If nothing is going on I call about every 15-20 minutes.Turkeys can move fairly fast if they want to,and if one were to come your way he should still be in hearing if you call that often.Sometimes tom will just slip in,so too much calling may spook a silent tom.If I get one to respond I check his temperature.I will answer him back.If he answers me again I will cutt,or yelp a little more.I want to work him up.When he is gobbling fairly good I shut up.
Most of the time he will keep gobbling.Don't answer.If you do he will sit there all day until he gets tired of you,and moves on.I set myself a time limit.and will not call back for that period of time.Usually between 5-15 minutes.If the bird was real hot I will wait 15 minutes.If the bird was not that hot I will not wait but about 5 minutes.The idea here is to keepthat less responsive bird interested.And to get that very excited bird worried that he needs to come on in.First of all you are supposed to go to him,so in order to get him to come to your hen calls,you have to work him up,then play hard to get.Just like most women do.Most guys want the shy girl,not the loudmouthed girl at the bar that is too eager to dance with anyone.He is the same way.If you are too eager he know #1 you will come,or he won't#2 something's not quite right.
Once your time limit is up,and you have not heard the bird or seen him.Yelp again.He should answer right back,probably in the same place.If you can tell he's closer...stop calling,if not Work him up again..throw some pleading yelps,and cutts at him.Then shut up.Remember how long to wait.Keep your eyes open.If after any of these series when he seems to be answering you,he shuts up at the exact time you do.HE IS COMMITED,and is probably coming in.90% of the time in my experience.
SO when he shuts up remember the time frame hot bird=15 minutes,cold bird=5 minutes between calling sessions.When he does go quiet,he will most likely come in strutting,spittin' and drumming.Gobbling is used for long range,drumming is used for short range.You will hear the humming in your head.Usually 2 year olds will come gobbling all the way.The older birds will strut,or half strut..pop out of strut.Stick his head up..look around,take a step,strut..repeat on and on.If he is getting frustrated he may gobble on his own after he has came a short distance.(And you say wow that's alot closer!)THIS BIRD IS HIGHLY COMMITED!!!DON'T answer him just yet!Wait2-3 minutes.As hard as it may be.You must resist.He is coming,and if you give in he will hang up.
After that 2-3 minutes.Make a soft yelp..or my favorite tactic turn away from him,and yelp.They can't stand that.
He most likely won't answer this time.He is fine tuning his approach....Don't call again,go quiet,and get your gun up.Usually after he has come this far he will come all the way.So get ready,look for that white head.When you're sure he's in range....
This is just my tactic.It doesn't work all the time(usually foiled by hens),but it does work regularly for me.If he didn't come all the way move to a different spot,and try again.Sometimes they don't want to come to your set up,and just moving can make the difference.Hope I helped.
Oh,and my favorite calls are my Primos Box cutter,quaker boy old boss hen,and Cody glass slate w/heavy hickory striker.There are alot of great calls out there,the thing is learning how to use your call,and having faith in it.I know guys who hunt only with a box and kill as many birds as anyone else.I carry a few calls.I like to think of it sort of like fishing luresthough,he may not bite on this call,but maybe this one..
