A diaphragm call is one of the most efficient ways for hunters to attract wild turkeys.
Also, this is one of the most complicated sounds to imitate, especially for beginners.
While there are many calls available in the market, and most of them imitate turkey calls perfectly, a mouth call has one important benefit: you have your hands free when using it.
Another benefit is that it is cheap. Therefore, many hunters prefer to learn to use it.
How to Choose the Right Mouth Call
If you prefer something that is easy to learn and use, your choice might be:
- A single reed call;
- A double reed call.
A single reed is easier to apply. For those who aren’t experienced, a single reed item will be easier to learn. But a double reed item will provide a wider variety of sounds.
Via: @bullcreekoutfitters
If you use a double reed item, and you still believe that you need something more advanced, a triple reed might be an optimal choice for you.
Overcome the First Challenge
When you first put the turkey call in your mouth, you might experience the gag reflex. It is normal, and it happens not only with you. Many people complain about it.
However, there is nothing to do with it: you are placing into the mouth a foreign object; thus, this reflex is a natural reaction. With time, you will get used to the turkey call, and the gag reflex will disappear.
Via: @bullcreekoutfitters
The only thing we can advise to speed up the process of getting used to the item is to keep it in the mouth as long as possible and use it as frequently as you can.
If the reflex hasn’t disappeared even after a good while, try to move the item a little bit forward. It shall work.
Position Your Turkey Call Correctly
Now, when you are ready, make sure you locate the turkey call correctly in your mouth:
- Place it to the mouth roof;
- The curved side shall be directed to your throat;
- The straight side goes in the direction to your lips.
Then, try to move air between your tongue and the call. Make sure the air passes only this way. There shall be no air leakages on the sides of the tool. Neither there shall be leakages between the tool and the roof of your mouth.
Via: @rbolen_
After the tool is placed, try to say “Hot” with as much force as you can. This is the most basic sound to learn. It is called “Yelp.”
To do it, take the air in. Press the reeds with your tongue. Now, make a high tone. You can exaggerate it first, to ensure you learn how to make it and control the flow of the air properly.
After that, remove the tongue from the mouth call reeds. Another option is to open your mouth. Now, produce a low tone. Also, exaggerate it. Practice these sounds until you can produce them accurately and easily.
In the very end, these tones will be almost mixed, and you will get the sound that has many similarities to those that turkeys make. This is one of the easiest sounds to learn. While even making this sound might be complicated first, but it all comes with practicing.
Via: @the_hammah_harmon
The yelp sound is very important. If you learn to imitate it, you can succeed with this sound only because:
- It is used by both hens and gobblers;
- By hens, it is used as an invitation to mate;
- This sound is the easiest to imitate;
- Based on the techniques trained by making this sound, you will build the techniques of making other sounds.
Some More Sounds
Another typical sound that turkeys make is called clucking. To make it with your mouth call, breathe the air out with strength, and say, “pock.”
If you want to learn cutting, make clucks fast and repeatedly, in a series. Mix the sounds and combine them to create the sounds turkey can make when:
- They are lost and cannot find their flock;
- They are leaving the nest;
- Purr, and similar.
Other popular sounds are:
- A cluck – it is used by turkeys to attract the attention of other flock members
- A kee-kee – the sound is mostly applied by young birds. They use it to indicate that they are lost
- Cutting – the sound is applied by lost birds and by hens, and you can use it to bring them to you
- Purr – birds who are foraging use the sound
Via: @qoierz_
While there are many guides on how to make the most realistic sounds with a turkey mouth call, everything is up to you. The main thing is to know the basics.
The rest you can learn by listening to the birds in their natural habitat, experimenting, learning the reactions of birds to your sounds, practicing.
If you cannot make all the sounds immediately, don’t get desperate. It takes years for an experienced hunter to learn more or less approximately the majority of sounds that the wild birds make.
To master them, one needs not only to learn them once but to practice them constantly. Some skills are lost easily if you don’t practice.
Therefore, one of the main tips from professionals would be to practice between the hunting seasons. Only then you will keep the kills.
