10 Best Turkey Calls For Beginners 2026 in the United States

The ESH Double-Sided Glass and Slate Turkey Pot Call is a versatile option for beginners looking to learn and improve their turkey calling skills. It features two different sound surfaces—glass on one side for sharp yelps and slate on the other for softer clucks and purrs—which gives you flexibility to attract turkeys at various distances and situations. This flip-over design is great because it combines two calls in one, so you don’t need to carry multiple tools.

The pot is made from walnut and cherry wood, which helps produce a balanced, natural tone that sounds realistic to turkeys. Beginners will find this call relatively easy to use because the surfaces respond smoothly, allowing you to practice timing and rhythm without too much frustration. More experienced callers can also adjust the tone and volume for finer control. It comes with a high-quality striker and conditioning tools, which are important for keeping the sound consistent over time.

This call is durable enough for regular outdoor use, and the compact size makes it easy to carry on hunts. Some users mention that proper maintenance is necessary to keep the glass and slate surfaces in good shape, but that’s common for most pot calls. If you’re starting out and want a reliable, dual-purpose call that helps you learn and grow, the ESH pot call offers a good balance of ease, sound quality, and durability.

The ESH Turkey Hunter Starter Pack is a comprehensive kit designed for both novice and experienced hunters. It includes three types of calls: an all-weather turkey box call, a slate pot call, and a 3-reed combo-cut mouth call, catering to various hunting needs. The box call, made from durable hardwood, is resilient in damp conditions and provides consistent performance. The slate pot call, accompanied by a wooden striker, produces high-pitched yelps, ideal for attracting turkeys in different terrains.

The mouth call is versatile, capable of producing soft kee-kees and louder clucks, making it useful for both close-range and long-distance calling. This kit is particularly user-friendly, allowing beginners to quickly learn and execute basic turkey sounds while also offering seasoned hunters reliable tools to refine their techniques. It's durable and built to withstand various weather conditions, enhancing its longevity. The compact size of the package makes it easy to carry during hunts, adding to its portability.

However, some users might find the learning curve for the mouth call slightly steep if they are entirely new to turkey calling. Additionally, while the all-weather box call is durable, consistent maintenance is required to ensure its optimal performance over time. This starter pack is a solid choice for beginners looking to master turkey calls and for experienced hunters seeking reliable and versatile tools.

The Woodhaven Custom Calls Legend Slate is a friction pot turkey call designed with beginners in mind. It uses a high-quality slate surface, carefully sanded to the right thickness, which helps produce realistic turkey sounds. The slate is hand-set in a walnut cup, adding to the call's durability and giving it a natural feel.

Many users appreciate the sound quality, noting it closely mimics real turkey calls, which is great for learning and attracting birds. This call is relatively easy to use once you get the hang of the friction technique, though it may take a little practice for absolute beginners to master the right pressure and motion. Its compact size makes it easy to carry around during hunting trips, so portability is a plus.

Since it relies on friction, it requires some maintenance to keep the slate surface in good condition, and it may wear down over time with heavy use. While it is not the absolute simplest call on the market, this pot call offers a good balance of realistic sound and durability, making it a solid choice for new turkey hunters who want a quality call that can grow with their skills.