| Most likely if you are a serious turkey hunter you | | | | how you compare. I would suggest buying as many |
| either want to learn to use mouth calls or you | | | | of the tapes or CD's containing real turkeys calling as |
| already know how to use a mouth call. The reason is | | | | you can and listen to them as much as you can. Try |
| simple, if selected properly they can be some of the | | | | to sound as much like those turkeys as you can. You |
| most realistic sounding calls that you can use. | | | | will have to pick out a certain sounding yelp to |
| However, to me they can be some of the worst | | | | achieve because there are so many different |
| sounding calls and result in poor results if you do not | | | | sounding hens. If you have ever listened to one of |
| learn how to select and use one properly. In this | | | | those CD's there are many different hens with many |
| article I am going to address some of these issues. | | | | different pitches in their yelping. A single mouth call |
| You have probably heard it over and over again. | | | | will not achieve some of those sounds. It may take a |
| When you start out blowing a mouth call you need | | | | different mouth call with different cuts or a different |
| to start out with a single or double reed call because | | | | number of reeds to get close to sounding like one of |
| they are the easiest to use. In my opinion that is not | | | | those hens. Pick a hen that sounds similar to your |
| quite true. The reason I say that is because single | | | | turkey call and strive to sound like her. Practice, |
| and double reed mouth calls can be some of the | | | | practice, practice, and then practice some more. |
| hardest calls to use and obtain good sound. Most of | | | | Finally, the single most important thing to using a |
| them are stretched too tight and will not break over | | | | mouth call is practicing. It is possible but highly unlikely |
| when you are yelping. | | | | that you will become an expert mouth call user in a |
| My suggestion for starting out with mouth calls is to | | | | short period of time. It takes hours and hours of |
| buy a single reed or a stack frame call that is actually | | | | practice as well as striving to achieve the perfect |
| two single reed calls put together so that the reeds | | | | sound for you to really become realistic sounding with |
| are separated. Use the single reed to just start | | | | a mouth call. My goal has always been to sound as |
| making sounds. Once you can get a pretty good | | | | much like a hen turkey as possible. I don't practice as |
| yelping sound I would switch to the stack frame call | | | | much as I used to and I can tell the difference in my |
| and start trying to improve the natural yelping sound. | | | | calling when I get started again every spring. I am |
| From my experience in talking with many turkey | | | | not perfect and do not always practice what I |
| hunters, many of them started out using stack | | | | preach, but if you want to be the best you can be |
| frame calls because they were easier to blow and | | | | on a mouth call, practice every week of the year. |
| were more realistic sounding. If you can't find those I | | | | You will see the improvement in your calling. The |
| would suggest a light reeded double, triple, or | | | | professional turkey callers practice several times per |
| four-reed call with a V or diamond cut on the top | | | | week throughout the year. |
| reed. The Pittman Black Diamond or one of the many | | | | I have been pretty successful with a mouth call over |
| light reeded V cut calls from Woodhaven are | | | | the years. I hope you can use the advice that I have |
| excellent to start out on. Just make sure the reeds a | | | | just given you. Pick a good mouth call or keep looking |
| light. The Black Diamond has less reed thickness than | | | | until you find one that is good. Listen to real turkey |
| a normal double reed call. | | | | hens calling. Strive to sound like them and practice, |
| I am a stickler for realistic sounding turkey calls. I | | | | practice, practice. Do those things year round and |
| think it makes a huge difference in your success as a | | | | you will reap the results in the turkey woods. |
| turkey hunter. Listen to a hen turkey calling and see | | | | |