Locator
calls are designed to coax a gobble out of a turkey so you know where he is.
During the breeding season, adult toms are so keyed-up that they will gobble at almost any
loud noise that isn't too close to them. The banging of a car door, thunder, a dog
barking, a gunshot, the cawing of a crow, the hooting of an owl, and the howl of a coyote,
can all pull a gobble out of a silent tom; not every time, but often enough to set you up
on some gobblers that you wouldn't have known were there otherwise. When you hear one of these sounds while you are spring hunting, stop
walking instantly and listen intently for a responding gobble.
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The
most commonly used locator call is the hoot of the barred owl, the familiar
who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all cadence heard at dawn and dusk throughout Eastern
turkey range. Spring gobblers will often respond to owing made with your voice or a
loud Commercial Owl Hooter.
Owling is also a good way to keep a tom gobbling while you work in on him.
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There is usually a
concentrated burst of owl calling about a half hour before sunrise and just before
sunset. This is the best time to listen for roosted birds. If a gobbler and
real owl get into a calling duel, let the real owl do the work for you as you slip in on
the tom. After sunup many hunters switch to a loud, raspy Crow Call to make toms
"shock gobble." Owl hooting does work any time of
the day, however.
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There are other less common
locator calls used by some hunters, but these are rapidly catching on. Elk Bugling can be done on a diaphragm call and works well even
though there are no native elk in the area. Similarly, the call of a Peacock, Pileated Woodpecker, or Coyote Howl
will all draw a gobble. These relatively new locator sounds have been commercialized
and combined into a single compact Hand-Held Call. Power Screaming of these
new sounds with an amplifying sound chamber helps to reach out long distances with the
sound. A loud, explosive noise is the SECRET.
Finally, miniature air horns are available and work, but are a last resort. Natural
calls work just as well. I'd like to commercialize the sound
of a car door slamming shut, because it works well. It's difficult to carry a car
door into the woods though!
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Turkey calls can also be used
to start a tom gobbling on the roost. The Gobble, a
challenge to any nearby tom, can be made with a good Commercial Gobble
Tube and is a good locator call, but it can also attract other hunters.
In crowded hunting areas I use a gobble call only for pre-season scouting, at sundown or
occasionally just at daybreak. A loud Cutt or two, or a
sharp Cackle will also work.
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Which ever locator call you
choose, use it aggressively. Don't make your calls timid--sound off with an
explosive and loud beginning to irritate toms into responding. Keep it short and
listen for a responding gobble.
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The best way to perfect your
locator calling is to practice while viewing the Turkey Hunting Secrets
DVD or
listen to the Turkey Hunting Secrets
Audio Cassette Tape, both of which contain the various locator sounds you
need to know with further instruction. Warning: make sure your spouse and pets are out of the house when you
practice....it's ear-piercing!
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Turkey Hunting Secrets
DVD
regular
price: $24.99
Introductory
Price: $ 19.99
Super Sale
Price: $14.99
ORDER
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God Bless America
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MARCH
2010
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