As an avid turkey hunter, I’m always on the lookout for the best turkey calls to add to my vest. With so many options on the market, it can be tricky to know which call will lure in that wary tom. In this article, I’ll share my picks for the top turkey calls based on extensive field testing and consultations with expert hunters and callers.
How Do Turkey Calls Work?
Before diving into specific products, let’s review the basics of how turkey calls work. Turkey calls mimic the sounds of hens in order to attract lovesick gobblers during mating season. The male turkeys are fooled into thinking they are conversing with available females.
There are four main types of turkey calls:
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Friction calls: Also known as pot calls, these produce sound by rubbing a striker across a surface like slate, glass, or aluminum. The friction creates realistic yelps, clucks, and purrs.
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Box calls These wooden boxes have a pivoting lid that acts as a striker, The sound resonates inside the box Box calls are easy to use and great for beginners
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Mouth calls These are placed against the roof of the mouth and require manipulation of the tongue to direct air across the reeds. With practice, mouth calls can precisely mimic turkey sounds.
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Push-pin calls: A push pin rubs against a sounding board to generate turkey talk when a button is depressed. One hand operation makes these user-friendly.
Now let’s look at the top performers in each category,
Best Friction Call: Houndstooth Game Calls Pot Call
For friction calls, I favor the Houndstooth Game Calls 1.75 Crystal Over Carbon Fiber Pot Call. The glass surface produces high-pitched, raspy yelps that carry over distance. The friction fit carbon fiber striker generates just the right resonance. The pot call comes pre-conditioned so it’s ready to use straight out of the attractive burlap pouch.
I’ve called in gobblers from 200 yards away with this call on calm days. The crystals really excel at aggressive cutts and kee-kees to strike birds in the fall. Moving the striker toward the edge amplifies the kee-kee sounds.
While it’s pricier than some pot calls at around $100, you get what you pay for with the Houndstooth in terms of quality materials, sound, and craftsmanship. This call should be in every serious turkey hunter’s vest.
Best Box Call: Woodhaven Cherry Real Hen Turkey Box Call
For box calls, I recommend the Woodhaven Cherry Real Hen Turkey Box Call. This scratchbox produces rich, multi-toned yelps that sound just like a real hen. The cherry wood construction gives it more volume to call over longer distances.
Out of the box, this call is pre-chalked and ready to use. Even novice hunters can drag the pivoting cherry wood lid across the cherry trough to imitate almost any sound a hen makes. I’ve used this call successfully for years because it’s affordable, attractive, and effective on finicky toms.
Best Mouth Call: Woodhaven Pure Turkey Mouth Call 3-Pack
In the mouth call category, my top choice is the Woodhaven Pure Turkey Mouth Call 3-Pack. This set provides three different reed styles to handle any calling scenario imaginable.
The Hammer T mouth call features easy calling from both sides of the reed using minimal air power. The two-sided Hammer Tooth allows yelping without perfect positioning. Meanwhile, the Modified Cutter’s three loose reeds generate dynamic yelps, clucks, and purrs.
I like that these game calls come on lightweight, long-lasting tape that stands up to heavy use. The 3-pack offers versatility at a reasonable price point for beginners and experts alike.
Best Push-Pin Call: H.S. Strut Push Button Turkey Call
When it comes to push-pin turkey calls, I favor the H.S. Strut Push Button Turkey Call. The ergonomic design fits comfortably in your hand for one-handed operation. Just depress the button to create realistic yelps and clucks.
I appreciate how this call allows for subtle, muted sounds when a gobbler is nearby. The push-pin mechanism reduces movement compared to waving a pot call striker around. There’s an optional strap to mount the call on your gun for easy access.
While it doesn’t have the loudest volume for long distance calling, this model works perfectly for close quarters setups. The push button design makes it one of the most user-friendly calls for beginners.
Choosing the Right Turkey Call
The best turkey call depends on your skill level, hunting conditions, and personal preferences. Be sure to practice different call types before heading to the field. Pay attention to how individual birds in your area respond to certain calls and sounds.
Having options in your vest allows you to adapt to finicky old toms. I always carry friction, box, and mouth calls at a minimum. As you gain experience, don’t be afraid to experiment with different models by trusted brands like Woodhaven, H.S. Strut, and Primos.
