A Box Call Buyers Guide:

The Lid or Paddle of the Turkey Box Call sits on top of the Body or Box of the call.
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Along with its ease of use comes, great sound, and great volume.  This is a call that can be used to strike gobbles from birds at great distances, even in windy or less than desirable conditions.  It can also run lightly, and do subtle yelps to coax a bird in those few extra steps.  A great call that should not be left behind when heading in to the spring turkey woods.

What A Box Call Is Made Of:

A box call is made up to two main components ... the box, and the lid.  The box portion of the call is usually one piece, or a few pieces put together to make one piece.  It is most often made of wood and in the shape of a narrow box.  With a hollowed out center, the two longer sides of the box are arched and higher than the front and back of the call.  It is on these arched sides that the lid is rubbed across to make the sound.

Now most box calls are made of wood, but there are some made with such materials as plastic, slate, and  aluminum.  These materials are usually added to the standard wood design, and are not the only material used for the call. 

This call shows a piece of slate set in to the lid of this box call. The sound of this call is very high pitch and shrill. Great for cuttin the wind.
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Slate and aluminum are usually glued to the striking surface, or the lid, to create a different sound from the call.  The aluminum tends to have a very shrill, high pitched sound, while the slate offers a more natural raspy tone.  Either one will work, it's just up to the turkey which one he wants to listen to.

The lid of the call is also called the paddle.  Again, usually made of wood, it sits on top of the box and glides across either side of the call.  It is connected at one end to the box, usually by a screw of some kind, with a spring keeping the lid up against the top of the screw so it doesn't move up and down.  The lid is flat on top, and rounded underneath from side to side.

One of these Box Calls has a one piece box made of one type of wood, while the other has multiple pieces and multiple types of wood. They both sound great.
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No matter if it's wood, plastic, aluminum, or slate, that is on your box call, or if it's high pitch, low pitch, raspy or clean, it doesn't matter.  They can all call birds.  It just depends on which call the bird wants to answer to on that given day.  That's what makes it such a challenge.

How A Box Call Works:

A box call is a "friction call", therefore it uses friction to make the vocal sounds of a turkey.  It does this by having the lid dragged across one side of the box, in an open to closed motion.  Done in the normal speed or cadence of a turkey's yelp, and you calling turkeys that easily.

The grain in the wood of the box goes lengthwise front to back, and so does the grain on the paddle.  So when the paddle is moved across the side of the box, the grain rubs against itself and creates a vibration.  The grain of the wood is often accentuated by creating deeper striations by using sand paper.  This can also make the call easier to use.

You can see the contour on the sides of the box. This is what helps with the high to low tone of the call.
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Most of the common hen turkey calls such as, the yelp, the adult hen assembly call, cutting, clucking, and the purr, can be reproduced with a box call with very little time put forth by the user to learn.  It can be run loud to strike birds at great distances, or nice and softly to seal the deal up close.

Contrary to popular belief, the box call can be used without excessive movement to give away the hunter's position.  Digging the box into the ground, or my favorite, holding it between your legs so your movement is hidden behind your knees, are just a couple ways that you can use a box call to bring a bird all the way in to shooting distance.

Choosing The Correct Box Call:

There are many types of box calls, that make many variations of sounds ... but they all sound like a turkey.
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For volume, the boat paddle calls have a tendency to produce loud high pitched sounds that will cut the wind and cover great distances.  These are great calls to have when you are trying to cover as much ground as possible, and a perfect call when going in to piece of property you may not be all that familiar with.

The Boat Paddle style Box Call is a much longer call than the standard Box Call. It also tends to be much louder for covering longer distances and cutting the wind.
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Single  sided calls are great, and are usually a little easier to run for the novice box caller, but the double sided call offers up two different sounds in one call.  One side of a double sided box call is usually higher pitched than the other, which gives the caller instant access to a second bird while calling.  A great way to convince a wary gobbler that there is more than one bird at your location.

The box calls with added aluminum or slate also have their own distinct sound and give yet another variety of sound to your calling arsenal.

Similar to any other type of turkey call, each design has its own sound, and although overall some calls may be better, louder, or easier to use, than others, there is no best sounding call.  There is no way to say that all turkeys want to hear a high pitched call, or a low pitched call for that matter. 

Having more than one box call in your vest is the best answer to, which call sounds best.  The reason being, is that there is only one judge that can truly say which call to use, and that's the turkey that answers one you are using.  So pick up a couple box calls for your vest this season.  They may just be the ones that help you take home gobbler of a lifetime.  Hunt Hard, and Hunt Safe.