Turkey Hunting: Gobbler Clucks

by
posted on April 4, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gobblerclucks_lead.gif

For too long I’ve been seeking a caller’s Rosetta stone that will bend gobblers to my will. Alas, the Fighting Purr, glass and metal pots, notched diaphragms and more have all fallen short. But perhaps I discovered a contender, oddly enough on a November afternoon in the wake of a successful deer hunt. With my buck at the butcher, I went back out toting a shotgun, 3″ No. 5s and a fresh turkey tag.

On the farm I was hunting in south-central Nebraska, there’s little question one will see turkeys, which during fall, pack the riverbottom property by the hundreds. The trick is to pick out a spot where they parade by within shooting distance, since at that time of year and with so many birds ganged up, calling always seems futile.

Even so, I took along an aged diaphragm call that had been floating around at the bottom of my shaving kit for years, and despite concern its dried-out reeds would tear, it proved somewhat functional. I couldn’t get it to make high-pitched hen yelps, but was able to cluck—sort of. Actually it was more of a croak. If I wasn’t lucky enough to have the turkeys come by in range, why not try it?

An hour before sundown the show started, and for 30 minutes big birds filed past, fussing and fighting amongst themselves, chattering busily, including sporadic gobbling from the 40 or so longbeards in tow. Except for a couple early jakes, the entire bunch managed to make a 75-yard loop around my position, as if they knew exactly what I was doing there. I hit the mouth call a few times, croaking in cluck-and-purr or yelp cadences, but none appeared to notice.

After most of the flock had moved through, I could hear a few flying up to roost. A half-dozen toms came back against the grain toward me, and one with a decent beard veered even closer before halting behind a giant cottonwood. If he stepped clear on my side, I estimated a 50-yard shot and decided I would take it. Another followed on the first tom’s path, then stopped, partially obscured, a few paces back. For five minutes neither moved, and I hoped they weren’t getting ready to fly up, which would leave me with no shot. I hit the call, just a quiet, slow cluck … cluck. The pitch was low and coarse.

The second tom bobbed his head in my direction, then clucked back. I answered, again easy and deep. The turkey responded in kind, then stepped behind the tree. With both toms blocked from view, I heard a couple more raspy notes, and so I gave some back. To which one longbeard practically jumped out from behind the cottonwood, fully clear, and so I fired and soon tagged my second trophy that day.

Did those low, slow, coarse gobbler clucks do the trick? It sure looked that way. And I’m guessing it’ll work again if I’m dealing with a few competitive, isolated toms. With hens in the picture, I have my doubts. Mimicking gobbler calls isn’t really new, but I think few hunters purposely try doing so on spring hunts.

Latest

Draper Shooting Colt King Cobra Target 22 LR
Draper Shooting Colt King Cobra Target 22 LR

#SundayGunday: Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR 4.25-Inch

This week on #SundayGunday, we handle the super-popular Colt King Cobra Target 22, a fabulous full-size rimfire revolver chambered in .22 Long Rifle that is just about perfect for so many roles in the life of an outdoorsman.

First Look: S&W Lipsey’s Exclusive 610 and 617 Mountain Guns

Smith & Wesson has announced the release of two new Lipsey’s Exclusive revolvers, the Model 610 and Model 617 Mountain Guns.

Behind the Bullet: 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum

Launching a 160-grain bullet in excess of 3200 fps, the 7mm RUM is among the fastest commercially loaded 7mm cartridges available.

USFWS Debuts 2025-2026 Federal and Junior Duck Stamps

The 2025-2026 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp—commonly known as the Duck Stamp—became available for purchase on June 27, 2025.

Tested: Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener

Digital Associate Editor walks viewers through the features of the Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener, the perfect tool for a hunter looking to keep all his knives factory sharp season after season.

Recipe: Green Curried Black Bear

Green curry sauce is an excellent base for simmering bear meat, making it flavorful, tender, and safe to consume. Read on for another instant classic recipe from Brad Fenson.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.