Turkey Calls

**Gunowner99** · February 28th, 2019, 05:18 PM

Now you know I will bug the heck out of you all when I am trying something new, sorry. So, for me the beginner, any advice on a call starter kit or where to begin on buying a few calls? I see so much out there but I know you all will distill it down for me. Thanks!

**Steeltrap** · February 28th, 2019, 05:25 PM

What do you think you would like to use? Mouth calls can be very effective.....but you have to practice A LOT to become effective. "Scratch" calls (slate, aluminum, glass) are also very good.....but again practice is required. Box calls work very well, require practice, but are a little easier to use and a little more forgiving if you screw up.

Being new....don't consider a suction call yet. That requires a lot of practice and they are easy to screw up.

Always remember, it's more about "cadence" of the call than it is the sound.

**Gunowner99** · February 28th, 2019, 06:17 PM

Oh boy, so I should maybe get a box call and maybe a scratch call to start? Suggestions on any that are inexpensive but effective. Depends on the caller I know.

**TooBigToFit** · February 28th, 2019, 08:09 PM

To me, I think a pot call of some sort (slate/glass/etc.) is the best balance between versatility and ease of use for a beginner. It's fairly easy to make all the sounds you need on one (yelps, clucks, cutts, purrs), and volume control is also intuitive.

Box calls are very easy to use, but, mainly for yelping. Doing the other vocalizations is doable, but I find them trickier to do on a box call than anything else. To me, if you need to be loud, a box call is hard to beat.

Mouth/diaphragm calls have a reputation for being tough to use. But there's quite a few months between now and opening day, and I'm sure you could figure it out if you put enough time into it (and if you don't died of suffocation from accidentally swallowing the call).

I think you should pick up a pot call, and a diaphragm call. Diaphragm calls are cheap, worst case, you're out the cost of a meal at McDonalds. If you're picking up a diaphragm call, try and get a 2 reed, and definitely not more than 3 reeds. The more reeds it has, the more air you need, and the harder it is.

Learn the pot call when you're at home. When you're commuting to and from work, try learning the mouth call. Pop it in, learn how to position it with your tongue, get used to not gagging and choking, and learn how to make the sounds.

For either one, if you can learn how to yelp, you have a chance of getting a turkey. I find that for the mouth call, decomposing the yelp into 2 parts is most helpful in learning. Learn the high part (I usually try to say "key"), then follow it with the low part (drop your jaw a bit, I say "yuck"). Do it slow, then speed it up. It'll eventually start sounding like a yelp.

Buy the proper conditioning material for your pot call and striker (it depends on what the call material is, but usually a light ScotchBrite pad won't hurt anything, you may need sandpaper for other things). I carry the stuff with my calls when I hunt. When you're done using the mouth call, clean it off, and don't let it dry out (avoid leaving it on your car on a hot day, for example).

**Gunowner99** · February 28th, 2019, 10:40 PM

Good idea to practice in the car as my wife would be driven crazy ha ha! More to consider but I am understanding a little better, a lot to learn!

**Boondox** · March 1st, 2019, 12:12 AM

If I cared , I wouldnt mention this ..... but it took me almost a year to figure out the mouth call.
My friend who is a retard , picked it up instantaneously???
I was less then pleased obviously.
I love the mouth calls.
Forget people TELLING you how to use it , and forget trying to follow the directions.
Get someone patient to SHOW you in person is best I think.

I also have an old box call I use.

Here's my tip..... I like to use the mouth as a locator in the spring ......
but when I set up or in the fall season ................ I like to use the mouth and box call together.
I do not pretend to be a single bird .... I pretend to be a couple birds.
Despite all the people who will claim fall calling is pointless ...... it is not.
In the spring they come in for love ...... they are still a social bird to an extent and will come in during the fall because they are a social bird.

If I thought for one second you hunted my locations ............. I wouldnt have mentioned any of this.

Good luck , it's fun for sure.

**JustinR** · March 1st, 2019, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Gunowner99

Good idea to practice in the car as my wife would be driven crazy ha ha! More to consider but I am understanding a little better, a lot to learn!

Just practice outside. I do it on the deck so I can actually call a turkey in if it's paying attention.

**disturbed** · March 23rd, 2019, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by Gunowner99

Now you know I will bug the heck out of you all when I am trying something new, sorry. So, for me the beginner, any advice on a call starter kit or where to begin on buying a few calls? I see so much out there but I know you all will distill it down for me. Thanks!

Custom call makers like David Hallaran, Hooks custom calls, Matt Van Cise will offer extremely high quality calls. I cut my teeth on the cheapest Amazon and Walmart calls I could get my hands on. Now I collect calls and look at them as instruments.

Do you needs expensive calls to kill thunder chickens, absolutely not. Learn to master one call type at a time. I recommend starting with a box call, then moving to pot calls, then to diaphrams. After all that, you can go to tube calls, trumpets, and scratch boxes but I wouldn't start with those.

Don't overlook a good push button or push pin call. They kill birds like crazy and are very easy to learn on.