With turkey season right around the corner in my state, I got to wondering what your favorite style of turkey calls are. I think Ive tried them all, but I always find myself going back to the slate call, with box calls running a close second.
Whats your favorite style? :coffee:
I'm a big slate call/diaphragm guy. I use Pitman diaphrams and a host of various slate calls and pegs. Never been much for box calls.
I like the wing bone call. For some reason, they always seem to work for me.
Trumpet- my buddy MKW
Pot calls- supreme turkey calls
Box- Irving Whitt
Mouth call- legacy
The trumpet is my favorite, but not always the one the birds like.
I'm with mr. Bolton, A good couple of friction calls and a pocket full of diaphrams and I'm ready to go. Uhhhhhh....... did I say something wrong!!! :smileystooges: :bigsmyl:
Knawbone, what happens in the woods, stays in the woods! :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I like a box call for blind calling every so often. I also like to cut with the diaphram and using them when a bird is close. I like the sound of purrs on a slate. Good luck everyone this spring!
-Jay
I have to admit that I love the hands free advantage of the diaphragm calls, but the allure of the classics just keep calling me back, although they might be a disadvantage at times, because of the movement associated with them.
Woodhaven diaphram calls for me
Diaphrams only anymore. Usually a local maker.
90% of my calling is with Diaphrams I use a gooser bat triple reed and a primos A frame triple reed bat cut. The primos is my favorite and the birds in my area love it. My slate is a primos jack pot. Killed my second biggest bird using that call. The hunt last a total of 15 minutes I think:)
Cant wait until may
1st Choice - Trumpet calls
2nd Choice - Friction Slate
3rd Choice - Box
4th Choice - Tube
These choices are based on confidences directly related to success in the field. Order between choices 2 thru 4 could easily change if I utilized 3 & 4 more often.
You boys are way underestimating the power of a good box call...but hey, I don't care...I like it.
David Halloran
Roger Parks
Those two guys know exactly how to make a call that just plain speaks turkey. Check them out! :readit: :readit:
will Primos Signature Series mouth call
zinc power hen glass call
I like using them all..but for the past few years it seems like I always got a Woodhaven Copperhead in my mouth when working a gobbler.
Dave H. Does make some sweet sounding calls
Normally just use my voice. Learned how when I was a young whippersnapper. Other than that my two favorites are a lynch foolproof box and a Primos mighty might slate
I like box calls. Diaphrams are nice for hands free operation. But I have blown it when I get excited,and sound like a party whistle or something.
Lights Out pot calls
Spring Creek box calls
Primos Mini Sonic Dome 2 or 3 reeds. Fit my narrow palate perfectly! I also carry a slate call ( different brands) with an osage striker and a very high pitched box call from MAD. Trying to master the "Haint" but no luck so far.
to me turkey calls are very personal. i have spent more money on turkey junk than i have my traditional addiction. kinda sad.....
i lean more towards custom call makers box calls, pot calls, and mouth calls.
lonnie sneed hot hen slate and green glass pots
primos lil heart breaker box. i have killed many turkeys with that box
I got a Robertson Brothers slate that is sweet as well as a call JoeBuck made. They both killers and I use them from my blind. when I`m running and longbowing I use whatever diaphram is on sale at walmart.RC
what ever the bird I am working likes, carry them all. Mike
If using mouth calls it all depends on the individual. When I first started running mouth calls it didnt really matter to me, but then as I got into calling competitions that all changed. In the woods I run a 2 reed set back combo cut call made by Shane Hendershot of Mindgames Custom Calls for about everything from purrs, whines, plain yelping, tree calls, clucks. If conditions require some hard cutting and the so forth I carry a 3 reed combo cut call made by Hendershot. I also use a 2 reed ghost cut call for kee-kees and other various soft turkey sounds. I also carry a glass over slate round call made by Pat Strawser.
Dirtybird mentioned David Halloran. He can put some turkey in a friction call for sure.
Last season I called in birds for myself my wife and my friends using David Halloran pot calls. Especially the crystal mistress.
I like my Brossie Triple Reed mouth call, and still trying to find a nice hand-made slate call. I will use both regardless of if I'm in a pop-up blind or natural ground blind.
I use a slate call when working a turkey, when I blind call I us a box call.
El cheapo slate from Walley World, a double reed diaphragm call, and one of Joe Bucks scratch calls are about it. If they are reall close I can purr in a pinch with nothing as diaphragm calls are a bit loud to purr at spitting distance.
I gotta get better with the diaphragms. Still learning from the good turkey hunters on this site. Thanks guys!
