Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just starting, investing in the best turkey calls is essential for increasing your chances of a successful hunt. In this guide, we will walk you through the best models available and help you make the right selection.
The right turkey call can make the difference between a successful hunt and a day spent in the woods with little action. From mouth calls and box calls to slate and diaphragm styles, each type offers unique advantages depending on your hunting environment and experience level.
The best turkey calls combine realism, ease of use, and durability, allowing hunters of all experience levels to improve their chances of success.
Types of Turkey Calls
Turkey calls come in different types that include:
- Mouth (Diaphragm) Calls. These are small, flexible calls that fit in your mouth and are blown using your diaphragm. They allow hands-free calling and produce realistic turkey sounds, but require practice to master.
- Box Calls. Wooden or synthetic boxes with a paddle that is scraped across the surface to make gobbles, clucks, and yelps. They are easy to use, especially for beginners, and produce loud, clear sounds ideal for open areas.
- Slate Calls. These are flat pieces of slate or glass that are scratched with a striker to mimic turkey sounds. They offer precise tone control and can produce very realistic calls in skilled hands.
- Pot Calls. Similar to slate calls but set in a round pot or dish, often made of wood or synthetic material. They are versatile and widely used for long-range calling.
- Electronic Calls. Electronic turkey calls are battery-powered devices that play recorded turkey sounds. They are very easy to use and effective for beginners or situations where manual calling is difficult. However, they lack the subtlety of manual calls.
7 Best Turkey Calls You Need This Spring
Choosing the best turkey calls can make the difference between a quiet morning in the woods and a fired-up gobbler charging into range. With so many options available, from box calls and slate calls to diaphragm and push-button calls, finding the perfect one for your hunting style and experience level can be overwhelming.
This guide to the best turkey calls highlights top-performing options for beginners and seasoned hunters alike, highlighting sound quality, ease of use, and realism to help you confidently call in more birds this season.
1) Cass Creek Ergo Call
Turkey hunting success often comes down to one critical skill, sounding like the real thing and the Cass Creek Ergo call is the epitome of realism, making it one of the best turkey calls.
It is designed for versatility and features a compact, handheld design that fits comfortably in the palm, making it easy to carry and use for extended periods without fatigue.
The push-button operation delivers consistent and loud turkey sounds, even over long distances, allowing hunters to draw in wary birds with minimal effort. Furthermore, the call’s construction is robust, ensuring durability in harsh outdoor conditions, whether in wet, cold, or rugged environments.
In addition to its user-friendly design, the Ergo handheld call excels in performance during critical hunting scenarios. Its amplified sound cuts through dense cover, increasing the likelihood of getting a response from toms in the area. The call also allows for subtle variations in tone, enabling hunters to mimic natural turkey behavior effectively.
Pros
- Extremely loud and effective over long distances
- Easy to use for beginners and experienced hunters
- Durable construction suitable for harsh outdoor conditions
- Compact and portable design
Cons
- Less tonal nuance compared to traditional slate or box calls
2) Primos Hunting Early Bird Game Call
The Primos Hunting Early Bird Game Call is a versatile and reliable tool for waterfowl hunters seeking to improve their calling skills. It stands out as one of the best turkey calls because it combines lifelike sound quality, user-friendly design, and proven field performance.
Designed with a durable polycarbonate body and precision-tuned reed system, this call produces realistic duck and goose sounds that carry over long distances. Its ergonomic design makes it easy to handle and reduces fatigue during long hunting sessions, while the high-quality materials ensure consistent performance even in wet or cold conditions.
This call responds clearly, allowing for clear, crisp notes with minimal effort. This is especially useful for mimicking different species and adjusting to various hunting environments.
Additionally, beginners find it easy to produce authentic sounds without extensive practice, while seasoned hunters value the control and nuance it offers for more complex calling techniques. Its compact size also makes it convenient to carry in a vest or bag without taking up much space.
Pros
- Realistic duck and goose sounds
- Durable, weather-resistant construction
- Ergonomic and easy to handle
- Suitable for both beginners and experienced hunters
- Compact and portable
Cons
- Limited to waterfowl calling and not suitable for other game types
3) Western Rivers Mantis Six Shooter Electronic Caller
As one of the best turkey calls, the Western Rivers Mantis Six Shooter Electronic Caller is a reliable, user-friendly electronic caller that balances performance, durability, and convenience.
Designed with advanced sound technology, it delivers clear, lifelike calls that attract a variety of species, particularly turkeys. Furthermore, its compact, durable design makes it easy to carry and operate in the field, while the six-call system allows quick switching between different sounds without fumbling through multiple devices.
