The 5 Best Turkey Calls for Beginners

Are you new to the sport of turkey hunting and looking for the best turkey call for beginners? If so, then you've found the right place! At first glance, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which turkey call is not only the best but also which one is the easiest to use. When turkey hunting, you will be faced with a lot of different scenarios; having a reliable, easy-to-use turkey call to use in each of those situations will go a long way towards making your next hunt a successful one. There are a lot of different types of calls that can be used by hunters of all skill levels, but we are going to focus on the ones that are best for new turkey hunters.

At MidwayUSA, we have several different types of turkey calls for sale. Some of the most popular types are slate calls, box calls, diaphragm calls, and push button calls. We've listed each of them below and a few reasons why they might be the right one for you.

Types of Turkey Calls

  • Slate Calls

Slate calls and Pot calls consist of a pot and a striker. The pot is a circle that is often made from wood or plastic and has a flat piece on top that is either slate, glass, or aluminum, depending on which type you prefer. The striker is the same size and shape as a pen or pencil, and it can also be made of wood or aluminum. The different materials for the striker and the surface of the call allow for a wide variety of rasp and pitch in your calling. You can find quality slate calls from trusted brands like Woodhaven and Zink

  • Box Calls

Box calls or "long box calls" are another great option for the beginning turkey hunter. This type of friction call requires you to slide the lid of the box across one of the two side pieces. As you slide the lid across the walls, focus on the rhythm and speed to create the sound of the turkey. Even though the box call is one of the best calls for beginners, it is also used a lot by many experienced hunters. It can make very loud calls, which is very helpful on those windy days.

  • Diaphragm Calls

Oftentimes referred to as a mouth call, the diaphragm call is generally one of the more difficult calls to master. However, once you have figured it out, it can produce more realistic turkey sounds than any other type of call. One of the other most important benefits of a mouth call is that you can use it without making any movement. This is particularly helpful when you've got turkeys that are very close.

  • Push Button Calls

Push/Pull turkey calls are another option that is great for beginners. As you'd expect from the name of the call, all that you need to do to operate it is push or sometimes pull a button or knob on the call. Push button calls work by pushing or pulling a knob back and forth, and the friction is what creates the sound. Don't let the simplicity of these calls fool you. With the correct rhythm and speed, you can make just as many turkey sounds with these types of calls as you can any of the others without risking making the wrong sounds.

Based on feedback from Customers just like you, here are the five best turkey calls for beginners.
1

HS Strut Suzie Snood Slate Pot Turkey Call

The H.S. Strut Suzie Snood Slate Call is a combination of the Famous Suzie Snood pot with a slate striking surface over a glass sounding board. Mined from the Pennsylvania mountains, this small 3” piece of pure slate has a big sound. Coupled with the HS carbon striker it creates high pitched yelping and  cutting to soft relaxed clucks and purrs. Hand assembled and produced in the good old USA, this call is a must have.

Features

  • Pennsylvania Slate
  • Hand Assembled
  • HS Strut Carbon Striker
  • High Pitched

 

What Customers Are Saying

Good Turkey Call

This is a good inexpensive turkey call. Works fine and is well made. Decent sound easy to use. Good value for the money
- Sandy Low Lead, 5/7/2022 Shop Now
2

Woodhaven Scott Ellis Energy Signature Series Diaphragm Turkey Call

Florida State Champion Scott Ellis has built this call for Woodhaven to bring some excitement to their new energy series. This 3.0 reed "V" or Vyper cut is high pitched and has a very sharp bite to it for super raspy yelps and cuts. This call produces the raspy yelps and cuts of an old lady hen and is great for cutting, cackles, and cluck'n purrs! Put some energy into your calling and bring more call shy gobblers into range with the new Scott Ellis Signature Series call from Woodhaven Custom Calls.

