Calling from the roost

[ATbuckhunter]

So yesterday was the first time I actually made it on time to turkey hunt and I was amazed to hear all the turkey gobbling off the roost, I was scared to call to them because I didn't want to sound unnatural. So how do you like to call to them on the roost? I know some people give soft yelps and maybe a fly down cackle. 

[Five Seasons]

I wait till they're off the roost, or keep it very, very subtle

Edited May 8, 2016 by Belo

[ATbuckhunter]

I wait till they're off the roost, or keep it very, very subtle

That's what I did. Although I was so excited I couldn't even use my pot call after they flew down. Had them coming in once I did start but a hen ruined that. 

[G-Man]

A soft cluck or two then nothing till fly down time. A wing flap( the last part of Turkey Wing works well 7 primary feathers (chest slapping) ,then a pause and a scratch in the leaves.. but do in a rythem of scratch,scratch,.... scratch.. or 1,2 .... 3.

Wait and see what they do if you hear a hen just imitate her and step (call) on top of her to get her mad, she can bring in the whole group..

Edited May 9, 2016 by G-Man

[Bowguy 1]

Gman gave good advice

[Grizz1219]

Been hearing guys calling a LOT to birds on the roost where I hunt.... just frustrating to hear... Birds are all screwed up now....  Glad to see people asking here and not "assuming" they know...  Gman is spot on... 

[turkeyfeathers]

That's what I did. Although I was so excited I couldn't even use my pot call after they flew down. Had them coming in once I did start but a hen ruined that.

fun ain't it. When you get so excited you lose control of pressure in your fingers on the striker. Like you've never called before. I thought I heard a grouse drumming when the woods erupted with gobbles the other morning. Nope , that was my heart thumping.

There's some great advice on this subject so far. Good responses people

[turkeyfeathers]

I use my Presston Pittman-Flap And Stratch. Sounds just like a turkey flying down. Or you could bring a real turkey wing with you or just use your hat.With the hat- I start flapping in the air then hit my legs and slow it down.   I am sure most veterans here can do it much better then me.

I have to laugh. My daughter has now bought me 2 of those camo ball caps with the lights under the brim. 2 because I do fly downs with them and boom, wires and batteries everywhere. Actually forgot again in the moment the other day and again, boom. managed to round up all the batteries, battery cover and a little twisting of some wires and it's working again.

[ants]

Maybe just a few soft yelps when I first her one on the roost, then thats it. No matter how much he sounds off. As soon as he hits the ground, rip it up. Once he answers, play hard to get.

[Pygmy]

One good reason NOT to call to a bird on the roost is that it sometimes encourages him to stay in the tree longer and gobble more waiting for the receptive "hen" that is calling  to him  to show up under his roost tree..  This increases the chances that he may gobble in a real hen, or just as likely, other hunters.

 

Let me tell you of an extreme example of just such an event, that occurred down in PA a number of years ago .

 

I was set up  on a ridge  slightly uphill from a bird gobbling on the roost..  After a few minutes, another hunter parked by my truck and  started calling to the gobbler from a position across a creek and downhill from the bird.  The gobbler loved it...The guy called..The bird gobbled. This went on for two hours. 

 

Finally at 7:30 AM, I  got up and started back to my truck, because I had to be at work at 8:00. On my way out, I ran into another hunter who had been attracted by all the gobbling.

 

He asked me   " Why weren't you calling to that bird ? "

 

I answered, " Because he is still in the tree, and he may stay there as long as that joker down in the creek keeps calling to him".

 

When I got to my truck, the guy was still calling, and the gobbler was still gobbling merrily away at him.

 

He may STILL be gobbling..I'd bet next month's social security check that  guy didn't kill him...<<grin>>...

[Bowguy 1]

Pygmy that is true but you said it in a very funny way!

[The_Real_TCIII]

Lol once in a while a bird will gobble so much on his own I'm whispering "shut up, shut the hell up!" To myself because I KNOW another hunter is going to hear him. I'm a selfish jerk...