I suppose we would all prefer to call a bird plenty, to the point of excess, rather than keeping things to a minimum. I know I would. I have to be careful not to get carried away by his gobbling and end up exerting more effort there than I am trying to get him in, even though I enjoy hearing him gobble. And that doesn’t put nearly as many birds over your shoulder. I had persuaded myself by the early 1990s that I could break a bird with enough calls. And so began the lesson for me in standoffs between man and turkey. The same bird that started the local instruction on “how not to call a turkey” eventually became well-known in my community. I believe that I am the only reason he hasn’t been killed by a hunter, at least not that I am aware of. Each and every person who tried him went home with their tail tucked between their legs, just like me, after this bird and I introduced ourselves in the morning.
He was one of those obnoxious birds that gobbled at everything that first morning, including trains, airplanes, owls, crows, and geese. I started on him hot and heavy and he was eating it up. After taking off, he quickly closed the distance, and ten minutes later, I could hear him drumming loudly and disappearing out of sight to my left. I continued adding more, and ten minutes later, he was in front of me on a slight elevation not more than fifty yards away.
This is where I slowly came unraveled and the transformation began. Over the next ten years, my perspective gradually changed as I came to understand that I could raise my chances of killing a few more turkeys by periodically lowering my calling. I absolutely hammered that bird for a full 90 minutes. He strutted, drummed and I believe he nearly gobbled himself to death. I finally convinced myself he was close enough, without him ever taking a step inside 55 yards, and peppered him with a load of #4 shot. His name was Sergeant Pepper from this point forward. I think the cumulative knowledge I gained from this turkey was greater than any single bird since. He was downright mean.
It was a hard lesson learned but one of great value. When you overcall a bird and watch him disappear because of it, you don’t easily forget it. Unfortunately, those lessons will likely repeat themselves in various forms. The earlier you can recognize them, the less frequently they will happen and the more benefit you will receive.
One of the simplest traps to fall into when facing a wild turkey gobbler is this one. A typical tendency while engaged with a hot gobbling bird is to want to pour it on him. That’s exactly what happened in the aforementioned hunt, and after it was over, I realized why he never went into tight spaces to take a shot. Sometimes it is ok to call a lot to a bird. Generally speaking, if he is giggling a lot, you can get away with calling him more frequently. That is unless he is standing in full view of you while you do it. It makes no sense for him to walk to the place where he expects to see her because he can clearly see that there isn’t a hen there. Sometimes he might gobble all the way to his demise. Other times, though, he might put the brakes on and lock it down out of range. Knowing the message we are giving a bird when we repeatedly hit him with the call is crucial. It is possible, and probably will be, for a gobbler to read it as an indication that you are a hen who is very keen to spend time with him. It is also very possible that it will cause him to hang up. His reasoning is not that he is considering the circumstances, but rather that if you are a hen that is that hot and excited, you will come to him. But if you’re not careful, eventually he’ll get tired of waiting for you, and then one of three things will happen. The least likely of the three possibilities is that he will show up in gun range. The other two possibilities are that either you will give up expecting him to show up and leave, or he will get tired of waiting for you to show up. There is simply no need to call to a gobbler that is already on the way. If he is getting closer and continuing to gobble here and there, let him come. If you can see him, and he is coming, let him come. Everyone enjoys hearing the gobble, but if it means there are more flopping turkeys, I’ll take fewer gobbles.
Calling in a turkey is an art form, a skill that takes practice, patience, and a deep understanding of turkey behavior and vocalizations But when you master the art of turkey talk, the rewards are plentiful – the thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of outsmarting a wary gobbler, and the delicious reward of a Thanksgiving feast.
This comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to become a turkey calling maestro. We’ll delve into the different types of turkey calls, the best times and places to use them, and the essential techniques for mimicking the sounds that will lure those gobblers right into your sights.
Understanding Turkey Vocalizations
Let’s take a moment to learn the language used by turkeys before getting into the intricacies of calling. These birds are surprisingly talkative, using a range of clucks, yelps, purrs, and gobbles to communicate with one another. The secret to successful turkey calling is understanding the meanings that each sound carries.
Here are some of the most common turkey calls:
- Yelp: A high-pitched, single-note call made by hens to indicate they are ready to breed. This is the most common call used by turkey hunters.
