A turkey call is an important and useful piece of equipment when you go turkey hunting. You might have noticed that domesticated turkeys don’t act so smart. However, their wild counterparts are nothing like them. They are a rather crafty prey, which calls for smarter ways of hunting them. We’ll give you some tips on how to use a turkey call that would add more to your hunting success.
Getting a Turkey Call
The first step of course is to actually buy one that works. Now there are various types of calls out there when you check out any sporting goods store. If you’re just a beginner then you ought to start practicing on a box type call. Box calls, you will notice immediately, are usually made of wood. You will also find ones that are made of aluminum, which can be used in any weather. You’ll find those quite handy when bad weather would threaten to spoil your hunt.
Another alternative any beginner should try out is a slate turkey call. The slate style call can produce some of the best calls after some practice. You can add variety to your calls by using both a box style call and a slate call. Produce different calls and sounds from each type to attract your prey.
Box calls produce sounds or calls when the lid is rubbed all across the call’s base. On the other hand a slate call makes sounds when you pull a small mallet. Let’s now move on to the basics of using both these calls. By mimicking various turkey sounds you can become a more effective hunter.
Mimicking Turkey Sounds
Start mimicking turkey sounds by practicing on making a turkey’s clucks. Clucking sounds will require you to use a slate style call. To mimic a turkey’s clucking sound pull your mallet across the slate. You should make a rather quick yet solid motion when doing so. Keep repeating the steps until you produce really good clucks.
The next sound you should work on is a yelp. You can use either the box call or slate call to produce yelps. Move the lid in small circles for a box call and turn your mallet in small circles on your slate call. Keep using the call that you become more efficient with.
Purrs are produced using your slate call. Hold your mallet and drag it along the slate slowly. Practice making short and long purrs.
If you want to make a cackling sound you should stick with a box call. To make a cackling sound you should clack the top of your box call following a fast rhythm. Mix and match beats mimicking patterns produced by an actual turkey.
