I'll ditto the push-button calls. My 5 year old son can operate my push-button call well enough I think to call in a bird. I personally don't think a slate call is hard to master either. I think when you are just starting out, you should limit yourself to using 1 or 2 calls until you get really proficient. If you don't have confidence in your calls, you aren't going to sound like a hen. Whatever you decide to go with, put in the time to get good with it. I usually pull the calls out and start working on my skills at least a month before season. I started last month just because the bug has got me again.