Sounds Made by Wild Turkeys
From gathering poults to finding a mate, wild turkeys make a vast array of sounds. Below are common calls you can hear in the turkey woods.
CLUCK
The cluck consists of one or more short, staccato notes. The plain cluck, many times, includes two or three single note clucks. It's generally used by one bird to get the attention of another. It's a good call to reasure an approaching gobbler that a hen is waiting for him.
PUTT
The putt is a single note, generally associated as an alarm, could be several notes sharp or rapid fashion, usually means they have seen or heard something, means danger.
TREE CALL
The tree call is usually a series of soft muffled yelps given by a roosted bird. Sometimes it picks up in volume as fly down time nears. Maybe accompanied by soft clucking. Generally acknowledged as a call to communicate with others in a flock.
PLAIN YELP OF HEN
The yelp is a basic turkey sound. It is often delivered in a series of single note vocalizations and can have different meanings depending on how the hen uses it.
CUTTING OF EXCITED HEN
A series of fast, loud, erratic single notes is referred to as cutting. It's a modified cluck and is a distinct abrupt call with a somewhat questioning nature. It can be heard at a great distance and is often used by a single turkey looking for companionship.
ADULT HEN ASSEMBLY CALL
The adult hen assembly call is a series of loud yelps in order to assemble her flock or young poults.
FLY DOWN CACKLE
The cackle is generally associated with movement. It can be heard when a bird is flying up or down from a roost, flying off a ridge, or flying across a creek. A cackle usually consist of three to 10 irregularly spaced notes. It's a movement call, so use it sparingly.
KEE KEE RUN
The kee kee is the lost call of young turkeys and variations made by adult birds. It's often associated with fall hunting, but can be used successfully in the spring. This is what it sounds like. A variation of the call, the kee kee run is merely a kee kee with a yelp.
PURR
Purring is a soft, rolling call turkeys make when content. It can usually be heard by feeding birds. This is not a loud call, but is good for reassuring turkeys as they get in close to your position.
CLUCK AND PURR
The cluck and purr is single note or notes often associated with flock talk or the feeling of contentment. Sometimes amplified. It is a cluck followed by a rolling, almost staccato call.
OWL HOOTING
The eight-note hoot of the barred owl is often used as a call to locate gobblers in the early morning or late evening hours.
GOBBLING
The gobble is one of the principal vocalizations of the male wild turkey and is used primarily in the spring to let hens know he is in the area.
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