Turkey Call Making with Ricky Padgett

In this episode, hosts Andy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington interview Ricky Padgett of Spring Allure Custom Calls to discuss the art and strategy of turkey hunting. The conversation opens with a deep dive into the recent resurgence of trumpet calls, a tool once dismissed as a novelty but now celebrated for its unique, realistic tone. Padgett emphasizes that while highly effective, the trumpet is a dynamic wind instrument that requires rigorous daily practice and air control to master. The veteran hunter shares anecdotal proof of its efficacy, noting how it can turn an uninterested bird around when standard calls fail, though he warns that it is far from a "magic bullet."

The dialogue then shifts toward broader conservation efforts and the shifting regulatory landscape in South Carolina. The group discusses the state's delayed season opener—a proactive measure aimed at improving low nesting success and poult production by reducing early-season hunter interference. Padgett explains that laws alone aren't enough, highlighting predator management and habitat upkeep (such as prescribed burning) as critical components of land management. He shares that comprehensive trapping targeting bobcats—which he considers the apex turkey predator—and coyotes has directly led to a noticeable increase in gobbling birds on his managed properties.

Concluding the interview, Padgett digs into the psychology of the hunt and the common pitfalls rookies face. He stresses that a lack of patience is the ultimate mistake, explaining that turkey hunting is a "mind game" where hunters must resist the urge to move and instead allow birds to break their natural morning routines. To illustrate, Padgett recounts a grueling 13-day pursuit of a stubborn, hen-nested turkey that he finally harvested by carefully slipping into the bird's "bubble" off the roost. The episode wraps up with a lighthearted rapid-fire Q&A segment and information on how listeners can join the waiting list for Padgett's sought-after custom trumpet calls just ahead of the upcoming spring season.

You can reach Ricky Padgett with Spring Allure Custom Calls at 803-682-3644. Contact him today to get on his waiting list for an amazing trumpet call.

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