The intuitive interface ensures even beginners can use it effectively, while experienced hunters will appreciate the consistent sound quality and volume control that allows for fine-tuning to match real animal calls.
Regarding runtime, the long-lasting battery life keeps it running for hours in the field, making it ideal for extended hunting sessions. Additionally, its rugged build ensures it can withstand harsh outdoor conditions, from rain to rough terrain.
Pros
- Realistic, high-quality animal calls
- Six-call system for quick and easy switching
- Long-lasting battery life
- Durable, weather-resistant construction
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Programmable sequences for customized calling
Cons
- Slightly bulkier than some compact single-call devices
4) iHunt Ultimate Electronic Game Call and Bluetooth Speaker
The iHunt Ultimate Electronic Game Call and Bluetooth Speaker is engineered to deliver realistic and consistent sound to ensure turkey hunting success. This is a versatile tool designed for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts who want to attract game more efficiently.
Its powerful speaker produces clear, lifelike animal sounds that carry over long distances, making it easier to lure a variety of species. Moreover, the device comes preloaded with a wide range of calls, and it also allows users to upload custom sounds via Bluetooth or SD card.
Construction-wise, the build quality is solid, with a durable, weather-resistant casing that withstands rain, dust, and rough handling in the field. Furthermore, its compact design and lightweight construction make it highly portable, which is ideal for long hunting trips or trekking through dense terrain.
In addition to its hunting capabilities, the iHunt Ultimate doubles as a high-quality Bluetooth speaker, allowing users to stream music or other audio when not in use for calls. The interface is intuitive, with clearly labelled buttons and easy navigation between calls and playlists.
Pros
- Wide range of preloaded animal calls and custom sound options
- Powerful, clear speaker with long-distance sound projection
- Durable, weather-resistant, and portable design
- Functions as a Bluetooth speaker for music streaming
- Long-lasting rechargeable battery
Cons
- Limited instructions for beginners on customizing calls
5) Primos Hunting Hoot Flute Turkey Hunting Owl Call
The Primos Hoot Flute Turkey Hunting Owl Call is an excellent tool for turkey hunters looking to add versatility to their calling repertoire. As one of the best turkey calls, the Primos Hoot flute delivers unmatched performance, reliability, and realistic sound quality.
Crafted with precision, this owl call is designed to mimic the natural sounds of a predator in distress or an owl’s hoot, triggering curious or defensive responses from turkeys. Furthermore, its simple yet effective design allows hunters to produce consistent and realistic calls without much practice.
Made from durable materials, the Hoot Flute feels solid in hand and is resistant to the wear and tear of the field, making it reliable for long hunting trips. Its compact size also makes it easy to carry in a vest or backpack, ensuring it’s always within reach during crucial hunting moments.
Functionally, the Hoot Flute is versatile and easy to master, even for beginners. It produces a range of hoots and yelps by adjusting breath control and hand positioning, giving hunters the ability to vary their calls and increase their chances of attracting turkeys. Over and above that, the tonal quality is natural and carries well through wooded areas, making it suitable for both close and distant calls.
Pros
- Durable and well-built
- Compact and portable
- Realistic owl sounds that provoke turkey responses
- Easy to use for beginners and experienced hunters alike
- Allows for a variety of tones with simple adjustments
Cons
- Requires practice to achieve optimal sound control
- Less effective in extremely windy conditions
6) Woodhaven Calls Hyper Ninja Turkey Three Reed Game Call
When it comes to versatility, the Woodhaven Calls Hyper Ninja Turkey Three Reed Game Call is hard to beat. Whether used in dense timber or open fields, it proves to be a reliable tool for enhancing turkey hunting success and confidence in the field.
This three-reed friction call delivers a rich, natural sound that closely mimics the various tones of a wild turkey. As such, it is highly effective in attracting birds in both spring and fall seasons.
The compact size and lightweight construction make it easy to carry during long hunting treks, while the smooth, durable surface allows for consistent performance in a variety of weather conditions.
Furthermore, the call’s design makes it accessible for both beginners and seasoned hunters, offering an intuitive feel that helps produce clear yelps, clucks, and purrs without requiring extensive practice.
In addition to everything else, the three reeds provide a dynamic range while the call maintains its pitch and quality over time, showing excellent durability even with frequent use.
Pros
- Realistic, rich turkey sounds
- The three-reed design allows tonal versatility
- Lightweight and compact for easy portability
- Durable and weather-resistant construction
- Suitable for both beginners and experienced hunters
Cons
- Requires some practice to master for precise calling
7) Zink Thunder Ridge Rocker Turkey Call
Finally, we have the Zink Thunder Ridge Rocker Turkey Call. This is a high-quality, versatile product whose precision and ease of use are hard to beat.
