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Wild Turkey Sounds

From gathering poults to finding a mate, wild turkeys make a vast array of sounds. Below are common calls you can hear in the turkey woods.

Cluck - The cluck consists of one or more short, staccato notes. The plain cluck, many times, include two or three single-note clucks. It's generally used by one bird to get the attention of another. It's a good call to reassure an approaching gobbler that a hen is waiting for him.

Yelp - The yelp is a basic turkey sound. It is often delivered in a series of single-note vocalizations and can have different meanings depending on how the hen uses it.

Putt - The putt is a single note, generally associated as an alarm, could be several notes sharp or rapid fashion, usually means they have seen or heard something, means danger.

Cutt - A series of fast, loud, erratic single notes is referred to as cutting. It's a modified cluck and is a distinct abrupt call with a somewhat questioning nature. It can be heard at a great distance and is often used by a single turkey looking for companionship.

Tree Call - The tree call is usually a series of soft muffled yelps given by a roosted bird. Sometimes it picks up in volume as the fly-down time nears. May be accompanied by soft clucking. Generally acknowledged as a call to communicate with others in a flock.

Purr -Purring is a soft, rolling call turkeys make when content. It can usually be heard by feeding birds. This is not a loud call but is good for reassuring turkeys as they get in close to your position.

Gobbling - The gobble is one of the principal vocalizations of the male wild turkey and is used primarily in the spring to let hens know he is in the area.