The Best Turkey Calls of 2023
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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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