Turkey calling frequency and type of call?

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huntingfish

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Hi! I wanna create a diagram of what type of calls to make, which events trigger a change in which call you make and the frequency at which to call.

However, seeing as I'm not an expert, I'd love to get some pointers from people that have actually tagged a few turkeys. So, I have a few questions for you turkey hunters:

When do you "locate" turkeys with a locator call:
- Which one do you use (owl, crow) and when do you call (after sundown the day before hunting), during the night while going to your stand (4-5am'ish)?
- Do you try multiple locator calls? If so, when or why do you use a secondary locator call: No answer or you want to confirm turkeys are still there?

At what time do you start calling in the morning?
Any particular call done prior to the turkeys coming down from their roost?

What's your calling routine? Yelp'ing every X minutes?
If you get an answer, do you continue with that until the bird hangs up at X yards away?
Do you continue calling for another certain minutes and if nothing happens, what do you do to get that bird to close in the final last yards?
If no answer, do you throw in a jake call call to stir things up every hour or so?

I'll post my diagram for all to use. In hopes it helps out other newbies.

Cheers!

David
 
I’m certainly no expert but I will give my 2 cents.

Calling birds whether it’s geese, ducks, or turkeys is really an art and I’m not sure how well that translates into a diagram but I applaud your effort.

The how and when I call turkeys really depends on them more than me; how they behave both vocally and their movement dictates my calls, frequency, volume, aggressiveness, etc. When I started off I just yelped about every 40 minutes or so - that works and I killed lots of birds that way. After spending more hours than I care to admit in the turkey woods and learning from them, I’ve learned a lot about their various sounds and when they make them. Now my calling is much more nuanced and my turkey vocabulary expanded but it’s hard to put that into a chart!

If I don’t hear any birds to set the tempo, I usually start off with a couple soft short yelps about 20 mins before sunrise. Then around 10 minutes after sunrise I might try a fly down cackle and flap my hat to sound like their wings beating as they land. This timing is dependent on the weather however because depending on how bright or dark the morning is or how cold it is, the birds might stay on the roost longer. After that, I will yelp about every 40 minutes until I see or hear birds and then adjust my calling accordingly.

A couple of additional points about calling. Once I see birds and know they can see my decoy(s) I generally shut up. If curiosity doesn’t eventually get the best of them I will try some soft purrs or clucks - very rarely will I ever yelp once I know birds have spotted my decoys. And the bottom line is no matter how great of a caller you are or aren’t, these birds are going to do their own thing - one day you’ll pull them in on a string and the next they will hear you and run for the hills! It’s one of the most amazing and frustrating things about hunting these birds. I love it!
 
I work with computers all day. I have a very logical way of looking at things ;-)

Certainly, the expert caller will be able to have more subtlety and be able to adjust his calling to a lot of different situations.

But for the new comers to the sport of turkey hunting, where communication with the animal is a key part of the hunt, I think it would be beneficial to have a starting point.

Thanks Runningfool...let me try to get something "on paper" and see how your experience translate. Do you do any "locator" calls?

David
 
huntingfish said:
I work with computers all day. I have a very logical way of looking at things ;-)

Certainly, the expert caller will be able to have more subtlety and be able to adjust his calling to a lot of different situations.

But for the new comers to the sport of turkey hunting, where communication with the animal is a key part of the hunt, I think it would be beneficial to have a starting point.

Thanks Runningfool...let me try to get something "on paper" and see how your experience translate. Do you do any "locator" calls?

David
Click to expand...

Working with computers all day is great....as long as you understand that when it comes to turkey hunting, logic has nothing to do with it ;)

I have an owl call and have used it on occasion but have never felt it gave me much of an advantage on the properties that I hunt. But I’m sure others will come along and say that a locator call is essential equipment.

That’s the funny thing about turkey hunting....ymmv is a turkey truism. I hunted for about 5 years and killed 6 or 7 toms before I saw my first Jake. I have a wimpy Jake decoy but I’ve never had a bird come in and give it so much as a second look. I’ve had hens fan out, strut, and try to mount my decoys....these behaviors are not logical. So don’t be surprised if your logical approach leaves you scratching your head :d
 
Adaptation is key. What works today may not work tomorrow. If you have a nearby Tom that seems held up but not henned up, sometimes it makes sense to quit the calling so it forces him to come looking for you.

My usual routine starts of with some loud fly down cackles. I’ll throw out a gobble hear and there to locate birds. Toms will sound off when they hear other toms sound off. If it appears as though I have birds close by, I’ll use some soft yelps and clucks. If birds appear far, I’ll get aggressive with some loud cuts. Most of my calling is done at first light. When toms hear you, hey can pretty much pin point the exact location of the calls. Often times when they are gobbling, they are anticipating that you’ll go to them. This is where silence can be used to your advantage. As mentioned earlier, if I see birds, I’m generally pretty quiet. Only soft clucks and purrs.

