Calling and Working the Bird

When you get into a call game with the bird , you need to get the feeling from the bird as too what he wants to hear. Most Turkey hunters call this "Taking his Temperature".

It all starts at most times, while the birds are in the roost. This is the time you don't want to call too much. At this time you should try a soft Tree Yelp. This is about 3-4 maybe 5 very light Yelps that the bird can just hear.
Just before the bird seems interested in Flying down , you may want to try a Flydown Cackle. This is a very fast even series of Clucks, that soften off in the end of the series.
After Flydown;

You want to get him Double Gobbling if at all possible, this in turkey languge is he's excited,

Most times it takes some Cutting to work the bird up to an excitement level.

If you Plain Yelp to the Gobbler , he's going to give you a curtesy Gobble , thats just one Gobble ,, maybe a couple of seconds , He's gobble again , he's just returning another curtesy Gobble. This means He knows your there and he'll come your way sooner or later but is going to do his thing ,maybe look for another Hen that is receptive in the area.

Now , by you Cutting too him , your telling him that you are excited , and most times , your on a high and are receptive. This changes the thought of the Gobbler , because this is what he is looking for, A hen that wants him. Most times you will hear him Double Gobble, this is two gobbles,one after another that sounds like its put togeather into one, done fast.

Once he has done this he has told you that he is interested in you. This is the time , that you don't want to over call your bird (meaning keep cutting) and get him to excited, because keeping in mined , natures way is the hen is to go to the gobbler. Gobblers will hangup and wait out the arrival of the hen.

So you want to back off the excitement call and give him the feeling like your feeding at the time and you'll wait for him.
So Back to a short series of Yelps, maybe add a Cluck or two. Do not get into a game of answering him all the time. This again only tells him your wanting him, and you'll go to him.That hangs up the bird.

When the time goes quiet in this hunt, Be ready pointed in the right direction of his gobbles,follow the gobbles with you gun barrel and just give a plain few Yelps, or a couple of Purrs and a Cluck. This is telling him your content and your here if he wants. If he Gobbles back to them calls instently , He's Coming be ready,(For friction callers this is the time to put down your calls), at this time you do not need to call at all, Be ready,, and if you want, and use a mouth calls, just give him a couple of very soft yelps , almost like a Tree Yelp. Keep a good eye beyond shooting distance for any movement, Always train yourself to look for the Head , a white or pale light colour, not the body. A gobbler has the instink to end up in range with out being seen. When the bird reaches the 40 yd range it is time to take off your safty,and still follow the bird or gobbling. Little hills/rises in the woods , he with approch behind them, and obstacles that maybe in front of you, Will be the likely spot for the bird to head for. Be ready at all times and remember to stay with the bird or the gobbling. If the bird or another shows up in range in another place , wait him out before moving, or wait til the bird is walking or turns before making a move. When you need to move , move slowly, if the bird stops you stop and wait him out untill he starts to move again. When the bird and Gun meet at the proper range a load cluck can most likely stop abird in his tracks, this is the time to take the Shot.

Adrian J Hare
QuakerBoy Game Calls