Call a Lot

Early on I was warned not to call too much or I would affect the behaviour of the birds in a very negative way. I was almost afraid to call at all the first hunt that I went on. I also felt like when I did call, all the birds within three miles would hear it and depending on how well I had imitated the call of the wild turkey all or none would come. There are key times when not to call, but in my experience these are the exception, not the rule. There are three times while turkey hunting that you shouldn't call. When you have called once in the morning to let gobblers, you heard gobbling, know where you are, stop calling until the gobblers come down off the roost. Calling over and over to birds on the roost will make a gobbler think you are so hot to trot that he doesn't need to come to you. If you want to work the bird up while he's on the roost, use a shock call. My favorite shock call is mooing. You can tell the bird is off the roost because there will be a pause in his gobbling and it will be a lot less loud or he'll shut up completely. Sometimes the gobbler will turn away from you on his roost, making the gobble quieter, but if you hear several quiet gobbles in a row especially if they are dimming each time the bird gobbles, he is off the roost and its time to start calling again. If the bird honors your call, wait to call again until you can determine if he's walking away or towards you. If he's walking towards you don't call, except to cluck softly and/or purr. If the birds is leaving, call a lot, you don't have much to lose. If it seems like the turkey is going to leave all together, consider gobbling. I would hate for someone to get hurt, by taking my advice, so don't gobble until you have read my post on gobbling (coming soon) and even then be sure to make your own informed decision about it. Another reason not to call is if you see another hunter. Say "hello" instead. Turkeys don't talk so hopefully they won't shoot at you. Re-cap: 1. Don't call to birds on the roost once you've told them where you are. 2. Don't call to a gobbler that's coming in. 3. Don't call when you know that another hunter is in the area. Say "hello" instead. Otherwise call a lot. Its really hard to get close enough to a turkey to shoot it without calling it in.