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Best Slate

Zink Wicked Series Slate



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Best Owl Hooter

Haydel’s CO-03 Compensator Owl Call



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Best Budget

Primos Early Bird Box



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My accumulation of turkey calls started a long time ago. I killed my first gobbler, an Ohio bird, back in 1990. My wife, Julie, killed her first, a Washington state Merriams, in 1994. Since then, she’s gone on to kill two Grand Slams. We even killed a slam as a couple in 2005, and have to date, put tags on 109 Spring longbeards.

Bragging? No. But I am awfully proud of her and our field accomplishments together over the past three decades. I provide this background primarily as proof that, as serious turkey hunters, we’ve gone through and currently have a lot of turkey calls. Box calls. Pot calls. Diaphragm calls. You name it, and there’s a good chance that during the last thirty seasons, we’ve played with it at least once. 

That all said, I went through my arsenal of calls and hand-picked some of my favorites. Below you will find recommendations on box calls, mouth calls, slate calls, owl calls, and more. These are the best turkey calls to help you bag a gobbler this spring.

Best Overall: Lynch World Champion Box Call

Best Mouth Call: Slayer Calls’ Black Bat Wing

Best Slate: Zink Wicked Series Slate

Best Budget: Primos Early Bird Box

Best Push Button Call: Quaker Boy ‘Cyclone’ Easy Yelper

Best Owl Hooter: Haydel’s CO-03 Compensator Owl Call

Best Coyote Howler: Hunter’s Specialties/Drury Outdoors Signature Howler

How We Picked The Best Turkey Calls 

Most of these picks are my go-to calls when I step into the field each Spring, and I have plenty of hands-on experience with all of them. There have been, as you might expect, some changes in my working turkey vest over the past three decades. Most noticeably in what calls I use on a regular basis. The Field Champion is still there, but I use it primarily as a locator call. The Primos A-Frame is always in a hard case in my pocket and used every day/all day throughout the season. And the H.S. Strut coyote howler has produced gobbles for me from Florida to Washington. Here’s how I made my picks for the calls below:

Personal Experience

These are the calls I either currently use or have used for years. If a call spends more than a single season in my vest—or more than a single hunt, for that matter—it has something going for it.

User-Friendliness Rating

Turkey hunting is hard enough without having to run a call requiring a 182 IQ. We wanted simple-to-use calls—some, like the Field Champion, being straight out-of-the-box calls—and that’s what you have here. But we didn’t want simplicity to overshadow good sound; fortunately, this line-up affords both.

Sound

Obviously, the best turkey calls, regardless of price tag, are those that sound good. And these listed here can all be made to sound good with a little bit of practice. Or, in some cases, a lot of practice. Either way, the common denominator here is affordable calls from reputable, well-respected companies with a history in the so-called turkey business. And each of them sounds like a real live mama turkey.

The Best Turkey Calls: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall: Lynch World Champion Box Call

Why It Made the Cut: The Lynch World Champion box call is one of the best ever made. Regardless of experience level, every turkey hunter should have one.

Key Features 

Double sided box call (hen/gobbler)

Mahogany construction

Center-pivot lid

Pros

Extremely user-friendly

Straight grain mahogany gives excellent mellow tones

Made by a company with a long-standing reputation for excellence

Versatile volume range

Cons

Rubber bands can break

Wood has limitations in wet weather

The Lynch World Champion Box Call is a great-sounding call that’s easy to use, costs under $45, and looks like a custom-crafted instrument. It’s hard to beat the realism of this wooden call and the reputation of Lynch World Champion calls. It’s made from straight grain mahogany, cut and assembled to precise tolerances, and then tweaked to make it sound just right before it leaves the plant. I’m confident it can strike up a gobbler right out of the box, although I don’t recommend doing that. Sand the lid and rails, chalk it up, and then practice before going afield. You won’t be disappointed.

Best Mouth Call: Slayer Calls’ Black Bat Wing

Why It Made the Cut: Slayer is new to the outdoor game, but they’re making some damn good turkey calls—the Black Bat Wing (BBW) included.

Key Features 

Triple reed call

Two straight (uncut) reeds on bottom

Radical Bat Wing Cut on top

Yellow horseshoe-style tape

Pros

Incredibly versatile

Good volume without loss of realism

Clearer tones achieved by flipping the call

Cons 

Triple reeds can prove a bit challenging for some

Slayer does it right by stretching the latex perfectly for consistent tolerances, then puts the latex in an aluminum frame—not a plastic one that can’t be bent without breakage. Finally, they encase the whole shebang in rough, but not orally uncomfortable no-slip tape so the call isn’t sliding all over the roof of your mouth. The result is an ultrarealistic sound that is versatile for a number of different call sequences. 

