Pot calls are relatively easy to use and come in a variety of materials including slate, crystal, and aluminum. Pot calls use a “striker” or “peg” made of various materials that is pulled across the face of the call, creating friction between the striker and the face of the call. Pot calls can reproduce very realistic sounds of the hen turkey.

In order to use a pot call effectively one must hold the pot lightly in your palm and up on your fingertips. Sounds will come out of the holes in the bottom of a call. Hold the striker similar as you would a pencil with slight angle to the face of the call.

Yelp- To make a yelp circle the striker in small circles about the size of a dime or little straight lines keeping the striker on the pot. Working near a call's outer edges will give you high-pitched notes and in the middle for softer, raspier yelps. (see Figure 1)

Cluck- To cluck pull a peg inward on a pot in short pops. Cutts are done the same way but use more pressure and do about 8 or so clucks quickly. (see Figure 2)

Purr- Purring is made by pulling a striker softly across the face of the call, either in small lines or semicircles. Purring on a pot calling takes a bit of practice but once mastered it may pull wary toms last few yards needed. (see Figure 3)

Maintaining pot calls is easy. They must be kept clean and free of dirt, contaminants like oil from fingertips can cause the call to operate ineffectively. To maximize friction between a striker and the face, roughen the call frequently with fine-grade sandpaper or an abrasive pad, occasionally sanding the tip of a wooden peg to keep it operating effectively. Note: To gain the best striking surface and create a sweet spot on your pot call, sand only in one direction, not back and forth. The striker is done the same way.

Mastering realistic turkey sounds takes practice and soon you will be calling in that long beard on your next hunt.

Good Hunting!

(Call Used is a Zink® Prototype Power Hen^TM Crystal Pot Call)