Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of the online-only series “Getting Real With Your Turkey Calls.”
Regardless of which call you take afield this spring, sound quality is a must. These advanced techniques can help you produce the most realistic sound from your calls.
Box Call
Always use the entire “sweet spot” on the lid when yelping. Whether you use the right or left side of the call, ensure that the lid is fully open before beginning the sound. From the open position, stroke the lid to the closed or center position on the call.
The Quaker Boy Tearjerker box call.
It’s imperative to create the high, whiney front note of the yelp and then break into the raspy second note, giving you the true two-note sound of a yelp. As you begin your yelping series, start with two to three small, short strokes to attain the clear front note. Then complete the remainder of the series with the full strokes.
Mouth Call
Unfortunately, even some seasoned mouth callers never achieve the diaphragm’s full potential because they don’t achieve the front note of the yelp. Generally, they only produce the raspy back end of the yelp.
Being able to use a mouth call gives you a leg up when turkeys are in extremely close range.
To achieve the first note, place the call in your mouth, and using light tongue pressure and a steady stream of air, move your tongue around from right to left until you discover a sweet high note to start the yelp.
With practice, you can sound great on a mouth call in no time.
When you’ve identified the spot that produces the front note, push out a larger volume of air, and relieve the pressure from your tongue. That will let the top reed vibrate, creating the lower, raspy note on the back end of the yelp.
Pot Call
The first step in attaining quality sound on your pot call is identifying the sweet spot. Generally, the area is all the way around the center of the call about an inch from the outside of the pot.
Pot calls are very versatile once you find their sweet spot.
The next critical factor is ensuring the proper angle when placing the striker on the calling surface. Start it perpendicular to the surface, and then lean it slightly away from you.
To create the yelp, simply produce small counter-clockwise ovals about an inch long. Start the yelp closer to the edge of the call, and then drop the striker downward toward the center of the call to attain the back end of the yelp.
Never take the striker off the calling surface. That lets you maintain better rhythm and ensures constant sound.
— Scott Ellis is turkey calling champion, Prostaff Manager at WoodHaven Custom Calls, ProStaff at TRUGLO, ProStaff at Thermacell Hunting, National Prostaff at Mossy Oak, Brand Ambassador at Apex Ammunition and owner at Hunt Quest with Scott Ellis.