QuoteOriginally posted by jonsimoneau:
Last season I called in birds for myself my wife and my friends using David Halloran pot calls. Especially the crystal mistress.
Just pick up that call a couple of weeks ago. Love it!
HS Double D diaphram, and a Woodhaven slate call with Primos custom strikers. Coyote locator. And a homemade boat paddle box that I got as a gift from Mike Breslin here on TG for shocking a gobble out of those stubborn late morning longbeards.
I stay on the cheap side of calls mainly because I have a habit of planting them all over Central Missouri. Come to think of it, I've planted a couple in Kansas also. I dont know why. I just lose em.
Trap
I hate trying to use a mouth call with a chew in :dunno:
seriously though, I like mouth and slates although I think I need new ones of both. :rolleyes:
I use mouth calls, box calls, and numerous slates and other friction type calls.
Been making these wingbones for quite a few people, so I hope some folks call in some birds with one of my wingbone yelpers this spring.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/142501.jpg)
I made myself one of these using a combination of turkey bone and deer antler...to my ear it has a really sweet tone, so I'm going to use it this spring for fun!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/antlerbone2.jpg)
I love turkey hunting period, close second to bowfishing. I have two, (TWO) vest full of calls. I have found like many of you that they all have there place.
box call, quick, reliable, great for wind days and long distance. con, bulky
slate, reliable, easy to use, versitial, great go to. con-like box not hands free and keep dry
mouthcall- versitial and hands free, con- longtime to learn properly
For me my go to call if I could only have one would be my "Tom Gaskin" scratch box, it is light, compact and more importantly, I have called more turkeys in with it than any other and only call that brought in hang up birds.
A lench world champion a push button call and a wing bone yelper
My favorite is a tramp stamp slate call my friend broke and just gave me. I reglued the slate to the bowl and have had luck with it ever since!
Box call for locating and when it's windy/nasty out, and slates for stringing them in.
I've tried using a mouth call for YEARS, and I just can't do it. Can't figure it out, and even worse when someone has tried to show me what I was doing wrong I showered them and made some terrible sound. He still talks to me, just not within spitting distance and certainly makes sure I don't have a call in.
Mouth calls: Quaker Boy hands down for me
Box: Lynch Fool Proof and a new tiny double side from Brookside
Pot: cheap plastic Quaker Boy that just sings and two of my own making from a kit
Push button: Quaker Boy waterproof
And I have to have my HS gobbler shaker
Nice job on those wing bones Treekiller, Iv' been shown how to make one a long time ago. Maybe you could do a build along for our fellow hunters. I would, but I'm not sure I remember exactly. I need my memory jogged. HINT, Hint. Really like those feathers you painted on those. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Those are awesome looking wing bones...I imitate the turkey using my own sound effects with my mouth. Cheapest call I could find :goldtooth:
Sweet looking calls Tree Killer. Very nice.
If the call-maker can consistently put the turkey in the box and you can make her talk, then a box call is tough to pass up.
Given certain situations, learning to run one effectively with the call just resting next to you on the ground has proven to be extremely effective.
Tree Killer...enticing wingbones
Tree Killer those are beautiful wing bone turkey calls, they are a work of art. Thanks for sharing with us. Times 2 on the build a long! :pray: :pray:
Thanks guys! I usually build 40 or more wingbones a year.
Wingbone call, and a wooden bow ...
I've got a few that are very special for different reasons. Called up my first gobbler with Joebuck's Wooden Hen yesterday. What happened after that is well.... :banghead:
I plan to use it exclusively until I get a bird. Then, I've got a couple more special calls that will be used exclusively until birds are taken with them. May not live long enough though... :biglaugh:
I use the diaphram call more than any of them.
Some of the calls in my collection listed below, host many calls which have been regarded as premier sounding calls.
Scott Baseshore
Irvin Whitt
Albert Paul
Don Bald
Herb Hornstra
Cody
Dave Hollaran
Wooddhaven
Ralph Permar
Don Battey
Blue Moon
Dad's
Michael Lapp
Dave Constantine (sound and artistry)
Frank Cox
Dump's Box Calls
William Lester
Cornbread's Strumpet
Billy Buice
Hypnotic Calls – Pro Staff Caller
Ironically, personal confidence in the field has been established by merely a few of the featured well- knowns. Confidence in the field is paramount and that confidence level doesn't necessarily translate into the best sounding calls to our ears. The turkeys maintain that privilege and frequently reserve the right to change their minds.
Can't say I have a favorite. I'm sure whatever it gets the gobbler within range this year.
Wood haven Copperhead to work them, and a boat paddle to find them! Tried and true!