Female turkey sounds

We’re all familiar with a raspy hen yelp and a thundering tom gobble. But wild hens and gobblers make many turkey sounds beyond these two vocalizations. Each of these sounds express specific meanings. As turkey hunters, understanding each call helps us decipher what turkeys are saying, and what we should say back to them. But even if you’re not a turkey hunter, it’s fun to be able to identify these sounds in the turkey woods.Here are the most common turkey sounds that gobblers, hens, jakes, and jennies make. While we can’t guarantee the exact meaning of every vocalization, these are the perceived interpretations based on lots of field observation.The wild turkey gobble is the flagship turkey sound. It’s commonly made by male turkeys (longbeards and jakes). However, hens can gobble, too. This vocalization is a long-range call that announces the presence of the turkey that sounds it out. It’s used to challenge other birds, give hens their location, and more. Likely translation: “I’m right here. Come and get me!”The plain hen yelp is the primary vocalization for female turkeys. Oftentimes, this is a series of soft, moderate, or loud notes. Each yelp begins with a high-pitched front end and finishes with a raspy back end. These sounds can be emitted singularly, or in series of two, three, four, or more notes. The yelp is most likely a call that announces a turkey’s general presence. It’s the general turkey sound for urging other turkeys to approach their position. Likely translation: “Here

When hunting turkeys, there are so many things you need to know about them. From learning the turkey’s mating season down to how to use their decoys, these vital facts of information will help you learn how to properly attract and capture them. One of the important things to look into: How they sound!We’ve all probably wondered: How does a turkey sound like? They don’t just “gobble” as many of us know. There are actually a ton of calls and sounds they make that will help us understand what they feel to strategize how we hunt!So if you’re wondering about it, read on as I show you everything to know about turkey sounds.The Importance of Knowing Turkey CallsYou’re probably wondering: Why is it so important to learn about what sound turkeys make?This isn’t just so that you’ll be able to detect where turkeys are based on their sound. Learning and identifying the sounds they make can help you learn what they are feeling and how you can “talk” with them through your calls. That way, you can calm down a turkey or lure them into your area, which has you capture them thanks to your ears and choice of calls.Take note that there are quite a lot of sounds a turkey makes, which is why it’s crucial to acquaint yourself with most, if not all, of them.Discover more: The 7 Effective Ways on How to Go Turkey Hunting In the RainSo, what does a turkey sound like?They don’t just have one call! I’ll be explaining the MANY different sounds they make:1. YelpThis is one of the most heard sounds from both the male and female turkey. It sounds just like its name, coming in a series of notes and usually in a series between three to eight. This gives other

Times are early morning before fly-down from the roost and late afternoon before sunset. The low light conditions allow the sound to travel farthest. Rainy, cloudy, or windy days suppress gobbling activity.Through fall and winter, gobbling is less frequent but still occurs sporadically, especially on warmer days. During this time, it serves more of a contact call purpose among flocks than for breeding. In commercial operations, artificial lighting tricks tom turkeys into breeding year-round.Why Do Hens Gobble?Although female turkeys don’t gobble often, they sometimes gobble in response to males during the breeding season. Hen gobbles are higher pitched, shorter, and less forceful than tom gobbles. Scientists believe responsive gobbling indicates a female’s readiness to mate with a male suitor.On very rare occasions, a hen may adopt male mannerisms like gobbling and strutting if their hormone balance is abnormal, a condition called hormonal hen. But in general, gobbling is primarily a tom turkey behavior related to announcing their availability and fitness for breeding.Turkey Vocalizations Beyond the GobbleWhile the gobble may be a turkey’s most iconic sound, they have an extensive vocabulary. Here are some other notable turkey calls:Clucks -Made by mother hens to gather poultsPurrs – Soft, contented sounds by nesting/roosting hensPeeps – Constant call of poults to the mother henPutts – Two-note call by fledglings, especially feeding timeYelps – Assembly or alarm calls by adultsDrumming – Vibrating sounds made when struttingBy learning more turkey talk, we gain appreciation into the hidden social world of these vocal birds beyond their value