Its handcrafted design features a carefully selected slate surface and a comfortable, ergonomic striker that allows for smooth, consistent sounds. The realistic turkey tones it produces, from soft yelps and clucks to loud, aggressive calls, carry over long distances.
Furthermore, the call’s rocker style provides excellent control over volume and pitch, making it ideal for both beginner and experienced callers. Its compact size also ensures easy portability, fitting snugly in a hunting vest or pack without taking up too much space.
Durability is another strong point of the Thunder Ridge Rocker. Built with high-quality materials, it withstands frequent use in various weather conditions without warping or losing tonal quality. The call also responds well to different calling techniques, allowing hunters to adapt to a turkey’s behavior in the field.
Pros
- Realistic turkey sounds across a range of tones
- Smooth, consistent performance with minimal effort
- Ergonomic and easy-to-handle rocker design
- Durable construction suitable for harsh conditions
- Compact and portable
Cons
- Requires practice for beginners to master different tones
- The slate surface is sensitive to moisture if not properly maintained
Further Reading
How to Choose the Best Turkey Calls
When selecting the best turkey call, take into consideration the following key factors:
Sound Realism
Firstly, sound realism is one of the most important factors to consider. The best turkey calls should accurately mimic the natural sounds of a turkey, including yelps, clucks, purrs, and gobbles. A realistic-sounding call increases your chances of attracting turkeys effectively, making it essential to test how authentic the tone and pitch are before making a choice.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is another crucial consideration, especially for beginners. Some calls, like box calls and push-pull calls, require specific techniques and practice, while others, such as diaphragm calls, can be more challenging to master initially. Choosing a call that matches your skill level ensures that you can produce consistent, reliable sounds in the field.
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Durability and Build Quality
Next, durability and build quality are equally significant. Turkey hunting often involves outdoor conditions like moisture, dirt, and rough handling, so selecting a call made from high-quality materials ensures it will withstand repeated use. Durable construction also means the call maintains its sound quality over time without warping or breaking.
Type of Call
The type of turkey call is another factor to weigh carefully. There are several options, including box calls, slate calls, diaphragm calls, and locator calls, each suited for different hunting situations. Understanding which type works best for your hunting style, terrain, and turkey behavior helps maximize effectiveness during the hunt.
Portability and Size
Furthermore, portability and size should also be considered, particularly if you plan to move frequently or carry multiple calls. Compact and lightweight calls are easier to transport and allow you to keep them on hand for spontaneous calling opportunities. Bulky or heavy calls may hinder mobility and limit accessibility during critical moments.
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Volume and Projection
It is also important to consider volume and projection. The best turkey calls must be loud enough to carry over long distances to reach turkeys, but also controllable so it doesn’t scare them away. Some calls allow hunters to adjust the volume or produce soft and subtle sounds when needed, offering greater versatility in different hunting scenarios.
Price and Value
Finally, evaluate price and value in relation to performance. While premium calls often provide superior sound quality and durability, there are affordable options that still offer excellent performance for beginners or casual hunters. Balancing cost with the call’s features ensures you get the best return on your investment without compromising effectiveness.
Best Turkey Calls FAQs
Q: What Sounds Attract a Turkey?
Turkeys are most attracted to realistic hen vocalizations, especially yelps, clucks, purrs, and cutts. These sounds signal feeding, social interaction, or a receptive hen. Yelps are the most effective all-around call, used to locate gobblers and draw them in, while clucks and purrs mimic content, feeding hens, and help calm wary birds at close range.
Cutts are known to trigger a dominant tom’s curiosity or aggression, especially during peak breeding season. Besides hen sounds, gobbles can attract territorial toms, though they should be used sparingly to avoid alarming pressured birds.
Matching the call to the season, volume, and realism of natural turkey behavior is key to consistently attracting turkeys in the field, which is key to a successful hunt.
Q: Which Type of Turkey Call is Easiest for Beginners?
Diaphragm calls are often recommended for beginners once you get used to them, but box calls and push-pull calls are easier to produce realistic sounds immediately.
Q: Can One Call Work for all Hunting Conditions?
No. There is no single call that is perfect for every scenario. Many hunters carry a combination of calls to adapt to different distances, terrains, and turkey behaviors.
Q: Is An Expensive Call Always Better?
Not necessarily. While higher-priced calls may offer better durability and sound, many budget-friendly calls still perform exceptionally well for casual or beginner hunters
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have found this buying guide insightful. Choosing the best turkey call involves balancing sound quality, ease of use, durability, type, portability, volume, and price. By understanding these factors, you will be in a position to select a call that suits your skill level and hunting environment, improving the chances of a successful hunt.