I will be headed on a turkey hunt in New Mexico in April. This will be my first time. Is there a decent call for beginners sold at Academy or BPS or should i look to a custom builder on the forum?

I think custom pot calls (slates) sound better and are easier for me to use than the store bought ones. You can find very workable small box calls, and some diaphrams at stores. Honestly, the most important thing you need to do is practice with whatever you get. Listen to CDs or youtube tutorials and get the sound and cadence down. I play CDs in my car back and forth to work before the season and practice mouth calls. You can drop a ton of $$$ on the best calls out there, but if your calling is bad, you're just chasing birds away.

Thanks Scoop, thats exactly how i learned to call ducks. So i should pick it up pretty quickly. Any recommendations on a call maker or company?

On the box calls, I'd just avoid the cheapest unfinished looking models. Primos, K&H, etc all make an acceptible sounding box for a starter call. I personally am looking to upgrade to a custom this year, but my storebought has served me well up until now.

If you already use diaphrams for duck calling you're one step ahead. Find a variety pack in Academy and see which ones work best for you. Right now they may have some on clearance, which is when I try to buy all of mine. The "Sonic Dome" models (with the rubber dome over the latex reeds) seem to make a good sound for me, but I don't use only those....

primos spring hen box call....simple and can get several different clucks and purs and cackles by pressing on the top plate

Any HS (hunters specialties) calls you could find. Ive used every brand you can imagine and i wouldnt buy anything except HS. Even for a beginner.

You might want to check out www.oldgobbler.com. Great website all about turkeys and turkey hunting. You can also look at their classified section. Always a lot of good calls for sale. Good luck.

You def want more than one. I have scratch and blown 5 calls at one tom and the sixth one brought him running. They all sound different just like duck calls. I carry 7to8 different mouth calls 2 different slay calls and 1 good loud box call. I will say coming from a spring turkey guide where putting birds down pours the money in the bank. The Freak by promos is def my most productive call and I have several different strikers that sound different. Go to decor is def b mobile. If you are hunting for a big bird then you def want him in your arsenal. Good luck and post pics when your done.