Calling help

[KRasmussen]

I am looking to start turkey hunting and need some help in picking a call or 2. I have never hunted turkey nor tried calling them. I need to find a good beginner call and after looking at all the options, frankly I am a little overwhelmed. Are the available calls, box, glass, slate, mouth etc ALL necessary or is there a call that is a "go to" and forget all the rest? It would seem that a lot of the calls are designed to attract hunters, not turkeys, kinda like fishing lures attracting fishermen instead of fish. Is there a call out there that I should be leaning towards? Maybe not one specific brand but type.

 

[mtelkhntr78]

I had the same problems when I started turkey hunting. I will try to sum it up as best I can....

Box calls- They make decent sound and are pretty user friendly. They are easy to yelp with but it gets a little harder make calls like clucks and purrs. The real down side is that it takes at least one but usually both hands to work the call. So if a bird is in close and your hands are on your call and not your gun he will see any movement you make to try and shoot. They have amazing eyesight and will see even the slightest movent and then they will be gone.

Slate/glass calls- Usually have good sound but a little harder to use than a box. Its a bit easier to purr and cluck IMO. the problem is like a box call... you are not exactly hands free so staying imobile is hard.

Mouth call- Usually have some great sounds and I think are easiest to make different sounds with. They are also great becasue you can call without taking your hands off your gun or have to move much. The downside is they are much more difficult to use. It takes alot of practice to get it making the right sounds and for you to get comfortable with it.


The truth is they all have their ups and downs. I would say start out with a box call. Get used to turkey sounds and how to make them. Then move to a slate.
I would deffinetly say there is no magic call in either make or style. You will see that most turkey hunters carry multiple calls of different makes. Alot of times some birds just dont respond to certain calls. Then you switch a call and they start gobbling their heads off.

It seems like you are on the right track looking into it now too. If you want to hunt gobblers this spring start practicing calling now. By the time spring rolls around you will be much more comfortable with your calling and that will greatly increase your chances. Dont get to cocky though becasue your first few times out you will likely get an "education" from the birds

Anther thing.... you dont have to sound like the perfect turkey or sound like the guys in calling competitions. Many times I have been in the woods and hear a clucking and think that its another hunter with horrible calling skills. Low and behold about 5 minutes later an old hen will come out of the trees. They are like people, they all sound different.

Best of luck and prepare to become addicted. Turkey hunting is a blast!!!!!!!:hump:

 

[KRasmussen]

Thanks for the info. We do have a fall season here in CA and I was planning on heading out then. I will pick up a box call and maybe a slate as well and practice and see if I can get it to somewhat sound like a turkey.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Calling in the fall and calling in the spring are totally two different animals!
In the spring, you are imitating a hen practically all the time to get a horny gobbler to come check you out. In the fall, you usually try to bust a flock and send them all over the place then imitate whatever assembly call they are making or using a ki ki run sound to come to your area to reassemble
You can go to NWTF web site and find a recording that gives turkey sounds....use this as you instruction and learn to sound like it for the various sounds turkle burds make
I carry what most, including myself, consider way too many calls in the Spring....but I have had one work when five others didn't! Also had all fail more times than any worked!!
Check out heirloomgamecalls.com for hand made, hand tuned , reasonably priced calls....one man operation done with pride...

 

[muleguy]

Warning warning-turkey hunting can be very addictive especially in the spring. If you enjoy fishing please don't go turkey hunting-
No matter the call you choose-the one tip for success (in the fall only) is if you can find a flock try to scatter them in every direction by running into flock then set down and call from where they were scattered. Within a few minutes the young will return to calling.
good luck

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

But it is cheaper than becoming addicted to Waterfowl hunting.....

 

[KRasmussen]

I don't think I will ever need to worry about becoming addicted to waterfowl. I cant stand the taste of duck and goose is too far behind. I if I cant eat it, I don't shoot it

 

[Tom]

http://www.musketcreek.com/products/32082-gun-mountable-spring-hen-box-call

This Primos call is easy to use and works great. That one and their crow locator call http://www.musketcreek.com/products/32102-crow-call-locator-call
and you are set for turkeys. The locator call is how you can find them when going to the roost and then set up near there in the am to get them.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Never found a locator call to be much effective in the FALL !!
But I don't have the Primos boys private land to hunt on...

 

[Caleb_The_Carnivore]

I personally like using mouth calls but they take alot of practice to master, but well worth it in the long run, for beginning I would go with a box call for sure. I really like slate calls especially for the spring,with a wood striker for those soft purrs and clucks, but if you are going for the fall hunt I think box call while yelping would be your best bet, or even try with the mouth call...a great time to practice and test your calling skills before spring