A large part of success in turkey hunting is determined by your ability to call your prey. Since sneaking up on turkeys is out of the question and stalking them as you would another kind of animal is too difficult, you need to call the turkeys in to you. Of course, not all turkey calls are created equal. There are certain kinds of calls that are right for certain kinds of situations and figuring out which call you need to make when will make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting your turkey. The six basic turkey calls listen here will work for a number of different scenarios.

One of the most basic turkey calls is one that is intended to sound like a female turkey, or a hen, yelping. To yelp like a hen, you need to make a series of high pitched – almost screech like – noises in short, frequent bursts. The hen uses this yelp in a number of different ways to mean a number of different things, but all you need to worry about is the fact that this yelp alerts the male turkeys that a hen is in the area, drawing them in – which of course means they are coming in closer to you.

Another kind of hen inspired call is known as the call of the excited hen. This cal is similar to yelping, but it is louder and more urgent. Although the call is still made up of single notes, instead of doing the notes in series, you should do them erratically. This is the call that hens used to call out when they are alone and are looking for other turkeys for company, so repeating this call yourself can draw a bird to come and find you.

The next important call to know is not one that you should try to emulate, but it is one you should definitely know the sound of. This call is known as the putt, and it is a kind of turkey warning system. A putt is one, sharp note that announces danger to other turkeys in the area. In other words, if you hear a putt, there is a chance that you have been made and that the turkey is warning all of the other turkeys in the area to scatter. If you hear the putt once, you may be able to save the day by being very still and letting things calm down, but if you hear several putts, the jig is up for awhile.

If you are lucky enough to get a turkey to come close to you thanks to one of the hen calls, you can keep him calm by copying turkey purring. This soft call is not unlike the rolling, reverberating sound of a cat’s purr, but it is done slightly louder. Purrs signal satisfaction for turkeys, and hearing the purr will soothe your prey.

Using the purr requires the turkey to be relatively close to you, but if the turkey is not quite within earshot of a normal purr, you can still send out this comforting message by using the purr and cluck call. The purr and cluck is a louder version of the purr that is accentuated by occasional clucks. The cluck should start the call, then the purr, and so on, with the clucks coming sporadically.

Last but not least is the sound everyone associates with turkeys – the gobble. Male turkeys are the ones who gobble (hence the nickname gobblers), so this call is most effectively used in the fall, when the males are less interested in trying to mate with a hen and instead are traveling in packs of gobblers.

Are you a novice turkey hunter who would like to improve your shotgun skills? When it comes to successful turkey hunting skills, there are many small considerations that you can take that can help you take successful aim at your prey. Here are some tips for improving your turkey hunting skills.

Prepare for Optimal Turkey Hunting Circumstances

Before you prepare to take aim, take the time to set up the right kinds of circumstances for success. Spend the day before you go hunting scouting out the location. Late afternoon is a good time to go turkey scouting. What exactly are you looking for? Look for signs of turkey activity, including, most importantly, turkey sounds. You will want to scout at least until nightfall. When it is dark, turkeys will fly up into the trees to roost for the night. They do this in the evening, close to dark. If you think you may have missed seeing the turkeys going to roost, but you suspect that they are up there in those darkened boughs, you can elicit a response by hooting like an owl or crowing like a bird. This is a good way to get a response from nearby turkeys. However, if you do not hear anything, do not despair. This does not mean that there are no turkeys up in the trees—they may be simply fast asleep or not in your immediate area of the woods. However, if you do hear a response, this means that you have successfully set up your hunting area for the next day. If you are able to make it a practice to note where the turkeys are roosting, you are much more likely to experience a fruitful hunting season the next day.

Finding the Perfect Location to Take Aim

One of the most successful parts of setting yourself up for turkey hunting success is to learn to use effective calling in a the right location. Cultivating a good box call or slate call is a great way to scout for turkeys. Let us say that it seems you have perfected the perfect yelp for attracting male turkeys. Where should you be in relation to the turkey in order to get the best possible shooting position? The best location you can find should ideally find you on equal elevation between you and the gobbler. Avoid calling a gobbler uphill. Calling a turkey downhill is usually not very productive, either.

Shooting Practice Pays Off in the Woods

Do not assume that your shotgun will allow you to shoot and hit every gobbler that comes your way. Your goal is not to wound or cripple a bird, which is what can potentially happen if you neglect to pattern your shotgun before the hunt. Before heading out to the woods, practice patterning your shotgun at 30 to 40 yards. You will ideally want to practice with a large piece of paper using a turkey head target. This will allow you to see the heart of your shotgun’s pattern. Practice using different shot sizes, including 4, 5, or 6 shot. You will, of course, also want to practice judging distance. Using a decoy can also provide good shooting practice. You may want to place the decoy at a fair distance to help determine range. Don’t be afraid to practice with aids, even if you have never tried these before. Colored beads, two-power scopes and laser dots can help eliminate misses.

Aiming to Hit – Tips that Get Results

Here are some general tips that can help you get the best possible shooting aim at all times. One of the most adequate types of shots can be had with a tightly choked 12 gauge with a number 6 premiums, and a 2-¾ inch of shot. This is a good choice for clean kills under 50 yards.