RP, I know my land pretty well. That's how I got my first bird. I knew where they were feeding and set up close by. But I wanna try the calls this year and hunt them "For Real", if that makes sense. I've looked at Gander Mountain's website, and they have a lot of options for the slate calls. So I'll stop by there sometime and see whats on their shelf. Thanks for the help so far.
-Jake

this spring is also my first season turkey hunting. I picked up a 3 pack of primos mouth calls and a slate call a few weeks ago and have just been practicing with those haha i'm getting it down pretty good though

Last year, on opening morning I set up on the edge of a small walnut plantation that abuts hardwoods where the birds roost. They were gobbling from the roost nearby and I thought it was a done deal. At fly-down I called and got a response. Then a hen came from my left and she was going nuts, putting, looking for a fight. She came up to me trying to run off the new "hen". Then she went back the way she came, yelping her head off. If I heard that without seeing it, I'd think it was a rookie hunter working too hard at calling. The gobblers went her way though.

The point is, when you are in the woods, listen to what the hens sound like. Do what they do, and even out-call them. The next weekend I set up in the spot that hen came from and did my best impression of her yelping fit. Shot a nice Tom.

Also, don't leave the woods if the first couple hours don't pan out. Toms will be looking for new hens between 10 AM and noon. I've had about half of the birds come in silent during late morning, so don't get discouraged.

I've found that there is a lot of variation in the sound of live turkeys, and that the rhythm of your calling is more important than the actual sound. Don't worry if your calls don't sound perfect.

Good luck!

Agreed. Within a couple of minutes my fiancee was using my friction call, and sounding dang good.

That dose make sense, I feel a lot of pride when I call up a bird. With that being said, you knowing where they wanted to go and being there is a big part of turkey hunting many people don't know, especially if there's no big fields around. Crawling up and closing the distance, waiting on a field edge or logging road, or what ever I can possibly do to go home with a bird in the truck is "For Real" hunting. It is fun to call, I love it, but when I fold one up that wouldn't respond or come in to a call and you dug deep into that woodsman ship is what I like!
Anyways, that just me! Hahaha!! Hope you call em up and were em out this year! Good luck!

You'll be amazed how good "you" sound !


https://shop.primos.com/pc-757-29-so...le-turkey.aspx

I would say a box and a twin reed mouth call.It doesn't take long to learn how to use a mouth call and once you do you'll have a gazillian to choose from but start with the twin.

Slate calls are easy, and I still use them some. I just keep losing pegs.

There are some of those "egg" type calls out there that are even easier to use, but I just never liked the tone. I can contol the tone better with a mouth call or slate.

No matter what you do, make sure what ever you buy, you get a CD/DVD. I find the box call easy to use and picked up the diaphragm pretty quick. Some never get it as it makes em gag. Good luck, nothing like calling in a Tom and leaving with it over your shoulder.

Ya I'm getting one with a dvd for sure, cause I don't know the first thing about calling one in. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll get out to do some shopping and see what's on the shelves next weekend.
-Jake