It’s okay to admit you have a problem.
You’ve spent hours leaning against a tree, calling and calling and calling the day away, yet the prize turkeys are always visiting the other hunters. You’ve tried everything, but it doesn’t seem to work. To make matters worse, you have to listen to your friends brag about all the alpha gobblers they keep harvesting.
The bad news: you can’t call turkeys.
The good news: you can fix it quickly by reviewing the basics.
Take a look at some of the fundamentals of turkey calling and the next time you meet your friends, you will be the one doing the bragging.
Go Back to the Boxes and the Slates
In general, the box calls and the slate calls are much easier to master than the mouth calls. If you are using a mouth call but are having no luck, go back to the boxes and the slates. Use these as the foundation of your turkey calling and try the mouth call sparingly.
Practice All Year Long
Turkey season is pretty short. If you only work on your calls during the precious fall and spring seasons, you’re selling yourself short. If you want to be an effective turkey hunter, practice all year long, and practice as often as possible. A lot of experts recommend practicing while driving, which gives you some private time to work on your calls.
Know All the Calls
Are you doing all the different calls, or are you just doing the yelps and clucks? Work on a variety of calls so you are versatile enough to attract the attention of turkeys in almost any situation. Knowing different calls is very effective and will help you attract more turkeys.
Remember Volume and Frequency
Turkey calling is a game of subtleties. Too loud, and you’re going to scare away the turkeys. Too soft, and they’ll never hear you. Start soft to see if there are any turkeys nearby. If 15 minutes go by, increase your volume so your call reaches further. Keep increasing the call until they come running. Shrubs, trees, and foggy days will alter the reach of your turkey calls, so adjust accordingly.
Frequency matters too. You need to be calling at a pace that matches the frequency of the turkeys around you. Stop and listen. If you hear any turkeys in the distance, try to match their rhythm.
Tune In
Remember that the ultimate goal is to mimic a turkey, not another turkey hunter. While listening to the turkey calls of successful hunters will help you find the right volume, pitch, and rhythm, you need to spend more time listening to turkeys. Go online and listen to turkey calls (trust us, there are plenty), or go to the woods during the off-season and just sit and listen.
The Perfect Apparel for Turkey Hunting
If you’re not perfectly camouflaged, your calling will go to waste. Make sure you have layered hunting apparel by visiting the online store from NOMAD Outdoor. You’ll find camouflage pants, jackets, hats, and face masks that are perfect for hiding your body from a strutting gobbler.