Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit Review

One Month Later: Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit Review

For seasoned outdoorsmen and aspiring turkey hunters alike, the quest for the perfect turkey call can be a lifelong endeavor. The Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit presents itself as a comprehensive solution, bundling a variety of calls designed to mimic the diverse vocalizations of wild turkeys. This kit promises to be a one-stop shop for replicating everything from the soft clucks of a hen to the aggressive gobble of a dominant tom.

My own journey into turkey hunting has been shaped by a decade of field experience, where understanding animal communication is paramount. I’ve learned that relying on a single call can be a critical mistake, especially when navigating different hunting scenarios and the moods of wary birds. This led me to seek out multi-call setups that offer versatility, and the Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit caught my eye for its inclusion of three distinct call types and a diaphragm call.

Unboxing the kit immediately offered a sense of value. The components felt reasonably constructed, though not exactly premium. The Li’l Deuce Wild Turkey Call, with its carbon striker, hinted at a focus on clarity. The Hammerin’ Crow Call and “The Hooter” Owl Call, while not directly turkey calls, are tactical additions designed to provoke responses. The inclusion of the Premium Flex “Double D” diaphragm call, featuring Infinity Latex, felt like a solid bonus for those who prefer that style of calling.

I had been considering other individual calls, but the cost and coordination of acquiring a comparable set quickly became a deterrent. Brands like Primos and Quaker Boy offer excellent individual calls, but assembling a similar breadth of sonic options would undoubtedly have pushed the price well beyond the $37.89 tag on this combo. The appeal of the Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit lay in its promise of immediate variety at an accessible price point. My initial impression was one of cautious optimism; it seemed like a solid entry point for someone looking to expand their calling repertoire without a significant investment.

Real-World Testing: Putting Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit to the Test

My primary testing ground for this kit was the pre-season woods of early spring, during the crucial weeks leading up to and immediately following the opening of turkey season. I tested the calls in various conditions: from the stillness of dawn in dense oak stands to the more open fields where turkeys often strut. I also subjected them to the incidental dampness of dew-covered mornings and the occasional brush against branches.

The Li’l Deuce, with its carbon striker, proved surprisingly user-friendly right out of the box. Its slate surface produced a good range of clucks, purrs, and yelps with minimal effort. The Hammerin’ Crow Call and “The Hooter” Owl Call were perhaps less intuitive to me, as their effectiveness hinges more on precise timing and placement to elicit a reaction from a tom that might be wary of other turkeys. However, I found their distinct tones could sometimes pique a tom’s curiosity or trigger an aggressive response from a nearby gobbler who didn’t want to be challenged by a crow or owl.

The Premium Flex “Double D” diaphragm call was a revelation for its ease of use. Many diaphragm calls can be difficult to master, requiring a specific tongue placement and breath control. This particular model, with its Infinity latex, was remarkably forgiving, producing clear, sharp sounds even with my less-than-perfect technique. The versatility of the kit became apparent as I moved from one scenario to another; a soft yelp on the Li’l Deuce might bring a hen closer, while a sharp, aggressive cut on the diaphragm could draw out a distant gobbler. The included calls, while not requiring extensive break-in periods, seemed to mellow slightly after a week of consistent use in the field.

Extended use has revealed the inherent strengths and subtle weaknesses of this combo kit. After several weeks of regular use, the Li’l Deuce slate call has held up exceptionally well. The carbon striker shows no signs of fraying or damage, and the slate surface remains remarkably consistent in its sound production. The diaphragm call, though delicate by nature, has also proven durable, showing only minor signs of wear on the latex edge from repeated contact with my palate.

Maintenance for this set is refreshingly simple. A quick wipe down with a dry cloth after each use keeps the slate call clean, and the diaphragm call can be rinsed with water and allowed to air dry. I’ve found storing the diaphragm call in its plastic case helps preserve its shape and prevent damage. Compared to some of the more finicky friction calls or the more delicate diaphragm designs I’ve used in the past, the Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit requires minimal upkeep. While it doesn’t offer the nuanced sound profile of a custom-made, individually crafted call, its reliability and ease of maintenance make it a practical choice for regular hunting trips.

