Turkey's Response To An Errant Call?

[pagris]

Members:  I am relatively new to spring turkey hunting and, truth be told, I have very little confidence in my calling ability.  I have been practicing with diaphragm calls for several months, but I am not convinced that I am very good with them and usually end up using a simple, box-type, push-pull call while hunting.

My question is this - do turkeys respond negatively to an errant call?  If I am clucking away with a diaphragm call and flub one (or two or three) clucks, does that send them running or, at least, raise their suspicion?  It seems to me that I have read somewhere that turkeys tend to ignore such errant noises, but I would like to hear your experienced opinions.  TIA.

[dukkillr]

Depends.  If they are close enough to see you, it might spook them.  If they have been hunted hard, it WILL spook them.  But, if it's early in the season and they're not that close they'll ignore it.  As you hunt more you'll learn that real turkeys make all kinds of noises, so even real ones don't sound perfect. 

Just get out there and give it hell, you'll figure it out.

[Davemuzz]

"Over-calling" can bring 'em in to a point...then send 'em running the other way. I've had great success making three or four successive "clucks", then waiting 20 to 30 minutes, then just repeat the 3 or 4 clucks again, wait another 20 or 30 minutes. Yeah....I even time myself looking at my watch. The first time I did this was after I read an article  by a well known successful turkey hunter. Within 1.5 hours I had (fall season) called in and shot a nice size hen. I was more suprized than the hen!

I think consistency is more important than perfection. If you have a gobbler coming at you....just "shudd-up". Let him "search" for you. He already knows the exact location of where the sound came from. When you hear him coming closer and closer, get your gun on your knee.

MHO

Dave

[Doublebass73]

I use almost the same strategy, I'll call briefly for no more than a minute or two then put the calls down for 20 minutes.
When I get a gobbler to answer I'll keep quiet and let him find me. If he's a ways off I might call a couple of times while he's looking for me but I keep it to a minimum. I learned this strategy from a local guy who's on the pro staff at Quaker Boy. It works for me.

[buck460XVR]

My question is this - do turkeys respond negatively to an errant call?  If I am clucking away with a diaphragm call and flub one (or two or three) clucks, does that send them running or, at least, raise their suspicion?  It seems to me that I have read somewhere that turkeys tend to ignore such errant noises, but I would like to hear your experienced opinions.  TIA.

It's been my experience that unless the turkey is already spooked or suspicious that a subtle flub/mistake will not drive them away. That said, I never like to end a series of calls on a bad note. If I make a mistake or squawk a call, I'll quickly follow up with another series of good calls and it seems to work. IMHO most folk put too much emphasis on tone, sound quality and things like pitch and raspiness. I believe rhythm and cadence are more important. If you've ever been in the middle of a flock and listen to them talk, you know that every bird has a different sound and pitch, and squawk and squeak like the worst of beginning callers, but they all have a similar rhythm and inflection to their calls. To get birds to come to you, you have to sound impatient. Once they get there, you have to acknowledge their presence and either sound content or shut up..

[jvs]

I call for 1 minute every 15 minutes with series of Clucks and Yelps out of a Quaker Boy Cedar Box Call. 

If I get an answer, I will do a single series of 5 or 6 Yelps AFTER a Bird gobbles again and I figure he is wondering where he needs to go.  I will call when I hear another gobble.   When he calls out, I answer him.  If things are working out for you, he will be a little closer every time he gobbles.

When he gets within 40 yds, I use a Purr. 

That absolutely drives them nuts.

I have heard that a Turkey can pinpoint you within 10 feet from a distance of a half mile when they hear your call.  I think this is true and it is possible to call too much.  So unless it is the 15 minute cycle, I dont call more until I am being called.  I wouldn't worry too much about flubbing one.

Always remember one thing...

YOU ARE NOT THE HUNTER, YOU ARE THE HUNTED.   

Only at the very last second do you turn the tables and go from Hunted to Hunter.

Whether that Turkey successfully hunts you depends on what kind of Turkey you are.

[prairiedog555]

I read alot of turkey hunting techniques especially about calling.  I use a slate call.  I always try not to call too much.  But I read once what one hunter said which was if you are having no luck you might as well call like hell and hope.  Well that has worked for me twice.  I was ready to pack it in and just kept calling loud for 5-10 min straight.  Just as I was getting up in walked 4 jakes.  And last year I had gotten up to pee and then leave when in walked 9 jakes. 
I would rather shoot a jake myself, having gotten a few real longbeards in the past.  They are more tender and I think the old guys can survive better and proliferate. 
So I that is my experience.

[slave]

Buck460 is dead on. Calling is all in the rhythm or cadence. I have over called, under called, squeaked, and just plain messed up so many times I can not count them all. Killed a lot of birds as I made many of these mistakes because the first thing is was taught is keep the proper rhythm and do not worry about the tone.

Find a hot bird and hit him with the proper cadence in a series of calls and he is on his way. Call loud and strong up front and right off the bat. If he hangs up go soft then softer as if the hen was moving away. If you are not sure how to cluck, stop. A BAD CLUCK IS A PUT. A put will spoke a bird in close. Yelp if you can. If you do a cluck well it is fine as an entrance but end it with a series of yelps or a  pur. That way if a note is to high and sharp it will not be the last sound he receives.

It will not be your calling that makes you a good turkey hunter. It will be your woodsmen ship and knowledge of the bird and land you are hunting. I never worry about the call. I want to be in the right spot at the right time. It is always better to know were the bird wants to go then it is to try to call him in another direction.
To much is placed on calling. It is sold (calls) as the most important aspect of turkey hunting. Concealment, and set up location will bag more birds than a $125 Cody slate call. Great call, but if you are busted or just in the wrong location banging two cans together works as well.