Abstract: A compact hand-held thumb actuated friction-type turkey call is formed of a generally rectangular elongated hollow wooden sound box assembly having a longitudinal slot with a planar striker pivotably mounted to one end block at one end thereof for oscillation into and out of the sound chamber through the longitudinal slot. The hollow sound box assembly includes at least one sounding board oblique to an opposed face of the planar striker and extending inwardly of the sound chamber towards a striker planar surface and having a longitudinal edge contactable by the striker surface during movement of the striker into and out of the longitudinal slot. A spring biases the striker to a position partially projecting from the sound chamber. The sound box assembly may be held in the palm of one hand such that the user's thumb readily depresses the striker against the bias of the spring into the sound chamber to produce a rasping call imitating the sound of a live, wild turkey.