Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

I think the bottom has dropped out on pot calls and boxes ... Trumpets , Jordan's, wingbone and cane calls are the crazy right now and prices have surely increased. Some mighty fine calls are being built in these air type calls...  Turkeys are in trouble this spring ..  LOL....

Seems like most of the interest was in trumpets at Unicoi.

Trumpets are the latest craze. I both love it and hate it at the same time. I'm glad they're getting the respect they deserve and an increase in interest will be good long term. However, I hate the new prices and lack of availability.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think you can track a lot of that increase in interest to Dave Owens, especially when he released the video with Mark and Kenny last year. Just got the call a lot more attention. There's good and bad with that. Glad more folks are getting interested in calls and hopefully the history of calls. Sucks that the lists got longer, especially on callmakers where you might have been trying to do something really specific with a collection. Sucks the prices have gone up. But the biggest part that sucks, I think, is that there are a lot of sub par yelpers coming from callmakers who haven't taken the time to learn how to dial that call in. The market and money is there so all of a sudden everyone is a trumpet maker. All that glitters is not gold. I'll stick with the folks been honing their calls for years same as I do with pots or boxes or anything else.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on January 24, 2023, 06:11:49 PM
I think you can track a lot of that increase in interest to Dave Owens, especially when he released the video with Mark and Kenny last year. Just got the call a lot more attention. There's good and bad with that. Glad more folks are getting interested in calls and hopefully the history of calls. Sucks that the lists got longer, especially on callmakers where you might have been trying to do something really specific with a collection. Sucks the prices have gone up. But the biggest part that sucks, I think, is that there are a lot of sub par yelpers coming from callmakers who haven't taken the time to learn how to dial that call in. The market and money is there so all of a sudden everyone is a trumpet maker. All that glitters is not gold. I'll stick with the folks been honing their calls for years same as I do with pots or boxes or anything else.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree with you .. seeing a couple of builders along with a few others building these calls that i never seen them build air calls before ....

Greg I hate to disagree but there are a lot of calls that are still on fire, I know a lot of folks are buying trumpets but most are like me and can't make a sound with them even if they paid 4 or 500 for it. I know some makers like Shannon and Tim Bullock are blowing it open with the push/pulls and what Tim just posted with his scratch box, it will be on fire, and boxes, post a Marlin, Mann or a Lamar and Tim is making a great box, I don't think any of the great calls are in a decline! I just sold a few calls the last few days and it wasn't a trumpet. I see no decline in good callers.

Suction calls DO seem to be the "in" thing at the moment.  No complaints there.  They deserve the attention.......along with the masters of building them.

But, bottom line........... The current economy has been reflected in the call-buying market.  When it comes down to a grocery order, the rent or a car payment............or a turkey call.........

You know...............   :(

I know the demand for suction calls really has increased, but I still rarely run across another hunter in the woods using one.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Quote from: Brad_Colvin on January 25, 2023, 10:04:36 AM
I know the demand for suction calls really has increased, but I still rarely run across another hunter in the woods using one.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

That same scenario goes for all kinds of "custom" calls.
Any turkey hunter I talk to outside of here or at a show have no idea you can buy custom diaphragms, boxes, pots etc...they only calls they ever use come in shiny plastic packiging hanging on a hook.

There are a gazillion folks making callers now.  Some great, some good and unfortunately far more not so good.  There will always be a baseline market for quality callers of all types with ebbs and flows in the overall market created by whatever internet celebrities decide to push.  The more inexperienced the hunter, the more likely that person is to be enamoured with the latest gadget and BS from the seller.

I would also say trumpets are this year's flavor, I too picked up a few lately. :)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52646715197_195c8cdef7_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2oddbfa)

Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on January 24, 2023, 06:11:49 PM
I think you can track a lot of that increase in interest to Dave Owens, especially when he released the video with Mark and Kenny last year. Just got the call a lot more attention. There's good and bad with that. Glad more folks are getting interested in calls and hopefully the history of calls. Sucks that the lists got longer, especially on callmakers where you might have been trying to do something really specific with a collection. Sucks the prices have gone up. But the biggest part that sucks, I think, is that there are a lot of sub par yelpers coming from callmakers who haven't taken the time to learn how to dial that call in. The market and money is there so all of a sudden everyone is a trumpet maker. All that glitters is not gold. I'll stick with the folks been honing their calls for years same as I do with pots or boxes or anything else.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In my humble opinion, there are some great points made in this post...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Brad_Colvin on January 25, 2023, 10:04:36 AM
I know the demand for suction calls really has increased, but I still rarely run across another hunter in the woods using one.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Very true