- Cluck: A soft, rhythmic series of notes made by hens to keep in contact with other members of the flock.
- Purr: A low, rumbling sound made by gobblers to attract hens.
- Gobble: A loud, booming call made by gobblers to establish dominance and attract hens.
- Kee-kee run: A series of high-pitched yelps made by hens to warn other turkeys of danger.
Choosing the Right Turkey Call
There are two main types of turkey calls: mouth calls and box calls Mouth calls are small, handheld devices that you blow into to produce turkey sounds Box calls are larger, wooden boxes that you scrape with a peg to create turkey sounds.
Box calls can make louder, more realistic sounds, but mouth calls are generally thought to be more adaptable and simpler to learn. What kind of call is best for you will depend on your hunting style and personal preferences.
When and Where to Call Turkeys
The best time to call turkeys is during the spring breeding season, when gobblers are most responsive to calls. However, you can also call turkeys in the fall during the hunting season.
The greatest places to call turkeys are those that are known to visit, like open fields, forests, and the margins of rivers and streams.
Turkey Calling Techniques
There are a few essential techniques to keep in mind when calling turkeys:
- Use the right call at the right time. Different calls are effective at different times of day and in different situations.
- Vary your calling sequence. Don’t just keep repeating the same call over and over again.
- Be patient. It may take some time for a turkey to respond to your calls.
- Use proper turkey calling etiquette. Don’t call to turkeys that are already with other hunters.
Calling in a turkey is a challenging but rewarding experience. Gaining knowledge of turkey vocalizations, selecting the appropriate call, and applying appropriate calling techniques can help you improve your chances of succeeding in the turkey woods. So pick up the phone, get out into the field, and start practicing your turkey talk—you never know when those gobblers will start running!
Lesson #3: Pressured Bird Calling
Here is another bird that will test your restraint. The old battle-tested warriors. These birds have heard and seen a lot in their lifetime. Some have been stung, too, as was the aforementioned Sergeant Pepper. Many have followed a friend who was going to a caller, only to watch as he was blown to pieces, or they may have just learned a valuable lesson by ambushing an unsuspecting hunter. For whatever reason, there are several reasons why a turkey can have the best chance of survival each spring of its life. Not necessarily, but I believe that these birds grow apprehensive when they receive calls and even more so when they attempt to locate the source of the call. Some of these types of birds will still respond but they prefer to hold their ground. Others might never open their mouth but might take forever and a day to show up. When hunting these types of birds, I treat them similarly. Although I have the attitude that it will take some time, I still think they will eventually appear. A good, long while. Your patience will be tested to the extreme with these boys. Let them know you’re there and settle in. Resisting the urge to call much is paramount here. If you don’t think you’ll be able to sit still and avoid calling for long stretches of time, you might need to act right away to make sure you can. If you use a mouth call, spit it out. If it’s a box or a pot call, put it back in your vest.
Lesson #2: Out of Sight Calling
One of the hardest turkeys to kill is one that gobbles little or none at all. I know that there’s a good chance I left a few birds in the woods, and that after I decided to pack it up and head home, they might have come back to my setup because I didn’t think they would. I simply didn’t give them enough time to get there, and I think that by calling so frequently, I actually made it take them longer to arrive. It’s easier to make this mistake when he never gobbles after you locate him. I can sit on a bird for hours if it will occasionally gobble, but it can be hard to stay long enough if he never opens his mouth. If you can’t see a possible approaching bird, you might be able to back off from calling when needed, but it can be difficult to know when to call. You might never be certain if the birds you are calling will actually show up in your calling range. All it takes is one call at the wrong time to turn a hunt in the wrong direction. Again, if a bird is coming, you don’t need to call. But how can you tell if he’s getting closer or not when he’s not talking or you can’t see him?
That’s a good question and the answer is easy; you don’t. Therefore, assuming that he is coming in is preferable to assuming that he isn’t. Give him time and leave the call alone. For me, it goes back to the old school way of turkey hunting in this situation. The hunters from “way back when” would make three or five calls before going silent for between thirty and sixty minutes. They killed too many turkeys to argue the point. It is important to remember that a bird knows where you are during a hunt, even if you hit it and it never goesbbles again. I honestly believe that every bird I strike is on the way until he convinces me otherwise. It has helped me close the deal countless times over the years.