Let’s just say, solely for the sake of conversation, that you’ve given up any and all personal hygiene practices. No reason — we’ll call it a social experiment. No brushing your teeth. No combing your hair. No showers. No deodorant. Nothing.
A week — maybe two — goes by, and you start to notice you’re spending a lot of time alone. Even the cat leaves the room when you walk in. Essentially (and how do I put this nicely?) you’re a mess. Why? It’s due to a total lack of maintenance, and in your case, personal maintenance.
Same with your automobile. Neglect the oil and bad things are going to happen. It’s the same story whether it’s your hot water heater, your checking account or something as simple as your everyday reading glasses. Maintain them, and they’ll function as intended and last a whole lot longer. Neglect them, and they’ll let you down … usually at the worst possible time.
Turkey calls are no different. Sure they’re simple pieces of equipment, but even simple pieces of equipment need periodic maintenance to ensure they perform to their fullest potential. This month, Slayer Calls takes an in-depth look at turkey call maintenance. We’ve already discussed why it should be done — see above! — now it’s on to the how portion of the equation.
A turkey mouth call is an essential tool for any turkey hunter. Properly caring for your mouth call is crucial to keeping it sounding its best during the hunting season. Here are some tips on how to clean a turkey mouth call before, during, and after your hunts.
Why Proper Cleaning is Important
A mouth call has a latex reed and tape that needs to stay clean and dry for optimal sound production Saliva, food particles, and bacteria can build up on the call and degrade the reeds This leads to poor sound quality and potential illness if you put the contaminated call in your mouth. Proper cleaning keeps the call sanitized and functioning properly.
Supplies Needed
- Bottle of non-alcohol, antibacterial mouthwash
- Small container or resealable plastic bag
- Toothpicks or reed pick
- Soft towel or cloth
- Call case or storage pouch
Before the Hunt
When starting a new hunting season, old calls should be cleaned before the first use. This removes any bacteria or buildup from storage.
- Rinse the call under cool running water and gently scrub with fingers
- Soak in mouthwash for 2-3 minutes, gently swirling the liquid around
- Rinse again with water to remove mouthwash
- Allow to air dry fully before storing
Brand new calls should also be rinsed with water before first use to remove any oils or residue from manufacturing
During the Hunt
To keep your call sounding crisp during a hunt give it breaks from your mouth to dry out. Store it in a secure call case or clip it to your vest lanyard. Rotate between multiple calls if possible.
- Every 30-45 minutes, remove the call from your mouth and store in case
- Letting the reed dry out periodically improves tone
- Rotating between calls reduces moisture exposure for each
Avoid letting the call sit in your mouth for hours at a time. The constant saliva will degrade the reed.
After the Hunt
Post-hunt cleaning ensures the call is sanitized and prepared for storage between uses.
- Rinse under cool water
- Soak in a 50/50 mix of water and mouthwash for 2-3 minutes
- Remove and pick reeds apart carefully using a toothpick
- Allow to air dry completely
- Store in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator
The refrigerated storage prevents bacteria growth and keeps the reed supple.
Deep Cleaning
For an occasional deep cleaning, use a 70/30 mix of mouthwash and warm water. Soak the call for 5 minutes, gently swish, and rinse. This helps remove any stubborn buildup.
Proper Storage
- Keep calls in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
- The refrigerator is ideal for storage between hunts
- Rotate calls from storage to give reeds a chance to fully dry
- Change out your hunting call every 2-3 days
Avoid These Common Mistakes
- Leaving a call to bake in a hot vehicle
- Not separating stuck reeds after use
- Storing in a sealed bag without drying
- Using the same call repeatedly without cleaning
- Exposing calls to UV light for extended times
Following these cleaning and maintenance tips will keep your turkey mouth calls sounding great. Be sure to disinfect calls before first use, give them breaks during hunting, and do a thorough cleaning after each hunt. With proper care, a quality mouth call will last you many seasons of successful turkey hunting!
