Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: cgeiser on March 09, 2010, 12:16:00 PM
-
I'm looking for advice on my first turkey call. I'm not worried too much about what's easier or harder to learn as I will practice. If you had to pick one favorite call for stalking turkey what would it be? Any tips on how to use it? I'm out west (Northern California) if that matters.
Thanks for your help!
Che
-
Stalking turkey?? I'd never do it for safety reasons.
But in answer to your question: YES. :D
Each call is a little different and birds will respond to them each differently at different times.
-
Is stalking the wrong term or are the other posts related to 'run and "bow"' also a bad idea? Is the danger related to gun hunters primarily?
Thanks
-
Stalking is illegal in my state.And it's a good way to get shot by a anxious gun hunter.I like a mouth call to free up my hands for shooten.
-
I use all three types often on the same set up.
Can't have enough calls when they aren't finding the one your using to be sexy enough.
LOL
Mike
-
wingnut, how could they not find you sexy...LOL
-
I stalk them all the time. Never a hen. But that is the fun to me; calling and the "chess match". I have taken some of my biggest with limited calling and crawling in on them. I tried the sitting in blind thing-though effective-it is just not any fun to me. Diaphragms are my mainstay as you can have different ones, different sounds, and versatile. That said- over 30 years of hunting them I have collected a couple of boxes and a slate- various sounds; time and place works well.
Good luck.
-
Using mouth calls will give less movement...turkeys have good vision. If you do not mind practicing try natural...no call, just your voice. I have called that way for 28 years and get a bird or two every season.
-
mouth and slate call for me..
-
Thanks for all the tips so far. I'm following up on a few private land leads, so hopefully I'll find areas where there are no other hunters and the spot and stalk will be safe. I know I'm not as likely (maybe very unlikely;) ) to get a bird but it sure sounds like a lit more fun than sitting in a blind!
-
I yelp with a box call, KeeKee with a mouth call, and purr with a slate call.
I hunt from a ground blind on private property and use the box to get them started and the purr to real them in.
Buy a couple of Primos videos and you will learn all you need to know about each call.
Good luck,
Paul
-
Private property or public it is no guarantee that your gobbler won't bring in an over anxious gun hunter coming in on a dead run. I have found that a box call can call in more shotgun hunters than my double reed.
-
All 3 calls work obviously.
You may master the diaphram easily or may not.You could screw up on it as well and scare a few birds off if your not profficient.I would recommnd some easy clucks to start of with it and not overcalling with a diaphram if you are just starting.The diaphram does give the advantage of working well in the rain where a wet box call or slate is gonna be trouble.Hands free operation is always nice as mentioned.
The slates good because its easy,user friendly and forgiving.A little easier than a glass call or double glass.just need to prepare the surface properly for easiest use.
I like a box alot and use it more than any other call overall.It is the loudest and good on windy days or when cutting and running looking for a bird to pull a gobble out of that may be a long way off.
I would get both a box and slate personally.You can also get 2 or 3 diffent strikers for your slate to change the sound of that one call to make it more versatile.As mentioned above the slate is great for purring and also soft calling with clucks mixed in with the purrs to make contented and natural turkey sounds.
One call can work and does.But your better off with a few calls.Sometimes a bird just responds better to a certain call for whatever reason.You can also sound like 2 different birds.That can be good.
Or if a bird hangs up out of range and wont budge sometimes a different call can push em over the edge for a shot oppertunuty.
-
Get good with all of them they will all have there place.
-
Any recommendations for your favorite box, slate and mouth calls? Maybe from our sponsors?
Thanks again,
Che
-
I owned a hunting/fishing store and personal biggest producer is still the old Lynch's World Champion box call.
But mouth calls are also super great and you really must have some too.
