As turkey season is commencing, it’s time you start practicing clucks, yelps, cuts, and cackles with a decent turkey call. If you know the importance of various mentor turkey books, turkey locator calls, and turkey decoys, you probably are an experienced one. They help you to attract a gobbler or a hen close to your target range and ensure a clean kill.
The different calls transmit different messages to a turkey, like a cackle associated with leaving the roost. The plan yelp of the hen is to communicate with a gobbler during mating season. However, the craw call and owl hoot mean shock call to a tom or gobbler and play a crucial role in locating them.
Our Pick
Cheap & Best
Best Budget
Most Versatile
Premium One
Three In One
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Related Post:- Best Turkey Hunting Book
Our Pick
The first on our list is Bushnellās Primos magnetic turkey call with an innovative design and variety of gobble. This long-range turkey call works excellently to call a turkey from 100 to 150 yards away inside the dense forest and ranges up to 200+ yards in open fields. I like how handy and compact it is to adjust anywhere from your pocket to the backpack.
I also noticed the Primos Hunting Ol’ Betsy Slate Call, which is cheaper($12) and fair. However, It is not much louder and is a little uncomfortable to hold. On the other hand, the Primos magnetic box call costs $40 but features high-end performance and results on the field. Overall, very easy to use, has long-range calling, and is great for beginners and pro hunters.
Cheap & Best
The H.S. Strut Craw call is the best turkey mouth call, designed to induce turkey with a shock call. It creates a more natural and real crow call, for that you need to blow deeper and louder. It is easy to tune, pull the black mouthpiece out, and you will see the reed. You can slide it back and forth to tune it.
It will sound clear to the turkey nearby up to 80 yards in woodlands and up to 130 yards in open fields. Now, let’s talk about the price, which is just $6 and pays off a lot. If you turkey hunter realizes this can capitalize on a turkey’s reaction to the crow call, then I highly suggest it for you. Overall, the best turkey mouth call for beginners. I will also recommend it for both spring and fall turkey hunting seasons.
Best Budget
It is the best turkey call for beginners with five different turkey sounds. It has a powerful speaker that projects the sound up to 200 yards. You can produce a high-pitched series of two yelps calling a gobbler to mate or a fly-down call with soft morning wake-up yelps accompanied by real wing beats as the hen leaves the roost.
If one sound doesn’t work, you can switch to the other depending on the season and timing. However, at half volume, it sounds perfect, but the sound distorts very much when you up the volume. Overall, it is compact, easy to operate, best turkey calls for a fall gobbler under $20.
Most Versatile
The Mantis 25 is the most versatile turkey call on our list. You can produce various call sounds like Barred Owl, Crow Call, Pileated Woodpecker, Red Tail Hawk, Coyote Howl, Keekee Run, Mating Yelps, Old Gobbler Yelps, and many more. However, It is not much louder, so best to use it within a 100-yard distance.
It is lightweight and compact for easy transport and carrying. I like the design and gripping, which is extremely good. If you are climbing on a tree to search a gobbler or entire flock while at the same time holding a gun, the hand lanyard wonāt let it drop. Overall, it is a great deal under $30 for a beginner and experienced hunter. I will highly recommend using it in the open fields to make the most out of it.
Premium One
The Ol’ Faithful Box Call is made in the USA by Eddie Salter āThe Turkey Manā. He spent 50 years of his life hunting turkey and put his expertise into designing this best turkey box call. It is a perfect call to produce sharp, loud cutting sounds to excite and fire up gobblers.Ā
It works excellent, especially over longer distances like 150 or 200 yards, and in noisy conditions. I also brushed Lynch Turkey Box Call (premium quality) and Quaker Boy Turkey Box Call (cheap). Both are lovely designs, but Ol’ Faithful Box Call is under budget and features quality material. It costs $30, which is worth paying for a beginner and experienced turkey hunter.
Three In One
This is a very clean and well-built combo pack of turkey callers for patient hunters, that’s what you need for turkey hunting. If you are tired of using diaphragms and box calls, you can switch to pot calls. It comes packed with everything you need to get started. If you are a beginner, the proper printed instructions and links to video tutorials will help you use them.
I am so impressed with the tone and clean purrs and clucks of 3 reed latex which fits perfectly in your mouth. While using the pot, yelp volume still isn’t as loud for distance calling, but is very clear for 80 to 100 yards distance, or when you have a gobbler closer. Overall, excellent manufacturing and the best turkey calls for beginners. Also, you get a conditioner and sandpaper for cleaning the pot and striker.
Box calls are the most popular type of turkey call among hunters. They are easy to use and produce a realistic sound that can attract turkeys from a distance. Box calls consist of a wooden box with a paddle that slides over a groove on the box’s top. The paddle is typically made of hardwood, and when it is moved back and forth over the groove, it produces a sound similar to a turkey’s yelps, clucks, and purrs.
Hold the box call with one hand and place the paddle on the box’s top with the other hand. Slide the paddle back and forth over the box’s groove to produce the desired sound.
Pros: Produces loud and realistic sounds, is easy to use, and is versatile.
Cons: Can be bulky and heavy, may require two hands to use, and can be affected by weather conditions.