Breaking Down the Features of Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit

The Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit is designed to equip hunters with a versatile arsenal of calls. Its core components include the Li’l Deuce Wild Turkey Call, a slate-style call paired with a carbon striker. Alongside this is the Hammerin’ Crow Call and “The Hooter” Owl Call, both designed to elicit responses from turkeys by simulating common woodland sounds. Finally, the kit features the Premium Flex “Double D” diaphragm call, boasting Infinity latex for a realistic feel and sound.

The selection of calls is thoughtfully curated. The Li’l Deuce’s carbon striker is important because it provides a consistent and responsive surface for friction calls, translating to clearer clucks and purrs. The inclusion of the crow and owl calls is a strategic move, as these sounds can provoke territorial responses from gobblers, effectively locating them. The Premium Flex “Double D” diaphragm call with its Infinity latex is a critical component, offering hunters a different calling style that can be more subtle or aggressive depending on how it’s manipulated.

Specifications

• Li’l Deuce Wild Turkey Call: This is a standard slate turkey call, designed for producing a variety of turkey vocalizations. Its plastic pot and textured striking surface are crucial for creating friction, which generates the desired sounds.
• Carbon Striker: The accompanying striker is made from carbon, known for its lightweight yet durable properties. This material ensures consistent contact and sound projection when used with the slate call.
• Hammerin’ Crow Call: This call is designed to replicate the distinct caws and calls of a crow. Its construction from a durable plastic material allows it to withstand outdoor conditions.
• “The Hooter” Owl Call: Mimicking the hoot of an owl, this call is also typically constructed from plastic. Its purpose is to draw out wary gobblers by triggering their territorial instincts.
• Premium Flex “Double D” Diaphragm Call: This is a double-reed diaphragm call featuring Infinity latex. The latex material is vital for producing realistic turkey sounds, and the double-reed design allows for a wider range of vocalizations, from soft clucks to loud yelps. The Premium Flex designation suggests a focus on comfort and ease of use for the diaphragm.
• Fabric/Material: The kit collectively uses Plastic, Latex, and Ceramic (for the slate surface, although the description lists ceramic and the product name implies slate – a common conflation in turkey calls), with a Rosewood Striker often associated with higher-end slate calls, though the description here specifies carbon. The kit description notes Plastic/Latex/Ceramic w/Rosewood Striker, which is slightly different from the “carbon striker” mentioned for the Li’l Deuce, but the intent is a quality striking tool.
• Species: All calls in this kit are specifically tuned for Turkey vocalizations, with the crow and owl calls serving as complementary tools for locating or provoking them.

These specifications translate directly into the performance and usability of the calls. The plastic construction of the crow and owl calls ensures they are weather-resistant and lightweight. The carbon striker for the Li’l Deuce is key for producing clean, sharp notes without the added weight or potential for splintering that wood strikers can sometimes exhibit. The Infinity latex in the diaphragm call is a significant feature, as the quality of the latex directly impacts the realism and durability of the sound produced. A well-designed diaphragm call, like this one with its flexible frame, makes it easier for hunters to achieve consistent, lifelike turkey sounds without excessive practice.

Performance & Functionality

The Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit largely succeeds in its primary mission: providing a variety of tools to communicate with turkeys. The Li’l Deuce, when paired with its striker, produces a commendable range of clucks and purrs. Its slate surface offers good grip, allowing for relatively easy execution of basic calls.

The crow and owl calls, while secondary, do serve their intended purpose of creating noise that might provoke a gobbler. I found the crow call to be particularly effective in breaking the silence and sometimes eliciting a distant hammer from a tom that might otherwise remain quiet. The diaphragm call, with its Infinity latex, stands out as particularly functional. It allows for sharper, more cutting yelps and louder cutting sounds than I often achieve with single-reed calls, which is excellent for cutting through the wind or across long distances.

Strengths of this kit include its sheer versatility and the surprising quality of the diaphragm call. It offers multiple avenues for engaging birds, which is crucial in a hunting scenario. However, a notable weakness is that the Li’l Deuce, while functional, doesn’t quite possess the nuanced, layered sound production of higher-end friction calls. The sounds can sometimes feel a bit one-dimensional compared to calls with more complex wood or ceramic constructions.

