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So we're at the National Wild Turkey Federation show here in Nashville Tennessee.
And as you know, I'm going to be going turkey hunting this year.
Now I've been learning how to use, slate calls...sorry friction calls, Tony Hanson told me about that, and mouth calls and box calls
But actually I've got to find the birds first before we can call those bad boys into us.
So right here I've got two of the outdoor industries most prolific, famous, credible, outdoor writers.
We have Will Brantley, you've read him everywhere like Field and Stream, and he's the editor of Realtree.com.
And here of course is my personal turkey hunting hero and all round super guy, Steve Hickoff.
Now it's not just about bring those birds in, you have to find those bad boys first. How is it you do that?
Early in the morning with the shot gobble. They'll gobble at any loud noise I've heard them go at slamming a truck door.
But usually I'll use... well they call it a locator call. It's a crow call or caldy hail.
I used a barred owl hoot that's one of the most popular, especially in the morning.
So the birds are up in the tree, all asleep, feeling comfortable, having a nice dream. Chances are they were busy the day before.
And you wake them up and they jump up and gobble.
So what is a call and how do you know which bird to go for?
As far as it is which bird to go for, I usually go for the one that's closest.
Makes sense.
Usually I've got a pretty good idea from scouting where that turkeys roosted and where I can set up on him.
Ideally I will have a pretty good idea that turkey was there to begin with.
But I want to go up to the closest bird I know I can set up upon and kill.
- So you either shut the door or.... - Do an Owl hoot, yeah.
- You've got to teach me how to do an owl hoot. - I do it with my natural voice.
You know when I first met you I did think you sounded like an owl.
Just like an owl? Well it's not hard I learned to do it as a kid. So it's like...
You have the hoot or the Barred owl but you can also use a Great horned owl which is softer.
Say you are in a pined wood and you know turkeys are roosted 60 yards away.
But you don't know whether it's 50 or sometimes they move through the night.
It's a different cadence, a different note. Imagine something like...
Something like that. It's very close, very soft.
You are basically saying 'I'm in your zone, I don't want to screw up'
I don't want to resonate with a barred owl which is a booming howler. If you are booming down a canyon it will just project.
So you need to get in your set up and crouch down. You know the turkeys right there and you may just...
I don't know if you use the Great horned owl but I use it a lot. It's very soft.
It's very soft and they will gobble at that.
And who knows what it is? Is it territorialism?
This is pretty cool. I'm hearing how different species vary their call.
But it's not hard to do. It's a sort of sound that comes from your chest.
Sort of making like the kung fu noise.
And then your adding in cadence and the traditional words of "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?"
I sound like a dog. It's very nasally then?
- Little bit bit yeah. - Comes from the gut though.
It's not coming out your mouth, you are kind of forcing it up from your chest.
Sound like a chimpanzee now.
You care is not how you look doing this in the turkey woods.
Ok sorry. My image was destroyed years ago, don't worry about that.
Now I want to kill birds, that's what I want to do.
So what you are saying is I need to practice. Practice the sounds and practice the variety of sounds..
We need to make sure we know where the birds are. And that sometimes you've just got to be downright lucky.
- Yes. - That helps on occasion.
I'm sure the guy that found out by slamming the door he could make the turkey call. Because he forgot one morning...
...not enough caffeine, slams the door BAM thinks his day is finished and suddenly you hear birds calling.
So a little bit of luck but I'm really looking forward to squealing like a dog, like a pig, hooting like an owl.
And sooner or later I'll be able to call this birds in. That's the way it works?
Thank you so much for your time gentlemen. Absolute pleasure.
Will Brantley and the legendary, the etherial, my personal hero - Steve Hickoff.
Thanks guys.