Turkey Calls

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ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER

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I don't know alot about calls.are calls like most things,you get what you pay for.are they top quality calls or are most of them the same.what do you guys and gals prefer.
 
In my uneducated opinion, a custom call will outperform a mass produced call. My favorite call is a $12 box call made by an Amish guy in Lawrence County. It is just a different sound that the turkeys have not heard when everyone else is using a Primos call (or whatever the brand of the year is). I do hunt pressured public land birds, so it may not matter that much on private land.
 
Every call is different and different people sound different with the same call. That is where going to custom call makers can help. Most will let you try a call before you buy it. Find one you like and go with it.
 
I like a custom call. I have several mouthcalls from a buddy of mine that made me some with a ghost cut. They work great! I know the commercial calls will work, just have more confidence in the calls made one at a time.

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One day I might spend over $20 on a call. I do like the sound of a custom call and really like the idea of supporting a small business but I just dont like the idea of spending that kinda of money.

Here is why; one day I might be using my moldy old primos double reed from 7 years ago (soak it in scope and its like new) and I have the birds fired up. Next day, same call same spot and the birds dont do a thang...public and private lands. Either I suck really bad every other day (the other day I just suck) or turkeys are just being turkeys and my calling doesnt really matter when they dont wanna play.

If you buy a custom call I bet u want regret it, just dont loose it like I would!

No matter what you do though...do jot hunt out of a ground blind or use decoys[emoji12]


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I don't think the cost is as important as the sound it produces, having more calls...gives you more sounds that you can make....you just never know what will fire a bird up.....I just got a custom slate that is easy to use and has great sound...hope I never lose it!!!
 
I like the custom calls better. That being said, if its the right time any decent sounding call will work. I just prefer the custom friction calls.
 
Final steps on here makes one of the best pot calls in have heard.

I also love my lynch fool proof box
 
the call is the least part of the turkey hunt in my opinion, its all about the setup and knowing why turkeys do what there doing that day. my point being if I can consistently call in long beards and kill them sounding like a goose on a death bed with a cheap mouth call, the call must not be that important. :rotf:
 
I will give another vote for Final Steps. I bought one of his pot calls last year and love it. That one and my David Halloran (SP) are my 2 favorites.
 
Good thing about custom calls is that "most" have a really good sound. All custom call makers will send you sound files to let you hear what you are buying. Also if something happens to the call, if you get in touch with the call maker most of the time, they'll fix it for nothing. If a soundboard comes loose or the playing surface gets damaged etc... Spend the extra and you won't regret it. There are a lot of great call makers that charge between $40-50 for a great sounding call.
 
"You get what you pay for" doesn't apply much to turkey calls IMO. A lot of it is preference of the hunter and sometimes a certain call has more appeal to the turkeys as well.

For example I have gotten the best response from a homemade wingbone call that cost about nothing to make. People sell some real fancy wingbone calls sometimes over 100 bucks but mine is not fancy. Bone and glue are the bare minimum you need for that. I called in a flock this past fall with 2 sections of dry river cane fitted together.

Don't break the bank on calls, just try a few different types (box and slate are a great start). Hunter specialties makes some decent mouth calls for around 5 bucks. Woodhaven makes even better mouth calls for around 10 bucks.

also focus on the rhythm and sequence of calls, not just the sound it makes. You want to sound like a turkey talking, not just making screeching noises.

At the end of the day there will always be that horny 2 year old gobbler that will strut and gobble at anything that sounds remotely like a hen. I called one in using my voice and got to see him strut during October, while bowhunting. Couldn't get a shot because it was too thick.

Just remember you don't need to spend a lot of money on turkey calls unless you like collecting them as a hobby.


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Favorite call is an old Cane Creek slate, I also like my H. S. Strut World champion glass also. I use these two with several custom made strikers for a change in tones. Use various mouth calls for close in work. And a vintage ML Lynch box call that I love to use during mid-day for loud cutting.
 
Most hunters start with production calls, and they have, and will continue, to kill a ton of birds.

After a few seasons, you will realize that you can spend a little more and get calls that are just made better. They sound better for a longer period of time, and are of a better quality, which means they will last longer.

If you have the funds, like Harvester said, you can get a much more durable call in the $40-50 range, and you will not be disappointed.

First, you need to determine which type of call that you can run the best and gives you the most confidence.
 
I've used a bunch of "custom" calls over the years and most that are advertised as custom are just pieced together junk which all sound decent but nothing like a truly custom made call.

I use calls made by Darrin Dawkins and there isn't anything that comes close for what I am looking for in a call.
 

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