One Turkey Call for a Rookie

[tweedlap]

I am looking for suggestions for buying a (1) turkey call for this

springs hunt. Thoughts on a slate or one you shake?

Thanks,

tweed

[Dave S]

Ring Zone (slate) would be my call of choice if I only had to choose one.

During the clinics, I highly suggest to pepople not to use a shaker call if you're not concealed in a blind. The black call and the extra movement could be enough to entice someone to think you're a turkey.

[Gordie]

Not to hijack but what do you like in box call Lep7mm

[123fish]

Elwood I've hunted with guys that have had tremendous luck with the Primos Heartbreaker box calls. Both the Lil' Heartbreaker and the Heartbreaker. Bought one myself in the offseason last year and it sounds great and will be seeing some action this Spring.

[123fish]

If I had to use only one call it would be the Lil Deuce II slate. I've had just great success with that cheap little slate call. Success breeds confidence and I definitely have confidence in that call.

[DonBo]

tweed, if I had to answer your question straight up, I'd say pop for a nice box call. 123 mentioned the Primos Heartbreaker and that is a fine call, but come on, turkey hunting is all about pockets FULL of calls! Sorry dude, but one will never do. A box and a slate (or glass or crystal...you get the idea) and maybe a push pin call are must haves. More often than not one call is not enough to entice a gobbler in range. Most want to hear one particular call above all others, if you don't have that call, well then you may just go home empty handed.

I carry two box calls, usually 3 different type of surfaces "slate" calls and a whole fistfull of mouth diaphram calls, but again, if I have to choose a favorite it'd be a box call.

Good luck!

[Borch]

For a beginner it's hard to beat a slate or a boxcall. Both are very effective calls that with a little practice some just like a turkey. Pick up a striker pack so you have multiple striker types with a slate and it will some like different hens.

As far as types my favorite boxcall is a Quaker Boy Grand Old Master, ($20-30)and I use my own slates that I've turned. But all the manufacturers have very good products.

The box call are great all around calls but they take some movement to run so I put it down when birds are working closer. The slate takes less movement to work. In fact as birds get closer I lay the call on the ground with the striker laying next to it so I can work it with one hand with little movement if I need to coax the bird in a bit.

[Dave S]

Not to hijack but what do you like in box call Lep7mm

I've bought one box call and that was a Primos Prospoector. I've never seen another one on the shelves after I bought that one. I've yet to find another box call that gives me the same sound, or response from a turkey, than that box call.

Most often I use a slate (I have 3) and diaphram calls. The 3 slates are a M.A.D. Calls Custom Crystal, A Wood Witch, and my favorite slate right now, the Ring Zone.

I've changed brand of diaphram calls a few times over the years. I started using Hunter Specialties for the first several years. Then something happened where they wouldn't last me more than a day. They also needed more trimming to get them to fit my mouth properly. I've also tried using Quaker Boy which still gave me good results, but they too just didn't feel right.

Then along came Woodhaven. This will be my 3 rd year using the Woodhaven brand and I couldn't be happier. They seem to use a slightly different tape that is more user friendly and will flex to fit the contour of the users mouth better. They're a little more expensive it seems, so if cost is an issue, you can also purchase the NWTF brand, also made by Woodhaven, for a few bucks less.

I will echo what DonBo said. You can never have enough calls. I tend to stick with what has worked for me over the years. I have a strong feeling my next purchase will be the dueling hens call from Knight and Hale. I heard that one a couple months back at Scheels in Mankato and was impressed at how realistic this call sounds.

But back to the original topic and as I mentioned in my first reponse, if I were to go with one call, slate or box, for me it would be the Ring Zone. Having a tom trying to get into my blind (pecking at the back) last year was enough proof for me.

[Gordie]

Thanks for al the info guys I will be buying a couple more to add to the arsenal of calls.

[tweedlap]

Thanks to everyone for their informative responses ! Ok, looks like

I had better buy two calls for starters.

Thanks, again.

tweed

[bmc]

I have had good luck w/ Primos Push Button Spring Hen box call. I bowhunt so it's nice to be able to operate the call w/ my release hand while I have my bow in my other hand. I also use a Woodswise Mystic Raspy Hen box call. I'm getting better w/ the slate call that Borch? donated a couple of years ago, but I still need some practice before I feel comfortable w/ it. I'm gonna get a couple different strikers for it too and see if that helps.

Brian