Turkey hunting is a way of life. It offers a unique culture that’s different from other types of hunting. Of course, turkey calling is rich with heritage. They even have world championships to celebrate it.
But it’s not easy. Nor is it something that comes without error. There are many blunders to avoid when calling wild turkeys.
To help minimize the amount of mistakes made, we’ve assembled a list to help guide hunters through the spring season. Here are the top 20 turkey calling mistakes hunters make.
- Calling Too Much
Calling too frequently is a surefire way to shut down a gobbler. Being too loud and proud with your calls can turn off a longbeard, effectively doing more harm than good.
You’d have been better off using no calls at all and allowing the birds to casually work into the decoy spread.
- Not Calling Enough
In contrast, not calling enough is another mistake. There’s a delicate balance between being too vocal and too passive. Find the sweet spot, and match your calling intensity to the turkey you’re calling to.
If they’re feeling it, keep hitting them with calls. If they aren’t gobbling much, or expressing negative body language, tone it down.
- Poor Cadence
Cadence is one of the most important elements of turkey hunting. Poor cadence can leave a bad taste in a turkey’s mouth. And you can see it in real time, too.
For example, maybe you’re calling to a turkey in sight. He’s been gobbling. Then, you hit a funny note or get out of rhythm, and he doesn’t gobble. A few minutes later, you roll out the best turkey talk of your life, and he hammers. That’s the difference in cadence.
- Bad Volume
Volume is another important aspect of turkey calling. Sometimes, it’s best to call softly. Other times, it’s best to be louder. Examples of soft calling include on the roost, quiet days, close birds, etc. Examples of louder calling include windy days, distant birds, and more. Match the volume to the scenario at hand.
- Incorrect Vocalization Choice
Each turkey vocalization means something. Too many callers emit vocalizations without considering what they’re actually saying. Don’t get too careless with the sounds coming from the call. Instead, assess the situation, consider the situational details, and talk turkey accordingly.
- Using Only One Call (Or Call Type)
I’ll be the first to say, I often pigeonhole myself into one or two calls. I find the calls I like, and I stick to them. While that’s good for mastering the one call (or call type), it prevents you from broadening horizons and expanding turkey calling skillsets.
If you prefer a friction call, such as a box or pot, try a mouth call. If you primarily use a diaphragm, consider a tube call or wing bone.
- Not Making Other Noise
Let’s say gobblers get in close. You’re in the timber, and they can’t see your decoys. (Maybe you don’t have decoys out.) If they keep coming, and it’s a quiet day, they might need additional reassurance to fully commit. Therefore, it might pay off to make additional turkey noise. Scratch in the leaves. Snap a stick. Flap a turkey wing. These and more can add realism to your calling.
- Telling a Different Story with Decoys
Most turkey hunters use calls and decoys. That’s a positive play for most hunting scenarios. Although not a dire mistake, in heavily pressured areas, telling a different story with calls and decoys might tip off a wary longbeard.
So, if you have a lone hen decoy out in the wide open without much cover nearby, don’t hit that hung-up strutter with a jake gobble. He might not receive it well if he can’t find the bird he heard. Sync the vocalizations you’re using with the decoys in the field.
- Walking and Calling on Bad Gobbling Days
Some days, turkeys are screaming behind every oak tree. Other days, you can’t buy a gobble at a Butter Ball farm. On those latter hunts, walking and calling doesn’t often pan out.
If they aren’t talking, and you’re covering a lot of ground, it can result in a lot of bumped turkeys. Instead, these are the situations to be more passive and wait for turkeys to come to you.
- Calling Against Typical Turkey Patterns
Much like deer, turkeys also exhibit patterns. They express tendencies to roost, feed, and strut in certain areas. Therefore, attempting to call turkeys away from these locations is ill-advised.
Instead, property lines allowing, try to set up where turkeys already want to go. Then, call them into the areas they already frequent.
- Keeping a Turkey Hammering on the Roost
Few things are cooler than a longbeard thundering on the roost. Hearing that throaty gobble box rattle and shake all the limbs in the tree and bones in your body is a surreal thing. But keeping that turkey hammering on the roost can be a mistake.
Oftentimes, this can lure in other hunters, predators, and even hens, all of which might steal that turkey away. So, call enough to keep that turkey interested, and then go quiet. When he flies down, he just might come looking for you.
- Keeping a Hung-Up Bird Thundering
Turkeys sometimes hang up, and it’s one of the dumbest things in the turkey woods. They’ll strut and gobble and strut some more at 80 to 100 yards but won’t break and come any closer. There are reasons this happens, though.
First, they want the “hen” to come to them. Unless you’re crawling, that isn’t happening. Secondly, it might be a barrier, such as a fence, and that turkey isn’t coming closer.
In such situations, it can be better to go quiet. That might spur them into enough of a frenzy to bring them on in. If not, consider repositioning on that turkey and approaching from a different angle.
- Calling Too Close to the Roost
The roost hunt can be a challenging balance of being too close and too far away. On one end of that spectrum, calling too close to the roost is more detrimental than being too far away, though.
If you start calling 30 yards from the roost tree, that gobbler might or might not react well. But odds are it won’t. So, back a little further from the roost, and settle in that ideal 75- to 100-yard range.
- Starting Out too Hot Out of the Gate
Reflecting on your dating days, how did you respond when a potential suitor ran right up to you and started yapping? Did you lock that up with a marriage license? Probably not.
Likewise, starting out too hot with your calling can lead to similar negative results. Instead, start out softer, and ramp it up as needed throughout the exchange.
- Using the Wrong Call Type for the Scenario
Turkey hunters have numerous call types at their disposal. Box, diaphragm (mouth), pot (glass and slate), push-button, and more. Each of these calls have their own best case scenario for use.
For example, box calls are great for long-range calling. Glass, slate, and other striker-fired calls are good for those calling at moderate to closer range.
But hands-free (mouth calls) and one-handed (push-button) options are best for moderate and close ranges, especially when turkeys are in sight or in range.
- Failing to Implement Situational Tactics
We often talk of hunting in terms of absolutes. In many ways, it isn’t, though. All hunting is situational.
Therefore, failing to implement situational tactics is a significant mistake. Hunters should assess the situation, consider best applicable practices, and hunt accordingly.
- Practicing Infrequently
Turkey calling is an artform, and all art must be practiced to do it well. So, practicing infrequently is a surefire way to have minimal effect. It takes time on task to become proficient in turkey calling. As they say, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. Practice frequently.
- Failing to Maintain Calls
Turkey calls, like most gear, need regular maintenance. Chalk your box calls. Sand the slates. Tooth-pic the diaphragms. Then, store all of them properly. Failing to maintain calls will lead to issues when using these in the future.
- Trusting Last Year’s Calls Are Just Fine
Pulling a turkey call out on the opening morning of turkey season is a great way to encounter issues with calls. Maybe that box is in rough shape, and you forgot chalk at the house.
Perhaps you lost the striker for your slate call and forgot to replace it. Maybe that mouth call reed is blown out, and it sounds like more like a drunk, squawky crow than a sweet-talking hen.
Whatever the case, don’t trust last year’s calls are just fine. Verify, and then maintain or replace these as needed.
- Remaining Stagnant in Your Calling
Finally, don’t stay stagnant. Most hunters practice their calling until they reach a certain skill level they’re happy with. Then, they call it quits on practice and hover at that position.
Instead, continue to practice and get better at the craft. As they say, if you don’t improve, you regress.
Turkey hunting is fun, and calling a longbeard into bow range is a lightning bolt of adrenaline. To experience it more, avoid the top turkey calling mistakes hunters make mentioned above.
