If you are looking to get into turkey hunting, spring or fall, it's practically impossible to hunt them without using a turkey call. Whether it's a hen purr or a Tom gobble, you'll need to bring them close and it'll only happen by chance if you're not using a call.

This guide will help you determine which you'll need, cost, the difficulty of use and the sounds you'll get.

Types of Calls (easiest to advanced)

Push Button Call

This is the easiest of the calls to use, and I would suggest, having at least one of these calls available if all else fails. Perfect for starters. (I've been hunting for years, taken many turkeys and this has been my primary call) These calls are made of wood or a plastic composite. You simply push the "button" on the call to create the sound. They work by pressing one narrow peice of wood/plastic against a small broader peice. Each call has a different timber so try them out. I prefer the higher pitched plastic calls as they stay dryer (watch the wood in wet weather), have a slightly higher pitch and can be a bit louder which is nice in windier situations or over longer distances. It can create a wide range of hen sounds and only takes one hand to operate which is a plus. These calls often come with a strap to attach them to your gun so simply pulling a string will operate them when you have the gobbler close and your gun ready to shoot.

Price: $7 to $30. A nice medium priced is $11.

Push Button Yelper (my favorite) by HS Strut Quaker Boy Wood

Gobble Call

This call is used to create the gobble sound of a male turkey. Usually you use this call to anger other male turkeys although it could be used to attract hens. It's use is simple as all you do is shake it at a rhythm that sounds most like a gobbler. The pros to using this call is the ease of use and may work when nothing else gets a Tom to gobble. The downside is that it takes a lot of movement to operate so it easily blows your cover in closer ranges. It also has a safety issue as you'll want to make sure you're the only hunter in the area. Don't use this call and then move as another hunter may mistake you for a Tom. Be careful with this call other than using it as a locator. 

Price: $10 - $30

 Primos The Gobbler Locator Call

Box Call

These calls operate by simply holding the base of the call and moving the top of the call across it (which is on a swivel point attached to the base). It is fairly simple to use as you just need to figure out the angle of the two peices striking to get the correct sound. You'll need to periodically use the provided chalk to chalk up where the two peices strike. Again, watch the wood in wet scenarios - it just won't work. 90% of these are made of wood. Try and use one before you buy (visit a store before looking on ebay for a deal). They will vary in pitch and ease of use. It can create a variety of hen sounds but does require two hands to operate.

Price: $10 - $50 A nice medium is around $13- $20.

M.A.D.D. Bomb Box Call  Primos Heart Breaker Box Call

Slate Calls

These calls have two parts to them. A striker and a base. The striker is usually made of wood or plastic. The base is made of a "glass" or slate. By moving the striker over the base in a circular or other motion, you can make hen sounds of all kinds. This call takes a finesse and practice to get used to. It also takes both hands.It can create some loud sounds which is nice. You may have to spend a little more money for a quality call - just depends on your skill level but I think you get what you pay for more equally with this type of call. This call does require two hands to operate.

Price:.$10 - $35

Knight and Hale Sweet Hen Slate

Mouth Diaphragm

Mouth Diaphragms come in pretty much a standard shape. The have a rigid structure in a 'u' shape with a soft rubber peice that stretches to the sides. The entire peice is put into your mouth and then using your tongue and the right amount of pressure, you place the call in the roof of your mouth and push air over the "reed". This call takes a lot of practice and tweaking. That's the down side - lots of frustration - until you master it. The benefits are it is a hands free call and can help when the turkey is close and any movement will blow your cover. Some have double peiced reeds vs single. It's a matter of the sound you're looking for and typically you don't know until you try. This call is used to make a variety of hen noises.

Price: $5 - $15 -  a medium cost is around $7

 Primos Diaphragm Dirty Double

Tube Diaphragm Call

Similar to the mouth call as use pushes air over the reed. The difference is that you don't put call in your mouth so you have to hold it with your hand. You can use this call to make hen and gobbler sounds.

Price: $7 - $20

 Knight and Hale Thunder Tube Widow Maker

Miscellaneous Calls

Some other calls you may want to add to your bag include an owl hoot call and a crow call. These calls are used as locator calls to make a Tom "shock" gobble. You can use these to put a turkey to bed or help determine if a turkey is close by but not visible. The owl hoot takes a little practice to get the cadence down but both are usually blown into to make the sound.

Price: $5 - $20

 Quaker Boy Crow/Owl Combo

Some last notes:

Once you buy a call, the package will usually help you further with how to use it and what calls it will easily create - purring, cutting, yelping, gobbling, hooting or crowing - and when to use each sound. Don't get frustrated right away. Stick with it and practice in the car or at home (assuming you have a solid marraige) or patient relationship with your family. It's nice when you have a combo package that comes with a video or audio tape so you can mimick the sounds you are trying to make. Without knowing what you're supposed to sound like, you may attract cows rather than turkeys. An electronic trainer or call maker can help you in your advancement but don't use it in the field unless local rules allow it (most don't).

As I stated above, it's good to have at least two types of calls available in case one gets wet, isn't as easy to use as you thought or just for variety to entice the turkey. Stealth and little to no movement is key for turkey hunting so as you decide on which calls to purchase keep that in mind (one hand vs two operation). Use caution when calling with a gobbler and always obey the rules of safe and ethical turkey hunting. See the glossary of terms below for more information. Each of the calls above will create the hen sounds you want except the gobbler, crow and owl call.

Other items for turkey hunting to look into are ground blinds, turkey decoys (male or female), a camo outfit including head mask (I like leafy wear), a good seat cushion and a back rest.

Have fun turkey hunting and remember that the future of hunting depends on your ethics and the generation of tomorrow getting in the field. Have fun and bag that Tom!

Glossary of Terms

Tom - a mature male turkey

Jake - a young male turkey

Hen - a female turkey

Purr, Cut, Yelp - Sounds a female turkey makes depending on mood or situation

Gobble, Drumming, Spitting - Sounds a male turkey makes depending on mood or situation

Shock Gobble - Male turkeys often gobble when shocked or scared. An owl hoot or crow call often elicits this repsonse. So do aqueaky brakes on a car or thunder from a storm. They are easily shocked at times.

Locator Call - this is usually a crow, owl, or gobble call and is used to entice a gobbler to gobble.

Putting to Bed - At dusk, just as the sun is setting, turkeys will usually fly up to roost. If you are set up, quietly in the woods, you can often use an owl hoot to locate where the Toms are roosting as it will elicit a gobble in many circumstances. Then the next morning, you can set up close to where they roosted/went to bed.  

Pitch - Hen noises range from higher pitched to a very raspy, garbled sound depending on age and mood

Chalk -  Some types of  calls come with a peice of chalk (or sand paper)  to help keep the area where the surafaces strike dry and keeping the correct sound

Strut - When a Tom is excited by a hen and wants to put a display on or to show dominance to another male turkey.

Beard - A protruding tuft of feathers (looks like coarse hair) from the chest mostly on male turkeys but sometimes on a hen (check local regulations if you can shoot bearded hens).

Spurs - Hornlike protrusions on the legs of turkeys that help in defense.

Spring Season - one of two seasons most states have where turkeys are most verbally active due to it being mating season

Fall Season - One of two seasons usually open for hutning season. Most turkeys aren't as active and responsive to calls during this season.