How to Use a Diaphragm Turkey Call – A Beginner’s Guide

Mastering the art of using a diaphragm turkey call takes practice, but following some key tips can help even beginners make realistic turkey sounds to bring in more birds. Here is a complete guide to using diaphragm turkey calls for beginners.

What is a Diaphragm Turkey Call?

A diaphragm turkey mouth call is a small, flexible device that fits against the roof of your mouth When you blow air over it with your tongue, it vibrates to mimic sounds made by wild turkeys

Diaphragm calls are considered more challenging than other types of turkey calls. But they allow you to make the widest range of turkey sounds since you use your mouth tongue and airflow to control them.

Turkey Sounds a Diaphragm Can Imitate

Diaphragm turkey calls allow hunters to replicate these common turkey vocalizations to interact with birds:

• Yelps – Communicate with other turkeys at medium distances

• Purrs and Clucks – Calm or gather turkeys at close range.

• Cuts and Gobbles – Get attention from a distance and challenge other males.

• Fly down and assembly cackles – Recreate morning fly down and gather flock sounds.

With practice, you can sound like turkey hens, poults and dominant gobblers with a diaphragm call.

Choosing Your First Diaphragm Turkey Call

Look for these ideal features when selecting your first diaphragm call:

• Single, clear latex reed – Easier for beginners to use than double or triple reeds.

• Thin paddle frame – Allows air to flow smoothly and makes manipulating the call easier.

• Ported edges – Helps project sound outward.

• Comfortable tapered shape – Fits securely and comfortably in roof of mouth.

• Adjustable band – Provides a custom fit.

Top beginner-friendly diaphragm calls include Primos HookHunter, Flextone Hot Shot, and Hunters Specialties Pro Diaphragm.

How to Position a Diaphragm Call Properly

Correctly positioning a diaphragm call in your mouth is key to making realistic turkey sounds:

• Place call high on roof of mouth, cushioned edges forward.

• Lightly pinch call between upper and lower molars to hold in place.

• Create an airtight seal with top of tongue on call’s tapered end.

• Part lips slightly and drop jaw open about 1 inch to shape air path.

• Relax throat muscles and breathe normally through nose.

Practice keeping the diaphragm call firmly in position so it doesn’t move around or make you gag.

Making Basic Yelp Sounds

The yelp is the most fundamental turkey call sound for beginners to learn. Follow these steps:

• Inhale and exhale completely through your nose and settle into normal breathing.

• Say the word “YUMP” hard to force air over the call and make it vibrate.

• Experiment with tongue position to direct air over the call. Center usually works best.

• Start with very light air pressure until you master the basic yelp sound.

• Blow harder to increase the pitch and volume for excited yelps. Soften for contentment or feeding yelps.

• Practice yelping 3-5 times in a series, varying length and pitch. Listen to real turkeys to mimic their rhythm.

Progressing to Other Turkey Sounds

Once you get the basic yelp down, try modifying the technique to create other authentic turkey noises:

• Clucks – Say a sharp “UT” and rapidly tap the air flow on and off.

• Purrs – Make a soft “ERRR” sound and quiver your tongue around the call.

• Cutts – Say “TAC” hard and chop the air flow sharply on and off.

• Gobbles – Say “GUH” deep and loud, forcing lots of air through the call.

Don’t get frustrated! Advanced turkey calling takes lots of practice and listening to how real turkeys vocalize. Master the basics first.

Helpful Tips for Using a Diaphragm Call

Follow these tips to get better results from diaphragm turkey calls:

• Stay relaxed and breathe through your nose to avoid choking on saliva.

• Lightly clench fist or bite stick to tighten throat muscles and raise pitch.

• Mimic hen sounds to draw in lovesick gobblers during breeding season.

• Use aggressive gobbling sounds sparingly to avoid scaring away real turkeys.

• Try different reed positions to alter sound. Higher on the roof changes the tone.

• Carry backups in case your call gets wet or damaged.

• Keep your call clean and dry in a protective case when not using it.

Common Beginner Problems with Diaphragm Calls

Avoid these common mistakes beginners make with diaphragm turkey calls:

• Too much air pressure – Forces the reed to flutter instead of vibrate cleanly. Go lighter.

• Poor tongue placement – Not directing air properly or allowing it to escape around the call.

• Saliva buildup – Interferes with the reed’s vibration. Try swallowing frequently.

• Gagging – Occurs from incorrect positioning. Move call forward or tilt head back more.

• Reed sticking – Keep reed surface clean, dry, and rub with plastic to prevent sticking.

• Damaged reeds – Replace immediately if reed wrinkles, tears or separates from frame.

Advanced Diaphragm Call Techniques

More advanced calling skills to learn with diaphragm calls include:

• Mimicking sounds of hen groups like clucks, putts and purrs together.

• Combining loud yelps, soft yelps, and clucks to sound like a flock.

• Making excited assembly/fly-down cackle vocalizations.

• Using cutting sounds to portray an aggressive dominant tom.

• Speeding up clucks and yelps to signal alarm or alert the flock.

• Making yelps, clucks and purrs trail off and get quiet like turkeys walking away.

• Adding realism by including pauses and silence between calls.

Be Patient and Practice Daily

Mastering diaphragm turkey calls requires regular practice to build up your mouth muscles and muscle memory. Be patient with yourself. Many hunters take weeks or months to become proficient with diaphragm calls.

Set aside 10-15 minutes per day to work on basic turkey vocalizations. Soon they will start to sound natural. With time, you’ll gain the advanced skills to mimic an entire flock of turkeys and pull in more wary birds!