Houndstooth Game Calls

One of the questions I get all the time is how to produce that clear front end of a wild turkey yelp. That clean note before it rolls into a rasp is something every caller wants, but a lot of folks struggle with it at first. So I wanted to break down exactly how I do it.

Start With a Call That Fits You

For me, the call matters. I need something with a cut on the left side, like the G Baby 3 Reed Mouth Call or a batwing style call, such as the Blue Double Batwing 3-Reed. That design lines up with where my air naturally travels and lets me get that clarity at the front of the yelp.

Everybody is different, though. Your air channel may hit a little right or a little left, but once you find a call that matches your air, the rest becomes a lot easier. If you are still figuring out what style fits you best, take a look at our full line of handmade diaphragm turkey calls.

The Secret Is Air Control, Not Blowing

When I run a yelp, I am not blowing hard. I am not forcing air. The yelp comes from little controlled bursts coming straight from the diaphragm. Think of it like panting, just more controlled.

Each burst of air is one note of the yelp. When you line those notes up in the right rhythm, you get the cadence of a real hen. First work on producing a single clean note. Then add the roll over into rasp. Both come from the diaphragm, not from pushing air out of your cheeks or moving your jaw.

If you want more step-by-step help with air control, be sure to read our guide on how to cluck and purr on a turkey mouth call.

Do Not Move Your Jaw to Make the Yelp

A lot of people think the jaw is what creates the break. That is not the case. When I call, it may look like my jaw is moving, but if you watch my teeth, they never really close. The action is actually in the lips and face muscles.

The yelp starts with your mouth open. As you close your lips, the sound rolls over and breaks into rasp. Try it slow until you feel it. Open to start the yelp, then close to finish it. That motion creates the break and gives the yelp that natural hen sound.

Everyone Has a Different Sound

The more you practice, the more you will find your own little niche. Your voice will not match mine, and it should not. Every turkey sounds different, and every caller does too.

Some people call more out of the side of their mouth. Some close their lips a little tighter or looser. None of that is wrong. It is all about finding what gives you the clean front end and smooth break that sounds real in the woods. If you want to experiment with different cuts, a great place to start is the Turkey Hunters 3 Pack, which gives you a V-cut, combo cut, and batwing in one bundle.

Practice Under Pressure

Right now is the perfect time to practice. I remember when my yelp started changing, and I got on a turkey during the season. My heart was racing, and all of a sudden I had trouble forming the yelp the way I did at home. Pressure changes everything.

The more you practice, the better that muscle memory becomes. When your heart is thumping and you are leaned up against a tree with a gobbler coming, you want that yelp to be automatic.

Keep Working At It

Do not get discouraged. These fine details take time. Get a call that fits your air. Learn to control the diaphragm instead of blowing. And practice that open to closed movement with the lips to get the roll over.

Keep after it and you will see improvement every week. I hope this helps you tighten up that front end and get your yelp sounding like a real hen.

If you are ready to dial it in even more, check out our full lineup of turkey calls, and for more calling fundamentals, read more mouth call tips on the Houndstooth blog.

There’s something about those first few days of rifle season in Alabama. The anticipation. The tradition. The chance that today’s the day you’ll see something you’ll never forget.

Even though I picked up the rifle on opening morning, I just couldn’t let go of that bow.

Here’s how one quiet Sunday turned into one of my most memorable hunts—with my son right there to help me track him.

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I don’t think I’ve missed a Bama rifle opener since I was old enough to tag along. It’s something we look forward to all year. This year, I took the rifle with me on Saturday, but it didn’t take long before I knew I wasn’t ready to put the bow down just yet.

Sunday morning, the sheet monster got me, and I slept in, but by afternoon, I was up and ready to hunt a hang-on stand I’d set up the week before on a gas line. I’d planted WMS Deer Magnet down that line, and I’d been keeping tabs on it.

From watching that spot, I knew the pattern: the mature bucks came from the north, out of a big clear-cut. They’d grab a bite and angle across to a trail. Younger bucks? They’d just meander any which way.

Scrapes and rubs told me something mature had been through recently. So I climbed in around 2:45. The weather was right. The wind was perfect.

And then… nothing.

It got late enough that I turned to look at my bag and bow hanging there and thought, “Might as well start climbing down.” I turned my head back around—and at 25 yards, he was just standing there. Like a ghost.

One flash of those main beams and I knew he was a mature deer. Points were a blur—but I didn’t need to count them.

He turned broadside and I drew. Then he faced me and started walking in. I let the bow down and waited.

He turned again, looked broadside, but ended up quartering-to just a bit. I settled the pin and touched it off.

I heard the arrow hit solid. He bolted uphill, but I knew he wouldn’t make it far. Not up that steep hill. Sure enough, I heard him crash and kick a few times.

I kept it together during the shot, but after that arrow left the string, I started shaking that little tree like I was squirrel hunting. That rush is something else.

I got my composure, called Drake, and after a bit, we picked up the trail. Great blood. About 70 yards later, we found him lying in some short pines.

Drake looked at me and said, “I’m so glad we don’t have to drag that deer up one of these hills.”

I said, “You ain’t kidding.”

