How aggressive do you call to hens?

[Zeke6685]

I usually start out mimicking her and it seems like a lot of times this will get an old hen fired up. The more aggressive she gets the more aggressive I get. Some fun times having a heated conversation back and forth with a fired up hen!

[Marc]

I start easy and see if she is agreeable to play nice. I only get aggressive as a last resort. My observation is that hens tend to respond to calling better early in the season. Once peak breeding hits they tend to drag the gobbler the other way.

I would agree...  I have killed a few toms calling hens in, and it has generally been early in the season.  More often, I have had hens steal away a tom that is coming my direction.

If I am calling at a hen, I tend to mimic them...  And call aggressively.

If that is not working, I might try gobbling at them, hoping to either drag the hen in for a look, or make the tom come looking for a fight.  If that does not work, I try to imitate a fight myself (purring and ruffling hats and/or wings).

Generally I end up sitting there while the birds go off in a different direction and wonder what I could have done differently?  Henned up toms are a decent challenge (at least for me).

Last week scouting, I took the kids with me...  Not seeing birds, I gave a couple calls to see if there was anything in the area...  A hen immediately answered, and came towards me, bringing along a group of multiple hens and 2 toms.  Wish I had not taken the call out...

[tomstopper]

Like others have said, I try and mimic her with a little extra. I also have had good luck with cutting her off when she starts talking. Sometimes this helps but I only do it if she is aggressive.

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[Harty]

I love talking / interacting with hens. I like to try and bring em on over. Listening to them improves my calling. Listening to aggressive cutting sometimes makes my day.

  BUT ......the scenario presented is difficult at best. I've tried it all and the result with hen talkis usually " syanaro".  I've found that strategically hitting the gobble call is usually my best option.

[TrackeySauresRex]

  Generally I try to mimic what they do, progressively trying to get her more excited

Try to call her in, Mimic her in hopes to pizz her off plus 1.  This does work..... sometimes 

[Ctrize]

As hunters we do what has worked in the past whether it from experience or passed on by other successful hunters over time. Certain hens as some toms can be aggressive or docile.It is a coin flip whether they come in  I have had more mouthy hens come in witout the tom in tow.He stayed in the back ground I suspect with other hens. Our first inclination is to throw the kitchen sink at her if anything it satisfies our urge to call something. I agree with a previous post this might of been a prime time to gobble as a challenge and it might peak another hen to check you out.

[Cottonmouth]

I rarely get aggressive.  I mainly purr and cluck and scratch in the leaves. I want it to sound like something good for breakfast over here. It works for me pretty well.

[GobbleNut]

Like others, I have had mixed results calling to vocal hens.  I kind-of agree with the theory that if you are set up where they are wanting to go, then your chances improve considerably,...and if you are not, then you are generally screwed. 

The gobbling idea presented intrigues me.  I have done that a few times as a last resort attempt but I can't remember ever having it result in turkeys coming to the call.  However, there are enough comments here stating that it works on occasion that I will likely try it more often in the future.   

[bbcoach]

In my experience, and I've called in quite a few hens in different states, if you hear a hen that is yelping with a Tude then don't be afraid to call to her.  She may or may not have a gobbler with her but you won't know until she arrives.  My advice is to mimic her note for note and add a little extra.  Calling hens are a lot like calling gobblers.  Take their temp as well.  If she gets agitated then pour it to her.  Try to get the last word in (and for most of us we know that is hard).  If she has turned and heading your way but you can't see her keep talking.  Once you see her, cut back your calling and she'll be in your lap real soon.  I was hunting Wisconsin a couple of years ago with a buddy and called in 2 separate hens where we had sat down to do some cold calling.  One came in to 5 yards and stared us down for about 5 minutes then walked off and the second came in looking for us, walked away and I called her right back.  Don't be afraid to call to hens, you don't have a thing to lose.  GOOD HUNTING! 

[roverboy]

I've called to hens a few times and really made them mad. I called to one years ago and she beat up my decoy. Strutted like a little tom.

[a_jabbo]

I don't think you did anything wrong. It's just one of those situations where she's going to get mad enough to come or do exactly what she did. I'd say I get as aggressive as the hen i'm calling to just by mimicking her response. Can't win them all. Good luck the rest of the season. 

[Dtrkyman]

I like to clobber them, get ole boss mad and the whole crew is coming!


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[Gooserbat]

I try to mimic what ever they are saying.