What Types of Calls Work Best for Spring Turkeys in the Piedmont?

Understanding Spring Turkey Vocalizations

When calling spring turkeys in the Piedmont, it’s essential to understand the different vocalizations and how to use them effectively. A yelper is a loud, repetitive call that mimics a hen’s “yelp,” used to initiate contact and get the attention of a tom. Use a yelper to attract a bird within 50-75 yards, and then transition to a cutt or kee-kee call to seal the deal.

Choosing the Right Calls

For the Piedmont region, choose calls that produce a clear, sharp yelp or cutt sound. A good yelper call should be able to produce a loud, clear yelp at 10-15 decibels. Cutts and kee-kee calls are best made with a mouth diaphragm call or a box call. The key is to produce a sharp, clear cutt or kee-kee sound that imitates the sound of a hen in distress or a young poult calling for its mother.

Techniques for Effective Calling

To effectively call spring turkeys in the Piedmont, use a combination of long and short calls to create a realistic sequence. Start with a series of 3-4 yelps, followed by a cutt or kee-kee call to finish the sequence. Repeat this sequence 2-3 times, pausing for 30-60 seconds between sequences. Use a “push-pull” technique to move birds into your desired location, with a yelper call to initiate contact and a cutt or kee-kee call to finish the job.