Scott Ellis answers your questions about wild turkey hunting.
Q: Jimmy from Wisconsin asks “How often do you call a bird gobbling every time you call?”
A: I will start with saying over calling has been the reason for more gobblers not being harvested than any other error when hunting turkeys. Only call enough to keep him moving towards your set up. If he slows down his foward progression get a little more excited with your sequeneces. Add a little cutting and excited yelping. If he eventually comes close and does not get to gun range, quite calling completely for about 10 mins.SE
Q: Shawn from Alabama asks “I’ve been told to start off learning the mouth caller with a single or double reed and no cuts? Is this true?”
A: NO-I feel this is one of the biggest misconceptions when teaching mouth calling. Using a no cut design does not allow you the ability to cut or produce any rasp. A clear call, also is harder to produce consistent yelps because you have to cleanly roll over each note or it sounds like a sloppy mess! Use a 3 reed V, or cutter style call to start off. It is easier to produce the raspy hen than the clear hen……SE
Q: Sam from Louisiana asks “What do you do when a gobbler hangs up?”
A: The 1st thing I would do is to completely quit calling for about 15 mins. Let him stew and resist the urge to call. More times than not the fact that he feels this “hot” hen has left the area, will get the best of him and he will come looking for love. There are many other answers to this question, I will expound upon the many vaiables that occur when toms hang up, in the “tips and strategies” page……SE
Q:Jeremy from South Carolina asks “What is the best locator call for spring?”
A: I dont have a 100% correct answer for that. I have witnessed areas where there were tons of a particular animal, for example, crows and owls and the turkeys gobbled agressively towards both AND I’ve seen it where they didnt gobble very well in the same scenario. As well, when I hunted Texas they would hammer at my owl hooting, although we heard no barred owls and I do not believe they even exist in that part of texas. Ultimately I have had success with, peacock, hawk, crow, owl, duck, goose, and well if they had a thunder call that would work wonders! Carry three or four locators with you and give each one a try you never know which one is going to work.
Q: Chris from Pennsylvania asks “What call is the most effective in the spring for calling in gobblers?”
A: I would have to say the yelp is the most effective call used during spring gobbler hunting. It is the hen turkey’s most common used call for locating gobblers in the spring.SE
Q: Bobby from Ohio asks “What is the most important factor in spring turkey hunting?”
A: I feel the set up is the most important detail that is often overlooked. Always consider where the tom could be going and choose the path of least resistance for the gobblers route to your setup.SE
Q: Al from Ohio asks “Will a hen re-nest more than once?”
A: Yes a hen will re-nest up to 7 times. With the multitude of predators and dangers facing the nest of a wild turkey, mother nature programmed them correctly.SE
