You are excused if you're among the confused when it comes to choosing a turkey call either to add to your selection or to start your turkey-hunting career with.

There are dozens of designs to choose from. According to the sales hype, any one of them is a necessity for successful spring turkey hunting.

Despite the array, every call can be simply classified as either friction or air-operated. The former are worked with your hands, and the latter require exhaled or inhaled air. There are differences in tone, depending on the material used to make the particular call, and the way you use it.

Of course, all these calls are designed to make realistic turkey sounds -- which most do very well.

The truth is that any call will work at times. But occasionally, one type of device will perform better than another. That's the main reason why experienced turkey hunters rarely go afield with only one call.

FRICTION CALLS
In my own hunting vest, I keep at least three friction calls and half a dozen mouth calls. On some tough days, I use all of them in an attempt to make something happen.

Of course, not all calls are created equal. There are advantages and disadvantages to every one of them, which may or may not be critical in certain individual hunting situations.

For example, air-operated mouth calls -- also called diaphragms -- can be used with no hand movement. But tube yelpers, also air-operated, are hand-held.

Friction calls, such as box calls and pot-and-peg calls, require the use of both hands, while push-button calls can be operated with just one hand.

The point is, some calls require less movement to work than others. That can be a plus when a sharp-eyed old gobbler is strolling into view. The critical part of using a hand-held call is to knowing when to put it down and get ready for the visit.

As for ease of use, it's generally agreed that friction calls -- especially the box type -- are among the most effortless to master. Mouth calls take some getting used to, and some hunters never overcome the gag reflex caused by having a foreign object pressed against the roof of their mouth. Once you get over the uncomfortable feeling, however, the gag reflex never seems to surface again.