I should start by saying I am pretty new to turkey hunting (this will be my second season). I hunted my first season with a couple inexpensive, mass produced calls. This year I was able to make it out to the NWTF show in Nashville and picked up a couple nicer calls, including a nice slate call from Derrick Stuckey. He recommended it as a good starting point, and so far I am pretty pleased with. It is super easy to play quiet. My question all of you more experienced gentlemen out there is what do you recommend as a second pot call to put in my vest? I'm weighing my options right now between a Halloran Crystal Mistress, a 3" copper from Mike Yingling, or a 3.25 or 3.5" titanium from John Sinclair. I don't know if I can go wrong with any of those three, but is there anything else you would recommend? I'm looking for something that's in the beginner to intermediate skill level that can play a little louder and clearer than a slate. (Pic is the Stuckey from the show) (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200222/073fa1b8b42ead2ebba7030a2b85aedf.jpg)
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You can't go wrong with the crystal mistress. Another good one you can get pretty quick is a glass call from Dustin Jones
Another call from halloran is his twisted sister.. great call..Hanks also makes a good call at a fair price.
Crystal Mistress is a great call. You might also consider a call you don't have to worry about getting wet. If so, consider Enticer calls from Al Holbert.
Lots of options and great callmakers out there which can make it complicated. The three calls you listed are all outstanding IMO. Can't go wrong with the Crystal MIstress though. Lots of people would tote that call if they could only carry one.
Welcome to the site!
My Crystal Mistress is always in my vest.
I have a good selection of calls from various call makers and most have a list to work through this time of year. So I will fall in line with everyone else on here and tell you to either get a Crystal Mistress or Twisted Sister. You can get your hands on them quickly and they are flat out killers in the turkey woods.
Welcome to the obsession of turkey hunting. My advice would be a call like the crystal mistress.
Even better advice is learn the one you have and spend more time and money on the area you will hunt. Listen more than you call. Learn what turkeys do in your area. This is 85% of being successful. Calling and sitting still round out the remainder.
Twisted sister. I have a truckload of pot calls and as far as crystal surface , my twisted sister edges them all out.
I would look hard at a ceramic surface call.
Ceramic , is my suggestion .. easy to maintain and will play loud to cut the wind and it will play soft also...Get you Mark Cornelius - Mac Calls, Buster " Larry Halford or Pecker Wrecker ceramic with diamondwood striker and he makes one of the best waterproof strikers get it also..
I would think a Halloran double glass would work well for you. It's a great call thats pretty easy to run with a variety of strikers.
Halloran.
Larry Buster Halford, read the post right below this started by Chris O, Buster makes some great call and at a price you could get two.
Quote from: PEte_A on February 22, 2020, 07:36:36 AM
My Crystal Mistress is always in my vest.
Mine too. CM would be a charter member in the turkey call hall of fame, if there was such a thing, IMO.
Thank you all for the great suggestions and advice. I just ordered a Crystal Mistress. It seems like it's a must have to a lot of people, and all the sound bites I've heard of it sound amazing. I also ordered an extra Jatoba striker to test with it. Now I'm set for calls for this season. Now I just need to keep practicing. Season starts for me in just 4 weeks, and I started practicing (with my mouth calls) three months ago so hopefully I will be decent by then. I will be making my first scouting trips in two weeks or so, so hopefully I can find some birds to call at. Thanks again for the warm welcome to the forum.
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Good luck with you're season. Post a pic if you score!
I have both a 3" copper from Mike Yingling, and a 3.5" titanium from John Sinclair and they will both reach out there and sing. I have to use the titanium by holding it outside the blind window because it is so incredibly loud it makes my head hurt if I play it in the blind. (When playing it aggressive) It will play mellower too by the way.
The Yingling copper will also reach out there and I really like it's sound.
I have no experience with David's calls so I will not comment on them, he makes a heck of an Ipe one piece striker though, I can tell you that much, sounds great on everything just about.
