Imagine this: You’re out in the woods, the sun is just starting to peek over the trees, and you hear a soft cluck in the distance. Your heart races! That’s the magic of turkey hunting, and a crucial part of that magic comes from your turkey call. But with so many different kinds of calls out there, especially pot calls, picking the right one can feel like trying to hear a whisper in a storm.
Many hunters, whether they’re just starting out or have been at it for years, find themselves scratching their heads when it comes to pot calls. You want a call that sounds realistic, one that will bring that gobbler closer, but the sheer variety can be overwhelming. What kind of striker should you use? What material is best for the pot? These questions can make buying a pot call a confusing and sometimes frustrating experience. You might worry about wasting money on a call that doesn’t work.
But don’t worry! By the end of this post, you’ll understand exactly what makes a great pot call. We’ll break down the different types, explain how they work, and give you the confidence to choose the perfect one for your next hunt. Get ready to learn how to pick a pot call that will have turkeys talking back!
Our Top 5 Pot Calls Recommendations at a Glance
Top 5 Pot Calls Detailed Reviews
1. Hunters Specialties HS Strut Cookie Cutt’R Tracer Turkey Clucks Yelps Purrs Hunting Friction Lid Slate Pot Call
Rating: 8.7/10
This Hunters Specialties HS Strut Cookie Cutt’R Tracer Turkey Clucks Yelps Purrs Hunting Friction Lid Slate Pot Call in yellow is a game-changer for turkey hunters. It simplifies making realistic turkey sounds, taking the guesswork out of calling.
What We Like:
- Super easy to use, even for beginners.
- The special lid guides you to make perfect clucks, yelps, and purrs.
- It’s made with good quality materials that will last a long time.
- You can make all sorts of turkey sounds with it.
- The bright yellow color makes it easy to find in your gear.
What Could Be Improved:
- Some advanced callers might want more freedom once they master the basic sounds.
This pot call truly makes turkey calling accessible to everyone. It’s a fantastic tool for any hunter looking to improve their success in the field.
2. Primos Hunting Primos Hensanity Molded Slate Turkey Pot Call
Rating: 9.1/10
The Primos Hunting Primos Hensanity Molded Slate Turkey Pot Call is a game-changer for turkey hunters. This call helps you make all the right turkey sounds. You can control the volume and tone of your yelps, clucks, cuts, and purrs. It’s designed for hunters, by hunters. This means it’s built to help you succeed in the field.
What We Like:
- It gives you amazing tone control for different turkey sounds.
- The molded tone ports let you easily adjust volume and sound.
- You can make it sound like one hen or a whole group.
- The Pennsylvania slate surface is very responsive to your touch.
- It comes with a one-piece striker, making it easy to start calling.
- Primos Hunting is a trusted brand known for making great game calls.
What Could Be Improved:
- Some beginners might find mastering the tone ports takes a little practice.
- While it offers great control, hunters always look for even more subtle sound variations.
This call is a fantastic tool for any hunter looking to improve their turkey calling skills. It offers great control and versatility, helping you connect with those gobblers.
3. STRUT COMMANDER Turkey Pot Call – Turkey Calling with Realistic Yelps Clucks Cutts Purrs for Hunting Turkeys – Made in USA – Gobstopper
Rating: 9.4/10
The STRUT COMMANDER Turkey Pot Call, nicknamed the “Gobstopper,” is a top-notch tool for any turkey hunter. Made in the USA with passion and expertise, this call aims to bring the wild turkeys right to you. It’s designed to create a range of realistic turkey sounds, making your hunting trips more successful.
What We Like:
- This call is super versatile. It makes loud, clear sounds that can reach turkeys far away. You can also make it quieter for birds that are close by. This makes it great for hunting in the early morning or when you’re really close to a turkey.
- The call is made with a beautiful hand-turned walnut wood pot and a crystal surface. This combination creates very real turkey sounds like yelps, clucks, cutts, and purrs. It really sounds like a real wild turkey.
- It comes with a two-piece purple heart wood striker. This striker gives you great control to make perfect turkey calls. You can make the exact sounds you need to attract turkeys.
