calling all turkey experts

[gp4ever]

Hey guys been out a few times now. My question is when calling in turkey, what is the frequency of calling. After a couple calls 5 minutes, 10 minutes 15 in between.

[CorporalK]

Well first of all, I will say I am in no way an expert. if you think you've learned everything your dead wrong. As for frequency though, it depends on your situation (see him in a field your set up on, spot him in the hardwoods, hear him in the woods or on his roost). If you start off with clucks and yelps and get a response instantly, I will typically shut up, until he gets close and hangs up, then I will start to purr and soft cluck. if you get no response when you start calling, Ill continue try clucking and yelping for 15mins before I choose to move my set-up. Sometimes you get the shy gobbler and will just somehow show up 10 yds away without any gobbling. Many different variables to consider to like weather, wind and the gobblers hens present just to name a few. In summation, my best results have came when shut up after I hear a gobble following my calls. They tend to wonder where you are, as opposed to continuing to call and him expecting you to follow him. Good luck!

[gp4ever]

Corp thanks. I went out on sat. At sunrise. Heard a couple gobbles than they stopped. We r set up on a tree line but its not a field its a christmas tree farm so im not sure where they decided to go. I know they have walkedthis treeline as my house is a couple hundred yards away and have seen them and their tracks. Gonna give er another shot on sat. If nothing im going to move my blind

[JMatthews]

Corporalk is right: it depends! A rule of thumb is to call less than you think you should. If you get a gobble response from a Tom, then try some softer calls. Once a Tom/Jake gets close I tend to stop calling. The main thing is to restrict movement as the Toms will often stand back and watch the area they heard the calls. Last Saturday I had a Tom walk in on me without any calls and he was about 7 feet away from me. If I had have been moving at all, he would have bolted.
Good luck, still lots of the season left so don't get discouraged.

[finsfurfeathers]

You would be surprised how little calling is needed at times. Often if I know I'm on a travel route may just call enough to let them know I 'm there and resist the urge too call more. Last year after a series of calls watched a tom work the field edge 100 yards looking for the presumed hen. He'd take a few step go too full strut than stared into the bushlot to see if he could spot the hen. may have taken him 40 minutes to cover the distance. Had I not seen him and kept calling I'm sure he would of pick me off.

[big dawg]

All depends on the bird my second bird cut me off every time I called but wanted the hens to go to him, I gave the bird the silent treatment for twenty min. Finally he could not take it any longer walked straight in gobbling non stop and at 15 yards I took him. My first bird came out in strut I called once bird came out of strut ran into my tom decoy and got back into strut. One thing I can say from experience early in the season you can call more than later in the season.

[CorporalK]

Corporalk is right: it depends! A rule of thumb is to call less than you think you should. If you get a gobble response from a Tom, then try some softer calls. Once a Tom/Jake gets close I tend to stop calling. The main thing is to restrict movement as the Toms will often stand back and watch the area they heard the calls. Last Saturday I had a Tom walk in on me without any calls and he was about 7 feet away from me. If I had have been moving at all, he would have bolted.
Good luck, still lots of the season left so don't get discouraged.

Yes JMatthews thanks for raising those points! I had a gobbler come over to me through the hardwoods the other day, after ceasing my calls. I thought I could shift my gun on to my knee when he went behind a tree 20yds out but who was I kidding he saw me, and tail down calmly walked away. GP4E, if you can get in tight on that roost and let him know your down on the ground you should have a good chance, scouting is key knowing their daily patterns (ie. what direction they tend to head after coming off the roost). Good Luck man!