Talkin' Turkey: Your Guide to Mastering Calls

A successful turkey hunt often comes down to one thing: your ability to speak the language. A well-executed call can bring a wary gobbler strutting into range, while a poorly timed yelp can send him running for the next county. Mastering turkey calls is an essential skill for any serious hunter, transforming a quiet morning in the woods into an interactive and thrilling experience.

This guide will walk you through the fundamentals of three of the most popular and effective types of turkey calls: the box call, the slate call, and the diaphragm call. You'll learn the mechanics of each, the sounds they produce, and tips to help you sound like a seasoned pro on your next hunt.

The Foundation of Turkey Talk

Before using any call, it's important to understand the basic sounds turkeys make. While their vocabulary is complex, a few key calls will cover most of your hunting scenarios:

• Yelp: The most common sound. It's a simple, two-note call used by hens to communicate with the flock.
• Cluck: A short, sharp, single-note sound. It signals contentment and lets other turkeys know "I'm here."
• Purr: A soft, rolling sound that indicates a calm, contented bird. It's great for close-range work.
• Cutt: A series of loud, fast, and irregular clucks. This is an excited call used to get a gobbler's attention from a distance.
• Gobble: The iconic sound of a male turkey, used to attract hens and challenge other toms. While locator calls can mimic this, it's a sound hunters should use with extreme caution.

The User-Friendly Box Call

The box call is arguably the easiest for a beginner to learn and one of the most effective tools in a hunter's vest. Its simple, friction-based design allows for loud, crisp sounds that can travel long distances, making it excellent for locating gobblers on windy days.

How to Use a Box Call

A box call consists of a hollow wooden box and a lid (or paddle) that you scrape across the top edges.

1. Holding the Call: Hold the base of the box in one hand. Avoid touching the sides where the paddle makes contact, as oils from your skin can deaden the sound.
2. Making the Yelp: With your other hand, hold the paddle handle. Gently drag the paddle across the top edge of the box in a short, straight line. The basic yelp is a two-note sound, often described as "yee-awk." Apply slight pressure as you pull the paddle. A sequence of 3-5 yelps is a standard hen assembly call.
3. Making the Cluck: For a cluck, simply tap the paddle against the box's edge without dragging it. It should be a short, sharp pop of sound.
4. Making the Cutt: To create a cutt, make a series of fast, erratic clucks by tapping and slightly dragging the paddle in quick succession.

Pro Tip: Always keep your box call chalked. Apply a thin layer of chalk to the underside of the paddle to ensure it grips the box properly and produces a clean, high-pitched sound. Keep it dry, as moisture is the enemy of a good box call.

The Versatile Slate Call

The slate call, also known as a pot call, offers a wider range of tones and subtleties than a box call. It consists of a round "pot," typically made of wood or plastic, with a surface made of slate, glass, or aluminum. You create sounds by dragging a "striker"—a peg made of wood, carbon, or other materials—across the surface.

How to Use a Slate Call

1. Holding the Call: Hold the pot in your non-dominant hand, cupping it with your fingertips along the outer edge. This allows the sound to resonate. Rest it on your knee or hold it in the air.
2. Holding the Striker: Hold the striker like a pencil, about an inch from the tip. Keep your wrist loose and relaxed.
3. Making the Yelp: Place the tip of the striker on the call's surface. With light pressure, draw a small oval or half-moon shape. Experiment with different pressures and locations on the surface to find the sweet spot for the best two-note yelp.
4. Making the Cluck: Press the striker tip firmly onto the surface and pull it sharply toward you for about a quarter-inch. The striker should "pop" off the surface, creating a crisp cluck.
5. Making the Purr: With very light pressure, drag the striker tip in a straight line or a slight arc across the surface. The key is consistent, gentle pressure to create that soft, rolling sound.

Pro Tip: Condition the surface of your slate call with a scouring pad (like a green Scotch-Brite pad) by rubbing it in one direction. This creates a rougher surface for the striker to grip, resulting in better sound. Different strikers will produce different tones on the same surface, so carry a few options to vary your calls.

The Advanced Diaphragm Call

The diaphragm, or mouth call, is the most challenging to master but offers the greatest reward. Because it's hands-free, it allows you to call while aiming your shotgun—a huge advantage when a gobbler is closing in. It consists of one or more latex reeds stretched in a C-shaped frame.

How to Use a Diaphragm Call

1. Placement: Place the call on the roof of your mouth with the open end of the "C" facing forward. The reeds should point toward the front of your mouth, not down your throat. Use your tongue to press it flat against the roof of your mouth.
2. Air Control: The sound comes from forcing air between your tongue and the reeds. Start by simply saying the word "huff" or "chuff" to get a feel for the airflow.
3. Making the Yelp: Press your tongue against the reeds with moderate pressure. Start the call with high pressure and then drop your jaw and tongue slightly to transition to the lower second note. Think of saying the word "chee-yawk." The "chee" is the high note, and the "yawk" is the lower, raspy note.
4. Making the Cluck: For a sharp cluck, build up a bit of air pressure with your tongue against the reeds and release it abruptly. It’s like saying the word "puck" or "tuck" with force.
5. Making the Cutt: A cutt is simply a series of fast, spaced-out clucks. Master the cluck first, then work on stringing them together with varied cadence.

Pro Tip: Gagging is a common problem for beginners. If this happens, try trimming the tape on the sides of the call to make it narrower. It takes time and practice to build the muscle memory in your tongue. Practice in your car on the way to work—it's the perfect place to get comfortable without disturbing anyone.

Bring Your Skills to the Field

Mastering these calls won't happen overnight. It requires dedication, practice, and careful listening to real turkeys. Spend time watching videos, listening to audio recordings, and, most importantly, practicing your calls until they become second nature.

When you're ready to test your skills on one of the most exciting turkey hunts in Orlando, FL, a knowledgeable guide can make all the difference. An expert can help you understand when to call, what to say, and how to react to a gobbler's response.

If you're ready for an unforgettable turkey hunting experience in the Orlando, FL area, contact Switchgrass Outfitters today. We can help you book the guided hunt of a lifetime.