I want to start a spin off topic from my original topic, Rate Your Calling. I hear from many of us; I can get it done but probably wouldn't win any Grand Nationals in Nashville. Why do we think this way? We are trying to impress a turkey not put on a show for an audience and multiple judges. These guys sound GREAT but have to overcome the same obstacles we face to fill a tag. Don't get me wrong, THEY CAN CALL, and by human standards they are at the top of the heap in the calling world, but they don't always get it done, when they are in the field just like us amateurs. I believe each of us need to practice our weak points and have CONFIDENCE in our abilities and not try to be someone else. All of us, are Very Good at hunting these birds, believe or not. ALL of us make mistakes, including the PROS, so don't try to Be Someone Else. Enjoy the Talents God has given YOU and have Fun Chasing These Wonderful Animals. :z-twocents:
I've never followed competitive calling. I'm impressed with some I see on social media because they sound like the turkey in my head. I'd like to hunt with an expert turkey caller here to see if they can get these tight-lipped SOBs to make a noise. The ones here don't make much noise, especially if they're not in a tree. This year I've experienced more gobbling (and I mean full gobbles) jakes than normal. To me a gobbling jake is the most aggravating thing in the turkey woods. I've wasted a lot of time thinking I was working a mature gobbler and it turned out to be a gobbling jake. Sorry for getting off the subject, it's been a frustrating year for me...
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It's been said many times, cadence is the most effective part of calling. How many times have we said "that guy needs to practice" only to have a hen appear.
Haven't watched much comp calling,listen to bits here are there.
If you don't think it's an advantage to sound exactly like real turkeys you're kidding yourself!
Being a good woodsman is most important in my opinion but high level callers surely kill many birds others do not.
I have never that I recall heard another hunter calling and thought it was a turkey, it's so obvious, surely turkeys can tell.
How many times do birds ignore calling and answer the live hens? Often in my experience.
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Because it's a musical instrument and playing stairway to heaven doesn't make me Jimmy Hendrix.
Quote from: Dtrkyman on May 01, 2025, 07:21:52 AMHaven't watched much comp calling,listen to bits here are there.
If you don't think it's an advantage to sound exactly like real turkeys you're kidding yourself!
Being a good woodsman is most important in my opinion but high level callers surely kill many birds others do not.
I have never that I recall heard another hunter calling and thought it was a turkey, it's so obvious, surely turkeys can tell.
How many times do birds ignore calling and answer the live hens? Often in my experience.
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Have you never heard a turkey calling and thought it was another hunter?
Rarely do you hear a turkey that sounds like a hunter, sure it happens but not often.
Take all your acquired skills as a turkey hunter and now have Matt VanCise do all your calling once set up, if you do not see the advantage well then carry on!
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