Favorite Locator Call

[PalmettoRon]

Curious what you guys like and do you shift up if you're after a different subspecies. Here in SC and in the South, I use my voice to owl hoot and later in the day shift to a crow call. If neither get a response, I'll cut on a box.

For Rios, usually crow, then coyote, then box.

For big country Merriams-I've had really good success getting birds to gobble with a peacock call. If nothing, cut on a box. Also will on occasion use a gobble tube carefully as you can.

I realize it may not matter a lot. I have a friend who uses a loud whistle.

Habits are hard to break. It's just what I do and I love getting a bunch of barred owls going off in the swamps of the South. I like gobbling better, but owls are cool to me.

I've never really fooled with a pileated woodpecker call very much.

Do any of you use a peacock for Easterns? It's really loud and I've pulled gobbles out from a REALLY long ways out west, but for no real reason, never use it in the South.

[Tom007]

Basically, I use clucks, purrs, soft yelps. Nothing I do is loud, unless it's windy. Then I cut on glass call, and boat paddle. Has to be windy though.......

[Meleagris gallopavo]

I guess I could do a peacock as I grew up with peacocks in the yard and I gradually learned to imitate the male's calls very well.  However, I think just about any sudden loud noise will do as a locator.  Turkeys have been gobbling to our shots fired at ducks all season where I hunt.


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[PalmettoRon]

Good point 007--yeah, if I'm in an area with thick timber and a gobbler could be close by, I go first with some soft hen sounds and then escalate.

[GobbleNut]

Never use a locator call,...they don't work....ever!   

[PalmettoRon]

You are actually quite right! 

[GobbleNut]

You are actually quite right! 

Ron,...Okay, now that we settled that, don't bring it up again!   

[Dtrkyman]

Excited cuts work for me, I use crow calls owl calls and coyote howler in certain circumstances. Most mornings turkeys gobble on their own if their gonna gobble that day!

[Greg Massey]

I just let nature do it's thing and wake the turkeys up, sometime i will use a crow call in the middle of the day. But usually in my area's we have enough owl's and crow's, that will get the birds to gobble.

[PalmettoRon]

Yep. Agree if I'm in an area that I'm familiar with first thing in the morning to let the cardinals and owls set the stage.

[simpzenith]

I like to start with owl hooting, then progress to caterwauling. then coyote howls then turkey cutting/yelping until a strike one.

[quavers59]

   I still have the old Woods Wise- Screaming  Peacock. That is a good locator

[WildTigerTrout]

I see if they will gobble on their own before trying any locator call.  Many times I never need to use anything.  If I don't hear anything I may try a crow call but prefer using a hawk call.  I have seen them keep quiet on a crow call and then shock gobble to a hawk.

[Gooserbat]

I like to use a recording of a donkey braying.

[zelmo1]

Works Gooserbat, I just bring my donkey with me. OK, his name is Joe