There's also the peg-and-pot style of friction call. More commonly referred to as a slate call, this is manufactured in many versions with different materials that produce a wide range of sounds. In addition to actual slate, there are the glass pot calls, the aluminum pot calls and other types of materials used as sounding boards in the pots. But the common component is that there's a peg-type striker in one hand, and the pot held in the other, and you pull the peg over the surface of the pot to produce extremely realistic turkey sounds.

There are also the wooden box types of friction calls. There are an almost endless number of varieties of calls in this category. The box and paddle is the most common of all, based on my experience. They come in sizes from mini to magnum. But there's also the small "shirt pocket" box with a separate hand-held striker that's been chalked.

Finally, there's the simplistic-looking but highly effective push-pull pin-type box call. Some varieties of these push-pull calls are further refined so they're capable of attaching to the stock of your gun for close-range use with minimal movement. This enables a hunter to tempt that gobbler to take those final steps into shotgun range.

Before we get into the details of the specific types of calls, there are a couple more thoughts I need to lay before you. There are no beginner calls, only beginners playing the instrument. Second, you don't need to carry every type of call with you, but you need to select a variety that reflect the best use of your abilities so you'll have options in different hunting scenarios. Being proficient with multiple calls will enhance your confidence. And confidence is a key to talking serious stuff to a gobbler.

AIR CALLS
Everyone seems to think that they're not real turkey talkers unless they can use a mouth diaphragm. I won't go quite that far, but I will say a mouth call is a key component of calling. For many top hunters, it may not be their number one call, but it is a key part of their system.

It is an excellent call in wet weather, or even windy weather. You can get loud, high-pitched calls from this instrument. Wet weather does not affect it as it does many of the pot-and-peg or box-type calls.

But for me, the greatest advantage to diaphragm calls is that they are excellent finishing calls. The clucks, purrs or love calls used to convince that gobbler all is well and to come in those last few yards can be played for him at low, sweet subtle levels with no visible movement because it's shielded by my face mask.

The value of this ability to call with no visible movement cannot be overstated. I can focus totally on looking for the gobbler, or watching him react to the call if he's in sight. Plus, I can concentrate on the shot I need to make with no hands on a call. The more you hunt, the more you'll appreciate this ability once you learn it. Even if you learn to be confident in making only soft clucks, yelps or purrs, the mouth diaphragm will be a valuable ally.

Learn to use it to its full extent and you'll understand why so many hunters rely on it as their favored call. With the different models and types of reeds in these calls, you can make an endless variety of sounds. I'll carry at least three different types of mouth calls with me and on many occasions I've been through all three working the same gobbler. Sometimes the first two might make him gobble, but the third one would sound just right and he'd come straight in.

I never go to the turkey woods without a tube call. I'll have one on a lanyard around my neck and a backup (or two) in my vest. They are loud, but they can also be subtle. They have a pitch that can be heard a long, long way and make extremely effective locator calls. They are unaffected by wind, rain, cold or heat.