The first step is to learn the different types of calling you wish to use.
There are many types of callers on the market, and each have their advantages and disadvantages. Here is an example of some of the basic commercial callers that are available today.
BOX CALLER; A box carved out on a piece of wood or made of plastic, usually wth a paddle or a scraper attached, is the most common type, and can be operated by almost anyone. Lynch and Penn's Woods are but two of literally thousands on the market today.
PLUNGER BOX; Quaker Boy makes one called Easy Yelper. If you could own only one call, this would be my choice. You don't have to be a skilled caller to bring in toms in spring or recall a flock in the fall with this one.
SLATE CALL; There are disks of slate, about three inches in diameter, set in plastic, that can make a great variety of turkey talk if properly rubbed witha pencil shaped wooden or plastic strikes.
If you are a first-time turkey hunter, your first choice should be a good box call, such as a Lunch or a Penn's Woods. Also buy a good instructional calling tape. One of the many available is Skeeter's Practice Tapes, which uses the same repetition principal that foreign-language taps do; "Just listen to the caller, than do the same."
After you've listened to some calling taps and practiced with the box call, go back the store and buy a diaphram and a Quaker Boy Easy Yelper or similar push-button model. Then, after some trying some out to see which is easiest for you to operate, buy a slate, glass, or aluminum call.
Of all the diaphram calls on the market, one in particular has caught my attention. It is a so called "Lip Call" that doesn't go in the back part of your mouth to gag you. These are sold by Classic Game Callers.
