Be a hit in the fun department with this super cool Thanksgiving craft for kids. The gobbling turkey is super easy to make and it really does gobble! Watching your kid’s faces as their turkey ‘gobbles’ is priceless!
1. The pdf of the turkey, feathers, and the instructions – You can download them below.
3. Either 3 oz or 5 oz plastic cups. You’ll need one cup per turkey. You’ll want plastic cups because the vibration/sound will resonate better in them than with paper cups. The color of the cup doesn’t matter, they usually come in white or clear. (In this tutorial, 5 oz. cups were used.)
4. Crochet threadeither size 3 or size 10 – each turkey will need a 12″ length.
5. Plain sponge – Each turkey will need a cut piece of sponge that measures 1″ x 1 1/2″.
7. Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks – I love using low temp glue guns with kids since they can use them themselves. You’ll need to be the judge of how ready your kids are to use glue guns. A good alternative to this would be to use glue dots.
8. Or Glue Dots – Use either a glue gun or glue dots. It’s up to you which you prefer.
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As a turkey hunter, one of the best sounds you can hear is an excited tom turkey gobbling in response to your calls. A gobbling turkey reveals his location and signals his interest in the hen you’re imitating. With spring turkey season upon us, every hunter wants to know how to make a longbeard shock gobble and come running into range.
In this article, we’ll cover 7 proven tips and tactics for getting a gobbling response from tom turkeys. Master these turkey calling techniques and you’ll tag more longbeards this season.
1. Locate Roosted Birds the Night Before
The easiest time to make a tom turkey gobble is at first light when he’s still on the roost. You want to pinpoint his location the night before so you can set up close and make him sound off
Here are two effective roosting tactics
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Owl Hooting: Imitate an owl hoot after fly-up and listen for gobbles in response. Mark the spots for morning setups.
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Roost Watching: Position yourself with a view of fly-up spots like open fields 30 minutes before dusk. Watch for toms flying up to tree limbs and note the locations.
Once you’ve identified a roosted tom, sneak in well before daylight and get set up 100 yards or less from him. Then you’ll be in prime position to make that tom gobble at first light.
2. Use Locator Calls to Shock Gobble
Locator calls like crows, owls, coyotes, or gobble calls are excellent for causing a shock gobble reflex. Loud, sudden calls will often trigger a tom to gobble and reveal his position.
Try these tips when using locators:
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Blow calls loudly and sharply to elicit a response. Timid calling won’t get it done.
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Make the call twice in quick succession to increase response.
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Target areas where a tom could be – don’t randomly call everywhere.
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Crow and owl calls are best if you want to work the gobbling bird. Coyotes and gobbles can make them shut up.
Work ridges, field edges, and other turkey hot spots with locator calls until you get an answer. Then move in quickly while he’s still fired up.
3. Use Real Hen Calls After Locating
Once you’ve pinpointed a gobbling tom’s position, it’s time to make him think a receptive hen is moving his way. Switch to hen calls like yelps, clucks, and purrs to keep him interested and draw him in.
Follow these expert tips for realistic hen calling:
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Call more initially when far away, then call less as he gets closer.
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Throw in some single yelps and clucks versus constant calling. Real hens don’t call nonstop.
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Use excited fast yelps when he gobbles. Switch to contented purrs and clucks as he gets near.
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Vary call volume. Start softer then get louder when he responds. Whisper when he’s close.
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Move your calling position and use a decoy for added realism.
Keep him gobbling and convinced that the hen of his dreams is on the way. He’ll come looking for love.
4. Trigger Gobbles with Fighting Purrs
The breeding season is also fight season for tom turkeys. Toms will battle other males to establish dominance and breed hens.
You can use hard, aggressive hen “fighting purrs” to spark a tom’s competitive nature and get him gobbling. Here’s how:
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Make the call loud, fast, and angry sounding. Imagine two hens about to throw down.
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Focus on areas where two toms could be, like the border between two properties.
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After the purr exchange, use excited yelps like the hens are seeking mates.
A tom will often gobble repeatedly when he thinks other males are horning in on his harem. Use this jealous tendency to your advantage.
5. Target Silent Toms with Soft Tree Yelps
Some wise old gobblers will go silent after fly down and won’t shock gobble at calls. They let horny young toms do all the announcing.
In this case, try using extremely soft tree yelps that sound like a hen on the nest. Make just enough sound to get his attention.
