Quick Answer
Signs of a turkey responding to calls include gobbling, approaching, and making visual contact. A responding turkey may also exhibit aggressive behavior such as strutting, puffing out its feathers, and fanning its tail. A responding turkey will often move closer to the caller.
Recognizing a Responding Turkey
To identify a responding turkey, listen for its gobble. A responding turkey will often gobble back in a similar cadence, usually within 10-15 seconds of the caller’s initial call. This is a sign that the turkey is engaging with the call and is likely to approach.
Turkey Call Cadence and Rhythm
Turkey call cadence plays a critical role in eliciting a response from a turkey. A good turkey call cadence typically involves a series of 3-5 notes, with a pause of around 2-3 seconds between each note. The rhythm should be smooth and consistent, with a slight emphasis on the final note. A responding turkey will often start to gobble in response to this cadence, and may begin to approach the caller.
Reading Turkey Body Language
When a turkey approaches, it will often strut, puff out its feathers, and fan its tail. This is a sign of aggression and courtship behavior, and indicates that the turkey is responding to the call. To take advantage of this situation, the caller should continue to make calls and use visual decoys to attract the turkey closer. By doing so, the caller can increase the chances of a successful hunt.
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