Things I need to work on

[Tom007]

I try to improve with every season I turkey hunt. This off season I am going to work on my gobbler sounds. I also want to hunt the dominant birds in an area. All the birds I harvested were the strutters in the situation I was presented and all had 1" plus spurs. But I dont think they were the " boss" in their areas. Just mature birds. Baby steps, lol. Z

I have been researching and gathering info on Gobbler vocalization. I invested in a "Gobbler Box" call and have been learning gobbler and Jake sounds on it. I feel learning to call in Tom's with Jake and Gobbler sounds will enhance my abilities to call in more turkeys and give me a better chance in luring them away from their hens in certain situations.

I don't think there is a need for a special box call to make gobbler sounds, including the gobble (no rubber bands necessary). I have always liked less "tools" or calls needed to make the sounds I want. Makes for lees fidgeting around and less time between calls when needed.

Most box calls come with 2 tones (one on each side), one lower then the other. The lower side I use for gobbler yelps & clucks. So you can go from hen sounds to gobbler sound with little movement and less time between calls.

Here is a link (hope it works) to a video of David Halloran gobbling on a box call. He goes through several calls and the gobble is at about 1:50 on the video. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=david+halloran+gobbling+on+box+call&sca_esv=f716cdc2862777a3&sxsrf=ADLYWIIBeVwjcSnBRmO61lF0hS2pQfOg8g%3A1717517154527&ei=YjtfZu3xH7rL0PEPkum8gAk&ved=0ahUKEwjtqpD_qcKGAxW6JTQIHZI0D5AQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=david+halloran+gobbling+on+box+call&gs_lp=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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5b9311f0,vid:MS7dP_5zS-4,st:0

Personally I think my gobble sounds better than Hallorans.  A bit louder too. I hold my box vertically but with the paddle up (opposite of Halloran) and use 2 fingers to move the paddle across the paddle while holding the box firmly in my other hand. For a jake gobble I will make the gobble slightly shorter and sometimes immediately follow the shorter gobble with a jake yelp or 2. I do the jake yelps on a mouth call as there is no time between gobble and yelps.

As far as the type of box call I like...one with relatively narrow or thin rails and 1" or 1 1/8" across the rails. Any wider and the gobble becomes a bit more difficult to make it sound realistic.

The box call I had made I have heard is the only box call to win the National Gobbling Championship. It's not built like a normal box, the yelps and gobble are the best I've heard. If you watch the 2023 Roger Parks YouTube Seminar at Unicoi, he discusses and demonstrates this.  He's considered one of the best in the subject of Gobbler Vocabulary and calling in Gobblers. I like his theory's regarding this, it makes sense to me. Again, this is something I'm going to add to my arsenal, it's not for everyone. That's why there are so many different calls and call makers out there. Pick what works for you, I'm always looking to give me more versatility and edge on those wary Tom's.

[Greg Massey]

A gobbler box from Donny Richards is nothing like the conventional box call. Donnie gobbler box has the most realistic gobbler yelps and Jake yelps. Sure you can take a regular box call and make some kind of sound when trying to mimic the sound of a gobbler...

Roger Parks gobbler pot call is another awesome call within itself with making gobbler and Jake sounds.

I look forward to playing calls and working on cadence in the off season. And like you said Tom, I'm going to continue working on gobbler vocalization.

[Tom007]

A gobbler box from Donny Richards is nothing like the conventional box call. Donnie gobbler box has the most realistic gobbler yelps and Jake yelps. Sure you can take a regular box call and make some kind of sound when trying to mimic the sound of a gobbler...

Roger Parks gobbler pot call is another awesome call within itself with making gobbler and Jake sounds.

I look forward to playing calls and working on cadence in the off season. And like you said Tom, I'm going to continue working on gobbler vocalization.

Amen brother, I have you to thank for Donny's info. I agree 100%, his box is unique and I am going to try it in the Fall woods this year for sure......

[Twowithone]

I agree I keep telling myself you gotta get better with the diaphram calling and it keeps getting pushed back and heck before you know it the season is here this season started to sound like I was purring then I quit and went to the pot call what to do

[GobbleNut]

Regarding targeting the older gobblers, I agree with the idea that shooting those birds might disrupt the breeding interactions within a flock. For me, it tends not to be an issue based on the way I hunt anyhow. I hunt for that "interactive experience" with the gobblers I pursue, and that generally does not fit with the "reluctance of callability" those older birds tend to exhibit.

