| Turkey Hunting -- Turkey Calls and Calling |
From "The Outdoor Zone"
episode TOZ-104 |
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A key component of turkey hunting is calling -- a means of imitating the vocalizations that turkeys make in hopes of luring actual turkeys into close proximity. In this segment, Outdoor Zone host Jeff Wilson gets a lesson in the skill and art of turkey calling.
Turkey Calls and Calling Techniques
There are three basic types of turkey calls: - Box call
- Slate call
- Diaphragm call
Though their overall function is essentially the same, each type has distinctive characteristics making it most suited to specific conditions.
- The primary function of a box call is to imitate the yelps, clucks and purrs of a wild turkey.
- The box call (figure A) consists of a wooden box -- often meticulously hand-carved by expert call-makers -- with thin side walls and a hinged lid. The top is dragged across one of the side walls to make a variety of high, screech-like sounds mimicking some of the most common calls of turkeys.
- Chalk is typically applied to the underside of the hinged lid of a box call ( figure B) to augment the friction between surfaces that produces the reedy sound.
- A "cluck" is a single, short, abrupt sound, made with the call by a quick strike with the top of the call.
- "Yelps" come in a series of regularly spaced calls imitated by a repetitive motion, dragging the lid across the side a number of times in a rhythmic sequence.
- "Purrs" are soft, muted calls made by gently dragging the lid slowly to achieve a vibrato effect. Purrs are typically made by turkeys when they are feeding.
- Each box call can have it's own unique pitch and tone, depending on how it is made, the type and thickness of the wood, etc. Trial and error, and a well-developed ear for what real turkeys sound like, helps hunters determine which individual calls are their favorites. Frequently hunters carry several calls with them into the woods to create subtly different sounding calls.
- Because the character of the wood determines how the box call will sound, these calls must be kept away from moisture, which could deaden or flatten the way that they sound. For that reason, turkey hunters seldom use box calls in rainy weather.
- Slate calls are also used to imitate yelps, clucks and purrs. The consist of a slate or aluminum plate, and a separate striker that is dragged across the plate (figure C). Slate calls are particularly useful for making soft calls to entice a turkey that is already nearby to come even closer. Different plate materials and different types of strikers achieve differences in tone, volume, etc.
- Actual slate calls don't work well in wet weather, but modified versions of the slate call using aluminum or glass plates do work well in the wet.
- A third type of call is a mouth call known as the diaphragm call. The diaphragm callis the one reputed to make the most realistic turkey sound.
- Diaphragm calls (figure D) are made from simple materials, but with a degree of science in terms of how they are put together.
- Mark Adams of Mountain Sports in Cleveland, Georgia has been an avid turkey hunter for most of his life, a passion he got from his father. He is also an expert call-maker. Following are the basic steps Adams uses for creating his hand-made diaphragm calls:
- He begins by cutting strips of latex with a rolling cutter (figure E).
- He then takes a pre-made metal frame and bends it in the middle (figure F) and peels off the backing leaving a tacky base.
- With sharp tweezers, he tacks the latex layers together (figure G).
- The latex is placed into the frame, and the whole assembly is placed in a jig and onto a press (figure H).
- Using a flat instrument to stabilize the latex, the edge of the latex is pulled to achieve tension across the surface (figure I).
- Securing back tension in the latex, the form is then bent to secure the diaphragm tightly across the gap.
- A pair of small, precision scissors is used to cut an inverted "V" in the diaphragm (figure J).
- The excess latex is trimmed from the edges, a sticky backing is applied, and the whole structure is placed in a trimming machine (figure K) to produce the finalized call.
- The call fits in the roof of the mouth, and sound is made by forcing air across the diaphragm to create vibrations, something like the reed of a musical instrument. Use of the diaphragm to make simple turkey calls is fairly easy to learn but -- as with a musical instrument -- it takes practice to master the technique fully.
- Michael Tull takes a collection of several diaphragm calls, each with a distinct sound, into the woods so that he's prepared to make a variety of calls that are all subtly different. According to Tull, a good diaphragm call is capable of making the perfect faux turkey yelp.
RESOURCES :
How to Turkey Hunt: The Real Truth About How It Is Done
Model: 0595214762
Author: Marc D. Greer
Writers Club Press
The Field & Stream Turkey Hunting Handbook
Model: 1558219137
Author: Philip Bourjai
The Lyon's Press
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-620-9580
Fax: 212-929-1836
Website: www.lyonspress.com
The Complete Book of Wild Turkey Hunting: A Handbook of Techniques and Strategies
Model: 1585740993
Author: John Trout
The Lyon's Press
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-620-9580
Fax: 212-929-1836
Website: www.lyonspress.com
National Wild Turkey Federation
National Wild Turkey Federation
Website: www.nwtf.org
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