My buddies and I like to hunt together, but we always argue about who will call. What are some good methods for calling with a partner? — Mike Manor, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Most turkey hunters have called with a partner, and why not? Team-calling is a great tactic. Try some of these double-teaming methods, courtesy of world-champion caller Steve Stoltz, of Knight & Hale Game Calls.
✔ Float-calling: The caller sets up behind the shooter but moves as he calls. If a bird hangs up, the caller can walk away, yelping and clucking as he goes, to give the impression a hen is leaving. If a gobbler drifts to the right, the caller can slip to the left, pulling the bird back on course with the shooter.
✔ Mimic a flock: Gobblers often hone in on a specific sound or pitch in calling, so it’s never a bad idea to have two callers imitate a group of hens. One hunter might yelp and cutt on a box call as the other clucks and purrs on a slate. You never know which sound will fire up a longbeard.
✔ Start a fight: If all your other calling tactics have failed, try imitating a turkey fight as a last resort. One hunter can purr aggressively and slap his hat against a tree to mimic flapping wings, and the other might yelp and cutt excitedly. Turkeys have a strong social curiosity and will often run in to check out a fight.
I have a hunting buddy where we would find ourselves arguing or discussing what to do while on a bird. What happens is we all develope our own style of hunting based on our own experience. Some are very passionate about what to do or even not to do. Like you said, this can lead to an arguement at the worst time to have a debate. We finally addressed the issue that both of us may disagree on what to do or not. What we agreed on was to take turns. On his turn I was the indian and he was the chief…lol. A Turkey is not worth a friendship.