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Turkey Hunting Tips
This lens was designed to provide you with helpful turkey calling tips and techniques so you will have a greater chance at successfully harvesting a dominant gobbler this turkey season.
PRADCO Outdoor Brands is a leading manufacturer and marketer of fishing lures, game calls, muzzleloading rifles, scents, hunting decoys, game feeders, game cameras and tree stands to hunters and anglers throughout the world.
Turkey Calling Basics
From the maker of premium game calls, Knight & Hale
There are plenty of different types of turkey calls and a good hunter learns to use several. Why? Because you never know which type of sound a gobbler will respond to on any given day. Some days they may like the high-pitched yelps of an aluminum friction calls and the next they prefer the rarely used sound of a wingbone. Always bring along several different types of calls on every hunting trip.
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.
Trophy Room
Interested in reading about fellow turkey hunters who have been successful this turkey season?
- Brian's 22 lbs. Turkey
- Turkey Hunting in Worcester county, MD.
- Knight & Hale Pro Staffers Take On Public Land Osceolas
- Turkey Hunting in Flordia.
- Avery's first turkey
- Turkey Hunting in Salisbury, NC
- Vansas's Turkey
- Turkey Hunter's Youth Kit Saves the Day!
- Turkey Hunting Success
- First turkey of the season.
- Turkey Hunting in Wellman, IA
- A double with bows!
Shoot to Thrill
- One Hunter's Quest for a Royal Slam
- In the words of AC/DC, "I can't get enough, I can't get the thrill... I shoot to thrill, play to kill." I'm a hunter, that's what I do. It's my job, my hobby and my passion. When something in your life means as much as that, that's where you get your drive, and that's where you seek your thrill.
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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.
Locator Calls Made Easy
A common hunting technique is using a locator call to prompt a shock gobble from a mature tom turkey, thereby giving away it's location so you can cut the distance and work the bird into shotgun range. Locator calls consist of mouth-blown calls and box calls.
But, each of these calls has its time and place. Here are a few hints on the proper time and place for each of these effective locator calls:
But, each of these calls has its time and place. Here are a few hints on the proper time and place for each of these effective locator calls:
- Shock Gobble Owl Call - We'll begin with this call since it's the first one you should pull out of your vest in the early morning darkness. The standard owl call requires the hunter to create backpressure by loosely covering the end of the call with his cupped free hand.
- The owl call is the go-to call for early morning shock gobbling. If it draws no response and you know there are turkeys in the area, try a crow call next. Blow it loudly and aggressively. Add a little guttural sound by growling while calling to add the gravelly sound that really fires up gobblers.
- Put the owl call back in your pocket as the sun comes up and go to a crow or hawk call. Those hours between 7:30 and 10 a.m. seem to be perfect for crow calls. Call quickly in short bursts and then go silent so you can listen for a response.
- If the crow call looses its effectiveness or you hit a new area in midmorning, try the hawk call. Loud single notes or pairs of notes will elicit a shock gobble.
- Many hunters go to a box call by late morning, and especially afternoons in those states where it's legal to hunt then. Box calls produce a lot of volume and often will get a shock gobble from a lonely tom.
- Yelping on a box call can be so loud, however, that they're best used when spot checking - driving to a certain area, getting out and ripping off a few yelps. If you're running and gunning a contained area, you may not want that much volume. That's when a simple diaphragm or friction call works best. Walk several hundred yards, give the cutts of an excited hen and wait for a response.
Product Video Demonstration
Brought to you by Knight & Hale
Interested in learning about the secrets of turkey calling? Watch this video for a lesson on Turkey Box Calls from Harold Knight.
How To Use Turkey Calls
Turkey Calling Instruction and Tips
- 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
Archibald Rutledge's words echo in my mind, as I ponder my passion for turkey hunting. Rutledge stated, "Some men are hunters, others are turkey hunters." Indeed turkey hunters are a different breed. It takes a genuine dyed-in-the-wool fanatic to pursue this challenging game bird.
Whether you are from the "old school," or a consumer of the latest high-tech turkey gadgets, this article will offer tips and techniques to help make your turkey hunting adventures more prosperous. I hope you glean insights from these tried and true methods, and ultimately tote home your finest long beard ever!
