Decided to try turkey hunting for the first time this year. Have gotten a Black Hills turkey tag and my group and I are plannin on going out opening weekend. I am just starting to call and have picked up a H.S. Double D diaphragm call (which I am not very good at yet) and a Knight and Hale Ol' Yeller slate call. Assuming I am proficient at each, which one would you prefer to use while hunting? Do mouth calls have an advantage over slate and box calls?

Also, I am planning on using my 10 gauge - are there any loads that are better than others to start out using and see which one patterns best with my gun?

Like I said, I am new to turkey hunting as well as this site and would appreciate any infor you could give me.

Thanks
Mr.G

Ok.
10 Gauge Is Fine...Test Diffrent Shot Brands And Sizes.
As For Your Calls...A Mouth Call Is Hard To Learn But Work Great For When Alone And Calling Him A Lil Closer Without Movment,
A Pot Peg (Slate) Is Great For Mid Range...To Me They Sound Most Realistic.
I Sugjest Getting A Box Call...Great For Long Ranges And Easy To Use.
A Locator Call Is Nice To, C-yote Howler, Crow, Owl, Are Good Locaters To Get Him To Gobble When Tight Lipped Or Roosting.

Also...Mask Is A Good Idea.

Most Of All.......
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Welcome To Heaven On A Computer

Don’t over look one of the simples calls to use a push pin call. It can duplicate all the turkey sounds you need and you only need one hand to use it.

Are there any brands of 10 gauge shells that seem to pattern better overall in anyone's experience? I am using a double barrel 10. What is a good push pin call? The slate call that I bought is a real confidence booster because I am getting very anxious about being able to use the mouth call by April.

Shot performance varies even within the same model of shotgun. Buy a box of each available brands and various loads (2 3/4, 3, 3 1/2 if your gun can shoot them, 2,4,6 shot) try patterning each one and pick the one that gives you the most dense pattern.
Any good namebrand push call will work H&S, Primos, Quaker Boy. I don't use a mouth call and have killed several turkeys without it. One of the guys in Knight & Hale (don't remember which) doesn't like using mouth calls either and uses a push call all the time. Get a box for distance and a push call for up close. A variety doesn't hurt. Sometimes one call will just have the toms number. I've been hunting with a buddy and have had a tom dead silent for two boxes and two slates but would go hog wild on the third box. So having more than one call isn't a bad thing. Happy hunting.

welcom from team 4 box call bandits