Different hen sounds different regions and age groups?

[SS Custom Calls]

 Sounds like you've never heard him run one!!    That's an insult to your grandson!!    You should have heard Porter run calls to me over the phone when I first got to know him. Sounded like a hen on speed!!!!!   

 Al

[Bulldogmikey]

A hen on speed! Now that is a good one. Poor Porter, never around to defend himself when it gets good!   

Mike

[West Augusta]

I like high pitch with a lot of break. Not necessarily raspy but a raspy finish isn't bad either.

[Zumer]

I'm in favor of the ole' mature hen sound for the most part on my paddle calls.....

    Part of that is being able to fall hunt, so gobblers and jake calls are very useful in a call....

    The high pitched sound does have it's place in turkey calling or the turkeys wouldn't be using it in their language.

    Our season has about 3-4 changes in the hen's calling, you'll hear, so you gotta be able to change w/ the sounds, your hearing & adapt your hunting style to the phase of breeding the birds are in.........

[M,Yingling]

I like more mellow deeper sounding call ,, but with the right striker get it little high pitched.

[Dcoleinpa]

I like whatever the gobbler likes.... 

[AlanKrow]

I'm in favor of the ole' mature hen sound for the most part on my paddle calls.....

    Part of that is being able to fall hunt, so gobblers and jake calls are very useful in a call....

    The high pitched sound does have it's place in turkey calling or the turkeys wouldn't be using it in their language.

    Our season has about 3-4 changes in the hen's calling, you'll hear, so you gotta be able to change w/ the sounds, your hearing & adapt your hunting style to the phase of breeding the birds are in.........

  X2 YES SIR...

[M Sharpe]

One thing that has been surprising over the last few months is the different sounds each caller likes in his callers. seems deep south prefer high pitch calls. Younger hunters high pitched calls. Northeast and Northwest more mature and deeper sounds. Older hunters seem to prefer the more mellow sound of an older hen. Then there is Porter in a league of his own. Would love to hear your insight.

Mike

I've always thought just the opposite to be true Mike. I've listened to all of the contestants at the GN's. Pollard, Parrish, Van Cise all like high pitched yelps. Drake and Briggs always had a deeper yelp. Some of those guys from up north yelp with such an accent, I can hardly understand them.
Seems like they are all trying to get on board with the higher pitch here lately though especially since that is what has been winning contest.

[charlieparrish]

Years ago I did my own informal research into what turkeys liked...and I found that higher pitched calls tended to elicit more answers..but not necessarily more close encounters.  In the last few years I have seen an increase in the attempts of hunters to  try and mimic contest calling with high pitched and clear notes..I have not noted an increase in turkeys killed by those following this method. I personally think (IMHO) that the turkeys are becoming atuned to too much mouth calling and are evolving to answer, but then avoid that type caller. This is just my opinion and is based on limited observation
All this being said, I tend to lean toward the more mellow sound..and not too much of it most of the time.

Charlie

[Dragonfly]

As long as its turkey...I like it.  All turkeys are different in any given area.  However, my ears prefer old raspy or young high raspy.  But I hate a clear, clean high pitch!!

[BigTomsCalls]

I like them in the middle to low range but the "MUST" be clear!!

[shad309]

I tend to take at least 3-5 calls with me, something for everything. I don't think I like a particular sound I just try to figure out what they want to hear that day.

[woodwzrd]

I like whatever the gobbler likes.... 

That says it all for me. I carry at least 3 different calls with me and will use which ever one or ones it takes.

[Ferguson]

I'm with Shad and Woodwzrd. Depending on the turkey and how much it's been fooled with and what type of calls he's heard and been spooked by. That being said, I get more requests for rough deep old raspy hen toned calls. I think it is all in the confidence and preference of the caller as much as the bird. Also I think if a gobbler has been covering a hen and he recognizes or relates to a certain sound then he will be less cautious and more willing to pop his head around a tree.
Just 2 more cents
David

[Jake St. John]

I tend to take at least 3-5 calls with me, something for everything. I don't think I like a particular sound I just try to figure out what they want to hear that day.

Now here's the post I was waiting for.  Give them what they want!  I carry high raspy, Med raspy, and low raspy, all with the yawk sound.  I carry boxes where you can be high, go off to low and stop it with a little rasp.  Most of the really old birds, usually have old raspy hens with them.  I hunted with an old original Tom Turpin for 18 years after my mentor had a stoke and let me use it.  The paddle had a crack running out from the top hat.  Mr. Jake had it set up on the back side so it was extremely raspy and low pitched.  I never changed it.  I wish I had a picture of all the old gobblers that one call reduced to possession.  Mr. Jack also carried with him a fool proof lynch that was medium high pitched.  When he was teaching me how to hunt turkeys, some of the time they wanted it and would only answer it.  I have seen birds that you could not yelp or cluck at, they would shut up.  Worked great to jake gobbling.  The fun part of hunting these birds, is trying to figure them out.  


Good Thread.