Turkey newbie

[nategood21]

I'm new to turkey hunting and I'm looking for tips on calling, like how long to do it, time between calls, what types of calls to use with a pot call, decoy placement anything you'd be willing to share. When scouting for turkey what am I suppose to look for besides turkeys? What sounds do they make when they're moving or flapping do they make any distinct sounds besides calls? I'm not asking for a ride along or looking for anyone's secret spots, I saw some turkeys last year during elk season and was hoping to find them again and hopefully get one. Anything would help thanks

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[jblackburn]

So many variables here, kind of depends on the "mood" of the tom.  Plain yelping is usually a series from 3 to 7 yelps, pretty well evenly spaced.  Clucks can range from single notes to several that morph to cutting.  The biggest thing is rhythm and cadence.  Some hens sound horrible, but they have a rhythm. 

This is a good video of cutting and more excited yelping

Turkey Hunting - Great footage of Hens cutting and yelping

good plain yelping example

Hen Talk 1 - Plain Yelp of the Hen

clucking and purring

Cluck and Purr Hen Turkey Calling

there are dozens more on youtube. My advice is to watch the videos of turkeys, not guys running turkey calls, unless you just need tips on how to run the call.

Decoys,  If I use decoys, I keep it simple, usually a max of 2.   I like a jake and a hen.  I like to face the jake toward my set up and the hen off to the side like she is leaving the area.

A good tactic for when a tom is close, but just won't quite come in is to take your hand or a stick and scratch the ground (it there is something that will make noise).  That feeding sound has worked for me several times.

Also, once he responds and seems like he is coming, just about the best thing to do is to stop calling.  Make him come look for you.

[jblackburn]

I missed your scouting question.  In the evenings they will often gobbler right before and/or right after they fly up.  It will usually be right at dark, then you know where to be the next morning!

Look for scratches in the leaves/needles.  You can tell, in general which way the birds were moving by this.  They basically will head in one direction.  Droppings can tell you about the birds, too. Hens poop little round lumps jakes/gobblers leave straight or often J-shaped poo.

Feathers are a good find, can be hard to tell how old they are, though.  Gobbler breast feathers will be black tipped, hens will be white/buff colored.

[nategood21]

That's awesome thank you. If  you're just walking into an area how long would you wait there without any kind of response from anything before moving on? There isn't very many turkey around where I live, I've seen 7 in 14 years one single and a group. I'm trying up around where I saw the group last year hoping they're still in the area. Or hear something from them to pinpoint their location

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[jblackburn]

Wow, that's a low concentration.  From my experience, there's a good chance the have different spring territory than fall, but if that's the best habitat around, they may very well be there. 

If I were you, I would get to a good high spot where you think they might be and listen at daylight.  Gobbles can be heard from a LONG way off if its not windy or there are other noises.

If that doesn't work, try run and gunning, walking areas where there might be birds and trying to strike a gobbler. You can do this with a locator call (crow works well or a woodpecker call) or you can give some sharp cuts on a pot or a box call.  I like using a box for this, because they can get loud and they carry a long distance.  But always start with a few soft yelps and work your way loud, just in case he is close.

[nategood21]

I'll give that run and gunning a try. I live in chelan county where there's a one bird a year limit. Don't know of any other reasonably local places, trying to work with what I got

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[Tjajwilson]

Have you had any success? Just read this article and wondering.

[mwhunter]

Lots of birds out there had 6 birds gobbling last night should wack one in the morning

[kevinlisa06]

That's what I do and a lot of other hunters walk an area periodically call. Sit and listen for awhile. Just relax and listen to the best sound there is yep nature. Make a few calls and listen some more.


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[Nature Boy]

If I don't know where birds are roosted I try to get up as high as possible before daylight and listen for gobbles.  If I hear one then I'll try to get within 100 yards or a little closer if it's still dark.  Set up then start with a few quiet tree yelps to announce your presence.  With luck the Tom will acknowledge you with a gobble.  The adrenaline rush is on at that point!  Amp up your calling a bit with yelps, purrs and clucks.  There is no magic recipe on calling.  With experience and lots of screw ups you learn how to take a birds temperature and what types of sounds, loudness and frequency to call.  I used to overcall and would answer every gobble as a Tom approached.  Not sure why but I lost a lot of birds that way.  Now I spend more time making the bird look for me and have toned down my calling and my success has increased.  Good luck.