Any tips or suggestions on mastering diaphram calls? I have finally moved past the "sounds nothing like a turkey stage" to the "sounds like a sick/dying turkey stage", but at least I'm making progress. I plan on using mostlyfriction callsbut would benefit by mastering the diaphram call as well.

Practice, practice, practice. Also, get yourself a dvd or cd of actual hen's calling. Cadence is the most important in my book. For some reason I was a natural at it. First diaphram I threw in my mouth I was making yelp, cuts and purrs in minutes. My dad on the other hand would have a better chance of calling in a coyote with a diaphram!

one thing i remember is that you can never be "perfect". no 2 turkeys sound alike. and you can never know what that gobbler will like when he wakes up that moring.

just keep practicing.

One thing to remember is that hunters sound better than some hens. One morning I heard some raspy, off key, screwed up yelping, and I figured it was another hunter butchering a box call. Well I headed that way because it was private land and nobody else was supposed to be hunting it. I sat there a few minutes and turns out it was a real hen. So you don't have to sound perfect. although it helps

I agree 100%. Practice to sound like a turkey, you dont have to be perfect. The best way as stated above, Practice Practice and keep practicing.

I had a hard time with it too it took me a couple hours to master.
What helped me was saying O O O O O O instead of what they recommend as I yelped. Works like a charm! I also had a longtime turkey hunter coach.