Hello all,
I'm new to this forum - and to hunting... I have a CD that is teaching me how to make the various turkey calls, however I'm not entirely sure as to which calls to use. I was told that some calls would only scare a gobbler away. Could someone please clear me up on this and perhaps toss in a few pointers for a beginner like myself?

The only call I'm aware of that will send a turkey the other way is a putt. A fighting purr could scare them if you are calling young toms. Otherwise, just practice, practice, practice. If you can master the yelp, purr, cluck, and cutt you have all you need.

Welcome to the school of hard knocks. I find that turkeys like many calls so much that they are quite content to stand there out of rangeor behind obsticles for long periods of time gobbling their heads off at just about every squeak you make. The trick is to make the right calls to make him want to come closer... not an easy trick to learn without doing it a time or two. Then, when you think you have it down, the next gobbler is likely to prove you wrong. Every bird is different, every situation is different, and their moods change from day to day. What fires him up today might do nothing tomorrow. I find that playing hard to get and calling very little is consistantly better than yelping it up and making him gobble constantly. He wants that hen to come to him, so when you show you're interested by responding every time he gobbles, he is gonna stay put waiting for you. If you sound likethat hen isthere but quite content to ignore him, it will drive him nuts. A couple of soft clucks and purrs and then shutting up is a good trick. If he doesn't come in, some scratching in the leaves like you're feeding might make him commit. Good Luck!

Here is a link to some tips. The calls description should help you out!
Let me know if I can do anything else for you!
Good luck this year, its addicting!!

http://www.magicmorning.net/index_files/Page628.htm

Willie

Just make sure you learn to yelp. You can kill a gobbler with just a yelp. Concentrate on that in the beginning. Later you can master other sounds. Learn to yelp softly also. Don't call too much though. Learn to master the mouth call but start out with a box or push call.

Thank you guys for clearing that up for me.
-Jay

I use just the yelp and the cluck. I like starting out with the clucking and then make its away into the yelp. But just practice and you'll be fine

the call that scares most turkeys is the one you make to the taxidermist.

learn the yelp, purr, & cluck first. When calling blind, mix and match these calls. Try watching as many hunting tapes as you can and try to mimic them with these calls. JMO, when you have a tom comming in, or are trying to call in some hens so the Toms follow, do a lot of purring. The purr is a sign of contentness. Just practice and research as much as you can. Mix that with some good scouting (know where the birds roost, fly down, feed, strut) and you will be fine. good luck