The foundation of spring turkey hunting is to call a male turkey into range by sounding like a female turkey. It seems simple and straightforward, and sometimes it is. Other times it’s not.

We all relish those aggressive birds that run to a call. Folks in the outdoor television and film business refer to them as movie stars due to their tendency to show off for the camera. They help us build confidence and feel like turkey hunters, but they’re the exception rather than the rule. Far more often, Old Tom doesn’t come as obligingly to our calls as we might like for a variety of reasons. Let’s look at a few.

It’s against their nature. Old timers might tell you that in nature, the hen goes to the tom so trying to call a tom is unnatural. That’s not really true; if it was, we’d never kill them. However, they don’t just charge headlong toward every yelping hen they hear. They need to be in the right frame of mind and often require a visual stimulus to reinforce what they hear.

They have what they want. Often the reason a tom won’t come to your call is that he already has one or more hens with him. The proverbial bird in the bush just doesn’t offer enough enticement to draw him away from those at hand. Here, discretion is often the better part of valor and you might be wise to give up and seek a more willing subject to serenade.

Your calling stinks. The first step toward recovery requires admitting you have a problem. Sure, you called in a tom last year by scratching on a box call, but how many more birds have you lured into gun range since? Catch one in the right mood and a randy tom might run toward a rusty gate, but consistent success will only come with correct calling. Listen to the real thing and practice, practice, practice until you actually sound like a turkey.

You’re not saying the right thing. This is where things get more complicated. The biggest mistake novice turkey hunters make is calling too much. The next biggest mistake is not calling enough. The rub is finding the right middle ground, which unfortunately changes from bird to bird, day to day and sometimes from one minute to the next. Your loud yelp, yelp, yelp might get a response, but if the gobbler isn’t getting any closer, try something else. A few soft clucks and purrs might be more enticing. Some guys prefer to be asked rather than ordered to join you. Conversely, if the bird is clearly coming closer, you’ve said enough. More calling might only intimidate him.

You’re using the wrong voice. For who knows what reason, different birds respond differently to different calls. One day it might be the pure tone of a wooden box call. The next it might be a raspy mouth call. If one doesn’t work, try another, and another until you strike the right chord.

You’re too impatient. If a bird gobbled to your call, he heard you; and he knows exactly where you are. That doesn’t mean he’ll run right in, but he may still come. It might take 20 minutes, it might take 2 hours. Offer a few soft calls every so often as reminders, but don’t be too insistent.

There’s something in the way. Being familiar with the land you hunt is just as important as being a proficient caller. That gobbler responding to your calls may want to come but there could be an obstacle between you and him, and it doesn’t take much. It could be a fence, a stream or a thick tangle of brush that might hide lurking predators. Know the terrain and make it easy for a bird to make its way to you.

Bob Humphrey is a freelance writer and Registered Maine Guide who lives in Pownal. He can be reached at: bhunt@maine.rr.com

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