starter calls ?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I'd get a slate call and a couple strickers, and learn how to use it.  Cadence is way more important than sound.

I hate to keep mentioning Easterns,
The only thing that has seemed to work is a few calls, and lengthy silence.......
knowing where they are, finding a spot to be confortable, make a few noises, take a nap.....

[MtnMuley]

Sounds like you've had some bad luck.  I'd be more than happy to come show you how I can kill that bird.

[yelp]

Sounds like you've had some bad luck.  I'd be more than happy to come show you how I can kill that bird.

LOL  HEre we go!     I already have dibs on sticknstrings turkey when he finally gives up!  LOL 

[yelp]

I think the best call to start out with is a simple slate pot call, two strikers one wood one glass/composite.  This type of call teaches you cadence like Mtn Muley suggest but gives you lots of options especially purrs and clucks.  I suggest a leg holder or holder off you gun like flextone makes.  THis will allow you to move less.  Unless your in a blind many turkey calls require movement which is the downfall of a many a setup.  I use mouthcalls but they are tough to master.  If you want a beginner type of reed get a two or three reed.  Practice a lot.  Especially the cadence.  Oh and always condition your slate call with sandpaper or brillo pad for the best friction.  Sanding/burning the tips of your strikers will also help.  Good luck.

[Turkeyman]

Love those easterns.

[mossy8352]

For practice you can go to this link set your player on loop or continuous (some of the sounds are too short to practice with) to at least get an idea for free on what your sounds and cadence should be. It is not the best site but it has a lot of info and different calls for free to practice with.
http://www.wildturkeyzone.com/hunting/calldescriptions.htm

[MtnMuley]

Sounds like you've had some bad luck.  I'd be more than happy to come show you how I can kill that bird.

LOL  HEre we go!     I already have dibs on sticknstrings turkey when he finally gives up!  LOL 

It's the American way these days, Yelp!  Keep undercutting til you get what you want!

[baldopepper]

Just another little hint for a new hunter-it's not at all unusal for hens to come into your calls and walk up to a decoy.  Make sure what you're shooting, with bright sun sometimes those hens heads can look awfully red.  I've had several lone hens come in over the years and give me a quick thrill before I realized that it was a hen.  I suspect a few get blasted very year by hunters (my nephew had his decoy shot a couple of years ago, so if a newbie can make that mistake I'm sure they hammer a few hens also)

[superdown]

For practice you can go to this link set your player on loop or continuous (some of the sounds are too short to practice with) to at least get an idea for free on what your sounds and cadence should be. It is not the best site but it has a lot of info and different calls for free to practice with.
http://www.wildturkeyzone.com/hunting/calldescriptions.htm

thanks for the link.

[mossy8352]

You are welcome hope it helps.

[Phantom Gobbler]

Was able to call in my first tom with a box call.  Had been following and calling to this particular Merriam all morning from fly down and he was pretty henned up.  Finally after all went dead in the woods and I took a nap....... He suddenly fired up to some box call yelps and came running in.  I was so excited I forget to put the call down and get the shotgun up.  Lately I have been using a combination of box call, glass friction calls and diaphrams.   Good luck and I hope you can hit the woods with someone with some calling experience.

[turkeydancer]

For the newbies ... the worst turkey caller I ever heard was a live hen ... you don't have to be a calling champ !!!  That said I would still practice, practice, practice .. no matter the call you use ... learn the yelp and cluck minimum ... add cutting and purring after that ...

I have one friend that doesn't call, but does a lot of scouting ... he basically patterns the birds ... then he gets to where he knows they want to be, is patient and waits them out.
 

[superdown]

Has Anybody tried these Knight and Hale "sweet lil liar" and "white liar" calls says they work Wet and dry ?http://www.knightandhale.com/catalog.aspx?catid=newproducts

[mossy8352]

Has Anybody tried these Knight and Hale "sweet lil liar" and "white liar" calls says they work Wet and dry ?http://www.knightandhale.com/catalog.aspx?catid=newproducts

This type of call does work wet or dry but the sound from the box call is something else (meaning not of this world). I have a Woodswise Mystic no chalk and we are still trying to find what it sounds like. Try chalk rain on your striker or the lid of your call box (do a google search) and watch the video by the inventor of rain chalk. Sounds better and makes more sense. I just ordered my second custom call and in a discussion with the person that has been doing this for a long time his remark was "we have all been down that road".

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Sounds like you've had some bad luck.  I'd be more than happy to come show you how I can kill that bird.

LOL  HEre we go!     I already have dibs on sticknstrings turkey when he finally gives up!  LOL 

I wont give up on it yet, but I would be interested in seeing anybody "come show me how they can kill that bird" .. 
Again, these birds are different, it is not just because of population that the harvest is low.
IMHO if you can kill an Eastern (other than semi-tame private flock) more than one season in a row, you are an exceptionally skilled Turkey Hunter.
Almost anyone can get one of the "other Species", it is the Eastern that keep them from completing the slam.. 
I also feel that just being able to get on Turkeys in SW Washington is good luck !
actually hearing one gobble, and watching him strut, makes it all worthwhile.
Even when I walk out empty handed.