Finding The Right Mouth Diaphragm

Hands. Free. Calling. To finish turkeys working to your setup, a mouth diaphragm is hard to beat.

But how do you know which one to pick?

Reed Choices

If you’re new to using a mouth call, start with a single- or double-reed option, and stay away from latex cuts. A single- or double-reed mouth call without cuts is easier to run for many beginning turkey hunters, as less air pressure is usually involved than with a more complicated latex reed configuration.

When you’re comfortable with those basic diaphragms, try a ghost cut, V-cut and other cut variations, often built with multiple stacked reeds. After you find a cut you like, continue to experiment while carrying the diaphragms that best suit your calling style.

Reed Thickness

Diaphragm call manufacturers vary latex thickness to put a range of sounds in your calling arsenal. From thin to heavy latex thickness, the options are many.

Thin latex affords high-pitched yelping. Heavy reeds allow for hard, deep, raspy notes. You might want to carry both to imitate the vocalizations an old boss hen might make or the kind you might hear from other flocked-up hens on spring mornings. More options mean greater versatility, including gobbler yelping.

In short, heavier reeds are louder but require more air pressure — a challenge to some novices and younger hunters. Thinner reeds are typically easier to run for beginners and might make the best choice for starters.

Reed Stretch

Here’s a simple way to determine how it will sound in your mouth: the tighter the stretch the higher the pitch. A looser stretch affords a lower pitch.

There’s another factor to consider. More reeds on a call also increase volume — something to think about when calling long-distance turkeys or to birds on windy, stormy days.

Next Call Up

In truth, you’ll likely need to carry several mouth diaphragms. Calling versatility in the turkey woods is crucial to matching the right pitch, note spacing and volume of the birds you encounter.

I’m the first guy to keep a mouth call until it falls apart, but at some point, you’ll simply have to toss it. And with a fresh diaphragm, you’ll be ready to yelp up new memories.

Make your pick.

Fine-Tune Your Mouth Calls

1. Sometimes, call tape is too big out of the package. Gently trim the sides first. Next, trim the back tape curve. Careful. Just a little at a time. Yelp as you tweak it. Try for a good palate fit.
2. If needed, gently adjust the mouth call frame to reinforce the latex reed tension. A little goes a long way with this tuning move.
3. To keep latex reeds from sticking, snip off the front end of a flat-tipped toothpick, and gently slide it between the reeds. Store calls inside a plastic refrigerated container. Remove the toothpick when calling.