on and the brand that makes it. Consider what type of clothes and gear you need camo on and then shop accordingly.
FAQs
Q: Is camo necessary for turkey hunting?
Turkey hunting without camo is very difficult. Turkeys have some of the best eyesight of any wild game and being concealed is absolutely crucial to success in the woods. Good camouflage and minimal movement will help you stay hidden.
Q: What should you not wear when going turkey hunting?
It is important from a safety aspect to eliminate the colors red, white, blue, and black from your gear and clothing, as these are the predominant colors of an adult gobbler.
Q: Is it better to have 3D hunting camo for turkey hunting?
I believe 3D camo is better for a couple of different reasons. Most camouflage clothing is flat and two-dimensional. The woods aren’t flat and two-dimensional. Traditional camouflage does little to break up the straight lines, unbroken curves, and unnatural shape of a human. Three-dimensional camouflage, e.g. Leafy-Wear, works to soften those lines and shapes, blending your form into the natural environment.
Q: How do I wash my camo for turkey hunting?
I like to wash my camo in cold water on a permanent press cycle with very mild detergent and tumble dry on medium heat.
Final Thoughts
Camouflage, whether bargain basement britches or a top-of-the-line jacket, isn’t going to make you a better turkey hunter. It is a tool to improve your chances of a successful hunt. Good camouflage is a pattern that blends into the environment you are hunting. It’s that simple. From there, you still have to make the right sounds at the right time and put those pellets on the mark.
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