Florida Voices | Tommy Lado, Talkin’ Turkey

This is Florida Voices, a series of ordinary Floridians with extraordinary stories.
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For Tommy Lado, a childhood dream of learning the language of the turkey has been realized through tireless practice and a life dedicated to the pursuit of the prized trophy bird. Hunters from all over the country descend upon North Central Florida during turkey hunting season in the spring to bag a bird — more specifically, the Osceola Wild Turkey or Florida Turkey.

Hunting guides like Lado imitate a menagerie of lifelike turkey sounds as an integral part of their hunt to lure in their prey. Lado  uses a “mouthcall” to excite or anger the gobblers .

He says there is a “funny switch you can flip on a turkey.”