
“When the woods are still wide open, and you can see a quarter-mile through the timber, a turkey can see a half-mile or more,” said Steve Stoltz, world-champion caller. “During conditions like this, I believe getting out too early to roost can do more harm than good. It’s very easy to bump turkeys in open woods and open country, and bumping a gobbler will automatically put him in a different mood. And since you’re doing this late in the day just before dark, the turkey won’t have enough time to get out of that mood before having to fly up, which in turn will pretty much spoil your chances of getting him roosted.” — Jim Spencer
When attempting to work a breeding flock of birds, start hen calling with no rasp. According to turkey pro Alex Rutledge, rasp indicates aggression, so he calls to the hens with soft, clear yelps to gain their acceptance. If you start with raspy calling, the hens might not like it and will move away. However, if they accept you as another turkey looking to join the group, they might work to your calling. — Brian Lovett