Hunting Forum

Reading the thread on calling got me to thinking about what is my favorite type of call. My favorite seems to switch between a slate and a box call, depending on my mood and the weather. I really like the concealment a mouth call provides but I just can't seem to get the calls right. A friend once said I sound more like a grey squirrel than a turkey when I use a mouth call. So my question, what is your favorite type of call and why?

I use a slate most of the time but generally speaking any depending on as you said whatever..I normally hit the woods with 6 or 7 different pots 2 box a couple of slab and 3 to 7 mouth calls...I also have a couple of wing bone calls I use every now and again...as far as what ya sound like...never know what will set them up or shut them off..I once was accused of sounding like a rutured duck, by a guy that was in the field some 300+ yards away...can say for sure all my calls were in my pack at the time and all the noise he heard was coming from real live hens...so there ya go....

Funny you mentioned the story about the real hen. A few years back I was hunting on private land with only me and the owner supposed to be there, the owner is a very good caller. I heard this horrendous yelp and thought there is someone trespassing on the property. To make matters worse not only were the yelps horrible there were way to many and often. I could hear that the caller was moving toward me so at any minute I expected to see a hunter. The noise maker finally stepped out of the bushes and you guessed it, it was a hen who would have never got off the ground floor in a calling contest.

MitchR, had the same thing more than once....worse hen calls I ever heard were from a real live hen!

Mitch, don't let these two old goats fool ya! It wuz dem dat sounded like wunded ducks  Old TT's carry's so many call's wit him dat he sounds like a homeless street person push'n a cart full a pots anner pans anner he wonders why he don't git no turkel burds  Glad you made it through Sandy Ralph 

Grizzly,

Got a good chuckle from your post.

LOL!

Grizz is absolutely right, Brian does make a pretty mean call. I've got a couple of his glass calls, and one of his double-barrels... and they all sound great! He did one for me with a picture of my daughter and her first turkey.

Like TT, I like to carry a variety of calls with me while turkey hunting. I probably use a diaphragm mouth call more than any other when I'm in the woods. They allow me to call without moving and keeping both hands on my gun or bow.

I only use a diaphram call to close the deal after I see a head peeking around.....otherwise use Heirloom slate or box calls most of time.....after trying Brians calls, I cut back on number of calls I carry....got it under 20!!

Slate and mouth is my favorite

Since I'm almost deaf, can't hear the toms(unless they are right on top of me) and definitely will never hear the hens in the field, I wouldn't know how my calls sound. Bottom line: my favorite is the report of my 17HMR and watching the bird drop.

No man! Don't ever use no rifle on a turkl burd even where legal! Way more fun to use a shotgun and get them within 30-40 yards! I don't even use the "new" loads that will kill way out there.....if I can't get him within 40 yds, he won....see you tomorrow!

ternera, I gotta agree with that dang mofo oogly chicken killer frum Tinnersea! If you're that hard of hearing, have you tried hunting out of a blind with dekes? Up close and personal with the turkel burds is how I like it! So close, I can count how many fleas he has in his beard  And use a shotgun. A rifle is to iffy. Heck, I've missed one or two in my life with my turkel burd kill'n mossberg! Let em git to close and sooner or later, you will miss!

22 years of jets roatring 8 inches above my head has done some serious hearing damage. I can't hear thunder most days. I certainly understand the fun of shooting one with either the rifle or shotgun. I prefer the shotgum myself. Watch the critters arund you as you hunt, They'll tattle tail on what's happening. As long as it's legal, go for it the way you like too. I Prefer the shotgun and even my crossbow over the rifle even IF the rifle was legal(not here).

Yeah but you can hear Miz Kathy when she gives an order!
Could not pay me to use a rifle on a turkle burd----even in Tejas!
Can't hear myself pass gas that's why I wear electronic ears when turkl burd huntin

Posted By MitchR on 06 Nov 2012 06:50 AM
Reading the thread on calling got me to thinking about what is my favorite type of call. My favorite seems to switch between a slate and a box call, depending on my mood and the weather. I really like the concealment a mouth call provides but I just can't seem to get the calls right. A friend once said I sound more like a grey squirrel than a turkey when I use a mouth call. So my question, what is your favorite type of call and why?

THE ONE THAT WORKS TO PULL IN THE OL BOY!!! CARRY AS MANY CALLS YOU CAN COMFORTABLEY, DIFFERENT AND THE SAME, maybe 2 box callers, snuff can/tube, mouth callers, peg and pots with different surfaces and different types of wood in the pegs/strikers, scratch boxes.... but in reality i personally like both a well made long box (to get a better range of turkey vocalization) and cutter mouth caller....

You ain't even got started on what's in my vest.....pretty ridiculous since I kilt my first wearing a red flannel shirt, John
Deere cap and blue jeans with a piece of slate I picked up from creek and a whittled on piece of hickory....

I like the slate because i produces some really great sounds, and the tone can easily be changed by the way birds are reacting.

I dun figgured it out after 50+ years of chasing the bustards!!!!
Leaving vest and all calls at home.....going into woods and about 30 minutes after daylight , I am going to grunt and moan from getting there, then I am going to kick some leaves from getting my old knees there, then whack some bushes while stretching my armrs to rest my shoulder from carrying that heavy old BPS, then start beating my chest with my arms like I can't get up-----Toms will think it is an injured Tom and come rushing in to finish him off..........

Lots of years with no turkey...mouth calls gagged me...I'm not coordinated enough to hold my gun and work a box call so used a plunger and slate..Then We bought bronze turkeys to raise...and when they got older I listened and copied them with my voice until they would answer back...then I started practicing on wild birds..now I manage a couple of birds a year

I was out working a field one day with the new cam last spring...heard a tom sound off and ran for a near by blind...didn't know the cam was on as I called them in...no pics of them for they showed up silent and right next to me...but here are 3 short clips of a bit of calling ...mind you it was hot and dry...I had no water and had not been practicing for a few months...even so they came in and circled me from well over a 100yrds and were just 3 ft away when they came into view...one actually looked into the blind...I could not move in my blue sweats and wht shirt...lol...Jake and a hen ...Might not sound like much to me...but the birds seem to like it..so what ever works...

I do sometimes use a slate in combination with my own voice

http://youtu.be/wXTiiuCcHsY

http://youtu.be/mukKNrHzQJw

http://youtu.be/IIBOFY4aVSg

Badger 1,

That is a truly amazing story. I attended a DU planning meeting several years ago and there was a young girl (12 or 13) at the meeting that could do turkey calls by voice better than I could with a call. I have always been intrigued by using only voice but ever time I try it sound horrible.