By Chuck Jones

Without a doubt calling is the best thing that ever happened to hunting. Being able to carry on a conversation with the game you are hunting makes it an active sport that adds a special element to the hunt.

One of the keys to being a successful caller is learning the proper language of a particular species. Then you have to practice so you will have confidence in your ability to call. A hunter must also have a strong mental attitude and faith that he or she can call that game in. Finally it's important to learn the nature of the game.

All of those factors relate to turkey hunting. Turkey hunting is probably the greatest calling sport there is. A spring hunter must convince an old gobbler he is one of his hens. To do that you must be able to "read" that particular turkey. Pay attention to turkeys each day of your hunt. If the hens are vocal, odds are you can be a more aggressive caller, but when they are quiet and shy you, too, need to tone your calling down.

Learn to read a gobbler's response. His response to your calling can indicate how tough he is going to be to hunt. For example, if a gobbler breaks in on your calling, he is saying he is definitely interested - so sit down where you are. If there is a delay in his gobbling, he is saying that he is interested but not excited. Then you need to maybe get a little closer and possibly try a different call.

One of the more common situations is a gobbler that answers and goes the other way. This usually means he honors you as a hen, but he is already with hens and those hens don't want any more company so they lead him off. In this situation you need to pattern their route and try to get in front of them. There are many situations spring gobbler hunters face. It is very important to learn the land you hunt, then you can maneuver yourself into the proper calling place a make a good setup.

When you are in doubt about calling a good rule of thumb is to get as close as possible to a bird and start out calling soft then work up to more aggressive calls if need and always have confidence that you can call that gobbler in!