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Turkey Calls => Turkey Calls => Topic started by: bwhana on March 19, 2021, 08:16:22 AM

Title: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: bwhana on March 19, 2021, 08:16:22 AM
I have a friend that just bought a lathe to start making his own calls for himself for fun and our discussions about the calls he's made so far triggered some thoughts...

Just applying a little logic on data from the site for fun while I drink my coffee.  So every post I see about any call made by any call maker is always positive and sounds "pure turkey". The only negative comments I've seen have been about big box store cheap calls made by bigger name companies.

Don't take this the wrong way, but the data shows that either it is very easy to make good calls, because they all do according to the posts, or guys are not being honest and not "calling" out bad calls or makers. Are they all really that good, and if so, why pay top $ for one when it is no more effective than a cheaper cheaper call maker?  Anyone care to share bad ones openly and admit the $200 call you bought was junk?

I have a Permar trumpet that sounds great to me so far, but I got it right after the season last year from Ralph and will find out how the birds like it in a few weeks, so the verdict is still out on it.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Yelper on March 19, 2021, 08:45:42 AM
The short answer is Yes. There are a lot of bad call makers out there. If you read throughout the forum there are a lot of call makers called out for bad sounding calls. Remember these are just the opinion of some of the members on here, and most of the time people don't make comments about call makers because it strikes a nerve with others and then leads to a forum gone haywire and name calling ETC.

There are some great custom call makers on this forum and some that don't get the credit for the great call building they do and some get praise that really aren't that good. JMO




Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: ChesterCopperpot on March 19, 2021, 08:46:18 AM
There are plenty of sh*t calls and callmakers. For the most part the callmakers don’t get brought up. No sense knocking them publicly, but their names just don’t ever get mentioned. There’s thousands of them and more popping up every day. Meanwhile, the really good ones get mentioned again and again and again. Now sometimes a really good maker will let something sub par out of the shop. Most won’t. The truly greats don’t. But a good example would be a Wendell Rye call I’ve got. Wendell makes some incredible pots. I own a 3” copper of his I’ve had for years that’s been the death of many birds—hell of a limb talker. But I got a ceramic off him that sounds flat as the floor. I’ve played it for others and they agree if they’d made it it wouldn’t have left the shop. Hell of a callmaker still, but one slipped through. As for the anyone can do it, no they cannot. Anyone can make subpar calls that will kill turkeys, but anyone can’t reach the consistency of someone like say Clint Corder for pots or Mike Lapp for boxes or Permar for trumpets. Ain’t happening. Few get it dialed that well. Very few.

The novelist Harry Crews said something about the novel that’s applicable here. He said, “Your chances of being a renowned brain surgeon are better than your chances of being a renowned novelist.” He has that wonderful interview where he tells a story about being at a cocktail party and talking with this doctor and the doctor telling him that he’s going to write a novel. Crews said what he wanted to say was, “What if I was to show up at your operating room tomorrow and just come in and say, ‘No, no, just back off here. You’re doing an appendectomy here, right? Give me a smock and something sharp and I’ll just take it out for you’…And I’d sort of do the job on that guy on the table that he’d sort of do on the novel. The guy on the table would be dead and the novel would be dead.”

Replace “I’m going to write a novel” with “I’m going to make a trumpet” and you get the general idea.


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Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: GobbleNut on March 19, 2021, 08:59:02 AM
  So every post I see about any call made by any call maker is always positive and sounds "pure turkey".

The fact of the matter is that most turkeys don't sound "pure turkey".  The term "pure turkey",...or any of the other descriptions we humans use to describe a turkey call,...is strictly a subjective term as seen/heard through the "human filter".  Turkeys communicate through the "turkey filter", and no matter how good us turkey hunters think we are at bridging that gap, we will never completely be able to cross it.

So, to sort of half-way answer your question, it is a pretty rare turkey call made by a half-way skilled turkey call maker that won't call a turkey that exists out there somewhere.  Sure, we humans think certain calls are "pure turkey",...and conversely, certain others aren't,...but when all is said and done, it is up to the turkey that is being called to make the final decision on that.  :D
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Gentry on March 19, 2021, 09:16:07 AM
You should be able to get something that resembles a yelp out of any call.


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Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: mtns2hunt on March 19, 2021, 09:37:11 AM
There are bad turkey call makers, mediocre, good and excellent. There is no reason to publically denounce anyone. Most try hard to make a decent call but there is a learning curve.

I have at least 60 calls but only use about 10 on a consistent basis. These 10 are the calls that bring in responses. The calls were mainly bought on e-bay and some say they were trash to begin with but one of my most gaudy calls with a funky picture on it really produces. Why I have no idea as I do not know what pure turkey sounds like as this is subjective and differs by individual.

