Diaphragm Turkey Calls

[mjski42]

I am relatively new to turkey hunting, 3 years, have gotten 1 hen in the fall, but what are the secrets of using a diaphragm turkey call? How exactly do you use them, I begin to gag, which from what I read on the internet is somewhat normal. Once I get past that effect, I don't seem to get any sound out. Any help would be appreciated. I have 2 weeks to learn or continue to use a box call. Thank you in advance.

Diaphragm Calling Tips ·

* Slip a diaphragm into your mouth with the frame's open end pointing outward. Put the short reed of a multi-reed call down against your tongue. Place a call halfway between your front teeth and the back of your mouth.
* If a diaphragm feels too big or bulky, you can trim its tape skirt with scissors. But be careful! Too much trimming can destroy a call's air seal. You can also bend an aluminum frame slightly to ensure a tight palate fit.
* The key to using a diaphragm is jaw movement. Raise and lower your jaws while huffing air up from your chest and across a call's reed (s).
* To cluck say "puck," popping a short burst of air over a diaphragm's reed(s). String some loud and excited "pucks" together to cutt/
* To yelp you must tighten and loosen tongue pressure on a diaphragm to make it roll over into 2-note "kee-awks, kee-awks." It's pretty easy to do if your work those jaws!
* Before calling to a gobbler for the first time, roll a diaphragm around in your mouth for 10 to 20 seconds. This lubes and loosens the reeds and allows the call to roll over into nice yelps.
* Clean mouth calls with cold water every once in a while.
* Store diaphragms in the fridge; they should last several seasons

The primos sonic dome calls are easy to use and help to achieve proper placement in the mouth and the mini mags from Quacker boy allow an easy seal on most palates. Hope this helps. Practice, practice,practice.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by mjski42

I have 2 weeks to learn or continue to use a box call. Thank you in advance.

It took me about 3 days of using it 2-3 hours a day to get the noise. It was frustrating at first, but once you get it you have it forever. The problem I had the most was not pushing the call up to the roof of my mouth enough with my tongue. You need to make sure that it is pushed up there so no air leaks out the side of the call. The call should tickle a little bit if you are just barely off.

[windstalker]

to add to the previous great help, its my opinion when just starting out on diaphrams as my kids did, try the single or double reeds, the tripples and V cuts you will find harder, i have an old single reed that so wore out the aluminum very noticable, but i can do what it takes to flirt with the toms. But for some, it jest comes natureally. if you can use a box and or slate with peg or push box, it will add to your arsonal, I use a diaphram and box or slate at the same time, when one starts comin in, i can drop the hand held ones and if neccasary use the diaphram, and DONT worry about BAD NOTES, i know you cant sound like a rooster but if you have it down jest alittle , that bird aint goin to think to himself"HEY, is that a hen or an hunter, cause as we all probly no, we've heard some nasty soar throat hens in our times spint in the GREAT OUTDOORS jest my 2 cents WINDSTALKER