- This hunting gear is built tough to handle any kind of weather. You can count on it to work no matter what the conditions are. It won’t let you down when you need it most.
- Proudly made in the USA by hunters who love what they do. This call is built to last and made with great care. Their love for turkey hunting shows in the quality of their calls.
What Could Be Improved:
- While the striker is precise, some beginners might need a little practice to master all the different sounds.
- The premium materials and US manufacturing mean it’s an investment, so the price point might be a bit higher than some basic calls.
The STRUT COMMANDER Gobstopper is a reliable and realistic turkey call that will boost your hunting game. Its quality construction and authentic sounds make it a valuable addition to any hunter’s arsenal.
4. HUNTERS SPECIALTIES HS Strut Sweet Suzie Snood Rasp Soft Seductive Cutting Calls Yelps Hen Turkey Glass Pot Call
Rating: 9.3/10
Get ready to bag that gobbler with the HUNTERS SPECIALTIES HS Strut Sweet Suzie Snood Rasp Soft Seductive Cutting Calls Yelps Hen Turkey Glass Pot Call. This call is built tough for all your turkey hunting adventures. It’s designed to be super reliable and make incredibly lifelike sounds that will fool even the wariest toms.
What We Like:
- This call is built tough and reliable for any hunting trip.
- The frosted glass over glass pan works great in all kinds of weather.
- It makes realistic hen turkey sounds with a nice rasp and good volume.
- You can make soft, seductive calls or loud, cutting yelps.
- The compact size makes it easy to carry in your pocket or pack.
- The included carbon striker helps create very natural turkey sounds.
What Could Be Improved:
- While it’s designed for harsh environments, extreme conditions might still test its limits.
This glass pot call is a fantastic tool for any hunter looking to improve their success rate. Its realistic sounds and convenient design make it a must-have for your next hunt.
5. Hunters Specialties Camo Cutt’R Slate Mossy Oak Bottomland Pot Call – Realistic Turkey Vocals Pot Game Call
Rating: 8.5/10
This Hunters Specialties Camo Cutt’R Slate Mossy Oak Bottomland Pot Call is designed to help you sound just like a real turkey. Its realistic sounds can fool even the smartest birds. The camo pattern helps you hide well in the woods. This call is a great tool for any turkey hunter.
What We Like:
- The Mossy Oak Bottomland camo pattern helps you blend in with trees and leaves. This makes it harder for turkeys to see you.
- You can choose between a slate surface for soft sounds or a glass surface for loud calls. This lets you make all sorts of turkey noises.
- It comes with different strikers. A hickory striker makes rich sounds, and a carbon striker makes sharp sounds for long distances.
- You can make many turkey sounds, from soft clucks to loud yelps. This helps you match how real turkeys talk.
- It has a loop for a lanyard. You can easily attach it to your gear so it’s always ready to use.
What Could Be Improved:
- The description doesn’t mention how durable the call is over time.
- It would be helpful to know if there are any specific tips for beginners using this call.
This call offers a lot of options for hunters to sound like real turkeys. It’s a versatile tool that can help you have a successful hunt.
Choosing Your Perfect Pot Call: A Guide for Aspiring Turkey Hunters
Pot calls are a fantastic tool for any turkey hunter. They make realistic turkey sounds that can really bring those gobblers in close. If you’re new to turkey hunting or looking to upgrade your gear, understanding pot calls is important. This guide will help you pick the right one.
Key Features to Look For
When you’re shopping for a pot call, keep these important features in mind:
- Sound Quality: This is the most important thing. A good pot call makes clear, realistic hen turkey sounds. Listen for calls that can make soft clucks, loud yelps, and even sharp cuts.
- Ease of Use: Some calls are easier to learn than others. If you’re a beginner, look for a call that’s forgiving and doesn’t require a lot of practice to make good sounds.
- Durability: You want a call that can handle being in the woods. It should be made of strong materials that won’t break easily if you drop it or get it wet.
- Striker Type: The striker is the stick you use to make the sound. Different strikers work better with different pot calls. Some are made of wood, others of carbon or plastic. The right striker makes a big difference in the sound.
