Turkey call and decoy advice for a beginner.

[Junkers88]

I bought some mouth calls after watching some Youtube thingies and figured it'd be easier to bow hunt with them than a box or slate call. Well it turns out there are two things I'd not considered.

1) You don't call at the birds while drawing your bow, in fact you don't call much at all.
2) Mouth calls are not that easy to use well. Mine have two reeds each (there are three calls in the little box) and they are.... well I probably sound like a turkey caught in a tornado.

So. For best results at this stage I've been counseled to look for a good slate or box call. I'm looking at the Fool Proof box calls right now and they have goo reviews. I mean "fool proof" is in the name so it has to work right?

Looking for advice on calls and if you happen to like one turkey decoy over another that'll help also.

Richard

[tfrye]

I have used box calls, mouth calls and slate calls and I think slate calls are the easiest to use. Whichever you choose you just have to practice, and remember that it doesn't take much calling. Ive even downloaded an app and took my bluetooth speaker out and called in a turkey that way too!

[Hawkpuppy 1]

I like pot calls. Slate and glass in particular. The aluminum ones are generally too loud. You don't need Dave Smith decoys to kill birds. Decent decoys set in the right area will do the job every time. Scouting before you hunt is most important to me. Find where birds are roosting and set up where they go once the come off the roost in the mornings

[TXJIM]

I found slate to be the easiest to be consistent with and I would say keep the calling to a minimum.

[TXJIM]

I have also had better luck with a single Hen decoy. Placing a big Tom out has never produced much for me but I am better at hen calls I guess

[Axis FMJ]

Less is more on the calling. I would scout some pastures early the day before and see where the birds are and come from. Set out 2 hen dekes and a jake deke. Be patient and don't over call and you will be successful. Let them get comfy and as soon as they pay all their attention to the dekes, draw and smoke one.

Good luck. Send us pics.

[oktx]

If bowhunting set decoys close and face them away from where you expect them to come from. I would use a slate or a push button call and if it's very windy a box call because you can get more volume from it. While you are driving on the way and from work practice with the mouth call.

[100%TtId]

I tend to make better-sounding yelps and cuts on a box, purrs on a slate, putts and clucks on a mouth call, and gobbles on a Primos shaker.

Decoys all seem to be about the same to me. They work in some areas, less so in others.

Don't go crazy trying to understand turkey behavior. They are diabolical.

[Lynn21]

Best tip you'll ever get- DON'T OVERCALL.

[hot_rod_eddie]

Google D-i-c-k Kirby beginner calling (without the dashes). 30 minute video that is a great intro to mouth calling. That video helped me get started over 20 years ago. I hunt almost exclusively with mouth calls. Good luck and have fun.