By Tommy Ladson

Hey, guys. With turkey season almost here, I figured I'd give some pointers about turkey calls and calling for those of you who are going out for the first time this spring. There are tons of turkey calls out there, so I'll going to go over each type.

Nowk, I'm going to spare all of you from having to listen to me call, so I will let a friend, Steve Davis, give you some examples of how to use a diaphram call (see video below). Steve is a champion turkey caller, but for now we will get back to the basics.

Locator Call: The first type of call is a locator call. A locator call is typically used for you to locate your bird and find out where he's at. The locator works by producing high-pitch sounds to trigger a turkey's response. A typical locator call is usually an owl call or a crow call.

Friction Call: The surface of a friction call is usually slate or glass, and in order to use this  call you need a striker—typically made out of wood. To make calls you rub the striker on the slate in circular motions or back and forth at an angle. 

Box Call: In my opinion this is the easiest type of call to operate. The box call is usually made out of cedar, and there is a lid held on to the box which causes friction between the lid and box. This friction, with the help of chalk, is what makes the turkey-like sounds. In order to make sounds you simply rub the lid back and forth on the box.

Mouth Call: The mouth, or diaphram, call is probably the hardest type of call to use. The call is made out of latex and reeds which produce sounds when air travels in between the reeds and latex. In order to use this call you need to be able to do a few things: The first is hold the mouth call firmly against the roof of your mouth. The second thing to keep in mind is breathing over your tongue and into the latex instead of straight out of your mouth. The final thing is knowing which lip and tongue movements cause the different sounds and tones. If anyone has ever purchased a mouth call they usually come with directions giving words to say into the mouth call in order for you to make different sounds. The most common mistake people make is trying to say the words through the call instead of blowing the word out. In order to achieve the sound you want your lips have to be in a certain position and you have to blow harder to emphasize certain high and low pitched tones.

Anyone who is interested in mastering a diaphram call this is a perfect video. Steve makes tons of informative videos to teach other hunters and help them out. If you like this video check out his other ones. Whenever I need a tip about calling or tukeys he is the guy I go to.

Comments (20)

from jscottevans wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Good basic article, but if someone is just now preparing for their first turkey hunt ( like I procrastinated my first turkey hunt) be prepared to chalk this season up as a tremendous learning session. It was one of my most memorable seasons and I wouldn't have it any other way. Hopefully you won't get skunked like I did, but if you do it will make you a better hunter I promise. Good luck to everyone.

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from VAHunter540 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Cant wait for the spring opener! That video was very helpful.

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from huntinaround wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Good article. Winter flocks here are starting to break up, not long now...
Check out this new blog, it has some good beginner turkey hunting stories. Like jscottevans says above, first season is all about learning.
http://huntinaround.blogspot.com

Good luck!

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from dneaster3 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

jscottevans, i'm not afraid to admit that I chalk up EVERY season as a learning session! turkeys are crazy birds that seem to break as many rules as they follow.

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from KyleKortright wrote 1 year 46 weeks ago

Ya i agree you learn something new every time you go out.

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from jscottevans wrote 1 year 46 weeks ago

Good point guys. Every season should be a learning season. But I said that first one was a "tremendous" learning curve. I learned the most that first hunt. But then that is probably usual for all first hunts. It was just an eye-opener to someone who did not grow-up turkey hunting and had to rely on his deer hunting skills. To completely different beasts. Still amazed how I can be outsmarted by such a stupid bird. lol.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from fisherman wrote 1 year 46 weeks ago

Trust me, they aren't stupid! I bagged a tom on my first morning of hunting with an expert mentor, but my first "independent" season was amazingly educational. You can have all the knowledge in the world like I did, and that's important, but there's nothing like experience. And you definitely do learn something new every time.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Gwenn39 wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

This is some great calling advice. I think you will help tons of people with this great article. I own a designer jewelry company and I took some of the girls hunting and you talk about funny. Thanks for the inspiration.

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from Dawn40 wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

These are some great tips. I have always wanted to learn how to call turkeys. This is so cool. I work for a cheap car insurance quotes website and I am always working but I am going to try to get there.

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from elanor22 wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

I am a huge turkey hunting fan and I think this is very good information for any hunter. I really am glad you took the time to write something for us. This was great.

Thanks Elanor Stempel

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from Goldie wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

Thank you for the informative post. My husband loves to turkey hunt and he said that he will definitely use this information. This is one site that we will definitely bookmark.
Thank you, Goldie

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from adword01 wrote 1 year 29 weeks ago

It's an interesting approach. I commonly see unexceptional views on the subject but yours it's written in a pretty unusual fashion. Surely, I will revisit your website for additional info.
work from home jobs

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from Luanna wrote 1 year 28 weeks ago

This is great for beginners. I sell pokerstars t and if I were to get into hunting, this is what I would need to get started. Thanks!

