Turkey season is upon us! If you’re new to turkey hunting, or have never even tried it before, now is the perfect time to get started. Turkey hunting can be a challenging and rewarding experience, and with a little bit of practice, anyone can do it.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Do your homework. Learn as much as you can about turkeys and their behavior. This will help you be more successful when it comes time to hunt them.
2. Get the right gear. Turkey hunting requires some specialized gear, including a good shotgun, calls, and decoys. Make sure you have everything you need before heading out into the field.
3. Be patient. Hunting turkeys is a waiting game. Be prepared to spend long periods of time sitting and waiting for a bird to show itself.
4. Be stealthy. When you do see a turkey, move slowly and carefully so as not to spook it.
With these tips in mind, you’re ready to start turkey hunting! Good luck and happy hunting!
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What is Turkey Calling?
Turkey calling is a way to attract wild turkeys to your hunting area.
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Why Call Turkeys?
Turkey calling can be a very effective way to bring turkeys into your hunting area.
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When to Call Turkeys
The best time to call turkeys is during the spring mating season and early morning and evening hours.
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What Calls to Use
There are many different types of turkey calls available, including mouth calls, box calls, and diaphragm calls.
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How to Call Turkeys
Once you have chosen the right call for the situation, you need to learn how to use it properly.
What is a good beginner turkey call?
If you are a first-time turkey hunter, the easiest call to use will be a friction turkey call. These include turkey pot calls, box calls, and push/pull calls. They are fairly easy to use and are a good option when approaching your first spring turkey season.
This is a great way to get in some extra practice time, while still being able to focus on driving. Just be sure to keep your eyes on the road and not on the screen of your phone or device.
What do you say when calling turkeys
In order to mock the two-note yelp of a hen, you will need to practice saying “chalk” while moving your jaw up and down. It is important to get the speed and cadence of your yelps just right in order to sound like a real hen.
If you can produce the correct two-note, high and low sound of a yelp on a mouth call or friction call, with the correct cadence and rhythm, you will call up and take many toms by just yelping Yelping is typically done by hens who are purposefully speaking to other turkeys.
How often should I try to call in a turkey?
When it comes to calling hens, less is definitely more. Calling too often will only serve to spook them and make them less likely to come in. A good rule of thumb is to call every 15 minutes or so, and to start off quieter and then get more aggressive/louder as the day goes on. If you hear a hen, try to mimic her exact vocalizations.
Merriam’s are considered the easiest subspecies to hunt because they live in more rugged areas. This makes them more difficult to find and track, but also makes them more difficult to escape from once they are found.
How long should a turkey call last?
Turkey calls can last up to 2 to 3 years if cared for correctly. The two parts of the call that can fail are the latex and the tape. The latex will wear out over time and the tape can delaminate if not allowed to dry.
If you want to increase your chances of success when hunting wild turkey, it is important to be able to identify the different types of gobblers. The most prevalent type is the dominate gobble. These birds are usually the most vocal and will gobble frequently, both in the evening and morning. However, they can be more difficult to locate and pin down to a specific area. Another type of gobbler is the call shy gobbler. These birds are typically more subdued and will only gobble once or twice in the evening. They can also be more difficult to locate in the morning. However, if you are able to pin them down to a specific area, your chances of success will be much higher. The last type of gobbler is the shock gobble. These birds are typically the most difficult to locate and hunt. However, if you are able to use an owl hoot or coyote howler to generate a shock gobble, your chances of success will be much higher.
How many yelps in a row
The yelp is a basic turkey sound, and is one of the most commonly heard turkey vocalizations. Both male and female turkeys yelp, and it sounds similar to its name. When a turkey yelps, it usually does so in a series of notes, mostly in a sequence of three to eight notes in a row.
Bartholow is right, hunters should be aware of the volume of their voice and the time of day. When hunters get a bird to sound off, it is often because the bird is startled by the hunter’s loud voice. This can lead to the bird being killed.
Is it good to call for turkeys in the evening?
The evening turkey difference is that most studies of gobbling activity show that the evening, though it sees more gobbling than midday, has only 10 to 30 percent of the gobbling a typical morning sees. The toms might be tuckered out after a long day, much of it spent waddling after hens.
A “cluck” is a soft, brief sound that turkeys make when they’re content or checking in with each other. It’s similar to a chicken’s “cluck,” but not as loud. A “putt” is a single, staccato note that turkeys use as an alarm. Turkeys usually putt when they see or sense danger, not to simply warn other turkeys, but also to warn a predator it’s been spotted and shouldn’t waste its time.
What sound scares a turkey
If you’re looking to scare away a turkey, there are a few things you can do. You can try making noises by waving your arms or blowing a whistle. You can also pop open an umbrella or throw tennis balls. If you really want to get the turkey to move, you can douse it with water from a hose or squirt gun. Leashed dogs can also be effective in scare turkeys away.
The plain yelp is a great way to start a conversation with another turkey. It’s like saying, “Hello, anybody home?” Then, if the other turkey gobbles in response, the novice turkey hunter is likely to reply with the same 5-7 yelps. This is a great way to break the ice and start a conversation.
Why does my turkey hiss?
These are the vocalizations of ravens. They are mostly low and guttural, indicating either irritation or a desire for a better spot. They also whine while in flight.
You go home and when the turkeys ain’t gobbling you go home and you grab some deer sausage or some other kind of meat out of the fridge and cook it up and eat it with some hot sauce.
What time of day are turkeys most vocal
As a general rule, turkeys are most active during calm, clear days in morning and early afternoon hours. Turkey activity generally decreases with bad weather conditions, including wind and rain. During extremely wet and rainy days, turkeys are neither vocal nor very active.
Turkey hunters should be aware that a lot of turkeys, especially old Easterns, will gobble only once or twice in the afternoon. However, these same turkeys will come to calls fast and silently. Therefore, afternoon hunting generally peaks from around 2 to 4:30 pm. On some days, it may be wise to hunt right up until dark. Additionally, hunters should be aware that gobblers love to roost within 50 to 200 yards of hens.
Conclusion
In order to successfully call turkeys, it is important to understand their natural vocalizations and imitate them as closely as possible. There are four main types of calls that turkeys make: yelps, cuts, purrs, and gobbles. Yelps are used to communicate basic information like location, while cuts and purrs are mostly used by hens to communicate with their young. Gobbles are the most distinctive call and are used by toms to attract mates.
When calling turkeys, it is important to use a variety of sounds and calls to sound as realistic as possible. Turkey calls can be made using a variety of methods, including mouth calls, diaphragms, and box calls. Each method has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it is important to experiment to see what works best for you.
Mouth calls are probably the most versatile and realistic-sounding way to call turkeys, but they can be difficult to master. Diaphragms are easier to use, but can sound less natural. Box calls are relatively easy to use and can produce very realistic sounds, but they are not as versatile as mouth calls.
Here are some tips for using each type of call:
Mouth Calls:
Turkey calling is an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors and can be a great way to connect with nature. Although it may seem daunting at first, with a little practice anyone can become a proficient turkey caller. So get out there and give it a try – you might just surprise yourself at how good you can be!