In addition, I lost my superman vision a while back so I can't tell spur size (that generally-agreed-upon indicator of age) at any distance beyond about five yards now.  Hence, I am relegated to shooting whatever mature gobbler decides he wants to venture near enough to my calling to endanger himself.  It is amazing to me that most of those gobblers turn out to be two or three-year-olds.  Can't imagine why... 

Around these parts, it is uncanny how often the gobblers that are killed and are beyond that three-year-old mark turn out to be the result of some circumstance besides "calling them in".  I am beginning to believe that older gobblers have some kind of aversion to approaching turkey calling...     

[Tom007]

Regarding targeting the older gobblers, I agree with the idea that shooting those birds might disrupt the breeding interactions within a flock. For me, it tends not to be an issue based on the way I hunt anyhow. I hunt for that "interactive experience" with the gobblers I pursue, and that generally does not fit with the "reluctance of callability" those older birds tend to exhibit.

In addition, I lost my superman vision a while back so I can't tell spur size (that generally-agreed-upon indicator of age) at any distance beyond about five yards now.  Hence, I am relegated to shooting whatever mature gobbler decides he wants to venture near enough to my calling to endanger himself.  It is amazing to me that most of those gobblers turn out to be two or three-year-olds.  Can't imagine why... 

Around these parts, it is uncanny how often the gobblers that are killed and are beyond that three-year-old mark turn out to be the result of some circumstance besides "calling them in".  I am beginning to believe that older gobblers have some kind of aversion to approaching turkey calling...     

Agreed here Jim. I am happy with any mature gobbler, 2, 3 year old, whatever. I am just intrigued with adding Gobbler/Jake vocabulary into my bag of tricks. Henned up Tom's are real tough to coax away from their ladies, I have heard Gobbler/Jake sounds just might change the game here. Challenging him could just change a slow, quiet day into a thrilling hunt. I figure it can't hurt to add a few more tricks to the bag...

[Greg Massey]

Regarding targeting the older gobblers, I agree with the idea that shooting those birds might disrupt the breeding interactions within a flock. For me, it tends not to be an issue based on the way I hunt anyhow. I hunt for that "interactive experience" with the gobblers I pursue, and that generally does not fit with the "reluctance of callability" those older birds tend to exhibit.

In addition, I lost my superman vision a while back so I can't tell spur size (that generally-agreed-upon indicator of age) at any distance beyond about five yards now.  Hence, I am relegated to shooting whatever mature gobbler decides he wants to venture near enough to my calling to endanger himself.  It is amazing to me that most of those gobblers turn out to be two or three-year-olds.  Can't imagine why... 

Around these parts, it is uncanny how often the gobblers that are killed and are beyond that three-year-old mark turn out to be the result of some circumstance besides "calling them in".  I am beginning to believe that older gobblers have some kind of aversion to approaching turkey calling...     

I'm with you Jim, at my old age, I don't know how many gobblers I have left to hunt. So if he comes to my calling he better look out ... What's the old kid saying, bang bang your dead...

[Tail Feathers]

Regarding targeting the older gobblers, I agree with the idea that shooting those birds might disrupt the breeding interactions within a flock. For me, it tends not to be an issue based on the way I hunt anyhow. I hunt for that "interactive experience" with the gobblers I pursue, and that generally does not fit with the "reluctance of callability" those older birds tend to exhibit.

In addition, I lost my superman vision a while back so I can't tell spur size (that generally-agreed-upon indicator of age) at any distance beyond about five yards now.  Hence, I am relegated to shooting whatever mature gobbler decides he wants to venture near enough to my calling to endanger himself.  It is amazing to me that most of those gobblers turn out to be two or three-year-olds.  Can't imagine why... 

Around these parts, it is uncanny how often the gobblers that are killed and are beyond that three-year-old mark turn out to be the result of some circumstance besides "calling them in".  I am beginning to believe that older gobblers have some kind of aversion to approaching turkey calling...     

I'm with you Jim, at my old age, I don't know how many gobblers I have left to hunt. So if he comes to my calling he better look out ... What's the old kid saying, bang bang your dead...

I've killed some long spurred warriors and some with 3/4" spurs.  I hunted them all about the same and couldn't tell you what I did different to kill the big ones.