A little help with Turkey calls

[Carl]

I was looking at diaphragm calls and quickly noticed I don’t know enough (or anything) about what I need. 

Does anyone have a suggestion?  Do I need one for each type of call I want to make or will one diaphragm call make several sound?  (I have a box call.)

Thanks for the info,
Carl

[turkeydancer]

One will do for starters ... I would suggest getting a double latex reed with no cuts.   After you get use to making yelps, clucks, purrs, and cuts with no problem on the double, then you can buy diaphragms with more latex and with or without cuts to get more rasp, deeper sounds, etc. 

[Mfowl]

Hey Carl, I've found the Promos "sonic dome" style of calls to be a little easier to use. They just seem to fit my mouth better and are easier to get sounds out of vs other brands. I also don't rely on diaphragms until a bird is close and I don't want to move. I often use my pot calls or a box to strike up a bird and coax them in. Then I switch to a diaphragm when they are in sight or close. I usually only make soft calls to entice a bird a little further or I make make some quick cuts once they are in range to get them to pick their head up for a shot. Diaphragm calls are fairly cheap and I usually buy a variety at once and test them out before hunting. Several companies offer variety packs with a little carry case. Seems like Sportsman's Warehouse in Fed Way has a decent selection. More than OE anyway, IMO. Good luck, practice up!

[RadSav]

There are some very nice three reed turkey combo packs out there.  I personally like the Knight and Hale and the Quaker Boy combo packs, but just about any of them will do.  These packs will give you everything you really need in mouth calls. 

Then once you get a feel for what style of call you use best you can become an expert turkey hunter and own forty different calls and only use two!  I own one vest, 40 mouth calls, two box calls, five slate calls, four different strikers and a variety of "Must Have" gadgets and locators.  As an "Expert" I need every one of them so I'm prepared for everything Ole' Tom can throw at me.  My vest looks and weighs about the same as a dump truck overhaul kit.  It's completely awesome and lesser turkey hunters just stand back and watch completely drenched in green envy!  All my serious turkey hunting friends have similar vests.  When we hunt together there is not a Tom with enough foolery to ever get away.  We are a turkey wrecking crew and nothing gets past us! 

At the end of each year I lay out all my calls...clean the three I've used during the season and seal everything up in amber bags so I can repeat the process again next year 

[Carl]

GREAT overview, Radsav.   

Your crew sounds like a turkey killin' machine! 

Carl

[RadSav]

GREAT overview, Radsav.   

Your crew sounds like a turkey killin' machine! 

Hardly, but we got all the gear and we look cool.  What else matters?

[jblackburn]

One or two diaphragms will make all the sounds you need.  Depending on how proficient you are will dictate reed count.  I encourage beginners to start on a two reed call with some simple cuts (such as a HS raspy old hen or a Gooserbat Classic Hen), that way you can make pretty good turkey sounds once you get the hang of it.  Some people will say a single reed is a good beginners call, and to a point, they are right.  Single reeds are a little easier to make noises, but IMO they are harder to make sound like turkeys. For me, 3 reed calls run the best, but I do have a couple four reeds that I can run well. 

A standard V cut or a Combo cut will make nearly all the sounds you need.

The last thing I would say is that some guys have narrow palates and have trouble running full framed calls.  If that is the case, I suggest looking at some of the custom/small call makers that offer good quality youth framed calls.  Your big box stores will have very limited selection of these type calls.

Good luck!

[turkeydancer]

You may even want to try some of Jason Phelps calls .... he makes a high quality variety 6 pack for approx $25.   I'm like RADSAV and have a couple large tool boxes of calls including 40 or 50 mouth diaphragms from Knight & Hale, Primos, and other mass producted calls that will get the job done .... but I really like Jasons calls quality, ease of use, and realistic turkey sounds they produce.  I'm also on the wsame page as Mfowl especially if you new to the game that a good box call and pot call with a striker peg pack especially when they're further away would be a good idea.   All the advice given here is very sound .... good luck.

NOTE:   I always prefer to support good Washington State call makers - emphasis here on good.

[irishevox]

TD do you have a link for the phelps.... i have been really working on my diahpram calls... and i am doing ok... nothing near what you can do ... but i think i need more versitility

[turkeydancer]

http://www.phelpsgamecalls.com

[irishevox]

Thanks

[dmv9]

http://www.phelpsgamecalls.com

I was able to start calling within a few minutes.