How to Use an Owl Call for Turkeys

Calling turkeys is one of the most popular ways for hunters to target the wily birds. Hearing a turkey return a call is an exciting moment for most hunters, but also an indication that there are turkeys in the area. Hunters make use of a variety of calls when targeting turkeys, including owl calls, which are used to get a response from turkeys, but not necessarily to draw the birds to a certain location. Learn how to use an owl call for turkeys with these tips and suggestions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Owl call
Owl call

Step 1

Decide on a general area in which to search for turkeys. Good turkey habitat includes some open areas in which the birds can feed and forested areas in which the turkeys can seek cover and fly into trees at night to roost.

Step 2

Drive or walk to the area where you believe there are turkeys in the early morning or late evening. Owl hoot calls work best when turkeys are still in their roost trees, which they generally are at dawn and dusk.

Step 3

Blow on the owl call once, then listen for the gobble of a turkey. If you do not hear any response right away, wait a few minutes and blow the call again.

Step 4

Listen carefully for the gobble of a turkey and try to get a sense of where the bird is located. If you are planning to hunt right away, walk slowly and quietly toward the area where you heard the turkey. Blow the call again and listen as you work to lock down the position of the bird. Do not use the owl call once you are satisfied that you are close to the bird, or know where it is at.

Step 5

Walk out of the field after hearing a gobble if you do not plan to hunt right away. This is often the case in the evening, when hunters use an owl call to locate a bird that they will hunt in the morning. When they go back in the morning, hunters can again use the owl call to locate the bird, though that is not necessary if they feel confident that they know its location.

Resources

Owl Hooters and Calls

Article Written By Larry Anderson

Larry Anderson has been a freelance writer since 2000. He has covered a wide variety of topics, from golf and baseball to hunting and fishing. His work has appeared in numerous print and online publications, including "Fargo Forum" newspaper. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts in print journalism from Concordia College.

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