Turkey mouth calls have one clear advantage over other types—you can run them hands-free. Sure, they require a learning curve, but if you find the right call and practice, you’ll be able to churn out a wide range of realistic turkey vocalizations while holding your gun at the ready. Unlike box calls, pots, or wingbones, mouth calls are easy to stash, relatively inexpensive, and you don’t have to worry about weather conditions affecting their performance.
However, you’ll need to test a few before you find one that works for you. Because everyone has a different size and shaped mouth, you might find that one call that works for you doesn’t quite work for the next guy. This is normal. And finding the right one feels a lot like finding a tom that’s ready to dance. When you do, you’ll know it. Here’s a list of the best turkey mouth calls we’ve used to chase gobblers across the country.
Jump to: The Turkey Mouth Calls We Recommend
What We Look For in a Good Turkey Mouth Call
These field-tested calls check all the boxes for us, and they’re responsible for more than a few punched tags. You might not agree with these picks, but you should agree with the factors below when you shop for your next call.
- Ease of Use
- Sound Quality
- Cut Type
- Versatility
Honestly, you’ll have to find a call that fits your mouth. You might even have to trim the tape a bit. Regardless, you need to find a call that you can run easily and sounds realistic. If you can run the gamut of turkey sounds on a single call, you’ve found your huckleberry.
Some cut types will serve some people better than others. This is because everyone has a different mouth. You might find that you can work a thicker/thinner latex. Regardless, you’ll likely burn through several calls before landing on one that suits you best. Luckily, turkey mouth calls are inexpensive, so you won’t have to blow your budget before finding the right one.
Jump to: What Makes a Good Turkey Mouth Call
The Turkey Mouth Calls We Recommend
The MeatEater crew has hunted turkeys almost everywhere you can find them. These picks represent the turkey mouth calls we trust when we’re trying to coax a stubborn gobbler in range.
Phelps Game Calls Parrish Rook Triple Steve's Pick
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Phelps Game Calls Rippin Red Brent’s Pick
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MeatEater X Phelps Latvian Eagle Janis and Tony's Pick
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Phelps Game Calls Casper Clay's Pick
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MeatEater X Phelps 3 Pack Jason's Pick
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Woodhaven Ninja Ghost Adam's Pick
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Pinhoti Mouth Calls Purple Ghost
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlight | Best for Aggressive Calling | Best Raspy | Best Volume | Best for Beginners | Best Value | Most Versatile | Easiest to Run |
| Cut(s) | Snake Tongue Cutter | Combo | “Chunk” | Ghost | Combo, Chunk, Hybrid V | Ghost | Ghost |
| Price | $34.99 (3 Pack)* | $11.99* | $34.99 (assorted 3 pack)* | $11.99* | $34.99* | $14.99* | $12.99* |
| Field Notes | Field Notes | Field Notes | Field Notes | Field Notes | Field Notes | Field Notes |
What Makes a Good Turkey Mouth Call
1. Ease of Use
Some diaphragm calls require a ton of air to run. Unless you’re an excellent caller, this means you’ll have less control over the sound quality. On the other hand, a call that requires minimal airflow is easier to run and control. If you’re just starting out, find a call that’s easy to use and stick to the basics.
2. Sound Quality
Realism matters when it comes to calling turkeys, especially pressured birds. Yes, sometimes a gobbler that’s ready to die will come running to anything that sounds remotely close to a hen, but these instances don’t happen often. This probably has more to do with user-ability and practice, but starting with a call that you can run well will give you a great foundation.
3. Cut Type
Depending on your skill level, some cut types will be easier to work. Again, this will take some trial and error to determine, so don’t be surprised if you go through several calls before finding one that sticks. Some cuts will excel with certain turkey vocalizations, so having a few different options in your vest never hurts.
4. Versatility
Stealth plays a huge role in turkey hunting success. If I can make all the sounds on one call, I don’t have to fumble around and find another call when I need to go from soft tree yelps to excited cutts or clucks. Find a mouth call that allows you to make as many vocalizations as possible and buy more than you need.
Field Notes from the MeatEater Crew
Steve's Pick
Best for Aggressive Calling
The chess-inspired mouth calls from Phelps’ Chris Parrish series include the Pawn, Rook, and Queen and feature a batwing, snake tongue cutter, and combo cut, respectively. The thicker top latex and aggressive cut on the Rook allow you to produce subtle calls for wary late-season toms or aggressive cutting sequences to fire up a midday gobbler. This versatility and ease of use make it a go-to call for Steven Rinella.
"I’m digging the Rook. I have trouble getting a good raspy sound with calls that don’t have an aggressive cut, and the snake-tongue cut sounds great and gives you a nice easy rasp."
A lot of folks struggle to strike the right balance of rasp between sounding too clean or like a dying hen. If this is you, the Rook should allow you to find the right groove. Even if you don’t, the Rook currently comes in a three-pack, so you’re unlikely to hit a stalemate.
Specifications
- Cut: Snake Tongue Cutter
- Price: $34.99 (3 Pack)
Brent's Pick
Best Raspy
Ask any turkey hunter what they’re looking for in a turkey mouth call, and you’ll likely hear “rasp.” Hens (I’m sure there are exceptions) naturally produce raspy vocalizations. It’s an important aspect of turkey calling, even if it’s overstated. If you’re looking for a call with all the rasp, Phelps Game Calls’ Rippin Red diaphragm has more than enough right out of the package, according to Brent Reaves.
