U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)’s Post

Welcome to spring turkey season, where hunters walk around making noises that would get them kicked out of most dinner parties. Wild turkeys have almost 30 different sounds. Here's a list of their most used lines. Cluck: A short, soft sound. Usually means, “Hey, I’m here” or “Something caught my attention.” Yelp: A series of vocalizations that say, “Where are you?” or “Come over here.” Hens use this to keep in touch with other turkeys, especially during mating season. Cutt: A louder, more aggressive version of the yelp. It means, “I’m excited or agitated.” Hens often cutt when they're fired up and looking for company. Purr: A soft rolling sound. Can mean, “I’m content,” but if it’s mixed with clucks, it could mean “Back off.” Gobble: A loud, unmistakable call. This is mostly made by toms (male turkeys) in spring, and it basically says, “I’m over here, ladies,” or “Other toms, stay back.” If you're heading out this season, good luck. May your yelps be convincing, your gobbles be answered, and your socks stay dry. Here's to another spring of responsible hunting! Photo courtesy of R3 photo collection