-
I would not stalk them untill you have done it for a while. They can sound obvious or not so obvious. And only time will allow you to be able to distiguish a hunter from a group of turkeys. However with that said since you are in CA I think you will be hunting wide open area?? goin out on a limb by sayin that, I really havent got a clue but if you can see for a ways, then I would go for it, dont stalk birds in thick cover! But as far as the call, I would say you need them all. I have different uses for every single one of them! And be sure to post pictures when ya nail one!!!
-
Never stalk! Strike a gobble, move in to set up and park yourself and call him in. Besides another hunter, stalking will blow more hunts them calling one in. If a gobblers is sounding off, hens are not far away. Learn to call them in that's the pure fun of turkey hunting in the spring.
As for calls, easiest to learn is a box, slate/glass friction call, then mouth. You can never have too many calls. I've had bird go silent then pick up a particular box call and start gobbling his head off. So have a goos call arsenal.
Mike
-
Any recommendations for your favorite box, slate and mouth calls? Maybe from our sponsors?
Thanks again,
Che
-
Take at least two and I always use a mouth diaphram call to get the bird in close. Very little movement and I have both hands free to draw and shoot.
-
One thing that could be considered. It is sometimes possible to keep a turkey talking the entire time he is working in closer to you. this may not be to your advantage in crowded hunting situations. It may be better to let the tom come in with out doing much gobbling. I have found that one can keep a turkey gobbling with a box call, but that is when one can get run over by the hot footing young hunter trying to run down your bird. Purrs and soft clucks will get them coming in faster because they won't be wasting so much time strutting and gobbling way out of range. For that I prefer the double or triple diaphrams, less motion to give your position away.
-
Some of my favorite calls are custom. But If I had to pick some current calls I'd go with a Lynch box call (fool Proof), HS Lil Duece glass mix up the strikers, and any mouth call single, double, split it really doesn't matter much to me.
-
Just got a mouth call to practice while driving. Can make some good clucks but can purr yet. Hopefully by the time turkey season opens :) . Also gonna look into making a box call, I'll search the how to's.
-
Good luck. Keep practicing and you'll be purring before long. I heard a gobble the other day. Probably just establishing the food chain, but it was exciting.
-
Since you said you dont care which is easier. I prefer the mouth call over time I am able to yelp, purr, cackle, kee kee, all the calls with a mouth call and it doesnt require movement switching calls which is key with the sharp eyed turkey. Master the mouth call throw in a ASAT 3d suit and you should get some turkey!
-
I'm probably the best on a slate but I like a box call to locate a bird from a distance because I can get louder on it. But nothing beats a good mouth call when the birds are close.
Josh
-
all three, windy days i use a box call more, i use a slate or glass call when im trying to get them to commit and close the distance, mouth call from then on when i dont want to use my hands. They all three are useful because of the different situations you encounter.
-
I carry a yelper call, mouth calls and a box call. I wish I were better with the mouth call. It frees up the hands for the bow.
-
Originally posted by MSwickard:
Never stalk! Strike a gobble, move in to set up and park yourself and call him in. Besides another hunter, stalking will blow more hunts them calling one in. If a gobblers is sounding off, hens are not far away. Learn to call them in that's the pure fun of turkey hunting in the spring.
What Mike said.............It's a scary feeling when working a bird and some dude with a shotgun tries sneaking (what he would call "stalking") on "you"!
As for calls, I use all three........they all have their strong points.
-
I use all three... for me, the box call is loud and I use it almost like a locator. I'm able to get the most variation and subtle nuances out of a slate call. For me, the mouth call is great when I know a bird is closing in (no movement). As always, YMMV.
-
I use all three but use a mouth call 98% of the time. (Woodhaven Yellowjacket) an Primos.
-
Yes ... all three. Box and slate for long range, and mouth call for up close. If you are a bowhunter, you need to learn to use a mouth call.
-
They are all good tools, but gain confidence in a mouth call for those birds that are in close range.