Be prepared for anything. If you hear a gobble over your left shoulder, there is a good chance that Tom may come from your right....and vice versa. They often times show up unexpectedly, usually when you get up to take a piss, fall asleep or when you start packing up after a long sit. I’ve been caught with my pants down quite a few times actually. If you’re in the bush often enough, this is almost certainly going to happen. Its almost as though your in a competition or a test of patience with the birds. And so often, its hard to keep up with the patience of a Tom.
 
The only luck I have ever had with a "locater" call is a gobbler call just at dusk. Crow and owl calls don't seem to work. My calling is more to pinpoint where they are roosting as it has been my experience the same basic area is used year after year.
As has been stated their is no logic to a turkeys response to calling, what works once will be ignored the next. Hens will come to check you out while the tom struts 100 yards out.

My routine is generally soft calls if birds are in hearing or in sight ,
loud calls till you get a response ,
a gobbler call with a couple of yelps will sometimes do the trick if a tom is hung up
mimicking the boss hen will sometimes piss her off to bring the flock over


If a tom has hens with him it is almost impossible to get lure him away
Don't overcall,
Don't have any hard and fast rules for calling, a lot of my turkeys were shot adlibbing as I went.
 
If you are under the impression every bird will come running like the videos, lets just get that out of the way---they don't. Not saying they never will, but it is rare and be damn ready when they get there as it will be fast.

Calling to henned up toms leads to education, both your's and their's. They catch on quicker than most hunters.
It is a long season make the most of it as the big boys usually come out to play later in the season as more hens get bred. This year and the early mild and green up will change the usual slow start of the last couple springs.

If you get a bird responding on the roost don't overdo it as they will stay there longer than usual expecting that sweet hen to come to them. He flies down and does one of two things, buggers off with the hens he roosted with or comes looking for you. Silent or loud is his choice so be ready.

If he and his hens end up in the field just watch. When the hens bugger off, sometimes with him or not, if he ends up by himself give him some calls to get his interest, or not.

I had them show up early or later in the morning, sometimes being woke from a quick eyelid check to the sound of wings dragging in the corn stubble. Afternoons work to.

Second call of the morning can bring a coyote full bore under a log at 15 ft, gun in lap and had to smash a $100 custom call over his nose, before dispensing 4 ounces of #6 in his sorry ass.

If you can make any rhyme or reason out of hunting these critters good luck cause that what keeps me coming back after 23 seasons. Not one has ever been the same!!
 
Go out and hunt. Do you think that turkey hunting is done with number and graphs . Get in the woods and enjoy. Learn what works for you and have fun. Ps at nine o,clock am ,give two clucks and a yelp.
 
If the birds are vocal, i dont make a sound, i will scratch my hand on the ground, loud enough to be audible occasionally it will spark them to double gooble. Listening and less calling, almost none. One cluck will give location. Older wiser birds are attracted by almost no calling. JP.
 
I have a box call and slate call.... I mainly use my box call and depending on things, how I am feeling, how the birds are feeling, will determine how hard I hit it.... Lots of yelps and sometimes hitting hard (cutting) like a dominate hen does.... Always be ready for birds sneaking in (coming to the call without making a sound)... best of luck....
 
In terms of locator calls I had a decent response rate to owl hoots at first light. I use a crow call when hunting mobile - it obviously doesn't work all the time, but it works often enough for it to be useful I think.

If a longbeard/jake is zeroed on your position and closing the distance steadily, put the call away. Their hearing is incredible and he knows exactly where you are. Trying to call more can add unnecessary movement, tip the bird off that something isn't right, etc.
 
Tried push pins, box calls, mouth calls.. pretty much settled and have used pot calls almost exclusively the last few years. Been using a woodhaven cherry classic for 5 or 6 years now and it’s me favourite by far. Pricey but worth it. Wish we had the options of custom call makers they have in the US. Anyone know any good Canadian companies who make calls or strikers? I tried gobblestalkers (Oshawa). They’re ok, but nothing special.

I use decoys so calling can go one or two ways: the tom makes his way in straight to the decoys (in which case no calling required) or he hangs up and gobbles his head off and eventually loses interest. More often than not they march right in to my setup. I use the jake with laydown/breeder hen. This drives the toms crazy. I will occasionally use a feeder hen off to the side and I hat draws in other hens... and the best decoy you can have is a live hen.

When drawing the toms in it’s important to know when to shut up or at least tone it down a bit. If a tom is gobbling and you’re moving towards him calling intermittently, he’s going to stop moving in your direction. Why would he move when it sounds like the hen is coming to him? Striking a gobble is exciting, but people do it for fun over and over and eventually the tom moves away. Keep the tom wondering if the hen is still there. As he’s closing in, if you have to call, keep it on the light side. You can use a quieter call, redirect the sound behind you, or muffle it sightly. Also switching to scratching the ground/leaves works, as already mentioned.
 
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When i call i just try to mimic what i hear the birds do. So far my best advise is to find the perfect spot and turn and face the other way lol. All kidding aside the birds change day to day like a wife. Some days theyll talk back and respond and other days they just get up and stay silent. Time in the field trying different things is the best way. I use a box call that i can do clucks and yelps with
 
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