You guys have talked me into buying a custom made call, and I love it should have bought one years ago. Thinking of starting the season with this one call. I've been slowly downsizing on what I bring out, and want to get confidence in my new call. I also like posting and reading on old gobbler , so I'm asking who does it with one call and mybe how long you've been doing it?
Not saying you can't do it w one call but the more sounds you have the better off you are. Yes there's a limit but at least a little variation could help strike a reluctant bird.
That being said I used to use only mouth calls n normally only one or two dif ones when I started out. This was in 80s n options were seemingly more limited
I like to always have a longbox (or short but not both), a scratchbox, and a trumpet. The key is this.....take what you are most confident in playing. Try to learn other call types to add to your arsenal. Sometimes a gobbler won't respond til you hit a totally different call. You would be surprised what a scratchbox or trumpet can achieve once they are mastered.
If you carried a good glass/slate 2 sider with a few strikers I think you would be fine. I usually carry 4 pots in my vest, along with several strikers. But also have a smaller pack with only one call, an Ol Yeller w 2 strikers. I use it if I'm going light or lazy.
If you hunt only one call, you inevitably will master it.
When I do, typically only a trumpet call or a long box.
Just a mouth call .
one old Tom Gaskins......can not find another like that or other make that sounds that good to me...???
It can be done, and most of the gobblers I have called to the gun barrel have been with a single short box or one single diaphragm. But there are also quite a few dead gobblers that would have made it another day had I not had a vest full of options.
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Quote from: beakbuster10 on December 09, 2016, 06:24:20 PM
It can be done, and most of the gobblers I have called to the gun barrel have been with a single short box or one single diaphragm. But there are also quite a few dead gobblers that would have made it another day had I not had a vest full of options.
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It's like only knowing yelping n clucking. You're gonna leave birds in the woods imo
Quote from: Bowguy on December 10, 2016, 02:12:27 PM
Quote from: beakbuster10 on December 09, 2016, 06:24:20 PM
It can be done, and most of the gobblers I have called to the gun barrel have been with a single short box or one single diaphragm. But there are also quite a few dead gobblers that would have made it another day had I not had a vest full of options.
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It's like only knowing yelping n clucking. You're gonna leave birds in the woods imo
Exactly what these guys said. When I first started turkey hunting many years ago I had one pot call and one short box. I had more confidence in my calling with a pot call and one day when hunting used only my pot call with no response finally I figured I had nothing to lose so broke out my box call and had 3 Gobblers gobble from three different locations. This taught me that sometimes they like to hear different tones. Most generally one call will work great,but I feel I'm short changing myself if I don't have at least a couple different calls in my vest and over time have learned to play a wide range of calls. If your like alot of us you'll have a hard time stopping at just one custom call anyway. Lol...
A lot of times Ill only use 1 call.... but I carry around 4.
Please! More like one in every pocket and several more stuffed in a pack. About like fishing tournaments, take 20 rods each rigged with a different bait and maybe throw 3 during the day! :funnyturkey:
When I first started turkey hunting I bought 3 pot calls. Now that I've hunted and gotten more experience all my pot calls stay in the truck. The only call I carry is a mouth call. There are a multitude of calls I can make with a mouth call. I stay mobile when turkey hunting and its a lot easier having a mouth call ready in my mouth rather than lugging around other calls. I also have both hands free!
Not down to one call, but have cut down what I carry. There are times when I run and gun that when I am after him I may drop my pack and just go in on him... But with that said I like to be able to have a few styles of calls with me, I'm down to my favorites list.
MK M GOBL
I feel like I could get away with it, but I don't. I'll have the same mouth call that is my go to for the majority of the season and I'll kill about all of my birds come from just that with an exception or two here and there over the years. I always have a spare or two of the same call in my vest and an assortment of other mouth calls I like, but it always comes back to the same call. It's just what I have confidence in. A long box is the only other thing I use here and there and that's really just used like a locator occasionally.. I carry an aluminum pot call but I'll be honest it doesn't come out too often.
I HUNT WITH A FEW
THERES THIS OLD TIMMER THAT HUNTS WHERE I DO
PUBLIX LAND ......
AND FOR A VERY LONG TIME HE HUNTS WITH ONLY TWO CALLS
A PUSH PIN @ BOX CALL AND HE EITHER LIMITS OUT , 2 ,
OR JUST GETS ONE. EVERY SEASON ..................
Every time I hunt, when I sit down, I have a mouth call in my mouth and a pot call in my hands. I have killed birds with just the glass call (never needed to make a sound with the mouth call, or did not have time, they came in hard) or I have killed them on rainy days using just the mouth call. I also carry an aluminum and have used it exactly one time to call in a gobbler. He was a 9" beard two year old that I could see across a clear cut and he only responded to it (none of the other calls I had in my vest would he gobble to).
Quote from: renegade19 on December 14, 2016, 06:21:52 PM
Please! More like one in every pocket and several more stuffed in a pack. About like fishing tournaments, take 20 rods each rigged with a different bait and maybe throw 3 during the day! :funnyturkey:
I fall into this category lol
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What.......................
