If only there was a one size fits all approach, then perhaps turkey hunting would be a little bit easier. Although there are different types of turkeys and multiple scenarios that can take place out in the woods, there are a few things you can do to help increase your chances of success.

If you have scouted out a turkey roost the night before, then you probably only need to call a few times to call in a turkey. On the flip side, if you have not seen any turkeys all day, then you may want to call more often with a locator call as you cover more ground throughout the day.

Factors Of Calling Frequency

Regardless of the many scenarios that can take place, the three simplest answers to the question “how many times should I call” are as follows.

Comfort Level

How often you practice and how proficient you are at calling will give you way more freedom when it comes to the amount of calling you can do while hunting turkeys.

Whether you’re new at turkey hunting or a seasoned hunter, practicing and perfecting your skills will only serve to improve your chances at getting a bird on the ground. This isn’t to say that one “off-sounding” call will ruin your hunt, but I think it is fair to say that the more you sound like an actual hen looking for a new friend, the better off you’ll be.

Less Is More

Strive to do the least amount of calling possible.

I know it’s hard not to push the situation and it’s very hard to stay patient when you have a turkey gobbling on the other end, that doesn’t seem to ever get any closer. Sometimes the least amount of calling you feel is needed, turns out to be quite a bit of calling.

Whatever the situation you find yourself in may be, it’s best to keep the mindset of wanting to keep things as natural as possible. Don’t overthink it, the more similar you are to sounding and acting like an actual wild turkey, the more successful you’ll be when hunting.

Know The Habitat

You may not have to call at all if you get out and SCOUT.

Scouting before the season and figuring out the patterns of the turkeys you want to hunt will dramatically improve your chances when bow or gun hunting. Other than the obvious things, such as identifying where they are roosting and finding potential food sources, it’s more important to find the routes in which they travel.

If you can identify how and when they are moving from location to location throughout the day, it takes a lot of guessing out of the equation. It’s much easier to hunt something that has no clue that you’re there in the first place.

With that being said, I will admit that it’s much more fun to call and have a gobbler respond on the other end when you’re in the woods. Not only does it feel more engaging, but it is also genuinely, one of the most unique and amazing sounds that comes from the symphony of the woods.

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Types of Calls

Understanding and utilizing each type of call to it’s fullest potential will allow you to experience the gobble of a wild turkey much more often. Some calls are easier than others to use but mastering each type should be a goal of all avid turkey hunters.

1. Locator calls

These are calls that mimic other animals, such as an owl or a crow. These can be used when scouting to find roosting locations or to help find a hiding gobbler when hunting a new location.

2. Push Button calls

Push button calls are the best calls for beginners. Easy to operate and offers many different sounds if used correctly. A major advantage of using this call is that it can be operated with only one hand.

3. Box call

This is also a very popular call that can be used by beginners. Box calls can be used to communicate with turkeys from long distances but can also produce soft sounds for closer interactions.

4. Slate calls

These calls require more time spent practicing, being able to consistently produce quality sounds. Using this call is somewhat of an art and when used correctly, vocalizing specific sounds becomes way more achievable.

5. Diaphragm call

Commonly known as mouth calls, these can become your best friend if you spend the time learning how to use them. They are inexpensive, small, lightweight, and most importantly, weatherproof. They don’t require you to use your hands, which allows you the option to call all the way to the point of when you pull the trigger.

Sounds To Mimic

Becoming a good caller isn’t just about knowing how to make the correct sounds, but also includes knowing when to use each specific sound. There are a couple of different vocalizations that turkeys make that you need to be aware of so that you can effectively use them as well to call in a big tom.

1. Yelps

This is a locator call for breeding. Hens use this sound to locate male turkeys to let them know they are ready for breeding.

2. Clucks/Putts

Also used to locate other birds and many have agreed that it is a hen communicating that she is content where she is at.

3. Purr

This call signifies that a hen is communicating that she is content; it has also been recognized that a hen will use this sound if she is entering the territory of other turkeys.

4. Cutting

The most dramatic sounds of them all, when a hen is cutting, she is communicating that she is either distressed or desperately looking for a companion. This is personally my favorite vocalization to mimic when trying to get that hardheaded gobbler to come in to shooting range.

The more often you’re in the woods, the higher the chances become of you experiencing one of the multiple scenarios I am about to cover. You can spend all the time in the world practicing and preparing for the hunt but sometimes, things happen that are outside of your control.

