Tools of the Turkey Trade: Let’s Talk Turkey Calls

Gear

Aug 6

I can “cock-a-doodle-doo” like a rooster but I can’t gobble for a turkey. Thankfully there are several different instruments to help make the sounds and calls to fake out those gobblers.

I might not have shot a turkey my first time out but I did shoot Scott Einsmann playing and explaining each of the five instruments.

Turkey Box Call — **Box Calls**

Really good for doing a yelp, often the first call used. The box has a sliding lid that creates a yelp/sound when moved back and forth against the edges of the box edges.

Turkey Pot Slate Call — **Pot (Slate) Calls**

This call is round and the face can be made of ceramic, slate, glass or aluminum and you use a striker to make the sound. You can make a yelp or cut sound, hen turkeys make this sound when they are excited trying to get the toms to come to them.

Cluck and Purr Calls for Turkeys — **Cluck and Purr Calls**

This is a contented call that turkeys do when they are feeding and just being happy.

Turkey Trumpet Wingbone Calls — **Trumpet (Wingbone) Calls**

You play this instrument by suction, they make a high pitched, nasal yelp. It’s one of the oldest known turkey calls and can be made from actual bones of turkey wings.

Mouth Diaphragm Call for Turkeys — **Diaphragm (Mouth) Calls**

These calls are small and placed inside your mouth and you use your tongue and airflow but apparently it takes time to master.

Scott used all the calls at different times, I didn’t ask why one call over the other and what difference did it make. I guess the trick isn’t just having the calls but learning when and how to use them to call in your gobbler.

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