Instructions on Using Turkey Calls
The excitement of a wild turkey hunt can provide a lifetime of memories. One of the most popular methods for hunting wild turkeys is using turkey calls to lure a turkey to your position. Turkey calls can be homemade or commercially produced and are available in a variety of types, such as friction calls or diaphragm calls. Regardless of the brand or type, each call has individual features. Learning how to use the calls can be difficult at first, but practice can lead to turkey hunting success.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
Wild turkeys have a wide vocabulary, from yelps, gobbles, clucks and purrs to cackles. Each individual call has a specific purpose for the turkey. For example, yelps, the most common call, indicate the position of a hen. Turkey calls mimic these sounds and are used in specific hunting situations.
Features
-
Each turkey call has specific features depending on the intended purpose. These features add to the versatility of the call. For example, box calls, either homemade or commercially produced, use chalk to create friction that ultimately creates a turkey yelp. Without chalk on the striking surface, the call will not produce a sound. Similarly, slate calls need a striker and a rough surface where friction between the two surfaces creates the turkey call.
-
Friction Calls
-
Friction calls include box calls and slate calls. Box calls create a turkey call with the friction created between the handle and the box. To use the box call, repeatedly slide the handle gently and in a smooth motion across the box. Repeat for about five to seven strokes of the handle. Keep a wooden box call away from excessive moisture.
Slate calls use a striker on a glass or slate surface. Hold the striker like a pencil and smoothly make small circles on the surface. Repeat for about five to seven circles of the striker.
Mouth Calls
-
Mouth calls--made with diaphragm calls--are considered more difficult to use than friction calls but are more versatile. Mouth calls have the ability to reproduce most of the turkey language and create a realistic sound. Insert the diaphragm call into the roof of your mouth with the reeds facing forward and gently press your tongue against the reeds. The sound from the mouth call is created when the air travels over the reeds and causes them to vibrate. Say words such as "yelp," "cluck" or "yup" to make a yelping sound. Continue to repeat the word for about five to seven times.
Considerations
-
It takes a great deal of practice to use turkey calls proficiently. Experiment with different brands, such as Primos, H.S. Strut, Cody or Quaker Boy, and call types to find a call that fits your mouth or calling style. Enter or watch local or state calling contests. Some of the best turkey callers in the world are present at these contests and can provide excellent tips to improve your turkey calling. Listen to wild turkeys as much as possible. Professional turkey caller Scott Wilhelm says there are "lots of ways to learn, but nothing can beat listening to the real thing."
-
References
- Photo Credit wild turkey image by Bruce MacQueen from Fotolia.com
