As we stated above, it is important to feel comfortable and confident when you are using your new turkey call. And one of the best things you can do to ensure that you are comfortable is to practice with your call a lot. You know that saying “practice makes perfect?” Well, as cliche as that saying may be, it couldn’t be more true. With that said, practice in advance before going afield to bring home a gobbler. Turkeys are easy to fool, yet very stubborn at the same time. And that is why it is going to be crucial to learning the ins-and-outs of what your type of calls specialty is, what types of vocalizations it is best known for etc. Below, we break down the four most common calls, and what they are known for.
**Box Calls: **Box calls are a wonderful beginner call for turkey hunters. They are easy to operate, their vocals sound very realistic, and but gripping differently, you can sound like more than just one turkey. This type of call is considered a “friction call” because most box calls are made of wood, and make noise by using the paddle. Box calls are often louder than other turkey calls, making them ideal when the woods are fairly quiet.
Push-And-Pull Calls: Push-And-Pull calls, once mastered, are very consistent. These calls are known for their consistent sounds that pressure a bird to respond/react. Push-And-Pull calls are often overlooked by experts, however, can be very useful for beginner hunters, and they can cut into almost any conditions with loud, realistic vocals. Most of these calls have a wide assortments of vocalizations that they can make, causing them to be a great call for beginners.
Diaphragm Calls: This call is often referred to as a mouth call, and is one of the most inexpensive, yet overused, calls in the woods. Although it can be very handy, as it is small, making it very easy to carry around for a long day in the woods, they take quite a bit more practice, as you call by using your tongue against the rubber at the roof of your mouth. Nevertheless, although you may not be using this call right away, it is not a bad thing to purchase and practice with daily, because as we stated above they are fairly cheap to purchase.
Crow Calls: A crow call is a great call when you are trying to locate a turkey and get a response back. This type of call almost forces a gobbler to answer, helping you easy target his location. Again, one of the best time to use this call is when the woods is almost silent, with no activity. At this time, the turkey is most likely irritated from the lack of mating action, and is going to respond. Therefore, if your hunting day is going slow for the most part, pull out your crow call and get to locating.
Now that you know a little bit about some of the most popular turkey calls, and how to better select them, here are HuntWise’s top three calls for new turkey hunters.
