Just Starting Turkey Hunting Seriously This Year !

I'm kinda in the same boat, having given up hunting from 03-09 and never hunted Fl since last year, and sold most of my gear. of my turkey gear all I kept was my locator calls (owl,crow,peacock) and a box call. I tried mouth calls and found them hard to learn (for me) but have seen kemster do some realy good calling with them. I hit a lot of sour notes and get afraid I'll choke on one all alone in the woods lol. friction calls I liked and they have a multitude of sounds and an easy learning curve and are easy to change up by using different strikers ( just be carefull, they are very easy to lose ) I liked the slate probably the best but all work well at times, glass, ceramic, aluminium. I'd try a few with different surfaces on them and different strikers. one word of warning, watch your movements carefuly, nothing will get you busted by a tom quicker than putting down a call and picking up a gun, or turning to look at a sound behind you.good luck, I'm starting to get the itch big time myself.

Quaker Boy "Old Boss Hen" is the easiest/most versatile mouth call I've ever used. High enough to hit notes like the kee-kee, and raspy enough to cutt and cackle on.Watch all the youtube videos you can on using the mouth calls. Its sorta something you gotta learn on your own. Once you get the hang of it, its actually pretty easy

On your box call, learn to make a putt, and a soft yelp. Those 2 calls are really all you need. Don't over call. Generally speaking, turkey hunters call way too much and way too loud

I absolutely agree with the fact that most turkey hunters call way too much. However, the fun part of calling turkeys is you don't have to be the world champion! I have called in turkeys with just imitating the flapping noise they make when flying down from roost. When you have hens in close....listen to them carefully..imitate them. I use multiple calls....you name it I use it! I tend to stay away from the most "popular" brands and look for some calls that are not easily purchased but more from private individuals. The different tones and subtle differnces in wood perhaps in box calls seem to make a difference. That said...I called my largest longbeard to date, in with an old stand bye a Lynch world champion box call..LOL....Some of my favorite diaphram calls are cutting callers. They tend to produce a nice raspy call without too much effort. Michael Waddell has come out with a few that have worked well for me. Some say that if you have dentures it is more difficult to use a mouth call...not sure about that one! One of my favorite box calls that I have had for years is made of butternut. Being new to florida....my problem is not going to be able to call one in....I just need to find a place to hunt them first! LOL...no luck so far. Good luck and keep practicing....One day it will just click...keep them with you, practice while driving even. and keep them wet....I often keep mine in half strength mouthwash. also keep them in the fridge when not in use. If the diaphram drys out...they stick together and changes the tone completely. rinse them well to get any salt off of them after use. Having a multitude of calls is handy...but keep it simple. 2 or 3 friction calls and a few mouth calls will cover it well.....Most turkeys are killed with good woodsmanship skills rather than calling proficiency. Good Luck!

Thanks for the input ! I actually have been practicing while driving into work and also at work. Cracking myself up when some of my workers look at me and think I am losing it. I may not be fortunate to kill a turkey this year but I sure will have fun trying LoL !!!