Best Diaphragm call for a beginner

With the application deadline approaching I got to thinking about getting started learning to use a diaphragm call. After having a few issues with the friction calls last season in poor weather I’ve decided that this year I’m going to try again to use a diaphragm call. Is any one easier to use and learn than others. With my poor gag reflex this is going to be a challange to say the least. Any thoughts or ideas to get me started in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Buck Wacker:

I haven’t used very many different calls and couldn’t even tell you which diaphragms I have, but you mention “gag reflex” and I took the chance to trim mine very close to the metal “U” and that helped a lot!!!

I know there is some air getting through that part of the roof of my mouth, but I would really rather use the diaphragm now than any other call. I put two in my mouth at the same time and move them from cheek to calling position and can get two different sounds without having to move my hands. I love ’em!!!

Mark

I use a small frame/ youth call, and even have used the mini ones by Q.B. The small frames helped a lot when I first got started.

CW

Quaker Boy Old Boss Hen. Double reed and user friendly– trim as you need. Then

HuntNFish58,
After reading your post, I checked out the Quaker Boy website. I see they have a instructional DVD as well as two diaphrams. Would this be something you suggest for first time users?

I bought the Quaker boy CD last year and listen to it on my commute. Very helpful!!

The biggest issue with using a mouth call is being able to have it in your mouth without gagging. You can trim if needed but before even trying to make a sound with it just get used to it being in your mouth. Once you get used to that then go to work on making sounds with it. Good Luck they are the best calls in my opinion

+1 what pat said.

but i will add – dont get frustrated and give up.

i practiced with a mouth call for a couple months before i got comfortable with it. once that happens, your calling improves by leaps and bounds.

first thing i do on the first setup is pop in a mouth call, and a lot of times thats the only sound a tom hears before he folds.

oh yeah, to answer your question, about any single or double reed call is good to start with.

Quote:

---

With the application deadline approaching I got to thinking about getting started learning to use a diaphragm call. After having a few issues with the friction calls last season in poor weather I’ve decided that this year I’m going to try again to use a diaphragm call. Is any one easier to use and learn than others. With my poor gag reflex this is going to be a challange to say the least. Any thoughts or ideas to get me started in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your responses.

---

Some phenomenal advice here in these posts, and all I can do is echo the above comments. Start with youth or small frame calls, then move up to a closely trimmed adult call. After you’re comfortable with the call, then pick up that Quaker Boy CD as Kooty suggested. Mimicking live hens is about as good as it gets in terms of practice.

A note about call mfrs., I’ll be the first to admit that not all calls work similarly for all people. Some calls simply don’t fit well in my mouth. Whether it be the type of tape, size of the call, or the type of latex used, I simply can’t sound good on all calls. Try a few of the below beginners calls, then adjust as necessary if you’re not getting hen-like sounds after several weeks of practice. Generally, stay away from aggressive-cut calls and multiple stacked reeds as best you can. These take more air pressure and greater control to make them sound good. Once you get a bit more practiced however, these are all you’ll buy. A multi-pack might be something to look at.

I’d recommend this one for the small frame calls-

Mini-Mag 4 Pack

In terms of adult calls – they’re right about that Screaming Green Old Boss Hen. There’s not a sound you can’t make on that call. Another one to try would be the Twin II. That call is a cluckin’ and yelpin’ machine!

There’s lots of good calls out there, the key is finding the ones that fit your mouth best!

Joel

Excellent post and responses

I too have a very bad gag reflex and it took a little time to get used to having the thing in my mouth, I kept trying to get the thing as far back in my throat as possible and you got it, GAG. then I just started moving it farther towards the teeth to a point where I could do a good “cluck” out of it and worked the rest from that position.

The important thing to keep in mind is that you have a good seal around the top of the call so the only air going out is going through the latex, as a last resort is the only time I would try to trim the call because once you trim to much the call is done and in the trash (like so many I went through)

As mentioned earlier start with the single or split double SOFT reed calls and start with clucks and work to short yelps then continue as needed.

I still use my slate a lot but it is nice to be able to soft yelp and cluck with a mouth call when things are tight and movement has to be as little as possible.

I have my mouth calls in my pocket or mouth from mid winter till my seasons are over. You don’t have to keep calling on them you are just getting comfortable having them in your mouth, tucked to the side and being able to get then in the right position with your tongue.

Fun tip. On the first few days when people are driving with their windows open, pull up to a stop light with cars next to you and let out a couple of yelps while acting like nothing is going on. You will see people turn their radio down, rev the motor and look around to see if that noise is coming out of their car. It’s also fun to mess with your friends.