I have started practicing with one as of today. I normally use a box call but wanted a more natural sound and a bit more of a challenge. It has been a fun day and interesting to say the least. For starters I couldn't get a single sound out of it. Remember, I don't have anyone to call about this hunting stuff so I did what I always do and turned to Youtube. I have learned many thing from their including how to skin and dress out a deer. That's for another day there. So I found out first thing that I had it in backwards and upside down. Once I figured out how to have it in my mouth, I started getting sound. Not good sound but sound none the less. Finally after gagging about 20 times and a good three hours with it, I finally started sounding close to what my box call sounds like. I know I have some practice but, I really like it and once I get descent, I may not even take my box call with me this season. How was your first experience with them and if any, what suggestions do you have including brands to try? I have the Hunters Specialty 4 pack now because they were cheap. I want to try something. Little higher end in the next week or so.
The hardest part is just getting used to having it in your mouth without gagging. I would try to keep it in my mouth on and off for a few days before I even tried to make a noise with it. The store bought calls are OK but when I really wanted to get serious about it I had my calls professionally made 1 at time and that helped take my turkey calling to a whole nother level that wasn't possible on store bought calls. Now after almost 20 years of turkey hunting and turkey calling let's just say I am very confident in my abilities.
I like the calls made by Southland calls. They have one called the triple batwing that sounds phenomenal. I just started last year, so Im no pro, but I practiced my butt off and got it sounding pretty dang good.
lol, first time i started blowing on that diaphram, my wife got a not so nice look on her face and said i was hurting her ears, sooooo i got in the car with my new call and drove about 25 miles to the next town and back,late at night, windows rolled up so no one driving 60 miles an hour down the highway could hear me. i blowed on that call for 50 miles that night!!! love them now lol. really like the mini diaphram calls as they seem to fit in my mouth better.
Just picked one up a few days ago and Im already makin some great sounds. What i do is go on youtube and look for videos of hens clucking, yelping and purring and just try to mimic that. My season starts this upcoming Saturday and Il let you know how well it worked for me.
They can be a challenge at first but stick with it and it will all come together. I have a very bad gag reflex and the taste of the calls gets to me after a while. A little trick that has helped me get over the gag and just keep the call feeling cleaner and tasting better is to ditch the little case it came in and put it in a case that I can keep just a little bit of scope in. The scope keeps it fresh, the taste reduces my gag relfex and heck the turkeys have even commented on my minty fresh breath! Give it a try.
I understand, I would try keeping the call in your mouth anytime you have the opportunity regardless if you are practicing or not. For me, I sucked really bad and all the sudden it just clicked. I have a really narrow pallet so it took me quite a while to trim it down and get the best fit. I still to this day haven't found one specific diaphragm that is the "bomb". I buy something different every time. I practiced for a full turkey season before I felt comfortable using it in the field. Or at least around anyone else. It was kind of embarrassing. I still seem to have to relearn it again every turkey season however the learning curve is typically minutes instead of weeks/ months..
It took me a little while to get use to at first but now I go out behind my barn and screw with a big group of turkeys that has made its home in our woods. Something I use when calling is I try to say the word "Chalk" while the call is pressed up against the roof of my mouth. I have found to get the best results this way. Best of luck!
I started using them when I was about 14 or 15 and honestly I was yelping and cutting in a matter of minutes. For some reason it was just something I was naturally good at. I find that as far as name brand shelf calls go, Quaker Boy is easier to blow than any H.S. calls I have put in my mouth. I have been using the Woodhaven stinger series for the last few years. I like raspy calls and I like to cut a lot when need be. These guys make some wicked cuts on their calls and boy do they sound good.
I never had the gagging issue them, so I can't comment on that. However, I've been using them exclusively for about 10 seasons now. I made up my mind one year that I was going to use it and nothing else until I got good at it. I killed a jake the first season with one and haven't looked back. Some pointers. I'm not sure what call you bought, but I'd highly recommend getting a decent straight 2 reed call. If it has a cut in it, thats OK, just make sure its ONLY 2 reeds. It's easier to blow and you'll learn the basics faster. Heck, I've killed quite a few birds with a 2 reeder and still use it a lot today. A good friend of mine is a phenominal caller and is on the pro staff for WoodHaven game calls. (those guys make high end turkey calls, not the cheap stuff at wal mart). Anyway, he taught me a few things about mouth calls. First, to get the right sound going, try this. Put a lot of pressure on the reed with your tongue and blow air across the reeds. You'll get a high pitched squeeling sound if you do it right. Then, either drop your jaw slightly or slightly lessen the pressure on the reed. The pitch will get lower. Do this slowly for a while until you can hit both notes easily. Then speed it up. This is your yelp. Clucks are easy, just say the word "chick" with mild pressure on the reeds. Purrs can be interesting. I personally like to flutter my lips to get good purrs, but I know some who flutter their tongue across the reed to accomplish the same thing. It's weird and you'll feel like you're chucking the call out of your mouth when doing it. Another important aspect is making sure the call fits your mouth correctly. Some the calls fit great out of the box, others need to be trimmed slightly to fit the roof of your mouth. You don't want a lot of access tape. Be careful and only trim a 1/16" at a time until it fits well. Once you get "it", you'll know. It's definitely a feel thing. It usually takes me a few days to get "it" back each year. Once you do, you'll be talking bird like a second language. I love using them. I don't have to lug a bunch of calls around the woods with me and my hands are free to be on the bow or gun.
Some good advice in this thread...here is my opinion. Get a single or double reed, no cuts or anything like that. Try and use it everytime you are in your truck or yard and one day it just clicks and you go from there. I am unlike the above in the fact i have owned most brands and types of calls several times over. After leaving yet another custom paddle call against a tree I decided never again. I buy a single or double reed call (3 or 4 of them) before the season and carry my box call and slate. Just today I killed my second gobbler and 5th bird I have placed in front of a gun this year. I honestly believe calling is a very far second to woodsmanship when it comes to hunting turkeys.
1st step, make sure it fits! the tape around it can be trimmed to fit. just take a little at a time until you feel it fits your pallet. I thought I was the worst caller in the world and found out That the calls I used were to big for me. I started trimming and got down to just about nothing and still no fit. I have since figured out I need a youth diaphram, I have a small pallet and those are the only ones that fit me, and now I can call pretty decent. Fit first, call second!!
I still SUCK. I've tried several different inexpensive brands (single and double reed) because I don't want to buy expensive ones and still suck. To my ear, I think I sound like a Canadian goose. I'll keep trying, but until I figure it out I'll stick with the box or pot call when I am hunting. Like you I don't have anyone to call either or give me lessons, so I'm learning from what I can find on Youtube.
Great thread. I really like the whole concept behind the mouth calls but everybody I know uses the box or slate, you guy have me convinced to stay with the diaphragm calls and keep practicing. Doing an end of season weekend hunt April 19-22nd. Can't wait. Thanks all.