Here are some tips on soft tree yelps:
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Use a diaphragm call and barely blow enough air to produce subtle sounds.
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Make the yelps sporadic and unpredictable, not rhythmic.
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Focus on calling near thick cover, not wide open areas. He needs to be close to hear it.
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Be ready to draw quickly when he pops out to investigate the hen noises.
As a last resort, soft tree yelping can pull in tight-lipped toms that aren’t gobbling aggressively. Catch him by surprise.
6. Scout Fresh Sign for Silent Setups
If an area is not producing gobbles, scout for fresh turkey sign like tracks, dusting bowls, and strut marks. Setting up where the birds are is better than calling randomly.
Some scouting tips:
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Focus on food sources like fields of new green growth that will attract turkeys.
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Look for scratching in leaves where turkeys have been feeding on insects and acorns.
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Check muddy creek crossings for big turkey tracks. Toms follow hens to water.
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Listen for subtle gobbles, clucks, and putting sounds that signal nearby birds.
Even if turkeys aren’t gobbling, you can still kill them. Scout fresh sign so you’re where they want to be.
7. Hunt All Day Long
One mistake many hunters make is giving up too early if morning calling doesn’t produce. But as the saying goes, it ain’t over ’til it’s over.
Keep after them all day with this persistent mindset:
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Stay mobile and cover ground hitting unpressured spots. Don’t just sit in one area.
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Target mid-day food sources and strut zones to intercept roaming toms.
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Use locator calls regularly in case a silent tom has moved onto your area.
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As temperatures warm up, focus efforts near water holes and dusting areas.
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Sit tight late in the day on fly-down spots to ambush returning birds.
Remember, a tom might gobble just once the entire day. But if it happens in range of your gun or bow, game over.
As you can see, making a longbeard turkey gobble takes skill, woodsmanship, and an understanding of turkey vocalizations and behaviors. Apply these turkey calling strategies during spring hunting season and you’ll be rewarded with more responsive gobblers and filled tags. Nothing beats the heart-pounding thrill of a fired-up tom thundering in to your setup. Let him know you’re there and the rest is in the bag.
Now see how to make your turkey gobble!
- Hold your turkey in one hand and the sponge in the other.
- Make the sponge bend in half and pinch the string with it near the cup.
- Use slight jerking motions to make the sponge slide down the string, thereby causing the “gobbling” sound.
- (Sponge should be ever-so-slightly damp.)
Here’s where you can get the pdf download with full instructions and photos for how to make these adorable gobbling turkeys
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Instructions for how to assemble your Gobbling Turkey
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Step 1 – Cut out turkeys and feathers
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Step 2 – Cut string to desired length (min. 20″)
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Step 3 – Cut sponge into pieces measuring 1″ x 1/2″
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Step 4 – Poke hole in bottom of cup
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Step 5 – Tie string onto button
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Step 6 – Thread string down through the hole in cup with button on the outside bottom of the cup
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Step 7 – Glue button to the cup to secure it
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Step 8 – Tie end of string tightly around center of sponge, then knot it to secure it
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Step 9 – Glue turkey & feathers onto cup
Different Owl Calls to Make a Turkey Gobble
FAQ
What will make a turkey gobble?
How do you get turkeys to gobbling?
What makes turkeys start gobbling?
Do turkeys gobble Another Day?
However, many more do survive to gobble another day by strutting in an advantageous spot while waiting for amenable hens to come to them. Turkey behavior and their vocalizations are an inexact science, but gobbling takes it to another level.
How do you tell a Gobbler a hen is on the ground?
A fly-down cackle is good call to tell a gobbler that a hen is on the ground. However, a fly-down cackle often works best if the gobbler is already on the ground before you call. Otherwise, the tom may stay on the roost; waiting for what he thinks is a hen turkey to come to him before he flies down.
What does putting at a gobbler mean?
The putt is generally associated as an alarm and usually means the bird has seen or heard something and is signaling danger. This can be useful when you have a gobbler in range, but can’t get him to raise his head or stop. However, before putting at a gobbler it is best to have your shotgun ready and on target.
How do you make a turkey call with a latex diaphragm?
Hold the latex diaphragm in place with a rubber band. Press your lower lip against the diaphragm and your upper lip against the lip rest. The correct position is similar to drinking from a bottle. Impersonate turkey calls by speaking into the tube turkey call. Your breath and jaw movements make the sounds that mimic turkey vocalizations.