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Yelper on January 25, 2023, 05:30:46 PM
I would also say trumpets are this year's flavor, I too picked up a few lately. :)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52646715197_195c8cdef7_z.jpg)
(https://flic.kr/p/2oddbfa)

Everything in that picture is all turkey. I think Anthony's making the easiest running call made, and his fit and finish has gotten flawless.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, that's a nice band ensemble of AGE horns for sure!

Quote from: Terry on January 25, 2023, 05:52:58 PM

Quote from: Brad_Colvin on January 25, 2023, 10:04:36 AM
I know the demand for suction calls really has increased, but I still rarely run across another hunter in the woods using one.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Very true


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's because the market is being driven largely by collectors, a smaller group of repeat buyers, buying over and over. I'd bet 90 percent of trumpets never see the woods. You ever notice how perfectly new most trumpets look on the secondary market?

Quote from: Zobo on January 25, 2023, 10:43:31 PMI'd bet 90 percent of trumpets never see the woods. You ever notice how perfectly new most trumpets look on the secondary market?

Good point.

But the VERY same thing is true of custom box calls, if you'll notice.........   "Brand new condition"..........."Never been hunted"............ "Never seen the woods"............. etc.

Quote from: Zobo on January 25, 2023, 10:43:31 PM

Quote from: Terry on January 25, 2023, 05:52:58 PM

Quote from: Brad_Colvin on January 25, 2023, 10:04:36 AM
I know the demand for suction calls really has increased, but I still rarely run across another hunter in the woods using one.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Very true


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's because the market is being driven largely by collectors, a smaller group of repeat buyers, buying over and over. I'd bet 90 percent of trumpets never see the woods. You ever notice how perfectly new most trumpets look on the secondary market?

I don't know about trumpets, but I always talk fairly extensively to folks that buy my WBs and Jordans. The vast majority of them are turkey killers looking for a new tool and fully plan on hunting them.

I think the learning curve was the only thing that had been holding it (the market) back for years, but now, with the internet, information and tons of dead turkeys, more folks are taking the plunge.

There are so many good points that have been made already in this thread. Yes, trumpets are very popular now but then so are other calls. Just look at the number of topics on the different types calls on this forum. The trumpets are new to some and different, and that causes many to want to use them.  But no matter how good the maker they buy from, one still has to learn how to run them to be successful in the woods. The first time a newbie to trumpets messes up on a bird, most likely he or she will return to the old standby's. To those who have the perseverance to continue, hooray to them, what a tool they have for hunting. To those who don't, well let us know when you want to sell those trumpets.
Just an old man's ramblings.

After spending some time with the trumpets and witnessing first hand how effective they are on my first time using them last season I will be carrying one with me at all times. They are another tool to use when the box, pot call and mouth calls just don't seem to be working. As with all turkey hunts just depends on what that Gobbler is interested in.

Quote from: Yoder409 on January 26, 2023, 05:51:22 AM

Quote from: Zobo on January 25, 2023, 10:43:31 PMI'd bet 90 percent of trumpets never see the woods. You ever notice how perfectly new most trumpets look on the secondary market?

Good point.

But the VERY same thing is true of custom box calls, if you'll notice.........   "Brand new condition"..........."Never been hunted"............ "Never seen the woods"............. etc.

Yes, good point

Quote from: EZ on January 26, 2023, 06:44:08 AM

Quote from: Zobo on January 25, 2023, 10:43:31 PM

Quote from: Terry on January 25, 2023, 05:52:58 PM

Quote from: Brad_Colvin on January 25, 2023, 10:04:36 AM
I know the demand for suction calls really has increased, but I still rarely run across another hunter in the woods using one.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Very true


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's because the market is being driven largely by collectors, a smaller group of repeat buyers, buying over and over. I'd bet 90 percent of trumpets never see the woods. You ever notice how perfectly new most trumpets look on the secondary market?

I don't know about trumpets, but I always talk fairly extensively to folks that buy my WBs and Jordans. The vast majority of them are turkey killers looking for a new tool and fully plan on hunting them.