-
I picked a a couple mouth calls. I've got a bit of drive time in the next two weeks and figure I can practice then. Today I also worked on making a scratch box just for fun. Glue should be dry tomorrow and I can try it out. I'll post pics if it works out at all.
I guess there must be a lot of tradgangers getting excited for turkey season as there's a lot of posts here. Thanks for all the advice.
Che
-
Have never bagged a bird but called a few in , just did not have a shot. I used a mouth call just to keep my movment down to the minimumn.
-
My absolute favorite is the mouth call. If you are good enough, there is not a sound that a turkey makes that can't be made on a mouth call. For most this comes with years of practice, but just a simple yelp can keep your hands free, and call in turkeys.
Slate, glass, or friction calls have there place. They are easy to run, and sound much like turkey.
Now for the meatstick turkey call for hunters from a beginner to a professional caller. The BOAT PADDLE box call. When all else fails, the boat paddle won't. These calls can be loud, but from a distance a trained ear can't distinguish the caller from a real turkey. If there were only one call, this would be it. My humble opinion.
-
Interesting that this thread should pop up.
Why just this morning, I was out a 9am CST tying up a goat to eat some weeds, (its starting to warm up in South Texas) when I hear a gobble. Only one barb wire fence between me and the bird located in the pasture behind the house. I walk back up to the garage, locate the box call and went back standing up by a gate post. blue jeans, blue and white plaid shirt. (no bow no arrows). :bigsmyl:
A big Rio Grande Turkey comes in to with 25 yards of the fence, now I have the call in my hands and he could see the movement if he looked. I managed a couple of squawks, really awful sounding stuff. Maybe a bobcat would understand but not a decent turkey. I stood motionless for about an hour as I watched that beautiful bird :campfire:
He stayed for a while and knew that I was there, but wasnt interested in any blondes. I was wishing my mouth call was closer.....he finally wandered back into the woods and I went and sat down to analyze what had happened.
It made my day.....
-
I was out at the archery range here in town and saw six turkeys. They love to feed on he archery range :bigsmyl:
-
What a great place to have feeding turkeys. The archery range. :knothead: This would drive me crazy. Now if only you had blinds placed at various locations.
-
Spurs,
I seen this post and was wondering if any tukey call conisuerrs where gonna mention a boat paddle call.
I have made alot of box calls and am a box call lover and I agree, nothing beats a good paddle call. You can get a whole flock of birds wrapped up in that dude if it's tuned right.
I have a mutiltude of different style calls of every shape and design.
my two favorites are my Irving Whitt sassafrass short box a good ol' tube call, and my trusty ol' boat paddle.
I need to make few calls before season sneaks up.
Kris
-
The only problem that I have seen with boat paddle calls is that most seem to be around the 100 dollar or more mark. This probably shy's most hunters away from them. They are definately worth their salt. I am going to have to bite the bullet and get another.
-
A mouth call for sure would be the best for mobile hunting. I just can't use one. Can't stand to have them in my mouth. JMO.
-
use them all
-
as stated before all three are good and it is wise to learn to use as many different calls as you can. if I were to have only one call that would be the go to, I would say that a good water proof slate type call is hard to beat, they can be toned down in the end to make the sweet sounds that will bring that tom into a good shooting position and range.
-
I agree with learning to use all 3 types and bringing them with you.Many times I've had birds respond to one call,box for example,when they wouldn't with a mouth call or slate...and vice versa.You can call real loud with a box call and they work good for a locator to get birds gobbling.I also like to use a mouth and slate at the same time to sound like at least a couple hens are waiting for him and of course once they close the distance it's all mouth call then.Have taken birds I'm sure I wouldn't have if I'd only brought one call along.A couple/few different mouth calls is a good idea,the birds some times like the sound of one over another...I like Primos double/triple reeds.
-
In a nut shell yes. All calls have a place. I've seen turkey respond to one call one day and not at all the next. Weather will also play a factor, a wet slate call doesn't work. Use a mouth call when turkey are up close.