Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting What type of call are you using?

Box call, reed, friction plate?
For years I've been using a butternut box call made by a fella named Mathew Foley. I call it the Box Of Death. Sure would like to get another from this guy but I can't seem to find contact info. Anyway it has me wondering what most of you guys use..

For years, nothing but mouth calls, leaves both my hands available.

I see Matts calls listed for sale on ebay.
J

I use mostly mouth calls, but have been known to use a slate for purrs and clucks. The purr is a very deadly call and has been the fatal blow to many a hung up gobbler.

Thanks gents. Happy hunting!

I use all Paul Meek calls. Here at times we have to call birds clear across canyons long distance. He developed a call for us we call the Terminator that will really reach out long distance. He has a large variety of call including mouth calls but many years ago he talked me into using a scratch box. For finishing a Tom or close in work it is now my go to call. He also makes custom calls and one called the rock pot. Check him out at paulmeekoutdoors

I highly recommended Bent Mountain Game Calls. I have know these people for 45 years and they know turkey hunting like no one else. It is a father/son operation and the calls are not only beautiful they sound great.

https://bentmountaingamecalls.com

I could easily get by with mouth diaphragm calls. They are realistic, versatile and leave your hands free. With that said, I like turkey calls and calling and am a bit of a traditionalist. Running a custom box call or pot/peg is just fun and I have a bunch of each.

Mike Yingling waterproof crystal over slate
Mike Yingling copper over slate in flamed ash
Mark Cunningham slate over glass in Sassafrass - he goes by footballer on oldgobbler, Mark Cunningham on YouTube.

I got a new mouth call by Gobbler Recon from eBay, sounds great so far.

Typically I'll start with a box call (Tomfoolery call from Maine or Lynch Foolproof) and especially for when I want some volume. When I get them coming in I'll switch to a Quaker Boy mouth call with their Pro Triple being the one I reach for most often.

I have and can run them all but I pretty much just carry a trumpet anymore.

Committed to learning a box call a few years back, not just sqauking and squeeling on one. Got one out I bought over 20 years ago, was just intimidated by it. Finally got down to making a nice soft cluck then finally a light purr. It'll go loud too but that's not what most gobblers want in the areas I've hunted. Had it made by Mr. Albert Paul in Mississippi. When I met him at a NWTF convention I started looking for feathers. He's that good. No matter what you wanted to hear he did better. Ordered one on the spot using Mississippi Black Walnut for top and bottom and Honduran Mahogany for the body. Have shot my last 3 using it. One went over 22 on Zebco fish scales and the biggest gobbler I've ever seen went over 24. Both limb hangers. And both came in quiet to low volume low number calling. Sweet talk. I still carry a slate in case I need a different sound and always have a diaphragm in place to make them stop if need be. Check out Paul's Calls: HERE

Lynch World Champion box call and
Flextone Tramp Stamp Slate Turkey Call are my go too`s.
in that order.

Old Lynch box, cedar easy yelper, home made slate, and mouth diaphragms. I like to be able to switch it up if necessary. The purrs and whines from that old slate will always close the deal.

Use whatever the notion takes me to use.

Always have a diaphragm in my mouth. Use a box for windy days or birds at a distance. Have a walnut pot slate I made about 15-20 years ago that fits right in the middle somewhere.

Basic double reed and a backup slate.
Used MAD stuff way back and worked fine.
Think the newer stuff not as good in quality.
Proly order a custom slate.

All of them, but I use what the birds like and most people won't have tried.

I like a FoxPro myself.

I use a Quaker Boy mouth call- it came with two other calls, but the one I use most just seems to play a tune the Toms in my hunt area really like.

Bought a Dennis Kirk walnut box call in Delhi NY sometime about 30 years ago and it works when nothing else does. Last three years it is the only call I have used.

I've killed turkeys calling them with tube, slate, glass, mouth call, voice, and am quite confident with each. That old box called my first, largest, and last 5 birds. It's out now and it sounds as good as it did 30 years ago. Wife isn't particularly enamored with it.