Turkey yelping to calm whitetails?

[longbow fanatic 1]

Some time ago, I read an article in Traditional Bowhunter Magazine (I believe) regarding yelping at whitetails. I don't recall who authored the article, but the hunter stated he's been yelping at whitetails for quite some time. As the story went, the author said if a whitetail were to look up at him in the tree, he would simply yelp. The whitetails nearly always immediately calm down, allowing for a shot opportunity. The author said that deer apparently can't, or don't, differentiate a difference between a 200 lb. camo clad hunter from a 20 lb turkey.

I have been intrigued with this notion since the article was published. Has anyone done this? If so, how did the deer respond?

[Terry Lightle]

Have not did it,but Marv told me about it long before he wrote the article.If you know Clyncke at all ,you know that he has did it.
Terry

[longbow fanatic 1]

I don't know Merv, but I've seen the pictures of all the huge bucks he has killed. The proof is in the pudding!

[30coupe]

I've done it before. Coming out of the timber from my stand one day, I bumped about 10 deer. I had a call in my pocket so I gave them a few yelps. It was like somebody slammed on the brakes! The entire herd just stopped, looked around and started feeding. Several of them looked right at me from about 60-70 yards. The must have thought I was one heck of a big turkey. I kind of diagonalled toward them and got to within about 30 yards before I felt the wind on the back of my neck, and you know the rest of the story. I was surprised that they let me keep moving closer. I just yelped and putted once in a while and stopped every few steps, trying to imitate a turkey's gait.

I've mostly used it in instances like this when I didn't want to spook deer out of an area I was going back to to hunt, rather than actually trying to get a shot at one.

I haven't tried the tree stand trick, but I'm going to give it a go I think.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Great stuff, Coupe!

[Kevin Dill]

I commonly use this technique on approach to my stand when leaves are dry and noisy. I shuffle my boots or maybe scratch the leaves with a stick while simply voice-yelping and clucking. I've walked right up on bedded deer, and I've had nearby bedded deer show up under my stand almost as soon as I get up and in. Turkey sounds work extremely well for me.

[23feetupandhappy]

That article intrigued me as well, defiantly putting it in my bag of tricks  

[longbow fanatic 1]

Kevin,

That's awesome! I'm going to begin carrying a mouth call during the fall. In all my years of hunting, I've never heard of such an effective strategy. It's a game changer!

Thanks to all for you input.

[TradBrewSC]

I just recently read an article on this but cant recall where.. I am going to give it a try this year for sure.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Well, I should correct this. I think this tactic equals the learned use of blinds to kill turkeys. Prior to learning that turkeys have two dimensional vision and were susceptible to being killed with the use of blinds, hunting open strut zones was unheard of.

[kleine]

I had an old doe that use to bust me every night quite a few years ago, she  knew exactly where my tree stand was.
One night I took a diagram along and when she came in looked  up and started stomping I gave her a few yelps.
She then just looked up funny at me a few times and decided it must be safe. Then more deer came in with her and nobody payed anymore attention to me.  I've also set out a turkey decoy about 50 yards from me and it  really draws their attention as they pass by.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Kleine,

That's a great idea! Putting the decoys way out there, so when the deer walk past you their attention is focused away from you! Us trad guys and gals are a crafty bunch!

[jcprintz]

When ever I'm going into an evening stand or still hunting I Yelp every so often. Turkeys wak on two legs and make quite a bit of noise. I believe the deer are calmed down by making sounds they are used to hearing. Sometimes I'll just cluck and purr. If it makes them think I'm a turkey so much the better.

[Yohon]

Another trick along those same lines......put a crow decoy in the tree with you    

[KSdan]

One of my best kept secrets!     Stalking, getting to a stand, being spotted in a tree. . .

Always have a diaphragm call with me.

Dan in KS

[drewsbow]

yes i have used this for years , it works like Kevin said above

[Tedd]

No luck with that here.
Tedd

[longbow fanatic 1]

Thanks for your responses.

[last arrow]

I wonder how it would work in an area with a very low turkey population?

[longbow fanatic 1]

Probably not very well, Last Arrow.