Using Calling Techniques to Hunt Turkeys: Tips and Techniques

1. Know the Basic Turkey Vocalizations

Understanding the turkey’s “language” is the foundation of effective calling. Some calls you should master include:

• Yelp: A hen’s common call meaning “I’m here.” It’s often used to attract gobblers. MeatEater+3Hunter Ed+3Mossy Oak+3

• Cluck & Purr: Softer, content-calls that hens use while feeding or moving. Great for the latter part of the approach. savagearms.com+1

• Cutting / Excited Yelps: Rapid, high-energy calls when a hen is fired up—useful when a gobbler is nearby but hesitant. savagearms.com+1

• Locator Calls: Non-turkey sounds (owl hoots, crow caws) that can trigger a “shock gobble” and help you learn where birds are. FWC

2. The Calling Sequence: Start Soft → Build Intensity → Be Silent

A good calling sequence follows a strategic arc. Here’s how to do it:

a) Start Soft

Begin with light yelps or clucks. Don’t blast into high energy right away. “Start with light yelps and purrs spaced far apart,” is a recommendation used widely. Hunter Ed+1

b) Gauge Response & Build

If a gobbler responds (gobbles back), you know he’s listening. At that point:

• Slow your calling so you don’t spook him. Mossy Oak

• Add soft clucks or purrs to imply a hen feeding or content nearby.

• If you know the turkey is close but not committed, use more aggressive cuts or yelps to spark him in. Project Upland+1

c) Know When to Stop

One of the most underrated skills is silence. If a gobbler is moving in, constant calling can push him away. Many experts say: after a few calls, go quiet and let him come. savagearms.com

3. Match Calling to Timing & Terrain

• Early morning (roost drop): louder and more frequent calling can work because gobblers are fired up. But even then, start modest. Northern Ontario Travel+1

• Mid-morning to midday: birds may be quieter. Use gentler, more realistic calls (soft yelps, clucks) and reduce volume. Hunter Ed

• Terrain matters: In open fields, louder calls and box or slate calls help reach greater distances. In wooded cover, softer mouth calls or push-pull calls are better so you don’t spook birds. Hunter Ed

4. Advanced Calling Techniques

Once you’ve mastered basics, these can give you an edge:

• Fighting-Hen Strategy: Imitate an argument between two hens (rapid yelps + clucks) to attract dominant toms curious about the fight. Project Upland

• Variation in Pitch & Cadence: Don’t use the same yelp pattern over and over. Change the number of yelps, speed, tone to mimic natural variation. savagearms.com

• Use Environment to Amplify Calls: For example, use leaf scratches or branch snaps while calling to simulate a feeding hen moving away—this can trigger a gobbler’s pursuit instinct. savagearms.com

5. Critical Mistakes to Avoid

• Overcalling: Hammers of calling every minute may push gobblers away. Mossy Oak+1

• Ignoring the wind & cover: If you’re silhouetted, using loud calls in close cover, you may be spotted. Combine calling with concealment.

• Calling too early before set-up: Getting into position, setting decoys and then calling once birds drop from roost gives you the best chance. Delaying movement and calling helps. Northern Ontario Travel

• Not switching calling style: If you’ve used aggressive calls and got no response, switch to a softer sequence.

• Lack of patience: Especially with distant birds—giving up too early can cost you. One writer says: “Sometimes a bird will cover a long distance… don’t underestimate” the time it takes. Mossy Oak

6. Gear & Setup Tips for Calling Success

• Carry a variety of calls: box call, slate/pot call, diaphragm (mouth) call. Each has strengths depending on distance and terrain. Hunter Ed+1

• Practice regularly so your calls are clear and confident. Tongue push, proper airflow, mimic live turkeys.

• Use decoys to support your calling: a hen or jake decoy can add realism to your sound. Northern Ontario Travel+1

• Position yourself downwind of likely gobbler travel, with natural cover behind you. Use the wind so your scent isn’t going toward incoming birds.

• Stay still once you start calling. Sudden movement while calling can alert the bird to human presence, negating your efforts.

Final Thoughts

Calling is both science and art. Get the rhythm and tone right, match it to bird behavior, terrain and time of day—and equally important—know when to stop. With practice and patience, effective calling will significantly boost your odds of getting a gobbler into range.

If you’d like, I can pull together recorded audio samples of the most effective turkey calls (yelps, clucks, cutting) and a week-by-week calling progression for the season. Would you like me to do that?