1. Carry an extra clamp-on or magnetic sight. Some of the sights used on today's turkey guns, whether they are rifle-type or telescopic sights, are inherently weaker than a standard bead sight. Sights and their mounts can be damaged or lost in transit or in the field. Having a spare handy to replace faulty sights can save a hunt. Be sure to fire a couple of test shots with the spare sights before hunting to confirm that your turkey loads are hitting point of aim.

Order spare sights on-line at the Shotgun Proshop.

2. Carry a compact cleaning kit. While a mishap resulting from a clogged barrel presents a safety hazard, failure to clean the barrel will harm pattern effectiveness. A three-piece cleaning rod can be a hunt-saver. A veteran turkey hunter told me that more than once he has loaned his cleaning rod to companion hunters. Firing a magnum turkey load through a dirty chamber is a recipe for sticky extraction. If the case sticks firmly enough, the extractor will pull through the case rim and leave the hull hopelessly stuck.

See our cleaning products at the Beretta e-Store.

3. Some traveling turkey hunters opt for packing their valued guns in a metal gun case fitted with a crossbar, locked down with a padlock. These cases are worth the added expense, since they will outlast lower-priced hard plastic models.

4. When packing a shotgun in an airline-approved hard case, first place the gun in a padded soft gun case to add some extra protection.

5. Pack your gun with the bottom of the gun toward your hard gun case's hinge. If a careless baggage handler drops the case and the gun slides to the bottom of the case, the sights won't strike the hinge's hard surface. Experience taught me this one. On one trip several years ago, my gun case was dropped so hard that it severely dented the hinge, which in turn bent an 870 Remington's vent ribbed barrel and knocked off the mid-bead.

6. If you are going to fly, consider shipping your guns ahead via UPS or Federal Express to a licensed gun dealer in the area in which you will be hunting. That way you won't face the problem of arriving at your destination without your gun.

Find hard and soft cases in the Accessories area of our e-Store.

7. When you arrive at your hunting location, pattern your gun to be sure that it still strikes at your point of aim. In addition to checking to be sure your sights haven't been knocked out of alignment, it will assure that a possible change in altitude between where you originally patterned your gun and your new location are similar. For instance, a gun patterned at sea level and carried to a higher altitude will tend to shoot tighter in less-dense mountain air. The opposite is true for guns taken from high elevations to sea level.

8. Include a small tool kit in your gun case. A multiplier and a small set of Allen wrenches will come in handy if something shakes lose in transit.

Beretta's Shotgun Tool has everything you need to maintain your shotgun.

9. Sling your gun. If your turkey gun isn't equipped with a carrying sling, consider adding one, or get one of the leather models that cinches over the barrel and butt stock grip. Most of the turkey hunters I know spend a much larger percentage of their time carrying a shotgun than shooting it. Your arms will be less fatigued at the end of the day.

Check out the Slings at the Beretta e-Store.

10. When taking a commercial airline flight, tape up your gun case latches to keep them from becoming snagged, but wait until after you fill out a firearms certification card.

11. It's a good idea to attach a laminated card with your name and address to the outside of your gun case when traveling on a commercial airline. An added precaution is to include your name and address inside the case as a back­up. If your luggage tags and baggage claim tags are accidentally removed, the airline still has a means to identify your equipment.

12. If your turkey gun can be broken down and the barrel removed, consider a compact gun case that will be easier to handle in busy airports and take up less space in general. One of my favorites is a Doscocil case that measures 38 inches by 12 inches and is 4 inches thick. In a pinch, as many as two shotguns with the barrels removed can fit in this case. This can be a plus if you are traveling with a friend, in light of most airlines' restrictions on the number of bags travelers can check.

13. If you pack your gun in a hard gun case for airline travel, include a light­weight gun sock in your gear. Some states require that guns be cased when in a vehicle, and a gun sock is much easier to use when taking a shotgun in and out of a vehicle.

Find a Gun Sock at the Beretta e-Store.

14. A good practice to follow with all your firearms is to photograph them and keep a record of their serial numbers. If a gun is stolen, or lost by an airline, a photo is handy for identification or justification of its value.

15. Keep gun cases and guns out of sight when possible. Locked hotel rooms are a safer bet than securing them in a vehicle. It only takes seconds to break a window, pop a trunk, or open an unlocked door. I know of several people who have had their prized guns stolen from their vehicles.