Closer Call

[101st501]

I always try to purr a little bit.

[Greybeard11]

I use an Old Boss Hen mouth call. I can whine and purr very soft on this. I also scratch in the leaves.

[Spring Creek Calls]

This is the situation that I use a diaphragm call. I  practice making barely audible 3 or 4 note yelps, usually with a ghost cut. I used to use a diaphragm for 75% of my calling but now use it as a closer or when I have to get nasty with an old boss hen. Boxes and pots make great soft callers but I want that gun in my hands when he gets close. Scratching in the leaves has always been a part of my close calling, where leaves are available.

[hunter22]

Lots of great advice here. Thanks. Like I said, I killed 8 this spring so I know I was doing something right part of the time. I also agree with Drenalinld in that I think there are gobblers that have gotten so used to the hen coming to them that they are not going to commit and come that final 20 to 30 yards you need no matter what you do. When I can see a gobbler I normally stop calling or see how soft I can play one.

[crow]

Well the quietest method is old Tony McClebs secret, but sometimes it's just to cold out  (39 degrees in western Md. this morning)

the next best that works for me, especially on hard hunted public is quiet cluck and purr on a slate or diaprahm

I did get busted last week when I was setting down the slate and a neck and head periscoped up over the crest of the ridge at 35 yards-----gambled on one set of clucks to many

[nativeks]

Maybe I am the odd man out. I shut up. Bird knows where I am. If he won't budge I keep quiet and make him wonder where I went. If I do call its as I walk away.

Bird #2 this year was across a raging creek up on a hillside in a hay meadow. He gobbled at everything I threw out there. Finally after 30 minutes of it I just shut up. 15 minutes later he gobbles on my side of the creek danger close. I purred once on the slate and shut up again. 10 minutes later he was feeding 8 yards away. It seemed like an eternity when I didn't know where he was but it paid off.