I feel I can only know a calls potential or the maker’s skill buy trying the call in a hunting situation. I have found that by following the advice on this forum on good or great calls by known makers that my odds of acquiring a decent call go way up. Still I think most calls will call a turkey good or bad: some just take longer to produce.

My current delema is should I sell my less desirable calls on e-bay?
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Greg Massey on March 19, 2021, 10:40:10 AM
The simple answer is having CONFIDENCE in the builder and the calls your using. If you don't have confidence in these calls, regardless the builder, more than likely your not going to use that call. Several call builder mentioned time and time again just flat out build a good quality sounding call. Lot's of factors goes into building a good call, dimensions, surfaces, soundboards and wood types all play a part in making a good, great or outstanding pot call. Sure some lesser pot call builders, sometimes think they build a great call, when really the pot call is just below average or subpar, but in most case's will possibly kill a turkey. I also give credit to us turkey hunters, as we become more experience and buy calls, we find out what calls give us the best opportunities to be more successful in killing turkeys. SO again it all comes back to what CONFIDENCE we have in the builder and calls we are buying. I will also agree, subpar call builder as he continues to prefect his call building skills with internals dimensions or outside dimensions, may one day become awesome call builder. I do agree, it's all about being honest with the builders and people on this forum. No need to call anyone out publicly, but i fell we always need to sharing our pass experiences in buying calls good or bad. The best call builders are not going to get it right 100 percent of the time, but at least with these builders you have better chances of getting calls you will have confidence in playing and calling turkeys.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: btomlin on March 19, 2021, 02:45:18 PM
I didn't read the other responses, but my 1st thought was that the custom guys probably put fewer "bad calls" out into circulation.  I'm guessing the custom makers have more calls that hit the kindling pile than go out their front door to a customer as they all seem to take great pride in the quality of their work.   If you work for a "big brand", how long are you going to have a job if you are pitching 3 out of every 5 calls that come down the line because it sounds like crap???
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: ol bob on March 19, 2021, 03:44:18 PM
When I started out even though I had thousands of dollars worth of tools I wasn't a bad call maker I was a terrible call maker, couldn't give them away. This was a time no one would tell you anything, after making a ton of firewood I got descent at it. Today it you take the time to hunt it info. you can start out with a very good call, but you have to be able to make every one exactly alike, close is not good enough.There are some excellent call makers that no one has ever heard of.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Nathan_Wiles on March 19, 2021, 03:57:21 PM
Why in the world would any self respecting turkey hunter enter the woods with an effective 5 dollar call when he can have an effective 100 dollar custom call...its just silly.
Me personally I like the custom stuff and once the bug bit I've been unable to shake it. Not that I've tried all that hard either. In fact I've made no effort whatsoever.
I think in truth you can call turkeys with a plastic straw but its not nearly as cool. We all have in our head what a hen turkey should sound like, there's lots of turkey calls and we all hear them a little different. What I think is perfect someone else may think is too this or that but its still a hen turkey.

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Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: bwhana on March 19, 2021, 08:02:51 PM
Great responses and it was meant as a mental exercise, especially for newbies thinking any call they buy is gold, as they might deduct from reading.  I get the differences between skill sets of makers and it wasn't meant to really call out individuals. And most importantly, my last comment about my Permar was dry humor, no way I would ever throw shade on Ralph at all!
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: larry9988 on March 19, 2021, 09:06:47 PM
  A lot has to do with whose hand or mouth the call is in. It's sort of like this, If you handed me the finest Stradivarius Violin in the world, I would sound terrible, hand it to a master violinist and it will bring tears to your eyes. I have heard some people that can make an average turkey call sound great, and I have heard some people on a great call sound horrible. As I mentioned in a previous post on call sound quality, a six call ( on a scale of 1 to 10) will call just as many turkeys as a 10 if you you how and when to play it. I have some calls by makers that so many rave about, that are just average calls at best. You can get some very good calls in the $75- $100 range without having to pay top dollar or get on a waiting list to get a call. The biggest problem I see with store bought calls is I do not have the opportunity to play or listen to them as I do with a custom maker. If you go to big box stores or big time sporting goods stores and you can't play the calls, your chances of taking home a decent call are slim. It's a crap shoot at best.  You will probably end up spending more money $25-$30 at a time just trying to get a decent call, than you if you bought one from a good custom call maker for more money. But inexpensive does not automatically mean a call is no good, a good example is a $20 slate call will be with me in the morning instead of some of my more expensive ones.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Crghss on March 20, 2021, 08:11:28 PM
Calls are not all priced the same. Some calls go for less some go for far more........what do you think determines that?
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: MK M GOBL on March 20, 2021, 08:38:39 PM
I judge the call in my hand, some I like the sound and some I don't, everyone has their favorites!