how to clean a turkey mouth call: 14
mouth call: 21
call: 31
clean: 7
turkey: 8
hunt: 10
reed: 10
dry: 7
mouthwash: 5
water: 5
rinse: 4
soak: 4
bacteria: 3
store: 5
sound: 3
optimal: 2
performance: 2
hunting: 3
season: 3
saliva: 2
buildup: 2
proper: 2
care: 2
sanitized: 2
prepared: 1
storage: 2
deep cleaning: 1
properly: 1
crucial: 1
degrade: 1
contaminated: 1
illness: 1
supplies: 1
non-alcohol: 1
antibacterial: 1
container: 1
resealable: 1
plastic: 1
bag: 1
toothpicks: 1
reed pick: 1
soft: 1
towel: 1
cloth: 1
case: 1
pouch: 1
new: 2
first use: 2
oils: 1
residue: 1
manufacturing: 1
crisp: 1
secure: 1
lanyard: 1
rotate: 2
constant: 1
post-hunt: 1
air: 2
pick: 1
stubborn: 1
occasional: 1
swish: 1
ideal: 1
chance: 1
out: 1
common mistakes: 1
vehicle: 1
stuck: 1
sealed: 1
repeatedly: 1
exposing: 1
uv: 1
extended: 1
following: 1
thorough: 1
many: 1
Diaphragm turkey call maintenance
There’s really not a whole lot to do with diaphragm (mouth) calls except, that is, for preventative maintenance. That includes keeping them out of the sun and extreme heat — neither of which isn’t at all good for the latex reeds.
After using my diaphragms, I’ll suck the water (i.e., the spit) out from between the reeds (if they’re multi-reed calls) and try to get them as dry as possible. I’ll then put them in a pouch-style holder or, better yet, back into their original hard plastic clamshell case, and store them in the refrigerator until it’s time to head back out.
Some sources say to store your diaphragms in a clean plastic tin containing a thin piece of sponge sprinkled with mouthwash. “Keeps ’em fresh,” they say. Truth is, the alcohol in the mouthwash can degrade the latex and shorten the life of the call itself, despite leaving a cool minty taste in your mouth. Really no decision there.
Turkey Mouth Call Care (4 TIPS to make your calls last!)
FAQ
Can you wash a turkey mouth call?
The water and mouth wash bath is also a good practice with new calls. Regardless of whether it’s a store bought call, or one I make myself from home, I like to wash away the “latex flavor” and anything else that comes from calls and material handled by someone else.
How long do turkey mouth calls last?
Q: How long should a hunter expect a diaphragm call to last? A: Turkey Calls can last up to 2 to 3 years if cared for correctly. The two parts of the call that can fail are the latex and the tape. The latex will wear out over time and the tape can delaminate if not allowed to dry.
How often do you wash a turkey call?
Instead, I do rinse them off with water fairly often. Most box type turkey calls are built to last a lifetime and they should with a little care. The natural slate and glass/composite calls will wear down over a long period of time because you do removed material each time you sand them.
Do turkey calls need maintenance?
Just like your hunting vehicle, shotgun, and other hunting equipment, turkey calls also need maintenance to keep them sounding great throughout the season and to help them last many years. Most types of turkey calls including mouth calls, box calls, and friction calls need some Tender-Loving-Care to keep them sounding good.
How do you store a turkey call?
Timothy Oldham Jr., Grand National Callmaking Competition Call Maker of the Year and Earl Mickel Award winner, likes to keep his turkey calls in a temperature-controlled environment during the offseason. “I also store my calls in leather cases to protect them and keep them in good working condition,” Oldham Jr. said.
How long do turkey calls last?
Most box type turkey calls are built to last a lifetime and they should with a little care. The natural slate and glass/composite calls will wear down over a long period of time because you do removed material each time you sand them. You probably won’t wear them through but you will notice the sound changing.
Why do turkey calls sound like Screeching gates?
Most types of turkey calls including mouth calls, box calls, and friction calls need some Tender-Loving-Care to keep them sounding good. Here are a few tips to help you keep all your calls in tip-top shape. The reason most box calls begin sounding like screeching gates is a lack of friction between the lid/paddle and the sides/rails of the box.
How do you reapply chalk on a box call?
After the surfaces are clean, it’s now time to reapply the chalk. Put a very light layer of chalk on the call’s lid (Don’t chalk the top of the sides at all, they need to remain bare wood to get the most friction.) Many box call gurus will use a thin layer of rosin on the paddle instead of chalk and this does make a lot of sense.