Slate calls, also known as pot calls, are another popular type of turkey call. They consist of a slate or glass surface inside a pot, with a striker that is used to make contact with the surface to produce sounds. Slate calls produce a softer and more subtle sound than box calls, which can be effective when hunting in heavily wooded areas.
Hold the pot call in one hand and the striker in the other. Gently tap the striker against the slate or glass surface to produce the desired sound.
Pros: Produces realistic sounds, is versatile, and is easy to use with practice.
Cons: Can be affected by weather conditions, requires maintenance (sanding or conditioning the surface), and may require two hands to use.
Diaphragm calls, also known as mouth calls, are the most challenging type of turkey call to master. They consist of a latex or rubber reed that is placed in the hunter’s mouth. The reed is then manipulated by the tongue and breath to produce turkey sounds. Diaphragm calls produce a more realistic sound than other types of calls and are hands-free, making them ideal for hunters who need to keep their hands free for their gun or bow.
Place the diaphragm call in your mouth, with the reed facing outward. Use your tongue and breath to manipulate the reed to produce the desired sound.
Pros: Hands-free, versatile, can produce a wide range of turkey sounds, compact and lightweight.
Cons: Can take time to learn how to use, may not produce as realistic sounds as box or pot calls, may not work well in wet weather.
Push button calls consist of a small box with a button on the top. When the button is pushed, it produces a sound similar to a turkey’s yelp or cluck. Push button calls are easy to use and can produce a variety of sounds, making them a versatile option for hunters.
Hold the push button call in one hand and press the button with your thumb to produce the desired sound.
Pros: Easy to use, versatile, can produce a range of turkey sounds, compact.
Cons: May not produce as realistic sounds as other types of calls, and can be affected by weather conditions.
Wing bone calls are the oldest type of turkey call, dating back to the Native Americans. They are made from the wing bones of a turkey and produce a high-pitched sound that can be effective in attracting turkeys from a distance.
Hold the wing bone call between your thumb and fingers and blow into the end of the bone to produce the desired sound.
Pros: Produces unique sounds, hands-free, lightweight, and compact.
Cons: Requires preparation (cleaning and preparing the wing bone), can be difficult to learn how to use, limited range of sounds.
Expert Advice:- The best type of turkey call for you depends on your experience level, hunting style, and the terrain you are hunting in. For beginners, a box call or push button call may be the easiest to learn and use.
For hunters who prefer a hands-free option, diaphragm calls are the way to go. Slate calls are a good option for hunting in heavily wooded areas, while wing bone calls can be effective in open areas. It’s also important to practice with your call before the hunting season to ensure you can produce the desired sounds effectively.
The first step in choosing a turkey call is to consider your hunting situation. Are you hunting in a heavily wooded area or an open field? Are you hunting in the morning or afternoon? These factors can help you choose a call that is appropriate for your situation.
For example, if you’re hunting in a heavily wooded area, you may want a box call or a slate call, as these calls produce softer, more subtle sounds that are better suited for close-range hunting. If you’re hunting in an open field, a mouth call or diaphragm call may be better, as these calls can produce louder, more realistic sounds that can carry over long distances.
Another factor to consider when choosing a turkey call is your skill level. Some calls, such as mouth calls and diaphragm calls, can be more difficult to use and require more practice to master. If you’re a beginner, you may want to start with a simpler call, such as a box call or slate call, and work your way up to more advanced calls as you gain experience.
The best way to choose a turkey call is to try out different types of calls to see which one you feel most comfortable with. Many outdoor retailers and hunting stores have demo calls that you can try before you buy, or you can ask other hunters to let you try out their calls.
When trying out different calls, pay attention to the sound quality and ease of use. Does the call produce a realistic turkey sound? Is it easy to use and control? Is it comfortable to hold or place in your mouth?
Before making a final decision, it’s also a good idea to read reviews and ratings from other hunters. This can give you a better idea of the pros and cons of each call, as well as any potential issues or drawbacks to consider.
Look for reviews on hunting forums, online retailers, and social media, and pay attention to comments from other hunters who may have similar hunting situations or skill levels as you.
Finally, consider your budget when choosing a turkey call. As mentioned earlier, turkey calls can range in price from around $10 to over $200. While more expensive calls may be of higher quality and produce more realistic sounds, there are also plenty of affordable options that can work just as well.
A box call is often considered the easiest type of turkey call for beginners to learn. It produces a consistent sound and requires minimal movement to use effectively.
A friction call, such as a slate or glass call, is operated by rubbing a striker on a surface to produce sound. A mouth call, also known as a diaphragm call, is placed inside the mouth and operated by air pressure and tongue movement.
This is largely a matter of personal preference, but popular materials for turkey calls include wood, acrylic, and aluminum.
While turkey calls are specifically designed to mimic the sounds of turkeys, they can sometimes be used to call in other game species such as deer or coyotes.
Practicing a turkey call is crucial to becoming proficient with it. It can take time to develop the muscle memory and technique required to produce convincing turkey sounds, so it’s important to start practicing well before hunting season begins.
The range of a turkey call can vary depending on the type of call and the skill of the user. Some calls can be heard from several hundred yards away, while others may only be effective at close range.
The price of a turkey call can vary widely depending on the material, brand, and features. A basic box call or mouth call can be found for as little as $10-$20, while higher-end calls can cost upwards of $100 or more.