When you're staring down a bunch of diaphragm turkey calls, the variety of cuts can be overwhelming. Batwing. Ghost Cut. Combo Cut. V-Cut. What do they all mean, and more importantly, which one should you use?
At Houndstooth Game Calls, we believe knowledge is just as important as quality gear. This breakdown of popular turkey mouth call cut types will help you understand what each cut offers and how to choose the right one for your calling style.
Why Cut Style Matters
Each cut changes the way air flows through the reeds of the call, which directly affects:
- Sound realism
- Ease of use
- Volume and rasp
- Control and versatility
Choosing the right cut helps match your skill level, calling style, and hunting conditions. Learning how to use turkey mouth calls like a pro takes a little practice and it all starts by understanding your calls.
Batwing Cut
Shape: Resemble wings; they can be equal in the depth of the cut or even be offset. Guess we call them batwings cause someone said, "Hey, look at this, it looks like a bat!" 🦇 😂
Sound Profile: High rasp, aggressive yelps, sharp cuts, and excited clucks and purrs.
Best For: Intermediate to advanced callers who want to sound like a fired-up hen. Ideal for long-range locating or getting a bird to commit.
Pro Tip: Our Strut Marks Batwing delivers a powerful rasp that is perfect for run-and-gun turkey hunting.
Want to go deeper? Learn the difference between a two-reed batwing vs three-reed batwing to fine-tune your sound.
Ghost Cut
Shape: A centered, shallow cut that resembles a ghost-like shape. Often symmetrical and clean.
Sound Profile: Soft, smooth, clear tones. Ideal for kee-kees, whines, and soft yelps.
Best For: Beginners or hunters needing finesse calling. Especially effective in early season or when birds are call-shy or pressured.
Pro Tip: Ghost cuts are excellent when toms are henned up or hesitant to close the distance.
Combo Cut
Shape: Combines features of multiple cuts, usually a half V-cut and half Batwing shape with additional side notches.
Sound Profile: Balanced rasp with good control. Capable of a range of sounds, including yelps, cuts, clucks, and purrs.
Best For: Hunters who want one call that can do it all. Offers versatility without needing to switch between calls.
Pro Tip: Our Combo Cut calls are designed for callers who want flexibility in the field without sacrificing performance.
V-Cut (Split V or V Cut)
Shape: A clean "V" notch cut directly into the center of the top reed.
Sound Profile: Strong rasp and loud volume, especially suited for yelps and aggressive cuts.
Best For: The V-cut is the raspiest call out there and sounds like an older boss hen. It might be what ya need to make her mad and bring the gobbler in. It’s great with excited cutting to fire up that old turkey that’s being stubborn.
Pro Tip: Split V calls are especially effective when gobblers hang up and need an extra push to commit.
Choosing the Right Cut for You
The best call for you always starts with where your air comes across the call. You need to try a V-cut, batwing, ghost, and a combo type. To see what gives you the sound you want. Then double down on practicing with that certain call.
Still unsure? Starting with a combo cut is a great way to experiment with a range of sounds and techniques. Over time, you’ll develop a preference based on your calling style and the specific responses you get in the field.
If you're still unsure which call fits your needs, check out our guide to the best turkey call for every hunting situation.
Shop Turkey Calls by Cut Style
At Houndstooth, each mouth call is hand-tuned and field-tested to ensure quality and realism. Whether you need a soft finesse call or a raspy, aggressive cut, we have a mouth call to match your hunting style.
Browse our selection of turkey mouth calls and find the one that's right for you.
Once you've found the right call, make sure it performs season after season by learning how to tune and maintain your turkey calls.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the differences between batwing, ghost cut, combo cut, and V-cut turkey calls can help you make smarter buying decisions and sound more realistic in the woods. The right call can be the difference between hearing a distant gobble and watching a longbeard strut into range.
Let us know if you’d like help choosing your first call or if you're looking to upgrade to something custom-tuned for your calling style.