Wild turkeys are now seen in more and more neighborhoods. Do you see them where you live? Wouldn’t it be fun to “talk” to them? How would they react? You could buy a turkey call. But wouldn’t it be more fun to fabricate one the way people have been making them for thousands of years?
Archaeologists have found wingbone turkey calls at sites where people lived in ancient times. Make your own wingbone turkey call. To make a traditional turkey call, here is what you will need: turkey wing, small knife, pipe cleaner, stiff wire, dish soap, bleach, sandpaper, hacksaw, and pan.
1) Cut a turkey wing at the joints to get the radius, ulna, and humerus bones. Scrape and cut away as much meat as possible.
2) Boil bones in a pan of water with a few teaspoons of dish detergent for about 30 minutes. Let cool. Finish scraping and cleaning.
3) Saw the knobby ends off the bones. Trim and hollow out the bones. Poke out the marrow with a stiff wire and pipe cleaner.
4) If you want brighter bones, soak in a mixture: half bleach plus half water or hydrogen peroxide. Let dry completely.
5) Check the fit of the bones. If they don’t fit, saw a little more off the ends. Lightly sand the ends of the bones.
6) Superglue the bones together. Fill gaps with white glue. Make a lanyard. Decorate your turkey call with a fine tip permanent marker.
7) Put your lips just over the end of the call. Purse your lips firmly. Suck in air so that your lips make a squeaking sound. It’s like the opposite of playing a trumpet. Cup and open your hand over the end of the call to change the sound.
You can create a variety of yelps with your wingbone caller. Here are some other examples of turkey talk:
Kee Kee: Usually a young turkey saying “Help, I’m lost.”
Purr: Soft, rolling sound while foraging. “I’m content and nearby.”
Gobble: Loud, rapid gurgling. A male calling hens.
Cluck: A few short, quick notes to get attention.
Cutt: Sharp clucks mixed with yelps from excited turkeys.
Cackle: A dozen or so irregular, loud, quick notes that rise in pitch. Often heard when a turkey is flying up to a roost or leaving one.
Assembly call: Set of loud yelps from an adult hen used to gather her flock of young.