Important Materials
The materials used to make a pot call greatly affect its sound and how long it lasts.
- Slate: Slate is a very popular material for pot calls. It creates a classic, mellow sound that many hunters love. Slate calls often produce a raspy tone that mimics older hens.
- Ceramic: Ceramic pot calls offer a brighter, sharper sound than slate. They can be louder and cut through the wind better. Ceramic calls are also very durable.
- Glass: Glass pot calls are known for their realistic sounds. They can produce a wide range of tones, from soft clucks to loud yelps. Glass calls are often very sensitive, meaning a light touch can create a great sound.
- Wood: The pot itself can be made of wood. Different types of wood, like mahogany or walnut, can add subtle variations to the sound. The striker is also often made of wood.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Several things can make a pot call sound better or worse.
- Craftsmanship: A well-made call will sound much better than a poorly made one. Look for smooth surfaces and a good fit between the pot and the striker.
- Surface Treatment: The surface of the pot call needs to be roughed up a bit for the striker to grip it and make sound. This is often done with sandpaper or a scoring tool. A well-prepared surface makes a big difference.
- Striker Condition: A striker that is too smooth or too rough will not work well. The tip of the striker should be shaped correctly for the call.
- Weather Conditions: Believe it or not, rain and humidity can affect how a pot call sounds. Wet calls might sound muffled. Some materials handle moisture better than others.
User Experience and Use Cases
Using a pot call is a hands-on experience. You hold the pot in one hand and the striker in the other. You then move the striker in a circular motion or a back-and-forth motion on the pot’s surface. Different movements create different turkey sounds.
Pot calls are great for mimicking the sounds of a hen turkey. Hunters use them to:
- Call in Gobblers: The main goal is to make sounds that attract male turkeys (gobblers).
- Locate Turkeys: Sometimes, just making a few soft sounds can get a distant turkey to answer, letting you know where it is.
- Practice: They are excellent for practicing your turkey calling skills at home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pot Calls
Q: What is a pot call and how does it work?
A: A pot call is a type of turkey call that makes realistic hen turkey sounds. You rub a striker stick against the surface of the call to create different noises.
Q: What are the best materials for a pot call?
A: Popular materials include slate, ceramic, and glass for the pot, and wood or carbon for the striker. Each material makes a slightly different sound.
Q: Is it hard to learn how to use a pot call?
A: It can take some practice, but many pot calls are designed to be easy for beginners. Start with simple sounds like clucks.
Q: Can I use a pot call in the rain?
A: Yes, you can use them in the rain, but moisture might change the sound slightly. Some calls handle wet weather better than others.
Q: What kind of sounds can a pot call make?
A: Pot calls can make a variety of sounds, including clucks, yelps, purrs, and cuts, which are all common turkey vocalizations.
Q: How do I make a good sound with a pot call?
A: You need to move the striker across the surface of the pot. Different speeds and pressures create different sounds. Experiment to find what works.
Q: What is a striker?
A: A striker is the stick you use to rub against the pot call to make sounds. They are usually made of wood, carbon, or plastic.
Q: Do I need more than one pot call?
A: Many hunters like to have a few different pot calls. Different calls and strikers can produce different tones that might work better in certain situations or for different turkey moods.
Q: How should I clean my pot call?
A: You can gently wipe it down with a dry cloth. Avoid getting it too wet. If the surface gets very dirty or slick, you might need to lightly score it again.
Q: Where is the best place to buy a pot call?
A: You can find pot calls at outdoor sporting goods stores, hunting supply shops, and many online retailers.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.
Hi, I’m Robert Contreras, a passionate archery instructor based in the USA. With years of experience under my belt, I’ve dedicated my life to mastering the art of archery and sharing its intricacies with enthusiasts of all levels. Through my website, 10Bows.com, I invite you to explore a treasure trove of tips, techniques, and personal insights that reflect my journey in the world of archery. Whether you’re picking up a bow for the first time or refining your skills, I’m here to help guide you toward precision, focus, and a deeper appreciation for this timeless sport.