Pot Calls

• Turkey calls were originally invented in the 1800s to mimic the sounds a hen turkey makes to attract a tom turkey. Pot calls are gaining popularity with turkey hunters, because they are simple and easy to use and they attract big toms. The call is placed in the palm pointing up towards the fingers. A peg is gently rubbed in a circular motion on the surface of the call to produce a yelping turkey sound. To make high-pitched sounds, rub towards the outer edges of the call. Softer rasps are produced from the middle of the call.
  
  

Push-Peg Calls

• Push-peg calls consist of small plastic or wooden boxes with a lever or striker, which is pushed or pulled, moving a rod that releases a spring-loaded peg that subsequently strikes the outer edge of the box, resulting in a hen turkey call. Push-peg calls do not have great volume and so cannot be heard very well unless the gobbler is really close. Durability isn't a strong point with these calls, as the boxes are thin and the strikers break easily.
  
  

Diaphragms

• Diaphragms consist of up to four reeds that are cut, split or notched for pitch variations and blown inside the mouth to mimic a hen turkey. With practice, a mouth diaphragm may produce many authentic hen turkey sounds, attracting big gobblers from a range of distances. The advantages to using a mouth diaphragm are that it leaves both hands free to use your choice of weaponry to land the gobbler. The call is placed half way between the back of the mouth and held between the front teeth; the short reed is held against the tongue. This may not be a viable call device for those who suffer from gag reflex, and a different choice of call may be more satisfactory.