Turkey calls - good and bad

[dongun]

I recently invested in two new turkey calls - one well worth the money paid, the other not worth the effort to throw it in the trash. I bought a Knight and Hale Lonesome Hen friction call (round, green, with plunger). Couldn't get it to make a sound, not one. When I took it back the guy at the gun shop said they got back about 4 out of 5. I also got a MAD Super Aluminator 2. Works great. May be the most realistic sounding call I have heard. As easy to use as any slate call. I will be giving it the old 'the proof is in the pudding' test Friday morning. Good hunting.

 

[Bruz]

Couldn't get it to make a sound, not one.

If I am getting too much friction, or not enough, I borrow my daughters chalk and rub the side of it on the wood or slate...squawks again!

 

[4Truck]

I currently use either a slate call or a box call.

Went to Wal-Mart last weekend and figured I might try a diaphragm call, and what a mistake that was. After 2 hours of practice I made one sound that was more like a crow than a turkey, not to mention the fact that I d#@n near swallowed that thing like 8 times

I know some people have excellent experiences with them, but for me it was a big fat waste of money. :banghead:

 

[Watchman]

I like aluminum.

I used an aluminum slate to whack a Tom opening morn. Something about it that seems to get them gobbling when nothing else seems to work.

 

[dongun]

In my original post, the one I had trouble with was one of those you can mount on your shotgun barrel, so you can call with your gun up. It had a button type plunger that was suppose to produce a yelp, but didn't.

I've been using diaphram calls for a couple of years. After a little practice, I got where I could make a yelp okay. You hold the call in that hollow spot in the roof of your mouth with your tongue. When you blow, the air goes between your tongue and roof of your mouth. My tongue cups up slightly and I place the tip against my lower teeth. My biggest problem at first was gagging on the call because I was putting it too far back in my mouth.

My yelps with the diaphram don't sound as good as with the slate or box, but I can call while holding my shotgun. In my experience, if you have a hot tom, your yelp only has to be in neighborhood of a hen. I'd suggest not giving up yet on the diaphram - they come in pretty handy. Good luck.

 

[Watchman]

One can GOBBLE with a diaphram but it takes pratice And it works well.

Last year I whacked a Tom that had hens with him. If you have even been stumped by a Tom that had hens with him and just couldnt get him to come in try gobbling it in.

The key is to sound like a jake. Make a little "half" gobble like a jake sounds. Then immedialtey cut and cackle and sound like an exited hen. Switch several times from sounding like an exited jake to sounding like an exited hen.

It'll tick the Tom off to the point of sounding off. He'll get to where he cant stand the thought of some youngster trying to make it with one of his hens. If you've got some decoys, be ready to shoot around the jake decoy because the Tom wants to fight and he'll walk right past the hen.

Ive shot sevral toms over the years using this technique when everyone else was complaining about the toms not responding because they were "henned up".

When ya get desperate try it.
It worked for me...

 

[Guyon]

Watchman, good tip. I may try that technique, though you have to be careful gobbling if you're hunting public land.

I have a couple of Primos friction calls that work well: their "Power Crystal" and their Alumnislate. I've got a custom glass call on order and am anxious to get it.

Diaphragm calls take practice. Stick with it. I can yelp and cluck pretty well, and I'm still practicing and getting better. Called up a hen with just a diaphragm the other day, so I must've been doing something that approximated a turkey.