How many of you over think this process like me? I am going to use a vest for the first time ever and am having a hard time picking what calls to take hunting. With my old bag, I could put 6-8 pot calls, a short box, long box, trumpet and all my other gear. I want to limit it down to 4 pot calls but man it is hard. I have a glass, crystal, slate and ceramic along with a short and long box, a few mouth calls and a trumpet. I know I have more than I will ever use/need but man it hurts to keep some calls behind. My question is, how do you pick and do you rotate calls as the season progresses? I will have 6 weeks of hunting so I know I can rotate calls as I go but picking the starting line up is hard.
I'm the same way :icon_thumright:
Man I have so many great calls it hurts my head to decide what goes and what stays. Shoot , I have a hard time picking my starting call. I have enough I could use a different one everyday until season ends. But man it's fun collecting them.
It seems to me that you're bogging yourself down with calls. It doesn't require near that many calls to kill a turkey. Pick a favorite box, a pot (or two) and a few diaphragms that you sound good on and just go hunting. Turkeys are either going to come to your calls or not. Having a dozen spare calls with you probably won't make much difference. You should be able to make more than enough realistic calls on a few of your favorite calls. Make it easy on yourself and leave a bunch of unnecessary calls at home & hunt lighter. You can only run one pot, one box, or one mouth call at a time anyway.
Jim
I take about 6 diaphragm calls with me, and up to two box calls...
I just got a new call from Paul's Calls, that will go in my vest, and I will likely take my cheap Lynch call as well... If it were raining, I would stick with the diaphragms and the cheap Lynch...
I make sure my go-to calls are accessible, and separate from my less desired calls... I also always stick a couple of loose diaphragm calls in a separate compartment of my vest, in case I somehow drop or forget my diaphragm lanyard.
I agree with Jim. I have to clean out my vest since I have about 4,000 strikers in it :drool:
I always do it load it up and by the end of season if I haven't tagged out yet my vest gets lighter and lighter lol don't need this , why take this...lol
Two mouth calls, crow call and a gun.!!
Just take my go to calls that have been productive through the years (3 pot calls and a box call)
3 mouth calls, 2 pots, 3 strikers, crow call and that's all! (Always have a tub full of extras in my truck though) ;)
I try to vary my sounds. High vs Raspy. Soft vs loud. I take 2-3 pots and one box.
One box call, a slate, glass & aluminum pot call, two mouth calls and a owl call.
I carry 1 pot, 1 box, 1 diaphragm, 1 crow, and 1 owl call. I do get to the point sometimes though where the vest stays in the truck and I carry a diaphragm and my gun and that's it.
I only have calls I use so I don't have to make that decision. 4 pots, 1 box a gobbler shaker, 6 strikers and 6 mouth calls. That's all the calls I own.
:funnyturkey: I carry 2 pots(many strikers), 1 box, 3 or 4 mouth calls and my crow and owl calls.
My vest is out of control at times. I have so many calls, strikers, ect. that I know for a fact it weighs me down. This year I will make sure my vest going into season is much much lighter (I say this every year around this time).
One pot, two strikers, because I can't call softly enough with my mouth call, and one mouth call. I can get different tones with the mouth call.
We will be in a Mississippi swamp on March 31st. These will be in my vest, around my neck, and on my side.
(http://i59.tinypic.com/23m4f2c.jpg)
Quote from: wisconsinteacher on March 11, 2015, 09:55:55 PM
How many of you over think this process like me? I am going to use a vest for the first time ever and am having a hard time picking what calls to take hunting. With my old bag, I could put 6-8 pot calls, a short box, long box, trumpet and all my other gear. I want to limit it down to 4 pot calls but man it is hard. I have a glass, crystal, slate and ceramic along with a short and long box, a few mouth calls and a trumpet. I know I have more than I will ever use/need but man it hurts to keep some calls behind. My question is, how do you pick and do you rotate calls as the season progresses? I will have 6 weeks of hunting so I know I can rotate calls as I go but picking the starting line up is hard.
You need a little red wagon to carry all that! You could put a recliner in it. :TooFunny:
Seriously, just pick the two or three that sound good to your ear that day and enjoy.
