For the people who have been hunting turkeys for the longest period, nothing can beat the importance of slate turkey calls. You may encounter some of the hunters addicted to getting their hands on almost every slate turkey call they see.
Such a craze over this equipment has made many new hunters curious about it. Not only is it fascinating to see, but it is also beginner-friendly. However, do not associate it with beginners only. Professionals use this tool until today, and you may also be surprised to see their expertise.
It is no longer a secret that everything in the world takes lots of practice and patience to learn. So by learning the technique a little bit, your hunting will surely give you the best results possible. However, if this is your first time dipping into something so deep, it is time to learn what it is.
What Is Slate Call?
How can you learn the usage of the slate turkey tool without exactly knowing what it is? So, in simpler words, it is a surface tied on the pot and creates the sound when hit with a striker (peg). Now, here is the twist. The sound created is not the normal sound you would expect a drum to make.
Its sound resembles the language of the birds you are trying to hunt. You can even call it the turkey language if you want because it does help you gather turkeys around you. Such a thing has transformed the complete hunting process for hunters.
Now the birds are chasing them rather than you going behind them, doesn’t it sound interesting? So now, you may be curious about the production of such sound. The surface is usually attached to the pot, which is hollow by drilling holes. So the sound resonates with the inner chamber.
You get a peg or what you may like to call, striker. When this peg is paired with the pot, it results in a beautiful yet efficient turkey caller.
Preparation
So now you know what this instrument is, it is time to divert your attention to other important aspects. The first one on the list would be the preparation you need to do before you decide to communicate with a turkey. You can’t just go around having this turkey caller in hand trying to attract a turkey.
Since there are only two things involved in this instrument, there is nothing much you need to prepare. After purchasing the best slate call, you may have seen sandpaper along with it. This paper is for prepping the surface of the slate call.
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So the first thing you need to do is use this sandpaper on the caller. However, one factor demands your attention, which is the motion of using it. You should never go in a circular motion while rubbing the surface. The best and most accepted way to do this is the gentle back and forth strokes.
So now the turkey caller is prepared. It is time to start practicing.
Brief Tips & Tricks
Before discussing any further information about such an amazing device, you must know a few things. First, you can never be perfect at what you are doing for the first time. So there are a few tips and tricks that will help you be a good caller comparatively earlier than others.
- Try Out Different Calls
It is undeniable that there will be a call that will become your absolute favorite throughout your journey. However, it may not be the case for a turkey. How would you feel if somebody kept saying the same thing time and again? Irritated, of course, and so will do the little bird.
There is a huge variety of turkey vocalizations for you to try out. Try going for the different, and you may find a turkey coming to you running for its life.
- Do Not Go Overboard With Calling
If you think that calling too much will get the bird to pay attention to you, you may be wrong. It is one of the major reasons why the turkey calling fails besides the hunter doing everything right. You may even alter some of the fellow hunters with the same aim as you.
So it is better to put the call away while just waiting patiently, without making any noise at all. Give a couple of minutes to the gobbler and observe. The hunters often exclaim that this species is the quietest they have come across.
- Do Not Chase While calling
You may think it is only right to start chasing the turkey while calling can save your time. However, it is not what you should be doing. The bird has been living in the wood for all its life, and your calling may not be affecting it too much. In such a case, diverting your focus will only make the efforts fail. So try not to chase while you are calling the animal.
Few Turkey Calls
Now that you know almost all the basics, it is time for you to pay attention to the must-known calls. Here is what you can do to produce some of the most effective and famous calls.
- Yelp
What else can be easier than drawing little ovals on the striking surface? So this is what you have to do to produce this call. Do not apply much pressure if you are aiming for softer yelps.
- Cluck
Take the striker and angle the tip inwards on the striking surface. Then, after applying some pressure, you pull it towards yourself. More the pressure, deeper will be the cluck.
- Purr
To imitate the purrs of a wild turkey, all you need to do is draw slow lines on the surface with the peg. If you do this in a more agitated manner, you will hear the fighting purrs.
- Cut
It is no different than clucking, besides being faster. So repeat the same process but a little faster.
Different Kind Of Surfaces
You can find a lot of different surfaces for slate calls. To create realistic sounds, a slate surface is used. Next, go for the glass or crystal surface for more high-pitched calls that work well in the wind. Now the third surface, you can get your hands on the power crystals. It will provide a good alternative for using a surface with both qualities.
Summary
Being an expert in turkey calling is not as hard as you may perceive it to be. With a little patience and practice, you will be able to produce the sounds that will have the flock of gobblers running towards you.
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