Calling Tips from the NWTF
Listen and Learn
Practice the right way! Listen to these recordings of real wild turkeys as you practice your calling. Listen closely to the cadence, or rhythm, as well as the tones of these turkeys' calls.
Cluck |
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The cluck consists of one or more short, stuccato notes. The plain cluck, many times, includes two or three single note clucks. It's generally used by one bird to get the attention of another. It's a good call to reasure an approaching gobbler that a hen is waiting for him. |
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Purr |
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Purring is a soft, rolling call turkeys make when content. It can usually be heard by feeding birds. This is not a loud call, but is good for reassuring turkeys as they get in close to your position. |
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Cluck & Purr |
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The cluck and purr is a single note or notes often associated with flock talk or the feeling of contentment. Sometimes amplified. It is a cluck followed by a rolling, almost staccato call. |
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Putt |
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The putt is a single note, generally associated as an alarm. It could be several sharp or rapid notes and usually means the bird has seen or heard something and is signaling danger. |
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Tree Call |
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The tree call is a series of soft muffled yelps given by a roosted bird. Sometimes it picks up in volume as fly down time nears. Maybe accompanied by soft clucking. Generally acknowledged as a call to communicate with others in a flock. |
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Fly Down |
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The cackle is generally associated with movement. It can be heard when a bird is flying up or down from a roost, flying off a ridge, or flying across a creek. A cackle usually consist of three to 10 irregularly spaced notes. It's a movement call, so use it sparingly. |
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Assembly Call |
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The adult hen assembly call is a series of loud yelps in order to assemble her flock or young poults. |
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Plain Yelp |
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The plain yelp of a hen is a basic turkey sound. It is often delivered in a series of single note vocalizations and can have different meanings depending on how the hen uses it. |
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Kee Kee Run |
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The kee kee is the lost call of young turkeys and variations made by adult birds. It's often associated with fall hunting, but can be used successfully in the spring. A variation of the call, the kee kee run is merely a kee kee with a yelp. |
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Gobble |
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The gobble is one of the principal vocalizations of the male wild turkey and is used primarily in the spring to let hens know he is in the area. |
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Owl Hoot |
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The eight-note hoot of the barred owl is often used as a call to locate gobblers in the early morning or late evening hours. |
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