Design & Ergonomics

The design of the Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit is driven by practicality and affordability. The Li’l Deuce slate call has a comfortable plastic pot that fits well in the hand, and the textured surface of the striking area provides a secure grip. The carbon striker is slender and well-balanced, making it easy to manipulate for precise sound creation.

The crow and owl calls are simple, cylindrical designs, easy to hold and operate with a puff of air. The diaphragm call, with its Premium Flex frame, is notably comfortable to hold against the roof of the mouth. The Infinity latex reeds are thin and pliable, allowing for subtle adjustments in pressure and airflow for a variety of sounds.

While the overall build quality is decent for the price, the plastic construction of the friction and locator calls might not feel as robust or premium as wood or metal alternatives. However, this also makes them lighter and more resistant to moisture damage. The simple, functional design of each call ensures there’s no significant learning curve, making it approachable for new hunters.

Durability & Maintenance

From my experience, the Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit offers reasonable durability for its intended use. The plastic components of the crow and owl calls are inherently robust and resistant to chipping or cracking. The Li’l Deuce slate call, while a friction call, has shown no signs of wear on its striking surface after numerous outings, and the carbon striker remains in pristine condition.

The Premium Flex “Double D” diaphragm call is the most delicate component, as is typical for all diaphragm calls. However, the Infinity latex has proven to be quite resilient, showing no signs of tearing or stretching after consistent use. Proper care, such as rinsing and air-drying, is essential for maximizing its lifespan.

For a kit at this price point, the durability is commendable. It’s designed for regular use in the field, and while it might not withstand extreme abuse like a high-end custom call, it’s built to last a season or more with proper care. Maintenance is straightforward: a quick wipe-down, occasional rinsing, and careful storage for the diaphragm call.

Accessories and Customization Options

The Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit is a bundle that provides a complete calling solution right out of the package. It includes three distinct types of calls – friction, locator, and diaphragm – all designed to work together. There are no other significant accessories included beyond the calls themselves.

Customization is limited within the kit’s components. For the Li’l Deuce, the primary customization comes from the striker used; while a carbon striker is included, one could experiment with different strikers if available separately. The diaphragm call’s sound is highly customizable through the user’s breath control and tongue placement, allowing for a wide array of vocalizations. However, the kit itself does not offer interchangeable parts or add-ons. Compatibility with other brands would primarily apply to the diaphragm call if one wished to use a different frame or latex, but the included one functions well on its own.

Pros and Cons of Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit

Who Should Buy Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit?

This kit is an ideal choice for new turkey hunters looking to equip themselves with a variety of effective calls without breaking the bank. It’s also perfect for intermediate hunters who want to expand their call selection to cover different calling scenarios and bird responses. The inclusion of locator calls makes it suitable for hunters who rely on provoking responses to find birds in unfamiliar territory.

However, experienced turkey hunters seeking the absolute finest nuance and tone from a custom friction call or a highly specialized diaphragm might find this kit’s offerings a bit basic. Those who require surgically sterile equipment for specific applications would also need to look elsewhere, as this is designed for the hunting field.

For those who purchase this kit, I would recommend a good pair of binoculars to complement the locating capabilities of the crow and owl calls. Practicing with the diaphragm call in front of a mirror can also help visualize the movements needed for better control.

Conclusion on Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit

The Hunters Specialties Super Strut Combo Kit delivers exceptional value for its price point, offering a comprehensive suite of turkey calls that are both effective and user-friendly. The combination of a solid friction call, useful locator calls, and a surprisingly capable diaphragm call makes it a fantastic option for any hunter looking to improve their success in the spring woods. While it might not satisfy the most discerning palates seeking ultra-premium tones, it provides all the essential tools to effectively communicate with and locate wild turkeys.

For its $37.89 price, the quality and variety of calls included are outstanding. It strikes a perfect balance between affordability and performance, making it an easy recommendation for anyone entering the world of turkey hunting or looking to add versatility to their existing setup. I would confidently recommend this kit to any hunter seeking a practical and effective way to enhance their turkey calling game.