Picking the right turkey call is one of the most personal decisions in hunting. What sounds incredible coming out of one hunter’s hands sounds like a dying cat from another. The good news is that modern turkey calls cover every skill level from absolute beginner to seasoned caller, and having the right combination of calls in your vest gives you an answer for almost any situation a gobbler throws at you. Here are the 10 best turkey calls of 2026 broken down by type, skill level, and when to use them.
A Quick Note on Turkey Call Types
Before we get into the list it helps to understand what each call type does and when it shines. Box calls are the loudest and easiest to learn, great for reaching birds at distance. Pot and slate calls give you a softer, more realistic tone perfect for close range work. Mouth calls or diaphragms leave your hands free for your shotgun or bow and are the most versatile once you learn them. Locator calls shock a gobbler into revealing his location without attracting him to you. Shaker calls reproduce gobbler sounds and are deadly during the right situations. Specialty calls like wingbone and push button fills specific gaps in your calling arsenal. Having a mix of these types makes you a much more complete turkey hunter.
The box call every beginner should start with and every experienced hunter should keep in their vest. The Hunter’s Specialties Strut Raspy Combo is the box call I reach for first when I need to reach out and locate a bird at distance or fire up a gobbler that has gone quiet. The raspy tone is realistic and the combo design gives you multiple sound options in a single call. Run the paddle with light pressure for soft yelps and more aggressive pressure for loud cuts and excited hen cackles.
Best for: locating birds at distance, firing up aggressive gobblers, beginners learning their first box call
The Lynch World Champion is a legend in turkey hunting and for good reason. This is one of the most iconic box calls ever made and it has been producing gobblers for decades. The sound it produces is rich, resonant, and incredibly realistic. If you want a premium box call that has stood the test of time and will likely outlast any other call in your vest, this is it. The craftsmanship is exceptional and the tone is something you have to hear to appreciate.
Best for: experienced callers who want a premium sound, hunters who want a call that will last a lifetime, anyone who appreciates the heritage of traditional turkey hunting gear
When a gobbler is close and you need to drop the volume and get subtle, a slate pot call is what you reach for. The Nationwide Scents Walnut Slate Call produces a rich realistic tone that is absolutely deadly for close range work. Soft purrs, clucks, and light yelps on this call will bring a hung up gobbler the last 50 yards when a loud box call would only push him further away. The walnut pot gives the sound a warmth and depth that you do not get from cheaper synthetic pot calls and it comes with a striker that gives you excellent control over volume and cadence.
Best for: close range work, finishing hung up birds, soft subtle calling when a gobbler is already committed
Crystal pot calls produce the highest pitched, sharpest tone of any pot call material and the Scratch Crystal Cherry Wood call is a standout in this category. The crystal surface cuts through wind and background noise better than slate, making it a top choice for hunting in breezy conditions or open country where you need to carry sound further. The cherry wood pot gives it a beautiful look and the combination of crystal surface and wood resonance produces a tone that is hard to match. This is a call that sounds great in the hands of beginners and experts alike.
Best for: windy conditions, open terrain hunting, hunters who want a different tone option from their slate call
Lynch has been making turkey calls since the early days of the sport and the Jet Slate is a testament to what a well made pot call can do. This is a classic slate surface call that produces the traditional raspy yelps and purrs that have been killing turkeys for generations. The Lynch name carries weight in the turkey hunting world and this call backs it up. If you want a traditional slate tone from a brand with a proven track record, the Jet Slate belongs in your vest.
Best for: hunters who want a classic slate tone, experienced callers looking for a reliable traditional option, anyone who appreciates proven gear with a long history
Mouth calls or diaphragm calls are the most versatile turkey calls available because they leave both hands completely free. That means your gun or bow is up and ready while you are still calling, which matters enormously in close range situations where movement will spook a bird. The ESH Combo Mouth Call set gives you multiple reeds in a single package so you can find one that fits your mouth correctly and produces good tone. Having backups matters because diaphragm calls can fold or wear out at the worst possible moment deep in the woods. The learning curve is steeper than a box or pot call but the payoff in hunting effectiveness is substantial.
Best for: hands free calling, close range situations, hunters who want to call without giving away their position through movement, experienced callers who have put in the practice time
Primos is one of the most trusted names in turkey calling and the Hen House mouth call is one of their best. The multi-reed design produces a wide range of realistic turkey sounds with the kind of raspy quality that mature gobblers respond to. This is a step up in complexity from a single reed call and produces the layered tone that experienced callers use to create truly convincing hen sounds. If you are comfortable with basic mouth calls and want to elevate your game, the Full House gives you more range and realism than most single or double reed options.
Best for: experienced mouth callers, hunters who want a premium diaphragm option, close range finishing work
The push button call is the most beginner friendly turkey call ever made and the Hunter’s Specialties Push Button is one of the best versions of it. You simply push the button and it yelps. No technique to learn, no practice required, just push and call. It sounds surprisingly realistic and produces consistent yelps every single time regardless of how nervous or excited you are when a gobbler is closing the distance. It is also completely one handed which makes it useful in situations where you need your other hand for something else. Do not underestimate this call. Plenty of experienced hunters keep one in their vest specifically for situations where they need a quick hands free option.
Best for: absolute beginners, hunters who struggle with box or pot calls, quick one handed calling, youth hunters
This one is not a turkey call in the traditional sense but it is an essential piece of every serious turkey hunter’s kit. The Primos Hoot Flute is an owl locator call and its job is to shock a gobbler into revealing his location with a gobble without triggering him to come looking for a hen. You use it before first light to locate roosted birds without burning your position, or during the day to find a quiet gobbler without committing to a full calling sequence. The realistic barred owl hoot cuts through the woods and produces shock gobbles from birds that have gone silent to other calling. Once you locate a bird with a locator call you know exactly where to set up without giving away your position.
Best for: locating roosted birds before first light, finding silent gobblers during the day, scouting new areas
The gobbler shaker is a specialized call that most beginner hunters do not think about but experienced turkey hunters know can be a game changer in the right situation. The Primos Gobbler Shaker reproduces the sound of a gobbling turkey, which in the right circumstances triggers a dominant tom’s territorial instincts and pulls him in aggressively. The technique is simple: hold it upright and shake it. The realistic gobble sound it produces is remarkably convincing. Use it sparingly and strategically. A gobbler sound in the wrong situation can push a bird away rather than bring him in, but when a dominant tom is hung up and you need to trigger his aggression it can close the deal when nothing else will.
Best for: triggering territorial gobblers, breaking a stalemate when a bird is hung up, experienced hunters who understand when to use gobbler sounds
How to Build Your Turkey Call Kit
You do not need all ten of these calls to kill turkeys. A well rounded beginner kit needs three things: a box call for locating and firing up birds at distance, a pot or slate call for close range subtle work, and a locator call for finding birds without committing. That combination covers the vast majority of hunting situations you will encounter.
As you gain experience add a mouth call so you have a hands free option for close range situations. Then add specialty calls like the shaker and push button as you develop a feel for when each tool fits the situation.
The most important thing is spending time with your calls before the season. A call that sounds terrible in the parking lot will sound terrible in the woods. Practice until you are comfortable and consistent with each one and you will be ready when a gobbler steps out at first light.
For more turkey hunting tips check out our complete beginner’s guide to Arizona spring turkey hunting.
For help drawing your Arizona spring turkey tag check out our guide to understanding the Arizona turkey draw.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase through these links I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend gear I’ve personally researched and selected for quality and value.
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