How far can they hear?

[wisconsinteacher]

When a person is making soft clucks and purrs, how far can a turkey hear that call when it is calm and hunting in an open hardwoods or field?

[strutnrut]

I know that this isn't the answer you are looking for. But a lot futher than I can hear them. On flat ground open field I have had birds gobble at me from 800 to a 1000 yards at a regular clucks and yelps. They be so far away all you heard was a whop whop whop sound. Soft yelps and clucks at least 500 yards. I called in two Saturday with soft clucks from 200 yards out in a field. I clucked they looked and here they came. Couple years ago I  called in a group of 7 toms from 800 plus yards. They were on a patch of green grass I circled set up in a wood lot and called them to the gun. Took a long time crossing the fields but it worked. They do seem to hear a suckon call or a box call further away.

[SCGobbler]

I killed one last Monday in a pasture that slopes down hill for about 3-400 yards.  When the other three took off and flew down hill, they started calling to each other at a normal tone level.  I could hear them all the way at the top of the pasture.

My point is, I think they can hear a long ways off.  Will Primos' mantra of "Calling too much and calling too loud" holds true. 

When they are 300 yards off in a field, you don't have to blow their ears off.  Watch their posture as you call when they are that far away with binos and I bet you will be able to tell if they heard you or not.

Sent from the Gobbled's Roost, formerly the Totem Pole Headquarters

[Greg Massey]

I was always told if you can hear them ... they can hear you and I have always believe that...killed a  lot of turkeys coming in from a long ways off. Main thing is if he has hens or not. Hopefully not...lol

[howl]

Soft stuff I would put at 400 yards under the right conditions, maybe farther.

[Ms Vapors]

They can see you blink at 100 yards and hear you blink at 50, that's what I was told starting out anyway!!

[steinea286]

I just got back from hunting the virginia mountains and had birds gobbling to us scratching the leaves about 300-350 yards away.... on the next ridgetop over!

[guesswho]

A lot farther than most people realize.

[CT Spur Collector]

For my two cents...I agree with all these folks. In Florida one year, I called two toms to the gun barrel that were well over 500 yards away.  Both came together through two pasture fields with a tractor cut between them.

Their hearing is as amazing as their sight. What's really cool is....they'll "pinpoint" you within 15 yards from 500 yards!

Amazing critter! 

[strutnrut]

I agree with the pin pointing ability. I have moved from one tree to the other after calling because of the setup and had them walk right to the tree I was just at more than once.

[Snoodsniper]

500 yards through thick woods down over a steep bank had one walk right by a decoy and pin point me.

[wisconsinteacher]

I guess I need to tone it down a touch. 

[TrackeySauresRex]

^ This has worked for me in the past,a time or two. If he is responsive, and a good ways off. I hit him with it loud. If he wants to play,I'm always toning it down as he is closing the distance. Within that last hundred yards... A Very soft yelp,clucks,purring,feeding calls. That's the kitchen sink! 

[Gulicemo]

Had a bird last weekend gobbling every time I scratched the leaves from over a hundred yards out.  That is the first time I've had that happen.  He flew across a gully to about 50 yards but still out of sight.  He gobbled when I brushed some dirt which was very quiet and came the final 10 yards into the open.

[Greybeard11]

I agree. They can hear very soft sounds from a long ways, but what always amazes me is their ability to pinpoint where the sound came from. Always start soft and increase volume. When you get a response you know he heard you.