Whether you are from the "old school," or a consumer of the latest high-tech turkey gadgets, this article will offer tips and techniques to help make your turkey hunting adventures more prosperous. I hope you glean insights from these tried and true methods, and ultimately tote home your finest long beard ever!
Turkey Calling Tips
Feel the rush!
Calling Turkeys Is The Name Of The Game
- If you start the morning off without an idea of where a gobbler is roosted, begin by listening for gobbles and heading toward them. Sneak within 100 yards if you can stay hidden away from the bird. Then set up with your back against a big tree and wait for daylight.
- If the birds are quiet and you don't hear a gobble, you can prompt a "shock gobble" from a bird by using an owl call.
- Even though calling is fun, restrain yourself from calling too much. As the dawn breaks, make a few calls - tree calls or yelps - just loud enough for the bird to hear you. He should gobble back at you when he hears you, and then you can quiet down and wait. You may see or hear the bird fly down. Make a few more quiet calls and if he's interested, he'll come in to investigate. If not, you may hear him gobbling and going away.
- If the gobbler is going away from you, you've got a decision to make. You can sit still and wait a while to see if the bird circles around and comes back to you, which does happen, or you can try to circle around the bird and cut it off.
- If the bird shuts up and you lose it, it's time to begin walking and calling. Walk a ways and stop at good calling locations, hilltops, the edge of woods, at the bottom of valleys, etc. If this tactic doesn't score a gobble that you can venture off toward and the morning wears on, switch to a crow call to get a shock gobble. Also effective as the morning wears on is a box call. Box calls are loud and piercing and often get a gobble when nothing else does.
- So, you've located a bird, sneaked within 100-150 yards or so of it and set up with your back against a big tree. That bird is gobbling back at you every time you call and he's getting closer. Get ready, have your gun up and watch for his red head. The rest is up to you!
Rainy Day Turkey Hunting Tips
Here are a few tips for rainy day gobblers:- If you see lightening, get out of there. No gobbler is worth taking a chance.
- Turkeys prefer more open areas during the rain.
- Call louder to be heard over the constant white noise of a rainstorm.
- A rainy day is the best time to put the stalk on a bird.
- Immediately after the storm passes, make certain to be hunting an open pasture or crop field where birds go to dry off.
For more tips, read Rainy Day Turkey Options available at KnightandHale.com
Weather Conditions
Brought to you by The Weather Channel
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.
Ultimate Spring XIV DVD
Tough Tactics For Tough Toms 2 DVD'sHarold Knight say it was the most exciting turkey season in his 50 years of hunting. David Hale says he's never seen more longbeard action, and Gobblers Gone Wild capatured it all. Numerous hunts across the country on this two-DVD set.
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Turkey Hunting News
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Brought to you by Grow the Hunt
- Grow the Hunt
- 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.
Turkey Hunting Books at Amazon.com
Practical Turkey Hunting Strategies: How to Hunt Effectively Under Any Conditions
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 01/01/2010) 
Turkey Hunting Tactics of the Pros: Expert Advice to Help You Get a Gobbler This Season
Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 01/01/2010)
Hunting Pressured Turkeys
Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 01/01/2010)
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Visitor Feedback
A place to share your turkey calling tips or turkey hunting experiences. Also, if you have any suggestions on how to improve this lens just let me know.
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- New Hunter New Hunter Mar 26, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
- Thx 4 the good advise
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- RTF RTF Mar 15, 2009 @ 10:45 am
- Lots of great info on turkey hunting. Thanks .
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- poddys poddys Apr 29, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
- Really good lens, lots of info for the turkey hunter.
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- beachbum_gabby beachbum_gabby Apr 17, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
- this is fun and perfect for turkey season. Thanks!
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- Ericctg Ericctg Apr 17, 2008 @ 10:16 am
- Great lens, I only been turkey hunting once. Learn a lot from your lens. I'm still learning to improve mine. My lens saves money on those outdoor adventures.
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PRADCO Outdoor Brands is a leading manufacturer and marketer of fishing lures, game calls, muzzleloading rifles, scents, hunting decoys, game feeders,... (more)
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