Take the time to stop, listen and look for signs to help you tag a big turkey. (Photo courtesy of Honeycutt Creative)
May 29, 2024
By Josh Honeycutt
Turkey hunters should always use their ears. Obviously, your eyes are your best tools in the turkey woods. But hearing is almost as important when trying to be the best hunter you can be. Here are some of the times you should always stop and listen when hunting wild turkeys.
The author poses with a big eastern turkey. (Photo courtesy of Honeycutt Creative) 1. When a Turkey Gobbles The most obvious of times, always hit the brakes when a turkey gobbles. Whether close or far there are several reasons to do so. (The only common exceptions include if you need to hustle to reach cover. Or if you already know the turkey’s location and you’re working to get into position.) For those who don’t already know a turkey’s location, it’s very difficult to pinpoint the direction or distance of a sound while walking and creating more noise. Listen for that turkey to gobble again and then make a move.
There are key times to stop and listen in the turkey woods. (Photo courtesy of Honeycutt Creative) 2. When a Hen Yelps A hen turkey yelping might not be as interesting to some hunters as a turkey gobbling, but it’s just as important. Even from a hunting perspective, it might signal a nearby gobbler. Furthermore, a longbeard might respond, especially if the hen gets too rowdy.
3. When a Hawk Screams Turkeys are no fans of hawks, but when the latter lets loose a call, the former claps back at them. It's one the of numerous things turkeys commonly “shock” gobble at, so it’s good to stop and listen when a hawk screams.
Advertisement
4. When an Owl Hoots Perhaps the most common locator call, the owl hoot is quite good at sparking turkeys to gobble. Owl hoots are most common at dawn and dusk and are sure to get local turkeys to talking. Stop and listen when these critters fire up.
Keep an eye on very distant fields, even if it’s 800 or more yards away. (Photo courtesy of Honeycutt Creative) 5. When a Goose Honks A goose honk is just obnoxious enough to make turkeys gobble. If turkey hunting in areas with moderate to high populations of geese, turkeys routinely sound off at the noise. When a goose starts honking, stop and start listening.
6. When a Pileated Woodpecker Talks Another great locator call is the pileated woodpecker. Hunters use these because turkeys gobble at them. When a wild woodpecker sounds his call, it’s good practice to see if gobblers have something to say about it.
Advertisement
7. When a Coyote Howls While some prefer a coyote howl to locate turkeys, most don’t. Predator sounds might make a turkey shock gobble once or twice, but it’s doubtful those birds will be any easier to call afterward. Still, when song dogs sound off, it’s good to halt and open those ears.
Stop and listen when you get close to an area that turkeys frequent. (Photo courtesy of Honeycutt Creative) 8. When a Crow Caws The mighty crow is likely the second-most popular locator call. When a crow caws, turkeys gobble. Listen up.
9. When Crows Camp Out and Caw Crows are notorious for badgering turkeys. One or more crows sometimes camp out over turkeys. They’ll shadow the flock, or an individual bird, and create quite the ruckus as they parallel and pester.
Turkey hunters should stop and listen more than they move. (Photo courtesy of Honeycutt Creative) 10. When Anything Else Loud Screeches No matter the source of the sound, gobblers notoriously respond and shock gobble at loud noises. This provoked response often follows even the oddest of sounds. Car doors slamming, train horns blaring, booms of thunder, screeching car brakes and more, Listen for gobbles when anything loud sounds off.
11. When You Plan to Call When trying to locate a turkey, it’s usually not a good idea to walk and call. Instead, stop and then make that turkey sound. An exception is when a turkey is out of sight, and you are walking around to add realism to your call by shuffling in the leaves and turning in different directions.
12. When You Call to a Spotted Bird See that turkey in the distance? If you can see it, it can likely see you. Furthermore, if attempting to see how that turkey responds to your calling, it’s crucial to observe its body language and overall response. For each of these reasons, it’s important to stop when calling to a spotted bird.
13. When Your Hunting Partner Calls Few things are more frustrating than when you stopped to call and those in your hunting party keep trudging around. Always stop and listen when your hunting partner calls. This makes it easier for everyone to listen for responses.
Halt and open those ears near known strut zones. (Photo courtesy of Honeycutt Creative) 14. When Nearing a Known Hotspot Some parts of a hunting property are far more productive than others. After spending time on specific tracts of land, you come to realize the best hunting spots on a property. when nearing these locations, it’s good to stop, listen and observe when close to these hotspots.
If you see birds, hold up until time to make a move. (Photo courtesy of Honeycutt Creative) 15. When on the Fringe of a Strut Zone Over time, longbeards establish strut zones. These turkeys go there and strut because it makes them more visible and sometimes even more audible to nearby hens. It’s important to stop and listen when approaching these areas.
16. When You Know a Bird Is Close If odds are good that a turkey is close, it’s important to halt the approach and give it some time. Listen and look as you slowly approach its position. Or, go ahead and set up and start the hunt. Keep your ears open and listen, not only for gobbles, but also other turkey sounds. Spitting and drumming, scratching in the leaves, as well as other turkey sounds are things to listen for.
At dawn and dusks, listen for roosted turkeys. (Photo courtesy of Honeycutt Creative) 17. When the Wind Dies Down Windy days make for difficult turkey hunting conditions. It isn’t easy to hear turkeys gobbling with higher windspeeds. Therefore, when the wind does die down, always stop and listen. Perhaps even make a call and listen for responses.
18. More Time Than You Don’t Spend more time stopping and listening then walking and looking. Turkey hunting is a game of seeing before being seen. Part of that process is listening and hearing turkeys before you ever see them. To accomplish that, you must stop and listen a lot when in the turkey woods.