As with anything, maintaining patience and confidence will turn what may originally seem like an impossible situation into a successful turkey hunt. More times than not, it’s not going to be as simple as what it looks like on your favorite hunting show.

That isn’t to say that everything can’t go perfectly, but more times than not, you’ll find yourself troubleshooting and problem-solving while trying to make the right move on a gobbling turkey. I’ll go over a couple things that may happen while you’re hunting.

1. Overcalling

The typical tendency when you’re engaging with a gobbling bird is to want to keep pouring it on him. Sometimes this might work, but most times it won’t. It is true, however, that the more the turkey is gobbling back, the more likely you are to get away with more calling.

A good thing to keep in mind is that if the gobbler is in sight, calling should be kept to a minimum, while I think you shouldn’t be calling at all. Although, if you are calling for another hunter, and you have placed yourself behind them and are trying to navigate the bird past the shooter, then keep trying to lure that gobbler on in.

If by yourself, though, be aware that even though sometimes that turkey will walk all the way to your barrel, there are occasions where the turkey will lock up and stay out of shooting range.

This is where decoys come in handy. If the turkey has something to connect the sound with, the more likely he is to be tricked into walking into his own death. If you’d like to put yourself in the mind of that gobbling turkey, the more you call, the more he knows there’s a hen that’s interested in him.

He may take the initiative and try and find you, or he may assume that the hen is going to come to find him. I prefer to play “hard to get”. Make the tom do the work so that you don’t have to.

2. The Quiet Bird

If you’ve hunted enough, I’m sure you’ve encountered the bird that’s there, but doesn’t seem to want to move or respond as you would want him to. Patience is the key in this situation. Maintaining a good time span between calls will help your chances.

As I said, mimicking nature will give you a higher percentage of success. Calling and then waiting at least 30 minutes to an hour to call again resembles what that wild turkey on the other end interacts with in a real hen.

Remember, that gobbler hasn’t forgotten where you are when he responded the first time. Just because he doesn’t respond to every call, doesn’t mean he won’t eventually show up.

I’m positive many of us have left many birds too soon because we became impatient. Always assume that turkey is on the way, regardless of how much he may be responding.

3. Pressured Bird Calling

They don’t get to be known as the long beards by being stupid. They are the battle-tested warriors that have seen and experienced all the dangers of hunting season. Either by being shot at or by them watching too many of their buddies killed, these turkeys are more reluctant to respond or to come into a calling hunter.

This is where being able to resist the urge to call too much can really come in handy. Let the turkey know where you’re at and have faith that he will eventually come your way. If you decide to get up and close the distance or change locations, don’t forget to call while you move.

Who knows how many times hunters have called, move locations, only to have that bird show up in the spot they were just at. Even if you aren’t going to move, a good tactic to use is to call over your shoulder to make it sound like you (the hen) are moving farther from that location.

Don’t get caught in the cat and mouse game with a turkey. It’ll most likely never end up in your favor.

4. The Gobbler with Hens

Gobblers with a group of hens are by far the hardest turkeys to hunt. They have no incentive to come to you when they already have what they are looking for. You may get one of the Jakes to come into your call, but let’s be honest, what you really want is that big tom that is running the show.

The best way to hunt these turkeys is to get as close to the group as possible without being seen. Keep in mind, turkeys have incredible eyesight. Once you’re close, instead of trying to call to that gobbler, you need to call to the dominant hen in the group.

To call to the dominant hen you want to use aggressive cutting calls and yelping. When she responds, don’t hesitate, and call back to her before she finishes calling you. It’s almost as if you’re communicating that you want to start a fight with her. The dominant hen will pull the flock towards you and with that flock comes the long beard right along with them.

There are few things that resemble the feeling of having a big, gobbling, long beard walk, unknowingly, right into his own death.

A successful turkey hunt can sometimes feel like pure luck, but I am confident that if you practice your calling, understand your hunting location, and remain patient and positive, you’ll have many great experiences while hunting.

Even if you don’t leave the woods with a dead turkey doesn’t mean that the hunt wasn’t successful. Every experience you encounter should be looked at as a chance to become a better turkey hunter. No one has all the answers, so never be scared to try something new.

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How Many Times Should I Call When Turkey Hunting