I would also suggest a good wet weather call like the Enticer Silver Thunder Extreme Aluminum. Unless you are good with a mouth call.
Quote from: chuckward on February 21, 2020, 11:10:48 PM
You can't go wrong with the crystal mistress. Another good one you can get pretty quick is a glass call from Dustin Jones
I agree w the crystal mistress as topping that list. Also agree w Dustin Jones. Mark Cornelius and Jimmy Schafer need to be included too.
Quote from: grayfox on February 22, 2020, 07:43:00 PM
I would also suggest a good wet weather call like the Enticer Silver Thunder Extreme Aluminum. Unless you are good with a mouth call.
IMO, the Silver Thunder Aluminum is better classified as " all weather ". It will play great perfectly dry as well as literally under water. Nice higher pitched alternative. The corian back will give a nice soft yelp, cluck and purr. It's like two calls in one.
I have a walnut crystal over glass from Dustin that is a smoker
Quote from: Bowguy on February 23, 2020, 05:22:57 AM
Quote from: chuckward on February 21, 2020, 11:10:48 PM
You can't go wrong with the crystal mistress. Another good one you can get pretty quick is a glass call from Dustin Jones
I agree w the crystal mistress as topping that list. Also agree w Dustin Jones. Mark Cornelius and Jimmy Schafer need to be included too.
Quote from: Wildcard12 on February 22, 2020, 04:33:50 PM
Thank you all for the great suggestions and advice. I just ordered a Crystal Mistress. It seems like it's a must have to a lot of people, and all the sound bites I've heard of it sound amazing. I also ordered an extra Jatoba striker to test with it. Now I'm set for calls for this season. Now I just need to keep practicing. Season starts for me in just 4 weeks, and I started practicing (with my mouth calls) three months ago so hopefully I will be decent by then. I will be making my first scouting trips in two weeks or so, so hopefully I can find some birds to call at. Thanks again for the warm welcome to the forum.
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Welcome to OG! The CM is a Great choice for a second pot call. Find you a laminated wood or dymondwood striker, which I think comes with the call, to use on the CM. Scuff it up good with some drywall screen or stone and practice. One more thing, if I'm reading your post right, don't call to birds when you are scouting. Go early in the morning, listen for birds gobbling on the roost and try to follow them after flydown with binos or with your eyes at a distance so you can narrow down their travel routes. Don't educate birds by calling to them before the season begins.
Since you have a slate (I love slates) I'd go with a crystal or glass for something to reach out there.
My favorites are Halloran crystal mistress or Buster Osage glass. IMHO these are the easiest too play.
Quote from: bbcoach on February 23, 2020, 07:49:53 PM
Quote from: Wildcard12 on February 22, 2020, 04:33:50 PM
Thank you all for the great suggestions and advice. I just ordered a Crystal Mistress. It seems like it's a must have to a lot of people, and all the sound bites I've heard of it sound amazing. I also ordered an extra Jatoba striker to test with it. Now I'm set for calls for this season. Now I just need to keep practicing. Season starts for me in just 4 weeks, and I started practicing (with my mouth calls) three months ago so hopefully I will be decent by then. I will be making my first scouting trips in two weeks or so, so hopefully I can find some birds to call at. Thanks again for the warm welcome to the forum.
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Welcome to OG! The CM is a Great choice for a second pot call. Find you a laminated wood or dymondwood striker, which I think comes with the call, to use on the CM. Scuff it up good with some drywall screen or stone and practice. One more thing, if I'm reading your post right, don't call to birds when you are scouting. Go early in the morning, listen for birds gobbling on the roost and try to follow them after flydown with binos or with your eyes at a distance so you can narrow down their travel routes. Don't educate birds by calling to them before the season begins.
Sorry, I worded my post poorly. I definitely don't intend to call to any birds before the season opens. I meant that I hope to find some birds to call at once the season opens. Thanks for the tip about finding their travel routes. I will definitely do that.
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