One of the key aspects that can make or break your turkey hunting experience is your ability to communicate with turkeys. Turkey calls simulate the sound of a wild turkey, tricking them into thinking there's another turkey nearby. With so many types of calls out there, how do you know which one to choose?
Box Calls: Consists of a rectangular wooden box with a lid that slides back and forth to create sound. The box call is known for producing loud, clear calls that are ideal for long-distance communication
• Easy to use
• Produces a wide range of sounds
• Loud and clear, great for reaching distant turkeys
• Bulky and less discreet
• Requires maintenance
Friction Calls: Use a surface and a striker to produce sounds. The striker is rubbed across the surface to create turkey sounds. These calls are highly versatile and can produce both soft, subtle calls and louder, more aggressive yelps.
1. Slate Calls: Produce soft, natural sounds that mimic hen turkeys: ideal for close-range calls
2. Glass Calls: Known for their high-pitched sounds, great for attracting turkeys from a distance
3. Aluminum Calls: Produce sharp, high-pitched calls that are effective for cutting through noise
• Highly versatile and able to mimic a wide variety of turkey sounds
• Compact and easy to carry
• Allows for both soft and aggressive calling
• Requires more skill to master compared to box calls
• Weather conditions can affect performance
Diaphragm Calls: Small, flexible devices that consist of latex or other flexible materials that vibrate when air is passed over them. Diaphragm calls are hands-free and offer the advantage of being compact and easy to use
• Hands-free operation
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• Very effective for making realistic turkey sounds
• Requires practice to get the right pressure and positioning
• Not ideal for beginners because they can be hard to use
Push-Button Calls: As the name suggests, you simply press a button to generate turkey sounds. These calls are easy to operate and are great for hunters who don’t want to worry about complex techniques or strikers
• Ideal for beginners
• Provides consistent, reliable calls with little effort
• Limited versatility
• Too quiet for long-range calling.
Locator Calls: Designed to mimic the sounds of other wildlife. Not used to mimic a turkey’s vocalizations, but intended to provoke a response
• Great for locating turkeys early in the morning
• Easy to use and often loud enough to be heard over long distances
• Not useful for calling turkeys into shooting range; intended to locate, not attract
• Won't work if turkeys aren’t in the area or are already responding to other calls