One call and leave my wheelbarrow at home?
Never.
Although this spring I do plan on cutting back to 1/2 dozen or so.
LOL
:turkey2:
I don't. Neither do I carry dozens of calls either. But I do have more than one with me.
I've cut down what I carry considerably and believe the hunting industry has really created a false sense of security in carrying so much crap into the woods.
Most days I'm in the woods with 4 pot calls and 1 mouth call. If I'm covering big ground I'll cut it down to 2 pot calls and 1 mouth call.
Killing turkeys is about sounding like a turkey and setting up where a turkey will allow himself to be seen comfortably. Some birds will certainly show a preference towards a particular call but the idea of carrying 6+ pot calls and box calls for such a rare situation is wasteful in my opinion.
You're better off becoming a competition quality caller and carrying 2 calls than carrying 6 you're marginal on. It's all about realism, cadence, and authenticity.
I usually carry a couple mouth calls...1 boxcall...1 slate...2 glass/crystal calls a high pitch and a lower pitch and one metal call usually aluminum or copper....and then I may switch them out to different ones after a couple of hunts in the same spot
what % of the turkeys killed are actually coming to the calls or just walking that way ???? I have to admit that I believe some turkeys I killed would have walked down that logging road or firebreak with or without me being there..
Quote from: saltysenior on December 23, 2016, 07:08:12 PM
what % of the turkeys killed are actually coming to the calls or just walking that way ???? I have to admit that I believe some turkeys I killed would have walked down that logging road or firebreak with or without me being there..
In my opinion if a person sat down in the woods or field and had to hunt with no call you'd be sitting for a he_ _uva long time most generally waiting for a turkey to appear within bow/gun range. I do agree if you pattern them and know where they are going you could sit there without a call,but most of the fun of turkey hunting to me is learning every type of call I can and using it to call them in. Do we need a wheelbarrow of calls? no. Do I own probably more than one full? yes...usually carry a trumpet or two,tube,couple of mouthcalls,a mini long box,and a couple of pot calls...figure this way I have it pretty much covered and fill my tags and call for others to help fill theirs. I feel like I'd be short changing my hunt if I could only play one call.
Hunting turkeys is allot like chasing the ladies..... ;D
Tell em, what they want to hear..
From a place, they are comfy hearing it.
With a voice, they want to hear it....
Understanding who & what were dealing with is paramount to success....
One call can work, but I'm incline to carry more then voice......% of success seems to rise ...
Red heads can be a bugger to work with at times......LOL!!
I usually like a variety but if its raining I'll hit the woods with nothing but gun shell and mouth call
Well, I carry a multitude of call. Many of which get used fairly regular. Having said that, when push comes to shove, I'll grab a mouth call and go. First bird I called to myself (and dad for that matter) was with an HS Strut split v III. I've called in several with that call then moved to a Ma Deuce from the same company. still, I want other calls in my vest because you never know what they really want until they tell you.
Why would you plan on turkey hunting , getting ready months before season opens to take one call with you in the woods, to me that's like taking your shotgun with just one shell, would you do that...lol...I have killed a lot of birds that have come to my gun barrel with different calls... Taking one call doesn't help if the bird want's something different, what will happen is you go home that day with tag unfield...
Greg, I imagine if a hunter sits in the same blind all day there would be a great advantage having several calls to change things up and get hen and toms attention. However, run and gun hunters tend to cover lots and lots of country and may only need a single call. When I'm running and gunning it's a lot easier for me to have 1 call in my mouth so my hands are free and I can immediately reply and set up a decoy if needed. I prefer to go as light as I can so I can remain mobile. An extra mouth call in a pocket is all I often need! I've learned to do a variety of different turkey calls with a single diaphragm.
Quote from: jims on January 08, 2017, 08:28:29 PM
Greg, I imagine if a hunter sits in the same blind all day there would be a great advantage having several calls to change things up and get hen and toms attention. However, run and gun hunters tend to cover lots and lots of country and may only need a single call. When I'm running and gunning it's a lot easier for me to have 1 call in my mouth so my hands are free and I can immediately reply and set up a decoy if needed. I prefer to go as light as I can so I can remain mobile. An extra mouth call in a pocket is all I often need! I've learned to do a variety of different turkey calls with a single diaphragm.
Run-n-gun is about all I do and I can honestly say, I feel naked without having several calls. It's not that I use them all and sometimes, I may only use one but it's nice to have others handy if the bird wants a different sound. I can make several vocalizations on a diaphragm but can't reach the pitch with one of those like I can on a pot or box. Not arguing. Just pointing out that hunters that are carrying many calls aren't necessarily sitting in a blind all day.
