Tools of the Trade

[gophert]

Since we are scattered all over the country, I was currious what you guys use as far as calls in your vest, and which one is your go-to call. 

For 20 years I've used a primos TrueDouble and an old lynch fool proof box call until last year when I started all new. 
This year:
Woodhaven Red Wasp Dia
Woodhaven Scott Ellis Dia
Woodhaven Real Hen Box
Lights Out by Wendal Rye Pot - Copper on Paddock wood
Alum/Glass on cherry Pot by Jim Schaffer (Oak Ridge Custom Calls)
Primos Gobble Tube
Owl and crow call from somewhere

[Odessa]

The easiest thing about turkey hunting is buying lots of neat calls!  I have been teaching myself to call over the past three-four years.  These are the calls I have bought and currently use, a paddle (don't use as much anymore), the slates (the slate pot is my favorite) and the glass (makes a louder sound than my slate, but harder to get it to come out right for me).  I have been driving around eastern NC this week listening to a Quaker Boy calling CD.

[Crappiepro]

Ive really only used a few calls myself. Ive had a Knight & Hale Sla-Tec that I have used for years and a Lynch Box call. I bought a glass pot call from Ed Jenkins at Ghost Maker calls last year and used it for about 30 minutes last year opening day and my season was over. That bird came in on a string!! Ive used several different mouth calls and have always used them the most but Im starting to use alot of others now. I have bought alot of production made calls and tried them and didnt like most. Just always used the mouth calls for some reason.

[antiwheeze]

Nothing fancy for me.  I just use whatever works:

[PANYHunter]

I use a Hally Caller slate mostly and play around with different strikers.  I just started using mouth calls last year and think I own just about one of each kind of production calls.  Been pretty happy with a Cane Creek double reed I picked up.  Might try some others this year.

[Gobblestopper]

Have to admit I'm pretty unconventional when it comes to turkey calls. Up until last Spring my only "call" was a cell phone call to the wife to tell her I got my bird again. 

I have shot 19 turkeys in eight years of hunting and the bird I took last Spring was the first one I have taken using a call. A couple sweet clucks and purrs with a slate and carbon fiber striker and he came looking. All the others I have taken by using cover and terrain to stalk and sneak up on them for the kill or in a few cases by pre-scouting their daily movements and setting up the perfect ambush. Have probably had to work alot harder for my birds and have certainly blown a few potential opportunities by getting busted or having them walk-off, but for me the "why talk em if you can stalk em" method provides the greatest challenge and hunting high.  Fortunately, I have the luxury of hunting private land where I don't have to worry much about running across unknown hunters.  Wouldn't even consider using my tactics in a public land setting!

That said, age, limited free-time, all that crawling-dirt getting in my gun, a bazillion deer ticks and the OG membership are definately moving me to add some calling to my bag of tricks.    Slate, box, mouth and a really cool custom 3 piece wingbone!       

[ohiomossyoak]

1st year turkey hunter here..I got a Lynch world champion box. That someone done wore the rubber bands off of..An A Quaker boy GPS(gobbler postioning system..Some sorta wood striker an a acrylic striker ..I got 1 mouth call..But dont know how to use it.Also got a owl hooter deal..An a hammerin crow call..

[ShotgunDave]

I have a vest full of calls but I typically use my diaphragm calls.  I like being able to call hands-free...especially as a bird is coming in.

[StreetHowitzer]

I use mainly diaphragm calls. I like to keep hands free, hard to draw a bow and run a pot call. That being said, I plan on picking up one this year at the NWTF show. Figure I can use it when gunning and to add some variety.

[OntarioGobbler]

 locator is the boat paddle long box (QB Curve). lots of mouth calls (buddies homemade ones mostly now). Clucks and purrs sitting down for a bit I use the Freak Crystal. Bunch of other pot calls and boxes, a push pin, tube, and a few loactors like coyote, owl and crow as well.

I don't go too fancy with the expensive stuff because I lose it regularily. I'm bad at setting it down and leaving it or it falls out of a pocket.

[ncturkey]

Is that small rectangle caller a Stowe?

The easiest thing about turkey hunting is buying lots of neat calls!  I have been teaching myself to call over the past three-four years.  These are the calls I have bought and currently use, a paddle (don't use as much anymore), the slates (the slate pot is my favorite) and the glass (makes a louder sound than my slate, but harder to get it to come out right for me).  I have been driving around eastern NC this week listening to a Quaker Boy calling CD.

[ncturkey]

I mostly use mouth calls. My favorite brand is Hooks Custom Calls. I also use most all the major brands of mouth callers. I have few different custom pot callers. The calling surface range from glass,slate, titaniam and copper. I also have other brands of pot callers I use from time to time. I also use a custom trumpet and few wingbone callers. I made my own wingbone callers. I have one custom short box. I plan on using 10 or so mouth callers, two or three custom pot calls, my custom box, trumpet and a wingbone or two. Here is a picture of one of my custom. pot callers. It is a Quartersawn Osage Bronzed Glass over glass by Daryl Slaton.                                                   

[ncturkey]

Here is a pick of all my custom callers.                                                                                           

[Odessa]

ncturkey, That call is a Tiny Coiner Turkey Call - used to be made in Waynesboro, VA.  My uncle lives in Danville, used to turkey hunt, he gave it to me along with a lot of other old turkey loads, calls, and stuff.

[wildcat14]

This year I'll have a Light's Out aluminum, a Light's Out slate, and a Primos Box Cutter box call.  I bought a 3 pack of Woodhaven mouth calls to try but I'll have an H.S. Strut Raspy Old Hen with me.  I'll have a wood Palmer's Hoot Tube and H.S. Strut crow call and a Primos peacock/coyote/woodpecker call.