Turkey Hunting Tips - Turkey Calls

Types of Turkey Calls 

Diaphragm Turkey Calls

Diaphragm calls are inserted entirely in the user's mouth and require practice to learn to use correctly. They create the most lifelike turkey sounds of any other type of call.

Turkey Box Calls

Box calls create turkey sounds with the friction created by sliding the lid across the surface of the box. Box calls are convenient and are capable of producing more volume than any other type of turkey call.

Turkey Friction Calls

Friction calls may be the most common turkey calls because they're easy to use and create lifelike turkey sounds. Friction calls feature a round (usually) surface, and the user creates sound by drawing a peg, or "striker", across the surface. Friction call surfaces can be slate, aluminum, ceramic or a variety of other materials.

Push-Pull Turkey Calls

Push-pull turkey calls are the simplest of all turkey calls to use, and create realistic turkey sounds. A push-pull call functions by pushing and/or pulling a button on the end of the call, forcing a surface across a peg.

Wingbone Turkey Calls

Wingbone calls originally were made from the wingbones of a turkey, and some still are. They are a suction-type call and are rarely heard in the woods anymore. Sounds are made with quick, forceful sucking motions, much like kissing the end of the call. Good wingbone calls make a hollow sounding yelp.

Turkey Locator Calls

Locators are calls used to force a tom turkey to gobble, thus giving away his location. Mature male turkeys will "shock gobble" at loud noises such as an owl's hoot, a crow's caw a hawk's scream - even thunder or a train's whistle.

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Choosing The Right Turkey Call 

Brought to you by Game & Fish magazine

Choosing The Right Turkey Call

What are the benefits and drawbacks of the various types of turkey calls? Which ones should you use?

Turkey Hunting Tips 

Brought to you by Realtree®

Turkey Calling Style

A lot of people say "contest-style" calling isn't effective for real turkey hunting. However, if by "contest-style" calling," one means loud, raucous and aggressive cackling, cutting and yelping, there's very much a place for that in the turkey woods. There are two times this is especially true: early in the season when the gobblers aren't really fired up yet and when trying to crank up a gobbler at midday. This is when calling loudly and aggressively can get something going. However, with hard-hunted gobblers or when any gobbler gets close, soft, sweet and infrequent calling is a good idea. A gobbler doesn't have to be extremely call shy to hang up and wait for what he thinks is an extremely aggressive hen to meet him halfway. There's hardly any style of calling that won't work on gobblers sometimes and there is probably no style that will work all the time. The trick is knowing what style to use under what circumstances.

Box Call Basics

The traditional box-style turkey call has been around since at least the turn of the century. It is so easy to use with reasonable proficiency that many dismiss it as a beginner's call. That's a mistake. The box call is an excellent all-around turkey call and works well for all skill levels. It is one of the loudest of turkey calls and its sound also carries well. This makes it an excellent "searching" call on windy days or when you want to reach out some distance. Wooden boxes are vulnerable to moisture. Try carrying a bread-loaf bag and use your box inside it on damp days. Box calls need to be chalked at regular intervals with chalk containing no wax (no blackboard chalk). Occasionally rough-up the lid with medium grit sandpaper but do not sand the lips of the box. An accomplished box caller can not only yelp and cluck but also purr, cut and cackle right along with callers using any other type of call.

When To Back Down

A prime calling tactic for old boss gobblers who have heard it all and are tired of hearing it is less calling. Loud, aggressive calling, including cutting, cackling and even loud yelping, has a place in turkey hunting, but so does the "change-up" pitch. After dealing with heavy hunting pressure, gobblers get fed up with loudmouthed "hens" that lead to trouble. Old-time turkey hunters called softly and cautiously to take the wary toms of yesteryear. It works just as well today. Late in the season, gobblers really can get call shy after a few bad experiences. For a wary old gobbler, just seeing a hunter in the woods is a very bad experience. They also have heard a lot of loud, raucous calling. A few soft yelps or a series of simple clucks might be just what a shell-shocked old gobbler wants to hear but not much of it. Knowing when to tone down the calling is a great "late-innings" play for wary, hunter-wise gobblers.

