Turkey calls?

[bigbore442001]

What are you favorite turkey calls? Myself, I had a box full of them. Over the years of trial and error I found that the best one, for me anyways,is a mouth diagphram call.

I have been able to pull birds off of posted land as well as call birds in from other hunter's who have entered our spots. I know some go into the woods with a vest load of calls but I have narrowed it down to a crow call for locating and a couple of MAD diagphrams.

Another thing, if you people don't mind? When I first started turkey hunting an owl call worked like a charm to locate turkey. It seems that here in Massachusetts, the birds have wised up to the owl call. It no longer seems to provoke the night gobbling to roost birds. Has anyone else noticed that?

 

[XXX]

I found my favorite flock again Sunday after 6 weeks of not knowing where they had gone. They are working over the remnents of last seasons acorn and beechnut crop. I sat and watched them for an hour as they worked the forest floor. I heard an owl sound off about 4pm, (strange time) and there was no response from the toms/jakes in that group. I have a crow call that I use as a locator. I think it is easier to use than the owl calls. I don't believe I have ever had a gobble response to it though.

 

[Headhunter]

My favorite, HANDS DOWN, is the Slate Call.

"THE FREAK" by Primos is my favorite out of all of the slates.

Pulled in two biggens for my oldest Son last Sundee.

Headhunter

 

[Greenmtnboy]

Another thing, if you people don't mind? When I first started turkey hunting an owl call worked like a charm to locate turkey. It seems that here in Massachusetts, the birds have wised up to the owl call. It no longer seems to provoke the night gobbling to roost birds. Has anyone else noticed that? [/quote]

yup that happened years ago in southern VT, To many people from Mass coming up and educating our birds :haha:
Now I live in CO and use a yotie call for a shock gobble.
But my turky calls now that I am in to this dang primitive stuff is a wing bone and a natural piece of slate, Works like a wonder.
But hands down commercially the Primos wodden pot and Mad diagphrams are the ticket

 

[dlemaster]

My favorites are the ones I make from winter killed terrapin shells and a piece of red cedar.
I do use a mouth call sometimes if the birds are close but not quite in range, and I don't want to risk more movements with my hands.

Regards, Dave

 

[XXX]

By the way, There seems to be someone using your handle on the HC forum turkey section. He is askin about magnum loads for some kind of new fangled smoothbore, heresy! :winking: If that's you, tell that Coalman chap to leave my Whipple Hill birds alone or at least stop telling everyone on the Internet about all my good spots. :grin:

 

[Greenmtnboy]

Can you tell me how to make and use a turtleshell as a call. I found the perfect shell hunting deer in Maxcreek MO last fall
:hatsoff:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Find a piece of slate, and shape it to size. Then glue it into the turtle shell in place of the bottom plate of the turtle. Leave some hollows or air holes on at least two edges( If you install a rectangular shaped piece of slate in an oval shell, the job is done for you) so that the sound resonates out of the shell, you are done. You use a stick to rub against the slate just as you would with any slate call. The pressure used increases or decreases the volume, the length of the stroke change it from a purr to a chirp to a scream. The rest is up to you to learn.

 

[Coot]

My grandfather made really fine slate calls. In the winter if he was restless, he would go down to the basement & make 3,4 or a dozen or more. He was always trying new woods, sizes, thickness & would often keep or give to friends only 1 in 8 or 10. We used the "not quite right sound" call boxes for firestarting. (We also burned wood shotgun shell case boxes - wish I had a stack of old Remington & Winchester wood cases now .

 

[Rebel]

How long should a diaphram call last? 1 season, 2? I bought one for the fall season and when i got it out the other day to get ready for the spring season the latex is no good. Is there something you need to do to them before putting them away for a while?

 

[KyFlintlock]

I like to use a slate mussel shell call and yelp with my voice. I also like a cedar longbox made by a man in Kansas.

wess

 

[dlemaster]

Depending on the size of the shell (use thicker cedar for larger shells) I cut a notch on either side, just above the point where the front plate hinges to the belly plate, the thickness of the wood. Round one end of the wood piece to fit back against the rear inside of the shell, about 1/2" below the back edge of the shell. You don't want a tight fit all the way around the inside of the shell, the wood has to vibrate to sound right, I leave a small gap in the fit on either side of the wood just in front of where it contacts the back of the shell. These gaps act just like the "F" holes you see on the face of a guitar.
I put a drop of epoxy at each notch and where the wood ontacts the back of the shell.
Then make a striker out of a Hickory dowel and tune the call till it sounds good, use chalk on the wood.
If anyone is interested I'll try and get some photos.
Once you see one they are very easy to make. I've probably made 100 or so of them over the last 25 years.

Regards, Dave

 

[Greenmtnboy]

thank you guys, yes I would very interested seeing photos
:hatsoff:

 

[Rebel]

So, does anbody know how long a diaphram call should last?

 

[dlemaster]

Rebel
I usually get two seasons out of them.
Make sure they are dry when you put them away, and keep them out of the light. I keep them in one of those small plastic coin purses with a slit on top that you squeeze to open. You should be able to find a call holder where you buy the calls.
Hope this helps.

Regards, Dave

 

[Rebel]

Thanks, i guess my problem was they were not dry. I will know better with the next one.

 

[dlemaster]

Greenmtnboy
Here are some pictures, sorry these aren't very clear, if you need clearer picturs I can retake them. Call made from winter killed terrapin shell.

Regards, Dave

 

[fw707]

Rebel, if you rinse the calls off real well with Scope mouthwash at the end of the season and store them in the refrigerator all year they should be good for 2 or 3 seasons.
And they taste a lot better too. :grin:
The butter compartment of my fridge barely has room for the butter. :haha:

 

[Rebel]

Thanks, i'll give that a trywith the next one. I just bought a box call to try this spring.

 

[Rebel]

Thanks, i'll give that a try with the next one. I just bought a box call to try this spring.