An Experts 3 Favorite Turkey Calls to Teach a Beginning Hunter
When a person new to the sport of turkey hunting wants to learn how to call in this astounding bird, they assume that they can head to the woods, start calling to the turkeys and sound like a pro. In reality, it’s not going to happen. Learning to use turkey calls as well as learning the right time to use them takes practice. If a hunter is willing to learn one call at a time in the Q&A order listed below, they too can learn to call turkeys like a veteran caller and hunter.
What Turkey Call Should I Learn to Use First?
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| H.S. Strut Slingblade Box Call |
A turkey box call is by far the most recommended call for the beginning turkey hunter. The majority of veteran turkey hunters will say that a box call is what they started calling with as a newcomer to the sport. Most box calls such as the H.S. Strut Slingblade Box Call are made up of a wood bottom with 2 sides. Not all box calls are created equal, some are 3 separate pieces of wood, others will be one hollowed out piece. The lid to a box call is also made from a solid piece of wood. When the lid surface is struck against the side surface, it creates sound.
This is the easiest call for the amateur turkey hunter, yet many seasoned turkey hunters carry a box call as well, due to its ability to have a high volume that is great on windy days.
Beginners Tip: When using a turkey box call, always make sure that the lid stays in contact with the sides at all times. Raising the top off of the side area of this type of turkey call will make sounds squeak and take away the rhythm of calling.
I Have Mastered How to Use a Box Call - What Turkey Call Should I Learn Next?
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| H.S. Strut Cookie Cutter Pot Call |
Once a hunter has learned the basics of calling on a box call, the next recommended call is a pot call. Sometimes a pot call is referred to as a slate call due to the surface of this type of hunting tool being made of slate. However, the slate is not the only material that a pot call can be manufactured from. A pot call is formed of a wooden or plastic circle shaped pot, the ring is then topped with a thin piece of slate, glass, aluminum or another material surface. The pot calling comes with a striker to help create the sound. The striker looks like a pencil with a bell on top. There are several different shapes and sizes of strikers, yet the majority look the same and are formed from several materials such as wood, carbon, and acrylic.
Beginners Tip: When using a pot style call, think of the striker as that of a box call, hence it should always be in contact with the surface when calling. The striker moves in circles to create the yelp of a turkey and is pulled in a short striking motion to make cutting or purring sounds.
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| Flextone EZ Hen mouth turkey call |
The pot call is an outstanding call to use due to its ability to produce a wide range of sounds related to a turkeys vocabulary. An added benefit of using a pot call that a box call lacks is the ability to use it while in the rain, because most box calls will not work when wet. Pot calls are another excellent call for beginners, for example, the new H.S. Strut Cookie Cutter Pot turkey call comes with a removable plastic reference guide with slots that show a beginner exactly where to put the striker to make the yelp, cutting and purring of a wild turkey.
How Do I Use a Diaphragm Turkey Call?
The most desired call to use for beginners is a turkey diaphragm call, which is also known as a turkey mouth call. This type of hunting call is the hardest to use, so it is recommended that this type of call not be used until one has mastered the use of a box call and a pot call. A diaphragm call is made up of a plastic or aluminum horseshoe-shaped frame. Inside of this frame is stretched latex, which consists of 1 to 4 layers. The last part of a diaphragm call is a layer of tape that is also horseshoe shaped. The tape is used so that it fits inside of one's mouth better. Once the call is placed in the mouth, it should be pushed to the roof of the mouth with the tongue.
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| FoxPro White V Cut Slash Turkey Call |
When air is blown over the call, it produces a sound. When more than one layer of latex is on the call, more air is needed to yield a sound. Less air is required from a single or double reed call, such as the Flextone EZ Hen mouth turkey call. Once the hunter is able to produce quality turkey sounds on a double reed turkey call, they can then move on to turkey calls that have different cuts into the latex, which makes each call have a unique sound. For example, a 3 reed call that has a V cut like on the FoxPro White V Cut Slash turkey call, yields a very distinct sound.
Beginners Tip: When first learning how to use a diaphragm call, begin by placing the call in the mouth, leaving it there for a couple of minutes, before trying to create a sound. This allows the gag reflex that is commonly experienced to go away, which results in the hunter being more relaxed and ready to try to make a sound.
Using a diaphragm call for turkey hunting is one of the most desired calls to use, being as that it creates some of the most realistic sounds possible. A diaphragm call also allows the hunter to refrain from making any movement when calling, which prevents being seen by a turkey's incredible eyesight. Using a diaphragm call also allows the hunter to use more than one caller at the same time. For example, using a pot call along with a diaphragm call mimics that of 2 different hens calling in the wild, which makes a gobbler more interested in coming to the call request.
Learning how to call turkeys is a task that takes time, patience and effort. If one will use these types of calls in the order as listed above and spend a lot of time practicing, turkey calling will soon become an event that is looked forward to instead of an undertaking.
Beginners Tip: When learning to use turkey calls, it is recommended to listen to actual sounds of wild turkeys, and then try to duplicate those sounds. Visit www.nwtf.org or follow this link (http://www.nwtf.org/hunt/wild-turkey-basics/turkey-sounds) for a complete list of turkey vocabulary. This will help the beginning hunter to learn what each call means as well as what it sounds like in the wild.
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