I’m not a fan of the different brightly colored tapes, but it’s a small price to pay for a great-sounding call. Coordinating the three reeds can prove troublesome to some; however, practice will eliminate that issue. It’s a little expensive ($13-15/each), so make sure to use a call case or caddy and dry it out after the hunt. This will help keep it sounding great all season and into the next.

Best Slate: Zink Wicked Series Slate

Why It Made the Cut: Zink calls are some of the best out there, and their turkey calls are no exception.

Key Features 

Cherry pot

Dymondwood striker

Slate calling surface

Integral striker cleaner/conditioner on the backside

Pros

Attractive visually

Great turkey sounds

Built-in striker tip conditioner

The rubberized grip around the circumference makes holding the call easy

Cons

Expensive

Slate may not be as loud as glass or crystal

I shot my first specklebelly goose with Fred Zink in northern North Dakota back in the early 1990s, and I’ve been a fan of the boy from Buckeye Land ever since. A champion goose caller and waterfowl call designer, Zink built his reputation on making duck and goose calls. Turns out, he’s just as good at making turkey calls.

I love the rubber ring around the edge of Zink’s pot call because this makes gripping the Wicked Series with my fingertips a sure thing. And this grip helps me get as much sound clarity and volume out of the instrument as possible. It’s a plain and pretty call, with no skulls or bones or devil tongues. And it sounds like a million bucks. Soft and close; loud and far. This one does it all. However, I’m a fan of the flared-tip strikers, but swapping it for a Mad Calls purple heart/acrylic stick—my favorite— is pretty simple.

Best Budget: Primos Early Bird Box

Why It Made the Cut: It comes from one of the most respected names in the call making business—Primos. And it’s made of purple heart wood, which I love.

Key Features 

Purple heart and oak construction

Weighted paddle

Moisture resistant

Pros

Great volume when needed; quiet when necessary

Weighted paddle helps cut down on lid bounce

Affordable

Cons

Wood doesn’t do well in the rain

Will Primos’ name has become synonymous with some of the finest hunting calls available—and at prices that won’t put a serious hurting on your wallet. For right around $30, the Early Bird Box Call brings great sound and versatility to the table. It’s easy to use, and the combination of the oak body and purple heart lid makes a wide range of turkey sounds and volumes possible right out of the package. The heavier weighted paddle is a nice touch for easy control and feel. And, if it matters, the Early Bird doesn’t look too shabby, either.

Best Push Button Call: Quaker Boy ‘Cyclone’ Easy Yelper

Why It Made the Cut: If you have the ability to push a button, then you have the potential to call a gobbler to the gun. It’s that simple.

Key Features 

Waterproof

Twist/turn volume adjustment

Clucker button

Mahogany sides; maple striker

Pros

Very easy to use

Adjustable

One-handed operation

Affordable

Cons

Lacks the volume of larger box calls

To me, there’s just something missing with a push-button turkey yelper. True, they’re undeniably easy to use, and some, like the Cyclone, sound pretty darn good. I’ve just always been a glass and diaphragm guy. However, you’ll get no argument from me about Quaker Boy’s 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 you’re 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.

Best Owl Hooter: Haydel’s CO-03 Compensator Owl Call

Why It Made the Cut: One of the best locator calls on the market, this owl hooter is easy to blow and produces shock gobbles without problem.

Key Features 

Compensator design

Durable polycarbonate construction

A trio of sound holes in the port/end

Pros

Easy to use 

No hand manipulation (back pressure) needed

Compact 

Good volume

Cons

Not as mellow as a wooden owl hooter

With the Compensator Owl Hooter, you just need to get the rhythm down—Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?—and 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.

Best Coyote Howler: Hunter’s Specialties/Drury Outdoors Signature Howler

Why It Made the Cut: I’ve packed one of these—first generation—coyote howlers for over 30 years now, and can’t tell you how many turkeys have gobbled at this thing. It works.

Key Features 

Injected molded reed system

Hardwood barrel

Durable hard plastic horn extension

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, I’ve 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 Drury’s (MAD) coyote howler has. Nothing.

This is as simple as it gets, and you damn near can’t screw it up. The pitch and volume? Off the charts, if that’s what you’re looking for. It gets on every last nerve—trust me—but that’s why it works so well. It’s no work of art, but doesn’t matter because it’s the sound you’re looking for. Not good looks.