What Customers Are Saying

A great sounding call

Call was easy to use and has great sound. Used it to harvest my 21lb gobbler.
- Hunter, 5/5/2020

About Woodhaven

At WoodHaven Custom Calls, we know hunting. All deer and turkey calls are designed to help you succeed every time you’re in the woods. Woodhaven offers the easiest-to-use, most realistic calls on the market. MidwayUSA offers WoodHaven’s most popular calls for both deer and turkey in several different styles, including diaphragm, slate, box, and locator like the Cherry Classic, Red Wasp, and Ninja. American-made products, quality craftsmanship, superior Customer service, and sharing God's creation with family and friends...it's the Woodhaven Way!

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3

Primos Early Bird Turkey Box Call

The Primos Early Bird Box Turkey Call is a double-sided box, creating tones only Purple Heart can offer, that looks and feels as good as it sounds. Purple Heart is one of the most durable and sturdiest woods in the world. Not only is it exotic and rare due to its beautiful color, but is also water resistant. For easy yelps, no extra pressure is needed with its paddle, just drag it over the hardwood box and get combination of thick lows, and sharp high notes every time. This box call, sanded by hand, turns into two different hens, so it's like getting two calls in one.

Features

  • Purple Heart Paddle / Hardwood Box
  • Sanded by Hand
  • Double-sided box hand tuned for two different sounds

About Primos

As a 5-year-old boy in Jackson, Mississippi in 1958, Will Primos wanted nothing more than to tag along on duck hunts with the older boys in the family. When the day finally arrived, he was hooked on hunting for life. In 1963, at the age of 11, Will crafted his first duck call after a special day spent hunting in green timber with his Uncle Gus. Will continued to hunt through high school and into college. “Anything that flew, crawled, walked, or swam, I was after it.” Primos Hunting is the leader in the design and manufacturing of game calls for elk, deer, turkey, predator, and waterfowl. Their commitment to game calls extends to other great products, including ground blinds, shooting sticks, hunting vests, and many hunting accessories. MidwayUSA proudly carries several popular Primos products, including the Gen 3 Trigger Stick, Revolver Grunt Call, Double Bull Ground Blind, “The Great Big Can” Deer Call, and more! Primos – Speak The Language.

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4

Primos Turkey Call Starter Pack Combo

The Primos Turkey Starter pack has everything you need to get started on your next turkey adventure. The Turkey Starter Pak includes a Sonic Dome Mouth Call, Sonic Dome Slate Call, Slim Striker and a double sided box call. This pack is excellent for beginners and advanced hunters.

 

Features

  • Great for beginners and advanced hunters
  • Sonic Dome Mouth Call
  • Sonic Dome Slate Call
  • SLIM Striker
  • Double Sided Box Call

 

About Primos

As a 5-year-old boy in Jackson, Mississippi in 1958, Will Primos wanted nothing more than to tag along on duck hunts with the older boys in the family. When the day finally arrived, he was hooked on hunting for life. In 1963, at the age of 11, Will crafted his first duck call after a special day spent hunting in green timber with his Uncle Gus. Will continued to hunt through high school and into college. “Anything that flew, crawled, walked, or swam, I was after it.” Primos Hunting is the leader in the design and manufacturing of game calls for elk, deer, turkey, predator, and waterfowl. Their commitment to game calls extends to other great products, including ground blinds, shooting sticks, hunting vests, and many hunting accessories. MidwayUSA proudly carries several popular Primos products, including the Gen 3 Trigger Stick, Revolver Grunt Call, Double Bull Ground Blind, “The Great Big Can” Deer Call, and more! Primos – Speak The Language.

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5

Lynch Fool Proof Turkey Box Call

The Lynch Fool Proof Box Turkey Call features select straight-grain mahogany construction with an offset pivoting walnut lid that produces exceptional realistic hen yelps. A great call for a beginner or a seasoned veteran. With Lynch's Fool Proof turkey call you'll never look like a fool.

Features

  • Beautiful Straight-Grain Mahogany
  • Produces Exceptional Realistic Hen Yelps
  • Great for Beginners or Seasoned Veterans

 

What Customers Are Saying

Best box call on the market.

This is the best box call on the market IMHO, and definitely the best price you'll find. Definitely recommend it if you're serious about getting close to a gobbler.
- dlb66, 6/19/2017 Shop Now