Quote from: hunter22 on March 12, 2015, 02:57:16 PM
We will be in a Mississippi swamp on March 31st. These will be in my vest, around my neck, and on my side.
(http://i59.tinypic.com/23m4f2c.jpg)
Nice setup!
Sent from my iPhone that I ain't smart enough to use with tapatalker
Each day I usually just have two mouth calls and one pot call. Maybe two pots sometimes (glass and slate).
Most of the time I never use them all. :OGturkeyhead:
I don't get bogged down in carrying too much.
1 trumpet, 2-3 mouth calls, a box, a pot call and a scratcher...
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
I WILL carry a trumpet this year. I have two beauties and I've been afraid to use them for fear of scaring birds off. :D But I will try this year.
Quote from: BowBendr on March 13, 2015, 08:25:55 PM
I don't get bogged down in carrying too much.
1 trumpet, 2-3 mouth calls, a box, a pot call and a scratcher...
X2 In the first pocket , what ya got in the rest???
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
Good slate and crystal, some mouth calls. Boxes are too noisy. Scratch boxes take up zero room and are cool so perhaps one of them, most likely not the first calls first day. You said starting. Bet slate is prob it for more guys than not. Obviously and owl n crow. I worry more about forgetting lunch. The birds will come
4 pot calls, 1 box call,, 2 mouth calls, a Haint, a gobble tube, a wing and 3 strikers.
Most of the time, i work my birds with a mouth call and sometimes ill throw in my favorite pot call if i need to really get on a bird. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had 4-5 calls layed out around me and the bird I was putting the heat on broke and got it upside the face.
Most of the time, if you're pulling out that many calls to entice a bird, you're in a poor position and need to relocate because he doesn't want to be where you are.
Anytime I've had to do this was because a property line was an interfering factor.
I plan to take in (call wise)
Hooks Hootn Stick
Hot Hen Slate
Enticer Silver Thunder
Spring Creek Box
3 mouth calls
Crow Call
I like to rotate my pot calls. Once I have success with one, I'll rotate it out and try another.
:drool:v
Quote from: Muzzy61 on March 12, 2015, 09:51:26 AM
One box call, a slate, glass & aluminum pot call, two mouth calls and a owl call.
Exactly !! Simple and no fumbling around in the vest since I even stopped wearing themlast year / light jacket with 2 chest pockets and out the door.....and next year I will probably go the opposite direction
I haven't been at this anywhere near as long as others, but I stick to what I believe I am best at operating.
I always take more mouth calls than anything. Easier to carry, hands free, and I get more practice with them. I then take one box call and one pot call. Figure if that ain't enough, then the turkeys win that day.
Its really simple, grab a half dozen Goosrtbat Diaphragms, find your go-to pot, then your best "it plays wet pot" (Gooserbat Ol' Hickory Alum), along with about 4 strikers, add your fav box (I got one of them too), owl hooter, crow squaker, shells thermacell, wet wipes, gloves and head net. Then put either a trumpet or wingbone on a lanyard around your neck n go kill a gobbling turkey.
Quote from: BowBendr on March 13, 2015, 08:25:55 PM
I don't get bogged down in carrying too much.
1 trumpet, 2-3 mouth calls, a box, a pot call and a scratcher...
[/quote]X2 In the first pocket , what ya got in the rest??? [/quote]
Thats it.
Most days its 2-3 mouth calls, a gun and a gobbler lounger.
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
:drool: I have received so many great calls from people on this site, I may need to revise my call lineup. And get another/bigger vest, more pockets at least. Need room for the new long box from Spring Creek as well as the 2 scrat boxes and a seperate pot call carrier for my Mother Lode calls. Thanks again and Good Luck to all
2 mouth. 1 box 1potcall. And always my wingbone.
Like you, I start the season with way too many calls. Every wk, I take calls out that I haven't used yet, by the end of the season, I'm down to 1 pot, 3 mouth calls and 1 Billy Buice trumpet. Most hunters hump too much stuff!!
Harrison hooter,and crow call
Smiths sweet butternut box
Hooks assassin slate and bronzed glass with
Lights Out agate dymondwood sriker
2 Hooks devastators
2 Hooks game changer 2
1 Hooks deciever
I take more pot calls than anything else
1 slate
1 crystal
2 strikers
QuakerBoy box