Quote from: Treerooster on January 09, 2017, 10:39:16 AM
Quote from: wvmntnhick on January 08, 2017, 10:56:42 PM
Quote from: jims on January 08, 2017, 08:28:29 PM
Greg, I imagine if a hunter sits in the same blind all day there would be a great advantage having several calls to change things up and get hen and toms attention. However, run and gun hunters tend to cover lots and lots of country and may only need a single call. When I'm running and gunning it's a lot easier for me to have 1 call in my mouth so my hands are free and I can immediately reply and set up a decoy if needed. I prefer to go as light as I can so I can remain mobile. An extra mouth call in a pocket is all I often need! I've learned to do a variety of different turkey calls with a single diaphragm.
Run-n-gun is about all I do and I can honestly say, I feel naked without having several calls. It's not that I use them all and sometimes, I may only use one but it's nice to have others handy if the bird wants a different sound. I can make several vocalizations on a diaphragm but can't reach the pitch with one of those like I can on a pot or box. Not arguing. Just pointing out that hunters that are carrying many calls aren't necessarily sitting in a blind all day.
Same here. I run n gun and sometimes, sit in one spot for a good while too now and then. Carry a few calls. No blind tho. No decoy either...More room for another call. ;D
For me there is simply no good reason to carry just one call. They ain't that heavy or bulky.
Agree, no need not to carry more than one call...I've seen a lot more birds killed from sitting in one place and being patience.
I try always to take at least 4 callers with me. My natural voice calling from my voice box, and 1 box,1 pot caller, and 1 wingbone or yelper. Sometimes a few more though. Each time, I go out- I switch up and use different callers. I try to use as many as I have each Spring.
I see no advantage to having only one call... If I am running and gunning with no response from one call, I will break out another. I have heard silent woods erupt in gobbling simply by changing calls.
It is my impression, that sometimes you might sound like a slutty hen that the birds are used to hearing...
I can carry a dozen mouth calls without taking up any space... and I have come to like taking two box calls, and now I am using scratch boxes...
I consider calls toys... I enjoy playing different calls, and when things are slow in the woods, I will play around with different calls and different sounds... Sometimes I have been pleasantly surprised/rewarded by unexpected but welcome visitors.
A few years ago, I had killed 2 of my 3 bird limit here in MS. I took every turkey call out of my vest and spent the rest of the season calling with my natural voice. I didn't get my 3rd, but i would do it again once I get to that last bird of the limit.
I carry a box and 2 pots but they seldom leave my vest. And of the 6 or so mouth calls, only 2 or 3 get used a lot. I'm more comfortable with a mouth call than a friction call. I could probably carry one mouth call and be just as successful as I am carrying the others. (But after last spring that's not saying much!) lol
I used to carry a vest full of crap when I was younger. Now that I'm much older I'd have no qualm in leaving the truck with a gun, a shell and a mouth call, and never regret it.
I cannot relate to the statement, " I carry a bunch of calls 'cause you never know what that 'ol bird wants to hear."
I have zero interest in hunting a fickle tom that I have to beg a gobble from, I simply know where one is that's ready to play......scouting kills 99% of my birds.
I'm late to this thread but considering how light and cheap calls are, I don't think there's any reason to bring only one with you. I bring one locator call, a few diaphragm calls, a friction call....
Like most of the guys have replied, I am at least going to have a fanny pack or vest to carry calls, water, camera, etc. So if I am going to be carrying some kind of pack, I will have at least two pot calls, a box and a mouth call or two.
Also like some have pointed out, I have had a few experiences where I was hunting with a partner and he was hitting a box call with no response; however, each time I hit my pot call they would hammer back.
That being said I don't ever see myself carrying 3-4 pots, 5-8 strikers and two box calls. I like to keep it somewhat simple.
I could, but wheres the fun in that....Alot of times ill wind up using just one call on a bird especially if hes hot and likes it...But im still going to take my vest full just my preference
I always seem to have a primary that carries me through a season but a few extras are always along you never know when something different sets them off.
Depending on the day I bring usually 1 to 3 calls. I like to have 2 so I can change sounds if I call a bird in but don't get a shot the first time.
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Never!!!! I look at Turkey hunting like Fishing, you never know what they are going to respond to.
Quote from: bbcoach on January 26, 2017, 01:22:17 PM
Never!!!! I look at Turkey hunting like Fishing, you never know what they are going to respond to.
sometimes I just go fishing with worms. You know you have one call that has done good for you many times, you could take just that one call and do pretty well if you wanted.
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I use mostly box calls but not just one. If that's not working I've got just about any other type call in my vest!
Not me. I always carry at least 2 mouth diaphragms. Heck if I really feel adventurous I may even carry 3.
Never just one....
I'm not really great at diaphragm calls, but I do carry one along with 2 pot calls and 2 box calls.
I don't hunt with just one call but there is one call I'd never hunt without,I've got an old quaker boy box call that has called in more gobblers than I can remember and works when nothing else will.I went back to the country store I bought it from the year after I got the first one bought the last 2 they had but neither had the same sound/tone as the first one.I have carried it on every hunt I've ever been on since day one and that's been a lot of years.