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Locator Calls

R

Ruben

Guest
Who uses them and which ones work? I have used several and not one of them has ever elicited a response.
 
I have heard that hooting like an owl works. Maybe not at 0300 in the Sheraton or at the Rendezvous. But it does work to find others of similar ilk at that time and in those places. Or so I've heard.

The 'Bonker
 
Around here I don't use much of anything. No real need to locate them because they are usually in the same area year after year. I have "checked" once in a while with a crow call that isn't 100 percent either but sometimes is handy. If that doesn't work if you are in an area that has some eagles, take a whistle and make an eagle chirp and that will get a response as well.
 
Depending on the area I use owl or crow locators. I think I enjoy calling in barred owls more than anything. I have one area that each year I'll call in a pair and they'll just sit above me and

WHOOO WHOO WHO-AHHHHHHH!

Gotta love it.
 
Owl hooter early (Who Cooks for You!). Crow call after sunup and throughout the day. Have also used a peacock whistle.

Most times, though, I have a good general idea where they're at so I'll set up, let things settle down for 20 minutes or so, then call with a box call. If no answer, I'll wait a 5-10 minutes and call again. If still nothing, wait about 30 minutes then move a ridge (or two) over or to the next finger of timber and repeat the sequence.
 
Couldn't you use a coyote yelp or howl too in the morning? I dunno if that would spook them or not but somedays it just seems like the retarded yet outsmart me every time birds will gobble to almost anything...

Nobber
 
I have used a number of locater calls: owl early in the morning before daylight or near dark when they are on the roost. A crow or goose call after sun up and during the day. For those whom have never tried a goose call, it does work very well.

I have used a duck call without much success. A coyote bark works sometimes, I have tried the howl, but it is too long, you may miss too many gobblers responding to the howl.

A squirrel bark works if the birds are close.

I have imitated a rooster crowing in areas were chickens are present with some success.

I even tried my best impression of a barking dog once when I forgot my calls-it worked.

I know a guy who swears by a screaming hawk call, I have yet to try this call personally.

If doing the Run & Gun try a number of calls until you find one that works for that day.

My best advice, roost them in the evening-they will be there at daylight.
 
Used many different locator calls over years,which all seem to work at times but no guarantee.Around here I noticed the crow and owl seem to be less effective than when I first started.Probably due to all the fake crows and owls the turkeys hear,with those being the most popular.So now I use a pileated woodpecker which seems to get more response,but only used after daylight.My most effective midmorning locator without a doubt is some sharp cutting on a aluminum or titanium call,which can turn into a quick hunt a lot of times.Even with all the hunters here,I seldom if ever hear anyone cutting,which I feel makes this a good locator call and sometimes a deadly one.
 
Blake, CHICKENS??? Are you hunting in TeeRoy's barnyard again??
grin.gif
Just kidding. I learned something last year that helped me locate turkeys. How many of you have heard raccoons fighting just before daylight? I was hearing this alot on my property and was surprised to hear gobblers sound off at the sound of the fight. I grabbed my coon squaller and found it works very well. Owl hoots and goose honks work too but if you need more volume, give the coon squaller a try.
 
Skully, I have a buddy that religously uses the Coon Squaller. I could not believe the response he got off that thing. Scared the crap out of me. Thats a whole different story though.
 
I thought I had tried them all,never thought of the coon squaller.I'll have to keep that in mind as to try sometime.I know guys who actually use co2 air horns and say they work well,I'm not that desperate though.
 
Early in the morning or while roosting a bird in the evening I prefer the barred owl hoot. During the rest of the day I've had success with crow and pileated woodpecker calls. However, I've heard them cut loose with a lot of different sounds. I once hunted an area where great blue herons nested and they loved to gobble to the heron squak!
-Longspurs-
 
owl in morning and crow during the day. Then if I'm hunting any where around water a goose call works great.
 
Early in the morning just before the sun starts to rise I use a barred owl call. Later in the morning or afternoon i'll use a crow call. Once, last spring, my brother and I were outside my house. It was dark outside and the sun set about two hours earlier. I had one of my dogs out and I yelled for him, All of the sudden on the ridge next to my house a good number of toms started gobbling to my yelling! It was pretty cool to hear, espescially that late at night. I think they will shock gobble at mostly anything. I have heard them gobble at thunder, truck doors slamming, gun shots, owls, coyotes, crows, train horns, etc. If you learn how to use an owl or crow call effeciently you'll get great results. Another thing you can try to do is to use a gobble call. You have to be very careful doing this though because this will attract other hunters who may be hunting in the same area. I only use this call on one of the areas that I hunt where I am the only one with permission to hunt it. Many times, i'll do a couple of yelps and get no response, so i'll do some more yelps then throw in a gobble and then i'll get a response from another tom. Many times it will get them jealous/pissed off and they'll come right in.
 
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