I think the learning curve was the only thing that had been holding it (the market) back for years, but now, with the internet, information and tons of dead turkeys, more folks are taking the plunge.

That's an interesting point, as Chester pointed out too, access to online information has changed things so much.

Quote from: Yoder409 on January 26, 2023, 05:51:22 AM

Quote from: Zobo on January 25, 2023, 10:43:31 PMI'd bet 90 percent of trumpets never see the woods. You ever notice how perfectly new most trumpets look on the secondary market?

Good point.

But the VERY same thing is true of custom box calls, if you'll notice.........   "Brand new condition"..........."Never been hunted"............ "Never seen the woods"............. etc.

and to think that a turkey call is a tool but hey I got a few too many as well

If making trumpets was my side hustle I would seriously consider going full time and taking the ride.  Men in general don't hesitate to spend big bucks on hobbies and right now there are few makers.   The challenge is in reaching customers.   
An excellent trumpet seems impossible to mass produce but a crappy trumpet does not.  If the numbers start to look decent one of the big call companies will find a way to make them in China and hang them in box stores.  If the product and packaging looks good they will sell every single one they hang on a hook for $99.99  That will be good if it leads the purchasers to look for the real deal. :z-twocents:   Pot, diaphragm and box calls are available at box stores and the custom business for those seems strong.  The future looks very bright for all trumpet makers.

Quote from: Brillo on January 28, 2023, 07:20:42 AM......... one of the big call companies will find a way to make them in China and hang them in box stores.

That happened 60 years ago.

Penn's Woods Calls mass-produced the Tom Turpin Yelper.  Wasn't made in China........and no idea how they play or sound.  But they musta sold the crap out of them because there's still a lot of them out there to this day.

Although not mass produced like Penn's Woods didn't Mike Battey test the waters with more of a production type Wild Talker trumpet a few years back?  The recent trumpet craze perceived by some may be a cyclical type thing but is certainly not new.  When I bought my first trumpet back in early to mid-2000 and the Custom Callmakers Online forum was still around there was similar talk of the trumpet being the latest and greatest secret weapon.   Back then it was similar to today, there were a handful of reliably good callmakers making them and some real duds being turned out by others trying to jump into the market. 

Its very easy to mass produce a good trumpet, but I think the name on the call is as important as the sound its makes. Good example the calls that My Lynch made are worth more that the ones made later with his name on them even though both were made on the same machines.

Pot call prices are crazy in the secondary market. You dang near have to give them away.

I agree with a lot of this. This forum is what got me to try trumpets. I'm still not good on them, but I carry one for directional calling to gobblers in the distance at times, and can do enough for that to work for me. I've only bought three, but Greg Gwaltney's was the easiest for me to run somewhat consistently.

I'm happy for those makers that might be able to make a little more money than they thought. Of course, the best ones don't seem to be raising their prices. That's why they're the best.

Dave Owens talking about them certainly didn't hurt their popularity. I think that's a good thing, overall.


I think tubes will be the next thing to take off.  Dave has been using those more lately, too. Folks will see and copy. If THP used anything other than WH pots and mouth calls, whatever they used would skyrocket.

I'm thankful to get more input from this site...so many here, even though I've never met them, I take their word for truth when it comes to call quality, and callmaker reputation. I'm thankful for the many thousands of dollars over the years that you jokers have helped encourage to spend unknowingly!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Big Jeremy on January 28, 2023, 07:29:00 PMI'm thankful for the many thousands of dollars over the years that you jokers have helped encourage to spend unknowingly!

I may not be a professional turkey hunter...........but I AM a professional enabler when it comes to a brother needing call-buying encouragement.    :toothy9:

Enablers..........LOL!!!  At Unicoi, it was interesting to watch.....

Quote from: Tarheel on January 28, 2023, 10:09:38 PM
Enablers..........LOL!!!  At Unicoi, it was interesting to watch.....

You were PROBABLY watching ME........

:z-dizzy: :help: :z-dizzy:

There were crowds of enablers at several callmaker tables, and some were sucked into the moment and spent a lot of money.....LOL!!!

Quote from: Tarheel on January 28, 2023, 10:27:13 PM
............. and some were sucked into the moment and spent a lot of money.....LOL!!!

:agreed:

I resemble that remark............