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That evening’s hunt went from dead quiet to full throttle in a heartbeat. And the best part? My son was there with me. He was just as excited as I was. I’m sure neither of us will ever forget it.

That’s what it’s all about: time together in the woods, passing it down, and making memories that last a lifetime.

Y’all stay safe, enjoy every chance you get, and don’t be afraid to keep that bow in your hand a little longer than you planned.

~Lyle

Here is a YouTube Short on how the hunt went:

There’s a lot of talk out there about what the “best” pot call is, but the truth is, it depends on how you hunt, where you hunt, and what kind of sound you like to run.

I get asked all the time:
“Lyle, what’s the difference between a glass, slate, and aluminum pot call?”

So let’s break it down real simple. I’ll walk you through how each one sounds, when I like to use 'em, and how to pick the right call for your hunting style.

Slate Pot Calls

Soft. Smooth. Forgiving.

Slate’s the classic choice, and for good reason. It’s easy to run and great for soft yelps, purrs, clucks, and tree calls. If you’re just starting out or need a call that works well in close quarters—this is it.

Best for:

• Quiet mornings
• Close-up birds
• Tree yelps and soft clucks
• Hunters who want full control

Lyle’s Note: Slate’s not as loud as glass or aluminum, but it’s deadly when a gobbler’s already close and you need to finish him.

Glass Pot Calls

Crisp. High-Pitched. Reaches out.

Glass calls carry. If you’ve got wind or need to cut through thick timber, a glass pot with the right striker will sing. It’s great for locating birds or running aggressive yelps and cuts that demand attention.

Best for:

• Windy days
• Long-range calling
• Aggressive yelping and cutting
• Confident callers who want to reach deep

Lyle’s Note: If I’m trying to pull a gobbler from a ridge over or across a field, glass is usually what I grab first. If you’re working birds that respond well to aggressive calling, glass will usually cut through when other calls fall flat.

Aluminum Pot Calls

Sharp. Raspy. Piercing.

Aluminum is the wild card of the bunch. It’s got its own unique sound; high-pitched with a sharp rasp that’s great for getting a reaction from tight-lipped birds. Don’t sleep on it. Some days, aluminum will light one up when nothing else will.

Best for:

• Mid- to long-range calling
• Striking pressured gobblers
• Cutting through wind or thick woods
• Turkey hunters who like something different

Lyle’s Note: If I’m running and gunning and want a sound that stands out from every other call in the woods, I’ll pull out an aluminum.

Which One Should You Carry?

Honestly?
I rotate carrying all three.

Each has its own use in different situations. I might start the morning with slate when I think a bird’s roosted close, switch to glass to reach across a ridge, and pull out aluminum if things go quiet and I need to mix it up.

Turkeys don’t always read the script. That’s why you need options.

Still Not Sure?

If you’re not sure which one fits your calling style best, shoot me a message or drop me a comment. I’ll be happy to show you the difference firsthand.

We hand-build and tune every Houndstooth pot call to sound the way they’re supposed to, pure turkey. And if you want your pot calls to sound their best all season, make sure you’re keeping up with proper tuning and care.

🦃 Shop All Friction Calls

The Kee Kee run is one of the toughest turkey vocalizations for a lot of folks, and I’m right there with you. Since we’re in October and fall turkey season is rolling in, this is the time of year when I get one question more than anything else:

“What call is best for running a Kee Kee?”

If you search around online, most people will tell you the ghost cut is the go to. And for some callers, that’s true. But for me, the ghost cut is a no-go. My air does not come out through the center of the call. So when I try to run a Kee Kee on a ghost cut, I can push air all day and it still will not give me that clean note.

Here is what actually matters.

Find Your Air Channel

Every caller blows a diaphragm a little differently. Your natural air channel might lean left, right, or sit dead center. That alone can change which cut works for you. If you want to explore different options, check out our full line of diaphragm turkey calls.

Here is how it breaks down:

If your air is left of center

You will have better luck with something like a batwing or a G-Baby. Both have a cut on the left side, which lets that air roll exactly where it needs to be.

On my end, I run a Kee Kee better on a combo style cut on this particular call than anything else. If you want a mix to experiment with, the Turkey Hunters 3 Pack is a good starting point.

If your air is right of center

A call with cuts on the right side will be your friend. A left cut will fight you every step of the way.

If your air is center

You are in great shape. A ghost cut should sing for you and produce a clean Kee Kee note with ease. You can browse all of our cuts in the full turkey call collection.

That said, I have seen folks adjust a call in their mouth and apply tongue pressure in just the right gap to force the air through the sweet spot. It can be done, but it takes practice.

The Big Takeaway

Do not give up on the Kee Kee run. And do not assume one specific cut is the universal answer. Just because someone else can run a Kee Kee on a ghost cut does not mean it will work for you.

Your air placement decides the call. The call does not decide your air.

I’ve never been a great Kee Kee guy myself, but I can do it. And I can do it best on the call that matches where my air naturally travels. If you figure out the same for yourself, your Kee Kee will clean up quick.

Hope this helps you next season. Try a few different cuts, pay attention to where your air hits, and you will get there. For more tips like this, visit the Houndstooth Blog.