Brett goes through some tips that can pull a stubborn tom into range by using the float calling technique.
It's a beautiful late April day in Massachusetts. Henry and I are out hunting. We've heard some birds, but they seem to be hemmed up and not super hot. So we've messed with a couple. Hasn't worked out. But one thing we've been trying today, and I loved it, too—when you're hunting with a buddy like we are today—is to float call.
Henry sets up kind of in front of me, closer to the bird. If we strike one and I drop back and call. What that does is it gives the illusion to the bird that the hen is further away than he thinks it may be and the hunter is a lot closer.
If that bird hangs up and doesn't commit fully, he's in gun range of Henry and I'm back calling. The other thing is you can start to direct the bird with some directional calling.
A lot of times birds will try to skirt you. If you just stay far enough behind where you're out of sight of the bird, you can start to orbit, if you will, the hunter and stay in line.
Keep that hunter in line with you and the bird, and you'll eventually if the bird is coming, pull them in gun range of the hunter.
The other thing that allows you to do is if you're calling and keeping that bird gobbling the hunter (like Henry) is able to move closer to that bird and close the distance.
You can kind of move in while that bird's gobbling and be able to hear where he is and know how close you can get, and you'll be able to push the envelope until you get right there. Then that bird only has to come, you know, a few yards and you can kill them.
We were able to get 80 to 100 yards closer to that bird. Now, we didn't kill the bird, but every couple of minutes when he gobbled, we could move up.
Because I'm keeping them gobbling, they're listening and they know they can keep pushing it and stay mobile. Whereas if you were calling, the bird expects to see you and he thinks you're right there and he may be more cautious and on edge if he sees something moving or hears something moving because he's looking for the hen right there.
That's something we do all the time. It works really, really well. If you haven't done it, try it with a buddy. If you guys are hunting, I think it's a super effective tactic and you'll have some good luck with it.