Mostly just wanted to say hello, but would love any feedback you want to give.
I have been hunting/fishing for a long time and just got into turkeys last spring. I have a 15 year old son who loves shooting and hunting with me. I'm digging into push button calls for a few reasons
Something easier for my son to manipulate.
My palate makes using mouth calls impossible
The hunting here in central MA is often in close quarters. Last spring I did not love having to crank a full sized box call because of the movement it required.
I currently have a Woodhaven Cherry Classic pot call and an Enticer Kee Kee call. I've been getting pretty good using the two in combination for Kee Kee runs, and I also have a gobbler tube.
I'm looking for a push button call to add to the above. My ultimate goal is to put the time in here to learn and eventually score one of Shannon's calls to use and eventually hand down to my son. I do need something in the meantime that is hopefully not junk. I also have no issue spending time with calls, so a better quality one that I can get a range of sounds out of would be great.
I'm considering a Winky Hicks call, but would take any other recommendations. In the meantime, hoping to soak up some knowledge and enjoy the camaraderie.
I would recommend a Loftis Chatterbox.
Quote from: Bedge7767 on March 04, 2023, 11:51:50 AM
I would recommend a Loftis Chatterbox.
Thank you. I will check it out. Trying to make one smart purchase here so appreciate the recommendation.
Shannon's seems to be the best of the best. Highly sought after as you can see based on the threads. Trying to snag one like everyone else on here lol
I would suggest getting a Winky Hicks push pin call, it will give you 2 calls in one with being able to play the slate part of the call. It will come with a nice corncob striker and Winky will sign it for you and your son ... It's an awesome push pin and made from a 100 year old cedar post ... It's an heirloom call well worth the money...Sounds really good also... IMO ...
Thank you all for the recommendations! They both seem like great options.
Quote from: Thezorg on March 04, 2023, 12:36:39 PM
Shannon's seems to be the best of the best. Highly sought after as you can see based on the threads. Trying to snag one like everyone else on here lol
Agree lol. I will hopefully snag one of Shannon's eventually, but don't like the odds of getting one anytime soon. Turkey opener here is April 24 so I need to get my hands on something with enough time to practice.
Tim Bullock push pin!!! Gorgeous and sound like a turkey!! You definitely will not regret it.
Welcome aboard as well.
Have a good one, Bo
Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
All fantastic recommendations. What I can add is the following:
Knight & Hale made a "Witchy Woman" push pin. One of the best production pins ever made, but tough to come by. Lynch made 2 models of pushpins years ago, they have a great sound for sure.
Any of the Chatterbox pushpins, Loftis Chatterbox, Winky Hicks, Tim Bullock (mentioned above) and I'll add Mike Lapp. Another readily available pushpin is made by Jim Shelley of Persimmon Hill Turkey Calls. Great value pushpin with a great sound.
And last but certainly not least is the Shannon Kelly (Old Gobbler) pushpin. There is no better sounding push-pin on the market. They are made one at a time, so they are more difficult to get. If you are lucky enough to get one, the only one that will be disappointed is the gobbler you carry out over your shoulder....good luck...
Readily available I personally go with loftis or hicks. If you don't mind to wait a little then I'd go with bullock or Lapp.
Thank you Tom. With all of these choices I feel better about getting another good call for this season. I'm going to a NWTF calling seminar tomorrow as well. Great opportunity on a dreary winter day.
I just called Winky recently to get another of his push pins. The last one I had a gave it to a friend's daughter. He wanted something easy for her to run.
Quote from: Bringintheh2o on March 04, 2023, 07:12:50 PM
I just called Winky recently to get another of his push pins. The last one I had a gave it to a friend's daughter. He wanted something easy for her to run.
I may call him next week and see if he can add a note from me to my son with the signature....
He definitely will put anything you want on your call. You should call him just to hear his stories.
Quote from: roosterstraw on March 04, 2023, 05:14:41 PM
Readily available I personally go with loftis or hicks. If you don't mind to wait a little then I'd go with bullock or Lapp.
Thanks. I will check these out as well....
Quote from: runngun on March 04, 2023, 04:43:17 PM
Tim Bullock push pin!!! Gorgeous and sound like a turkey!! You definitely will not regret it.
Welcome aboard as well.
Have a good one, Bo
Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
Thank you for the warm welcome. Is this something I need to look at in the used market? I can't find a push pin call on his website.
Tim is on Facebook, No Bull Custom Calls.
Quote from: SDK on March 04, 2023, 07:10:44 PM
Thank you Tom. With all of these choices I feel better about getting another food call for this season. I'm going to a NWTF calling seminar tomorrow as well. Great opportunity on a dreary winter day.
Good luck my friend!
Got my first last year. Extremely underrated call.
Tim Bullock , doesn't really do a list from what i understand... So you could contact him on Facebook and see how a person goes about getting one of his push pins,
Look on ebay and get a Knight and Hale model 150. For less than $20 you will have a call that will get gobblers killed.
I'm a little overwhelmed by how many good choices there are with a call type that was not even on my radar two weeks ago...
I'm extremely overwhelmed with all of the helpful replies from you all, so thank you!
Side note- The calling class was great. Getting some hands on help from experts probably jumped my calling forward a couple of years from where I would have gotten on my own...
Not related to a push pin, but you had mentioned an inability to uses a diaphragm call. If you haven't already - try a youth frame. I switched to youth frames a couple years ago and it has helped quite a bit.
Quote from: jimmyg97 on March 08, 2023, 11:48:54 AM
Not related to a push pin, but you had mentioned an inability to uses a diaphragm call. If you haven't already - try a youth frame. I switched to youth frames a couple years ago and it has helped quite a bit.
You can also trim the latex to fit too. Woodhaven has a line of small frame mouth calls that are also great....
Thanks guys! Really appreciate the advice.
I somehow have a bad combination of a palate that is really narrow and curves upward more than most. I've tried the youth calls, trimming the sides, etc. All to no avail. I even went to a NAWTF calling class and they were stumped too.
I think mouth calls may be something I revisit eventually, but in the meantime I want to get a good calling plan together without them, and consider it a bonus if I ever figure it out.
Thanks for all the advice everyone!
I just received my Winky Hicks push button call. I went with that option due to the overwhelming positive reviews, but also because I was getting a slate as part of the deal.
Man am I in love with this call! The raspy, tonal yelp on that small slate is amazing. It's like combining the best parts of a box and pot call into one. Add in the effortless purrs and clucks on the push pin, and it is one heck of a powerful little tool.
Can't wait to get out in the woods with this. Counting down to April 24th....
Great choice, a real fine call. Good luck...
Good luck with them, please remember to post up some pictures after you take a monster Tom with them.
Quote from: JeffC on March 17, 2023, 11:51:40 AM
Good luck with them, please remember to post up some pictures after you take a monster Tom with them.
Will do. I have eyes on a few, and hopefully between my son and I we get to put this to good use...
hicks is a great call even better talking to him
Winky hicks makes a nice call ..... I got 1 last year
But I've seen a REALLY nice one on here a few threads earlier.