How Average Turkey Callers Still Kill Birds Consistently

How good of a turkey caller do you need to be to kill a gobbler? I used to ask myself this question constantly at the beginning of my solo turkey hunting career. Naturally I was questioning almost every aspect of my hunting prowess at that time, because I wasn’t having success on my own. At the same time, I was developing an inaccurate view of how important calling was in turkey hunting. The guys I knew that tagged turkeys on a consistent basis were all good callers, so I automatically made that correlation. I didn’t realize though, that there was more to what I was seeing and hearing. Being successful on a turkey hunt involves so many more factors than just being a good caller. If you're new to the game, our Beginner’s Guide to Turkey Hunting breaks down the fundamentals of chasing spring gobblers before you even pick up a call.

Too many guys put too much on emphasis on being a good caller and developing that perfect tone. I’m still not the best caller in the world, but I’ve developed a style of my own and a system that helps me consistently kill turkeys. Calling is only a small part of it. And honestly, the better of an overall turkey hunter you become and the more attention to detail you develop, calling will slowly become the least important tool in your arsenal. 

So, let’s return to the question, how good do you actually need to be? In terms of tone and skill, I would say being mediocre to average is good enough to kill turkeys. I say this because tone and skill often don’t determine if you bring that gobbler in. Stop worrying about being a Grand National Champion caller, start worrying about being a complete turkey hunter. By all means practice your calls, but don’t let that be the main emphasis of your approach. Your skill on a turkey call is not as important as the following calling factors: 

Calling at the Right Bird

What exactly do I mean by this? It’s simple. If you are dealing with an old, cagey, pressured turkey, it might not matter what you do. Some turkeys on some days just won’t be called in. So, in essence, finding the right bird makes all the difference in the world. You obviously won’t know this until the effort is made. I’ve spent three or four mornings chasing what felt like an unkillable turkey. You want to know how I finally filled a tag? I left that turkey alone and found another one. Dave Owens and Preston Pittman, who are multiple time Grand National Champions have said the same thing. Finding a turkey that is willing to play the game is more important than being a skilled caller. 

Calling at the Right Time

Timely calling trumps calling skill. Like I said earlier, I’m not an expert caller, but I’ve learned timing. You can kill a turkey while only knowing how to perform a three or four note yelp if you know when to do it. In my opinion, calling to early can negatively affect your hunt. When moving towards a gobbling turkey, it is best to stay quiet until you get completely set up. Calling while moving can give away your position and educate the bird. In terms of working the bird after you’ve set up, I have two strategies. The first is simple yelping sequences then waiting for an answer. The other option, especially if you are having a hard time getting an answer is to answer him. Cut him off with some louder yelps and you may change his mind. 

Calling the Right Amount

This falls hand in hand with calling at the right time. Timely, concise calling is better than filling dead woods air with yelp after yelp after yelp. Focus on the three and four note yelps that we discussed previously and don’t overuse them. This is always a challenge because when a turkey is gobbling a lot, it’s so tempting to pour the coals to him with calling. The only time I call more is if I hear another hen in the area with us. You may agitate her and call her in by doing this and therefore the gobbler with her. Otherwise, I limit my calling and if he is fired up and answering me, I shut it down quick. Giving a fired-up gobbler the silent treatment is often the key to my success. 

Calling from the Right Spot

This is where I see the bulk of novice turkey hunters make a mistake. Where you call from is vitally important. Gobblers have great ears and even better eyes. They know where the sound your making is coming from and this often makes or breaks your hunt. So many hunters will call from a spot that gives them open vantage. If you find yourself calling at a turkey and you can see 100 or 200 yards, you are going to have a hard time calling him in, especially without a decoy. I like to call from cover, or over the hill from the gobbler. I want him to have to search for my calling. If he can see from a long way that there is no hen standing there then he will not commit. If you get him to think that she is just over the hill or just behind the thicket, he may come investigate.  You have to be still and ready when you do this though, because often times when you first see the gobbler, he will be in shooting range. 

You don’t have to be a skillful caller to be a successful turkey hunter. You just have to know how to maximize the skill that you do have. That’s where the previous factors come into play. Some of the best turkey hunters I know are just average callers. Calling doesn’t put turkeys in the truck, woodsmanship and effort do. That mindset is part of what makes wild turkey hunting culture and conservation so meaningful to the hunters who keep coming back every spring.

Published by: Will Bowen, Okayest Hunter Contributor