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John's Journal...
Entry 141,
Day 1
MASTERING TURKEY TALK WITH WILBUR PRIMOS
The Tree Call, The Hen-Turkey-Wing Call and The Lost
Call
EDITOR'S
NOTE: Turkey hunters understand the basic language of turkeys, but
perhaps not the subtleties of that language. Often the subtle variations
in the volume, rhythm and pitch of a turkey's call mean just as much as
the kind of call it is. Sometimes these variations may mean even more.
The most skillful turkey hunters -- the masters of the sport -- know how
to add these subtleties to their calling. This week, avid deer and turkey
hunter, Wilbur Primos of Jackson, Mississippi, the founder of Primos Game
Calls, will share some of his secrets to use turkey talk effectively to
attract even the most stubborn birds.
The Tree Call:
Although some hunters refer to this call as the tree yelp, I believe the
tree call is as much a cluck as it is a yelp. When I try to describe this
call to somebody, I say it's a muffled yelp made in a monotone. In other
words, the tree call is a hen's way of yawning when she wakes up in the
morning. This call is usually the first sound a gobbler hears from a hen
each day. The gobbler has been in his tree all night long thinking about
mating. When he hears that yawn and knows his sweetheart is waking for
the day, he really gets charged-up. If you hear a tree call in the morning
when you've slipped into the woods, you must realize that you'll have
competition from a hen for that gobbler. Just join in with a tree call
yourself, and try to sound like a part of the flock.
Many
hunters will give tree calls first thing in the morning when the woods
are still dark. But this really lessens their chances of attracting a
gobbler, especially if they're hunting a river bottom or flat ground fairly
close to the tom. When a gobbler that's sitting half-asleep in his tree
hears a tree call from the ground, he'll often be spooked. He probably
wonders what a hen's doing on the ground when there's not enough light
to see. A gobbler will be very cautious of any hen like that. So, never
give a tree call until the woods brighten-up. Remember also that if no
hens are calling, there probably aren't any close to the gobbler. If you
give a tree call, the tom will wonder what's going on, because he hasn't
heard a hen fly up close to him before dark. An experienced ole' gobbler
may be spooked off if you try a tree call before daylight.
The
Hen-Turkey-Wing Call:
The most-reliable way to get a gobbler's attention early in the morning
is to call him with a hen turkey wing. I prefer to use a hen wing because
a gobbler wing is too stiff and large to produce the right sound. I'll
flap the wing so it hits a few bushes and some leaves on the ground. This
sounds like a hen that's just flown or walked into the area and begun
to flap her wings -- in the same way you stretch your arms in the morning.
Eight out of ten times, this flapping call will get a response from the
gobbler. He'll either gobble or fly down. Then I'll use a series of soft
yelps.
The
Lost Call:
Another effective turkey call is the lost call -- which is different from
yelps, because this one has yearning in it. The lost call means "I want
you to come to me, or I want to come to you. I don't want to be here alone."
The difference between a lost call and a long series of yelps is the slight
tonal changes you make when giving the lost call. If a lost call doesn't
sound pleading, it's not a good one. What separates the master callers
from the hunters who merely call is that the masters put life and emotion
into their calls. The slightest difference in inflection can completely
change the meaning of the call. I'll use the lost call primarily in the
fall after I've scattered a flock of turkeys. I'll rarely use this call
in the spring. When you hear the lost call in the woods during the fall,
you know there are turkeys out there searching for one another. If you
give the lost call, you can reel them in as though they're attached to
a string.
TOMORROW: THE YELP, THE CLUCK AND THE PUTT
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