Best Mouth Call: Woodhaven Custom Calls Ninja Ghost Mouth Call
Pros
- Incredibly versatile
- Good volumeÂ
- Sounds like a real hen
- Great for beginners
ConsÂ
- Experts may prefer something more complex
I tend to collect mouth calls the same way some girls hoard shoes. And because I love them all for different reasons, itâs almost impossible to narrow that stockpile to an all-time favorite. Iâm a firm believer that you should carry at least a dozen different diaphragm calls in your turkey vest. Thatâs why Iâve narrowed this category down to a trio of calls.Â
Woodhavenâs Ninja 3-Pack includes the companyâs popular Ninja Ghost, Ninja V, and Ninja Venom mouth calls. Each one is a straightforward triple-reed call that is easy for even beginners to produce realistic turkey tones.Â
Each call is made from hand-stretched proph (thatâs turkey-call speak for the type of ultra-thin thin latex material used to make condoms) and thicker latex to produce three different turkey sounds.Â
The Ninja Ghost features a small ghost-style cut in the middle of the top reed that produces crisp yelps, clucks, and kee-kees with minimal rasp. If you want realistic yelps that start with a clear front note followed by a nasal rasp, you can reach for the Ninja Venom, which has a unique cut that is easy for newbies to control. The Ninja V rounds out the threesome. Featuring a tired-and-true V cut, this diaphragm call can produce some seriously loud cuts that work wonders for coaxing in tough toms from a distance. You can also dial this one back to produce soft, gentle purrs once he comes strutting into range.Â
Specs
- Type: Mouth call
- Material: Latex
Best Push Button Call: Quaker Boy âCycloneâ Easy Yelper
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Adjustable
- One-handed operation
- Affordable
Cons
- Lacks the volume of larger box calls
To me, thereâs just something missing with a push-button turkey yelper. True, theyâre undeniably easy to use, and some, like the Cyclone, sound pretty darn good. Iâve just always been a glass and diaphragm guy. However, youâll get no argument from me about Quaker Boyâs Cyclone. Push a button, and a good hen yelp emerges. Push it slowly, and the yelp becomes a purr. Lay your thumb on the maple lid, and the purr turns into a whine. With practice, cuts and cackles are on the menu too. As for the so-called clucker button, a light tap, and youâre clucking like an old mama turkey. Is a push-button like the Cyclone for everyone? No, but it is for anyone looking for something easy and a little different.
Specs:
- Type: Push button friction call
- Material: Mahogany sides, maple striker
Pros
- Easy to useÂ
- No hand manipulation (back pressure) needed
- CompactÂ
- Good volume
Cons
- Not as mellow as a wooden owl hooter
One of the best locator calls on the market, this owl hooter is easy to blow and produces shock gobbles without problem. With the Compensator Owl Hooter, you just need to get the rhythm downâWho cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?âand the call essentially does the rest. The CO-03 has all the volume necessary to carry the distance and, more importantly, cut through any wind, reaching out and touching those old roosted gobblers. Built from a tough polycarbonate, the Compensator should last many seasons, regardless of the rigors.
Specs:
- Type: Locator call
- Material: Polycarbonate plastic
Pros
- Incredible distance
- High pitch makes even tight-lipped longbeards gobble
- Simple to use
Cons
- May incite a riot among your local coyote population
Since my first gobbler, Iâve used somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.529 million locator calls. Peacock screams. Goose calls. Train whistles. Cow bawls. Slamming doors. Nothing instigated gobblers into sounding off to the degree that Mark Allen Druryâs (MAD) coyote howler has. Nothing. Iâve packed one of theseâfirst generationâcoyote howlers for over 30 years now, and canât tell you how many turkeys have gobbled at this thing. It works.
This is as simple as it gets, and you damn near canât screw it up. The pitch and volume? Off the charts, if thatâs what youâre looking for. It gets on every last nerveâtrust meâbut thatâs why it works so well. Itâs no work of art, but doesnât matter because itâs the sound youâre looking for. Not good looks.
Specs:
- Type: Locator call
- Material: Hardwood body with plastic horn
This is THE BEST Turkey Call for Beginners… | Buck Junkie Outdoors
FAQ
What call attracts turkeys?
There are several different types of locator calls made just for locating turkeys, like crow calls, owl calls and even hen calls.Apr 24, 2024
What is the best time of day to call turkeys?
My experience has always been that I have had better luck in the mornings. They respond to calling any time of day but they come to the calling better in the morning at first light. Another good time is between 9:30-11:30am when the gobbler(s) leave the tended hens and seek out other ones.
What is the best brand of turkey mouth calls?
- Best for Beginners: Woodhaven Ninja Ghost
- Best for Soft Yelps: Zink Z-Cutter
- Best Custom: Shane Simpson Hunting: Prodigy Elite
- Best for Long Distances: Quaker Boy Screamin’ Green Pro Triple
- Best for Aggressive Calling: Strike Zone Trouble Maker