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from JeremyWright wrote 1 year 22 weeks ago

can' watch the video :(
Jeremy

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from tournament dollars wrote 1 year 18 weeks ago

i'm not afraid to admit that I chalk up EVERY season as a learning session! turkeys are crazy birds that seem to break as many rules as they follow.
tournament dollars

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from Grizzly Adams wrote 1 year 13 weeks ago

Nice! Just a random thought, but I haven't seen many turkeys in Ohio. I like it better out West - goin' for the big game.

family health insurance

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from robwoods93 wrote 1 year 7 weeks ago

Good information, video was a big help.

Work from home

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from natiecouillard wrote 1 year 4 weeks ago

Simply, admirable what you have done here. It is pleasing to look you express from the heart and your clarity on this significant content can be easily looked. Remarkable post and will look forward to your future update. no fax payday loans

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from dands wrote 1 year 3 weeks ago

Nice information, many thanks to the author. It is incomprehensible to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks again and good luck. suknie ślubne

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from mirs wrote 40 weeks 1 day ago

I think this is very good information for any hunter. I really am glad you took the time to write something for us. This was great. premium wordpress themes

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All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from jscottevans wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Good basic article, but if someone is just now preparing for their first turkey hunt ( like I procrastinated my first turkey hunt) be prepared to chalk this season up as a tremendous learning session. It was one of my most memorable seasons and I wouldn't have it any other way. Hopefully you won't get skunked like I did, but if you do it will make you a better hunter I promise. Good luck to everyone.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from VAHunter540 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Cant wait for the spring opener! That video was very helpful.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from huntinaround wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Good article. Winter flocks here are starting to break up, not long now...
Check out this new blog, it has some good beginner turkey hunting stories. Like jscottevans says above, first season is all about learning.
http://huntinaround.blogspot.com

Good luck!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from dneaster3 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

jscottevans, i'm not afraid to admit that I chalk up EVERY season as a learning session! turkeys are crazy birds that seem to break as many rules as they follow.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from KyleKortright wrote 1 year 46 weeks ago

Ya i agree you learn something new every time you go out.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jscottevans wrote 1 year 46 weeks ago

Good point guys. Every season should be a learning season. But I said that first one was a "tremendous" learning curve. I learned the most that first hunt. But then that is probably usual for all first hunts. It was just an eye-opener to someone who did not grow-up turkey hunting and had to rely on his deer hunting skills. To completely different beasts. Still amazed how I can be outsmarted by such a stupid bird. lol.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from fisherman wrote 1 year 46 weeks ago

Trust me, they aren't stupid! I bagged a tom on my first morning of hunting with an expert mentor, but my first "independent" season was amazingly educational. You can have all the knowledge in the world like I did, and that's important, but there's nothing like experience. And you definitely do learn something new every time.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Gwenn39 wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

This is some great calling advice. I think you will help tons of people with this great article. I own a designer jewelry company and I took some of the girls hunting and you talk about funny. Thanks for the inspiration.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dawn40 wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

These are some great tips. I have always wanted to learn how to call turkeys. This is so cool. I work for a cheap car insurance quotes website and I am always working but I am going to try to get there.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from elanor22 wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

I am a huge turkey hunting fan and I think this is very good information for any hunter. I really am glad you took the time to write something for us. This was great.

Thanks Elanor Stempel

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Goldie wrote 1 year 30 weeks ago

Thank you for the informative post. My husband loves to turkey hunt and he said that he will definitely use this information. This is one site that we will definitely bookmark.
Thank you, Goldie

Buy Sportswear Shirts

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from adword01 wrote 1 year 29 weeks ago

It's an interesting approach. I commonly see unexceptional views on the subject but yours it's written in a pretty unusual fashion. Surely, I will revisit your website for additional info.
work from home jobs

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Luanna wrote 1 year 28 weeks ago

This is great for beginners. I sell pokerstars t and if I were to get into hunting, this is what I would need to get started. Thanks!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from JeremyWright wrote 1 year 22 weeks ago

can' watch the video :(
Jeremy

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from tournament dollars wrote 1 year 18 weeks ago

i'm not afraid to admit that I chalk up EVERY season as a learning session! turkeys are crazy birds that seem to break as many rules as they follow.
tournament dollars

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Grizzly Adams wrote 1 year 13 weeks ago

Nice! Just a random thought, but I haven't seen many turkeys in Ohio. I like it better out West - goin' for the big game.

family health insurance

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from robwoods93 wrote 1 year 7 weeks ago

Good information, video was a big help.

Work from home

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from natiecouillard wrote 1 year 4 weeks ago

Simply, admirable what you have done here. It is pleasing to look you express from the heart and your clarity on this significant content can be easily looked. Remarkable post and will look forward to your future update. no fax payday loans

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from dands wrote 1 year 3 weeks ago

Nice information, many thanks to the author. It is incomprehensible to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks again and good luck. suknie ślubne

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from mirs wrote 40 weeks 1 day ago

I think this is very good information for any hunter. I really am glad you took the time to write something for us. This was great. premium wordpress themes

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.