Most slate calls I have come across typically cluck and purr and cut really well. However, as far as yelps go, it just sounds like a piece of wood rubbing against a piece of slate.

There just isn't much turkey in them to me.

There's something for yall to kick around while we're all waiting around

Funny, I've always thought slate calls had really sweet yelps and purrs but not so much for cuts.

I think you're doing it wrong.


God Bless,
David B.

I've got a trough style slate that I think sounds really good but it's unlike any other pot call I have used. It just doesn't sounds like most slate calls I have come across.

Maybe I have just been watching the outdoor channel too much and heard some less than stellar calling.

I messed around with a woodhaven slate today and just didn't like it.

Different strokes I reckon

Pun intended?

If so, and being serious, strokes are not used on a circular slate, as the peg/striker never comes off the slate. Just a circular motion with the striker.

Fingers only holding the pot, and striker hand resting on top of fingers holding slate, to allow the pot to resonate.

God Bless,
David B.

Slate isn't my favorite either. As far as pots go, I like crystal, glass, aluminum, ceramic, and copper better. A Yelp on a mouth call or box sounds better than any of them though.

Sorry for the confusion, no pun was intended!

I just have not been satisfied with most of the calls I've used.

And this applies not only to my calling, but also too much more experienced "professional" turkey callers. I feel like a lot of calls (especially frictions calls) are squeaky, high pitched, and lack that meaty, slightly muffled resonating sound that's a real turkey makes. I have often compared the vocalizations of a canada goose to a turkey. Because they're both similar sized large birds, they both have a similar sound in terms of resonance. I describe the tone as horn-like...to me it's likely impossible that a bird any smaller could be physically capable of making it.

I guess it's kind of like a turkey gobble. I don't think any man made device could ever deliver the sounds or effect that an adult gobbler makes when he's on the ground within 75 yards of you. It's less of a sound and more of a vibration you feel way down deep.

I am NOT saying I could do any better in terms of making them. I know little to nothing about making turkey calls. It might just be danged impossible for a human to nearly emulate the sound of a turkey hen.

I just feel like some of the sounds desired by callers and call makers, and what they consider sounds good, are what THEY want to hear.

Sorry if I'm sounding like a bratty little pretentious turkey hunter but I don't mean to be!

Too late!

Dr. B

We're all pretentious, were turkey hunters

And this is the frustration of buying calls in the store; many times, they don't sound worth a hoot in the woods. All I can say is, you've got to find the right combination, and THAT is also frustrating 'cause you'll dump a lot of coin before you DO find it.

My old Billy White slate (walnut pot) and a hickory striker sound as much like an Eastern hen as you're gonna get, including the yelp...

YMMV; I know some hunters who thoroughly LOVE a squealing/squalling alum pot call w/synthetic strikers LOL .. so, to each their own, I guess... Gotta find what works for you, gives you confidence in the woods, and then you wear that out! LOL

BGD

yep, a lot of pot calls I've heard are way too high pitched and squeaky for my liking. My Cody woodsman slate with the hickory striker sounds almost to the t like most eastern hens you'll hear. The Cody drop dead series slate has the sound in between a slate and a glass call, but without the squeak of a glass call. It has more volume than a slate, and I can cutt better on than cut than anything I've touched.