"I like a raspy call and usually have to wear one out to get the rasp I’m looking for. This one came out of the package like an old rusty gate hinge. I’m gonna have to double-check to make sure my tetanus shot is up to date before turkey season starts."
This classic combo cut, triple reed diaphragm is user-friendly, making it easy for beginner or experienced callers to run.
Specifications
- Cut: Combo
- Price: $11.99
Janis and Tony's Pick
Best Volume
MeatEater X Phelps Latvian Eagle
Spring means gobbling turkeys. It also means high wind days. Whether you’re trying to strike a gobbler two ridges over or cut through the wind, it’s important to have a turkey mouth call that gives you crisp vocalizations and volume. The MeatEater X Phelps Game Calls Latvian eagle has thicker latex and a chunk cut that allows you to crank on the volume when you need it without sacrificing sound quality. Both Tony Peterson and Janis “the Latvian Eagle” Putelis pinned this call for its volume and durability.
"My go-to mouth call for bowhunting turkeys, or running and gunning with a shotgun, is the MeatEater X Phelps Latvian Eagle,” Peterson said. “The cut on the Latvian Eagle allows you to call as loudly as you want without fear of it suddenly getting squeaky halfway through a cutting or yelping sequence."
While the thicker latex may require more of a learning curve for inexperienced callers, you won’t have to worry if this call will last you through the season. Both Peterson and Putelis noted the thicker latex helps it retain its sound quality even after a season’s worth of intense calling. "You need to be able to produce a loud, raspy, two-note yelp that breaks sharply on the back end if you want to call in pressured birds," Peterson said. "This call is built for that task."
Specifications
- Cut: "Chunk"
- Price: $34.99 (assorted 3 pack)
Clay's Pick
Best for Beginners
Ghost cuts are some of the easier mouth calls for beginners to work. If you’re just starting out, a ghost cut with a lighter latex allows you to focus on positioning the call and manipulating airflow to produce clean turkey sounds without expending a ton of air. The Casper by Phelps Game Calls fits this bill, and MeatEater’s Clay Newcomb has been running this call.
"I really like the Casper. The ghost cut is easy to blow, and you can make soft yelps and purrs, but it also has a raspy tone for excited yelps and cuts," Newcomb said.
But don’t let this user-friendly ghost fool you. Ghost cuts can also be highly versatile in the hands of experienced callers. In fact, Newcomb noted that he can perform a kee-kee run on the Casper but "can’t on most other calls."
Specifications
- Cut: Ghost
- Price: $11.99
Jason's Pick
Best Value
Turkey hunters can always find room for another call in their vest. After all, you never know which one will break a wary gobbler and bring him into your setup. If you’re just starting out, trying multiple options is necessary to find the best turkey mouth calls that work for you. The MeatEater X Phelps 3 Pack gives you a variety of options at a great price. For this reason, Jason Phelps recommends this value pack as the "only calls you’ll need this spring."
"The MeatEater X Phelps 3 pack is tough to beat. The three calls are all different and complement each other well. Steve's Jake Brake features a combo cut that makes a great do-it-all call that can be used for loud cutting to soft, subtle yelps, clucks, and purrs to finish a bird. Similarly, Janis' Latvian Eagle features a chunk cut that has a lot of backbone and is great for loud cutting and yelps but not too wild to be used for a finishing call. The Loud and Clear is a light prophylactic-based call that shines for light bubble clucks, soft yelps, and purring."
Specifications
- Cut: Combo, Chunk, Hybrid V
- Price: $34.99
Adam's Pick
Most Versatile
I’m always interested in trying new calls but haven’t needed to over the past few seasons, thanks to the Woodhaven Ninja Ghost. It’s easy to run, and I can make every sound, from soft bubble clucks to loud cutting sequences. The green ghost cut has a lighter latex, so I wouldn’t recommend cranking down on it if you’re trying to strike a midday gobbler in high winds, but it thrives as a close-quarter call. It produces super-realistic sounds with minimal airflow, and I’ve gotten a couple of seasons out of a single call.
It’s not overly raspy out of the box, but the mid-sized tape allows you to play around with the positioning while calling to manipulate the tone and sound. The latex strikes a great balance of thickness. It’s not so thin that you have to worry about blowing the sound out, yet it’s light enough that it requires little air to operate. I’m a huge fan of this call, and over the past few seasons, it’s brought almost a dozen gobblers to the gun.
Specifications
- Cut: Ghost
- Price: $14.99
Easiest to Run
Dave Owens of the Pinhoti Project is something of a turkey-hunting savant. He belongs to the elite club of turkey hunters who have completed the US Super Slam. It’s no surprise that his mouth calls separate themselves from the rest of the pack, too.
The Pinhoti Purple Ghost requires so little air to work that someone with half a lung could run it without getting winded. Bubble clucks and tree yelps sound effortless and natural, and I was surprised at just how little air this call requires. Still, it’s easy to churn out sweet, raspy yelps when you need them. Beginning callers might have trouble getting volume out of this diaphragm, but experienced folks should appreciate this call’s versatility. I’ll definitely have this call in my pocket this spring.
Specifications
- Cut: Ghost
- Price: $12.99