Locator Call Selection

A wide variety of noises are used to make gobblers sound off in the morning. Gobblers will "shock gobble" at loud sounds that have nothing to do with turkey talk. The turkey hunter can use these "locator calls" to pinpoint the gobbler's location without giving away his own. The "Who cooks for you; Who cooks for you-all" eight-note call of the barred owl is a favorite locator call. However, raucous crow calling or the piercing scream of a hawk call are also used. Coyote howlers work, for while no turkey in its right mind will go to a coyote, gobblers will answer the high-pitched howl. In forest areas, the staccato call of the pileated woodpecker is gaining favor as a locator, particularly in the mid-morning. Of course if any of these sounds occur naturally, always stop and listen. Turkey calls, such as the assembly/lost call, cutting and cackling, will stir up a gobbler. However, be close to cover or already set up when you use them.

Hung-Up Gobblers

A "hung up" gobbler is one which answers your call but refuses to come all the way in. Most often this happens when there is a creek, ravine or other natural barrier between you and him. Gobblers also hang up because you are sounding too anxious and he thinks the "hen" is coming to him. Sometimes, the hung-up gobbler is call-shy. Sometimes "the silent treatment" does the trick. Sometimes, changing caller type will break him loose. A flurry of loud, aggressive calling often excites the gobbler enough to make him come across a barrier. Try all these tactics before you give up or move. Don't move until you have the gobbler's position positively located. Slip out to the rear and move in a big loop to a new calling location. Stay alert while dueling with a gobbler. Very often another gobbler will be attracted by the calling and walk right in. However, it also may attract other hunters. Be cautious for safety's sake.

How To Use Turkey Calls 

Spittin Feathers I Compact Disc

Turkeys Jubilee captures 30 wild turkeys in 60 minutes of non-stop turkey talk. Fifteen different turkey calls can be heard, including clucks, purrs, fly-down cackles, fly-up cackles, ground cackles, hen yelps, jake yelps, gobbler yelps, putting, cutting, whines, pits and kee-kees. Hear how a wild turkey communicates and learn how to call turkey.

Spittin Feathers II Compact Disc

"Gobblers in the Spring" is a collection of game calls recorded during the spring turkey hunting season. This recording contains sounds of gobbling wild turkeys and all the wildlife that surrounds them. Gobblers in the Spring includes sounds of gobblers, hens, owls, crows, hawks woodpeckers, song birds and lots more. This recording includes more than 60 minutes of wild animal sounds.

Spittin Feathers III Compact Disc

"Calling the Wild Turkey" is for learning how to use turkey calls. It also gives you tips and insight on calling your first or next turkey. Each session is broken down into different tracts so you can practice one call at a time until you are comfortable with using turkey calls. Practice to 100 percent real wild turkeys, owls, hawks, crows and more. Includes more than 60 minutes of turkey sounds and instructions.

Tips for a Turkey Tune-up 

Part 1

Turkey Hunting Tips #1 through #10

Part 2

Turkey Hunting Tips #11 through #20

Sounds of Wild Turkeys 

Brought to you by the National Wild Turkey Federation

NWTF | Sounds of Wild Turkeys

From gathering poults (turkey chicks) to finding a mate, wild turkeys make a vast array of sounds.

Spring Turkey Hunting 

By Ron Eakes, Wildlife Biologist, Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area

Tips for Beginners

Very few outdoor experiences can compare with spring turkey hunting. The sport can, to say the least, be challenging, exciting and in some cases almost addictive. When a gobbler sounds off up close, or he's strutting just out of range, even the most experienced hunter's heart tends to pound uncontrollably.

This article covers some of the basics to help get you started hunting wild turkeys.

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Moultrie Feeders is pleased to introduce to you "Grow the Hunt" - a blog dedicated to game management. We have spent the last 30 years building a brand name through quality products that game managers trust. Our goal with this blog is to give our readers the firsthand knowledge of two hunters who have made game management their passion. Join Brandon and Coop every week as they plant food plots, scout game and, most importantly, hunt.

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