Things To Consider Before Buying the Best Turkey Calls

There are three main criteria for choosing a turkey call—Physical ability, skill level, and personal preference. After that, there on some secondary considerations like price point and application. Remember these three things when buying your next turkey call:

Physical Ability

There may be physical considerations in play when it comes to choosing what type or style of turkey call you to decide upon. You might able to use one call well, and another not so much. Everyone is different. My father is a perfect example. As a full denture wearer, he can’t make a roof of the mouth diaphragm call do what it’s supposed to do. Nor can he make a pot style call work due to a slight neurological malfunction. But he can use a box call. Proof that there’s a call for everyone.

Skill Level

Of the three major categories of turkey calls – box calls, pot style calls (slate/glass/aluminum), and diaphragm calls – it’s the mouth calls that often prove the most troublesome for folks, particularly new turkey hunters/callers. There’s no question there’s a learning curve involved with diaphragms, and my best advice for someone wanting to learn is to stick with it. Watch instructional videos. And do not make it harder than it needs to be.

The box call is responsible for the demise of more gobblers every Spring than all the other types of calls combined. Why? Because it’s simple to operate and it sounds good. Now, I’m not implying there’s no learning curve associated with the box call—because there is—but for the novice, it’s most certainly the way to go.

My personal favorite? The pot style call, specifically, a glass call or the slightly more mellow glass-over-slate. I think it falls right in the middle between the box call and the diaphragm in terms of the learning curve. However, if you can hold and operate an ordinary lead pencil, you have the skills necessary to successfully operate a pot style call. Sure, there’s a little more involved, but not much.

Personal Preference

This might seem obvious, but sometimes you like a call, well, just simply because you like it. And that’s ok. I have my own favorites. I like the way they sound. The way they look. The way they feel. After you test out a bunch of calls, you’ll get a feel for what you like and what you don’t like.

FAQs

Q: Which is better: a glass or slate turkey call?

This question comes down to personal preference. Both are pot style calls used in conjunction with a peg, aka striker, and both are operated in the same fashion. A softer material than glass, slate calls will generally have a more mellow sound than will the harder glass, the latter often producing a clear, crisp tone of mid- to higher volume. As for the better of the two calls? The answer is really neither, as both are excellent choices for all styles of turkey hunting.

Q: Will a slate call work in the rain?

Maybe. A slate call can be used in the rain or when wet, if it’s played with a non-wooden striker made of carbon, acrylic plastic, or fiberglass. Why? Because wood and water generally don’t mix well, and such is the case here. If you’re hunting in wet conditions, it is best to choose a glass, glass-over-slate, or crystal (a hard glass) calling surface and match it with a non-wood striker.

Q: What is the loudest turkey call?

All three styles of turkey calls—box calls, pot calls, and diaphragms—can produce high volume sounds. However, the higher a call goes in volume, the less realistic or natural the calls become. Most would agree a box call can achieve the highest volume without a loss in realism, followed by the pot style calls, and then mouth calls.

Q: How long do turkey mouth calls last?

Typically, I’ll get one season out of my mouth calls if I take care of them. That means drying them, separating the reeds with a toothpick post-hunt, and storing them in a multi-call case in the refrigerator. Mouth calls, though, are relatively inexpensive, so if I have to replace one or more each Sprin, which I do, so be it.

Q: What is the easiest turkey call type to use?

If you can rub two sticks together, you can operate a box call, which is probably the easiest of the three call styles to use. However, I’m of the mind anyone can make sounds with all three types of calls. It’s knowing what the sounds mean to that old gobbler. That’s the challenging part of the equation. That said, box calls are the hands-down winner in terms of ease of use.

Q: What is the most difficult turkey call type to use?

A mouth call. The trick with a mouth call is to find one that fits properly, one that seals as it should, allowing you to present air between your tongue and the call positioned in the roof of your mouth. Practice makes perfect.

Final Thoughts on the Best Turkey Calls

Best Overall: Lynch World Champion Box Call

Best Mouth Call: Slayer Calls’ Black Bat Wing

Best Slate: Zink Wicked Series Slate

Best Budget: Primos Early Bird Box

Best Push Button Call: Quaker Boy ‘Cyclone’ Easy Yelper

Best Owl Hooter: Haydel’s CO-03 Compensator Owl Call

Best Coyote Howler: Hunter’s Specialties/Drury Outdoors Signature Howler

When it comes right down to it, a turkey call is one of the tools in the turkey hunter’s toolbox. It is meant to be used when the time comes and the circumstances and/or situation dictate. My best advice when it comes to picking a turkey call? Find one you’re comfortable and confident with, and then practice and use afield that call until you become proficient with it. No need to buy 15 different calls and not be able to make realistic sounds with any one of them.

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