The Hunting Beast

Main three that I use are slate, box, and mouth. They all have their pros and cons but if I had to pick one it would be a mouth call. I like having my hands free. Less movement when I'm hunting or filming other people.

I agree Casper. I'm seldom in the turkey woods w/o a diaphram in. By the end of the season I have calluses in my mouth. BUT, my most answered call by far is one of the many slates I own. They are the cat's . Too bad my two faves don't work when wet.
I also like my gobble. Can be dangerous they say but I fire it up before every move when blind calling.

I basically carry 3 calls with me in the spring......my Lynch box call, my Natures Echo copper pot call and my Jeff Fredrick custom diaphragm. Over the years I have narrowed it down to these 3 calls as having the most realistic sound there is.

My mouth calls! I like the HS cuttin 2.5, Deuce cutter also!

I like boX calls... I have never been able to master the diaphram.

I own a crapload of calls, but hands down best is the simple diaphram. My second favorite isn't a turkey call, it's my palmers hoot tube owl call. I make them gobble with the owl call, and call them in with the diaphram.

dan wrote:I like bok calls... I have never been able to master the diaphram.

Im right there with ya Dan! The box call is my go to the slate as well every once in awhile. The diaphram calls and me just don't seem to get along...

I've used all three, but have had the best luck with the box! need to work with the diaphram a little.....Not too good with it...

I like the diaphragm calls the best, and then my box call. not to much experience with slate, any suggestions on which one to try out? glass or slate?

WashingtonCoWiHunter wrote:I like the diaphragm calls the best, and then my box call. not to much experience with slate, any suggestions on which one to try out? glass or slate?

Slate is the easiest to start out on as it has better friction than glass, but glass will produce louder calling and higher frequency when needed. You can't beat a slate for the most seductive purrs and clucks.

My go to call is the diaphragm, but I usually switch it up throughout the season to find the one the turkeys like best

For those of you that think the diaphram is the best, good luck!
Don't get me wrong, I was the same way. I was a friggin Ray Eye I thought.
But after having too many gobblers come unglued to other calls after ignoring the mouth call, I've swallered my pride and experiment 'til I find the "color of lure " that works that day. Sometimes it will be the dia. but mostly it's not.
But I always have one in, and I'm always practiced up.

Arrowbender wrote:For those of you that think the diaphram is the best, good luck!
Don't get me wrong, I was the same way. I was a friggin Ray Eye I thought.
But after having too many gobblers come unglued to other calls after ignoring the mouth call, I've swallered my pride and experiment 'til I find the "color of lure " that works that day. Sometimes it will be the dia. but mostly it's not.
But I always have one in, and I'm always practiced up.

A lot of this depends on the quality of your diaphragm call.....many of the cheaper-mass-produced-big store-calls don't sound worth a crap, especially with someone who may not use them much. You take a hand-stretched, quality latex, custom notched diaphragm call and the difference is night and day. I never had good luck, or sound with store bought diaphragm calls in the past, then I discovered some calls made by Wisconsin's own Jeff Fredrick. Being that they are made by a champion caller, his calls are tuned to perfection and honestly sound like a real hen out in the woods.

I have an array of calls with me but do most of my damage with my diaphrams

I agree with ack that some of the mass produced calls are not very good. The thing with diaphrams is you have to know how to use them properly to make them effective, I hear way too many guys on videos and tv shows calling with mouth calls that sound absolutely horrible birds hear enough of that and become used to hearing mouth calls and will not be responsive. But it all depends on the area you hunt and the time of the season, early season I have more response with the diaphragm and later in the season the box, slate or wingbone does a better job.

I kinda like box calls.

Here are a few of mine. All custom by the way. I agree with ack and Lungbuster, you dont want any of that big box store cheap crap that makes you sound like everyone else.