Turkey Calls To Master This Spring Season

When it comes to preparing for spring turkey season, practicing your turkey calls is what's going to get that love struck long beard headed your way opening day. Question is, what are my options?

Here are a few types of turkey calls to consider using before hitting the woods.

Box Call

(Photo courtesy/Ammoland)

Box calls are one of the easiest to start out with, especially if you have little to no experience with calls. These are generally made of wood and are rectangular in shape with a movable paddle top that pivots near the front. It works by scraping the top against the box in a sideways motion. The hollow chamber inside the narrow creates the enticing sound resembling a hen. This particular call doesn’t require much practice, however a caller should take the time to become familiar with the different sounds to create before making a trip into the woods.

Slate Call

(Photo courtesy/Realtree)

Slate calls can create similar sounds made from a box call but are a little more difficult to work. These calls have two prominent components including a base or the slate, and a striker. Slates are typically made of, you guessed it, slate rock, but can also be made of plastic or glass. To create the alluring sound with a slate call hold the striker vertically against the slate and with the right amount of pressure drag the end of the striker across the slate to produce the call.

Mouth Call

(Photo courtesy/Realtree)

Mouth calls are very versatile to create those hen sounds. These calls are designed with two parts; the skirt and the reed. These calls are shaped like a horseshoe to comfortably fit in your mouth and are generally made of plastic, or aluminum wrapped in plastic. The reed is a thin piece of latex that is stretched across the opening. To manipulate a call, adjust the call to the roof of your mouth and adjust the air flow with your tongue to create the enticing sound. This requires a bit of practice to get the desired pitches down but is well worth it once you get the hang of it.

Whichever call you decide to use, it’s important to know how to properly use them prior to hitting the woods. Learn about the different sounds they make, how to become proficient to mimic those calls, and enjoy the ambiance of the woods this season! 

(Main and marquee image courtesy/Legendary Whitetails)