The Best Turkey Calls

Boxes epitomize classic turkey calls. They’re reliable, easy to maintain, user-friendly, and they can help you strike a gobbler that’s a country mile away.

"When I need a loud, crisp, and raspy turkey call, I prefer the MeatEater x Phelps Purpleheart/Sapele Box Call," Jason said. "The Purpleheart lid combined with the Sapele box produces sharp, high-pitched yelps that cut through high wind days, making it perfect for locating gobblers at a distance."

A lot of hunters view box calls as outdated or a beginner’s tool, but they would be sorely mistaken. In the right hands, a good box call can produce ultra-realistic turkey sounds just as good as any other call. In fact, Jason pointed out the Purpleheart’s versatility as one of the reasons he keeps this call in his vest.

"One of the best things about this call is its versatility," he said. "You can get soft clucks and purrs in close quarters, but when it’s time to fire up a tom, this box call commands attention."

Pros

• Wide volume range
• Rich two-tone yelps
• Beginner-friendly
• High-quality wood

Cons

• Not hands-free
• Bulky

Most turkey hunters, myself included, carry some type of pot call in their vest either as a primary or backup option. They typically provide a shorter learning curve than a mouth call and are more forgiving than others when you goof up. You can also make any turkey vocalization you need with a good slate or glass call, as long as you keep the surface conditioned and remember to practice. Pot calls offer a ton of versatility when it comes to calling, which is why MeatEater’s Janis Putelis and Tony Peterson keep the MeatEater X Phelps Slate Over Glass in their turkey vests at all times.

"I carry all the calls," Janis said. "but my go-to, if I have the time and cover to work it, is the MeatEater X Phelps Slate Over Glass. It has the leniency to cover my poor strokes, and it’s the call I recommend to beginners."

Slate offers one of the most forgiving surfaces, and it doesn’t take a ton of effort to make realistic turkey sounds, especially soft ones. Most hunters can crank out loud yelps, but the wariest gobblers typically respond to soft, subtle calls, which becomes critical in close-quarter situations.

"I bowhunt turkeys a lot, which means I need to talk them into under 10 yards," Tony said. "I typically do this by pairing a mouth call with a high-quality slate like the MeatEater X Phelps Slate Over Glass. I can produce loud, crisp yelps and cutting, but also dial it way down when birds get close or I have hens in my spread. For a slate, I don’t think there’s a better option."

Pros

• Unbelievable sound
• Easy to use
• Low maintenance surface
• Versatile

Cons

• Pricey

Finding the best turkey mouth call requires a bit of trial and error, especially if you want one that fits your mouth and runs the gamut of turkey vocalizations. Of course, you could design one tailormade for your calling style like Clay Newcomb did with his Newcomb Prime Cut diaphragm from Phelps Game Calls.

"The Newcomb Prime Cut call features three reeds with a unique ‘cottonmouth’ cut on top," Clay said. "I can make everything from raspy yelps to soft purrs."

Rather than carry a host of calls, Clay prefers a few that allow him to make all the turkey vocalizations he needs. He helped design the Newcomb Prime Cut to do just that.

Pros

• Versatile
• Short learning curve
• Plenty of rasp

Cons

• Cut might not be optimal for some

Anthony Ellis, a custom call maker and owner of AGE Trumpets in Chatsworth, Georgia, makes some of the finest trumpets you can get your hands on. He’s earned numerous awards for his calls. Most recently, he took home first in the trumpet division at NWTF’s Grand National Callmaking Competition, as well as the best-in-class Tom Turpin award in 2020. His accolades rival that of his waitlist, which currently sits at one year. After getting my hands on a few, I assure you they’re worth the wait.

Unlike other trumpets, the XT requires little air to run and produces easy, clear hen yelps, clucks, or cutts. With practice, you can manage soft purrs or dial in the rasp to your liking (play around with the lip stop positioning to do this). The barrel design and bell shape make it easy to vary the amount of backpressure you apply when calling.

Some hunters might see the price as steep. After all, $200 (and up) isn’t pocket change for a turkey call. But we’re not talking about mass-produced yelpers here. Ellis’ trumpets represent handcrafted heirlooms. His craft and dedication to call-making shine through in each finely tuned barrel. They’re downright beautiful. You’ll hesitate to tote one of these calls for fear of tarnishing it, but AGE trumpets aren’t meant for a shelf.

Pros

• Heirloom turkey call
• Work of art
• Wide volume range
• Requires minimal air
• Ultra-realistic turkey sounds

Cons

• 1-year waitlist
• Expensive
• Not hands-free

Unless you’ve practiced enough to master a natural owl hoot, it’s handy to have a dependable locator call. A lot of cheap, mass-produced hooters scream imposter, and anybody with an ear can pick them out. To create an ultra-realistic hooter, Phelps Game Calls teamed up with grand national calling champion James Harrison to produce the small batch, U.S.-made Harrison Hooter Owl call. Here’s what Jason Phelps had to say about it.

"The Harrison Hooter Owl Call is one of the most realistic owl calls I’ve ever used," he said. "It produces deep, throaty owl sounds, and the dual-tone ports allow you to add natural depth and volume to your hoots."

Like any call, you’ll need to practice to get the most out of it. Try listening to real owls to figure out the cadence and varied pitches to make the most realistic sounds.

Pros

• Extremely realistic
• Dual-tone ports allow for natural sounds
• Weather resistant

Cons

• User-friendly