I've had some custom calls in my hands that just are dead in tone to my ears, they don't sing. I always want to hear it play, and by my hand. Some clear, some raspy, just has to have "that" sound. I have given a lot of calls away and only a few make it to my arsenal.

The only judge I care about dies if all goes right  :icon_thumright:

Still the best call I have ever owned! CODY World Class Slate


MK M GOBL
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: RiverBuck on March 20, 2021, 09:10:15 PM
The simple answer is having CONFIDENCE in the builder and the calls your using. If you don't have confidence in these calls, regardless the builder, more than likely your not going to use that call. Several call builder mentioned time and time again just flat out build a good quality sounding call. Lot's of factors goes into building a good call, dimensions, surfaces, soundboards and wood types all play a part in making a good, great or outstanding pot call. Sure some lesser pot call builders, sometimes think they build a great call, when really the pot call is just below average or subpar, but in most case's will possibly kill a turkey. I also give credit to us turkey hunters, as we become more experience and buy calls, we find out what calls give us the best opportunities to be more successful in killing turkeys. SO again it all comes back to what CONFIDENCE we have in the builder and calls we are buying. I will also agree, subpar call builder as he continues to prefect his call building skills with internals dimensions or outside dimensions, may one day become awesome call builder. I do agree, it's all about being honest with the builders and people on this forum. No need to call anyone out publicly, but i fell we always need to sharing our pass experiences in buying calls good or bad. The best call builders are not going to get it right 100 percent of the time, but at least with these builders you have better chances of getting calls you will have confidence in playing and calling turkeys.

True.. Confidence is the key to every aspect of success in life.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: HookedonHooks on March 21, 2021, 08:29:39 AM
A call maker is only as good as his or her worst call they let out of the shop. No call maker is perfect.

Have confidence in what you're using, and do your part of getting on the turkeys, and you will have success.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: ChesterCopperpot on March 21, 2021, 09:35:18 AM
There was an interview with Pat Strawser once where he talked about how we seem to accept that a diaphragm might work great for one guy and horrible for another but we don’t always extend that same thing to friction. But that individuality is identical. Style of play differs so greatly between people you can hand a pot to one guy and it’s “pure turkey” and hand it to the next and its “Billy wet chicken,” and both may be very adequate callers. Does make it really hard to buy calls sight unseen even with sound files. That’s what makes places like Nashville and Unicoi so great is actually getting to put YOUR hands on a call and see what runs for YOU.


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Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: TauntoHawk on March 21, 2021, 10:31:09 AM
Ive certainly purchased Calls I'd never take to the woods but I wont talk negatively about them on an open forum. there are also builders that make good calls but the builder is less than desirable to deal with and I don't repeat buy from them either.

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Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: ozarktroutbum on March 23, 2021, 11:36:47 PM
There are many calls that sound presentable and very few that don't. I absolutely believe that a person's ability to call outweighs a call's ability by a long shot (for the most part; like I said, there are some calls that sound awful. many of which might come from a beginning call maker.)

Whether they admit it or not, many people's perception of what a turkey sounds like or how good a call sounds, has been heavily influenced (or dare I say, "tainted") by what they someone told them a turkey is supposed to sound like.

That's why when new turkey hunters go to the woods after learning how to run their new slate call/box calls on YouTube, they are dumbfounded when they actually hear real turkeys.

As a call maker myself, I too have fallen into the trap of second guessing my calls based on what other people think.

At the end of the day, everybody is just reinventing the wheel. It's humorous how pretentious and high falutin some folks can be when it comes to telling you what sounds good and what doesn't.

Turkey calls are not musical instruments. Musical instruments (guitar, banjo, etc.) were not designed to duplicate pre-existing sounds. They themselves are their own creatures. Really, no one can tell you that you are playing a guitar wrong...however, people can let you know if they like your playing or despise it...

In regard to turkey calls, either you sound like a turkey or you don't. What I think a turkey sounds like doesn't matter.

What I think won't change how in fact real wild turkeys sound.

Unfortunately we are all humans, fallible creatures, that will forever be tortured by the chains of subjectivity while we reside on this earth

Gosh do I despise the term "pure turkey..."   :funnyturkey:

Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Crghss on March 24, 2021, 09:15:22 PM
A bad call maker may not get called out on OG but a good call maker will have his name mentioned over and over on OG

Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Meleagris gallopavo on March 24, 2021, 10:05:49 PM
A bad call maker may not get called out on OG but a good call maker will have his name mentioned over and over on OG
That's what I look for when I'm thinking about buying another call.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: shaman on March 25, 2021, 06:54:09 AM
Calls are not all priced the same. Some calls go for less some go for far more........what do you think determines that?

There's a documentary out there called "Kiss the Water." It is about the life and work of Megan Boyd, a renowned salmon fly tier.  Her flies were the most sought-after for decades.  She would get personal visits from Prince Charles.  I would recommend it the flick. It's out on Netflix.

Her protege, I forget his name, was talking about Megan for most of the movie.  I remember one stunning quote from Megan I'll paraphrase, "Flies are tied to catch the fisherman, not the fish."

Look, besides being the Patriarch of the Shamanic Dream Team, I make calls.  I make pot calls mostly. I've made box calls.  I just do it for family and friends. Are they good?  They mostly bring in turkeys.  My first box call, The Shamanic MK I, seems to bring in gobs every time I use it.  My first attempt at a pot call was similarly successful.    I don't claim any special skill. However, I do guarantee that the turkeys won't laugh at you if you use my call.  Needless to say, I don't take my calls or my ability to produce them all that seriously. 

I was reading this thread and I was reminded of an experience I had many years ago.  I was hunting with some guys from Alabama that thought they were ultimate turkey hunters.  I was sitting on the porch at the cabin and they were showing their expertise.  I had my old Dick Kirby  Quakerboy Grand Old Master call in my hand, and they asked me to make a call.  I did.  One of the guys asked to see the call.

"See, what you got here, is all played out," he said. "This call's no good anymore.  You need to get yourself something like this."  It was something that looked expensive. I forget the details, but it had cost him a fortune.  He and his buddy were rich; they could afford it.  I'd been using that old call for decades, and I've been using it since, and it still brings in gobblers after 40 years.  Me?  Dick Kirby actually put that call in my hand at a show.  I'd never heard a turkey at that time.  The first time I tried it in the woods, I had a gobbler honor my yelp.  I was hooked for life.  Would I have traded that guy even for his $2K Neil Cost whatever?

. . . Well, for $2K, I'd have traded in a flat minute and thrown in my shotgun and my hat.


Are there bad calls?  Yes.  Will they still bring in birds in the right hands? Yes.  The first call I ever made was a pot call-- slate over glass.  The first time I used it, the glass came unglued.  I still managed to call in the gobbler and shot him, but then I had to redo the call.  I made several calls that way. I used an epoxy that got too brittle.  None of the others came apart like that.  I switched glue and never had another problem.

Are there bad call makers?  Yes. I've seen some mass-produced stuff that was pretty abominable. However, I've also seen some that worked quite well.  I taught #1 Granddaughter how to make her own pot call.  Does it work?  It works great.   She'd sell it to you for $40 and even sign it as a Mooselette MK I Original  Serial #00001.  She'll even throw in 2 custom strikers.


 
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: howl on March 26, 2021, 10:02:42 AM
One of the most renown names in trumpet making produces dead calls. It isn't Permar. You need to consider that an awful lot of people don't know how to play calls, don't know what a turkey sounds like and are still able to kill a turkey now and again.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Spitten and drummen on March 27, 2021, 07:19:14 AM
Some days you could call in a bird scratching a nail on a piece of tin. Other days you can be a world champion caller and get ziltch. Turkeys are strange birds. I have said it and I believe that turkey calls are like bass baits. They catch more fisherman than fish. Its a good thing hens all have different voices. There are some calls that just flat out produce and others not so much. I believe that when you deal with unpressured 2 year olds , it does not really matter how good or really bad you sound. Now when dealing with old birds thats been pressured , its time to set yourself apart from other hunters , including your calls. Knowing what to say and how to say it trumps everything. To answer your question, as with everything you have good and bad ones. Confidence in your call is what matters most.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: M,Yingling on March 28, 2021, 11:02:41 AM
I have a friend that just bought a lathe to start making his own calls for himself for fun and our discussions about the calls he's made so far triggered some thoughts...

Just applying a little logic on data from the site for fun while I drink my coffee.  So every post I see about any call made by any call maker is always positive and sounds "pure turkey". The only negative comments I've seen have been about big box store cheap calls made by bigger name companies.

Don't take this the wrong way, but the data shows that either it is very easy to make good calls, because they all do according to the posts, or guys are not being honest and not "calling" out bad calls or makers. Are they all really that good, and if so, why pay top $ for one when it is no more effective than a cheaper cheaper call maker?  Anyone care to share bad ones openly and admit the $200 call you bought was junk?

I have a Permar trumpet that sounds great to me so far, but I got it right after the season last year from Ralph and will find out how the birds like it in a few weeks, so the verdict is still out on it.


i think most of us was taught at young age if u dont have anything nice say dont say it ,,, now if your buddy makes calls and drops some sound files on them and asks for opinions  iam sure he will get them good or bad and cant get all butt hurt over bad ones ,,, as for big box store calls iam sure every one that says the sound like crap theirs another that it says it sounds great and killed birds with them   seems easyier to bash a big company then one person ,,, i got boat load of calls here that people rave over high clear pitch  that people probly kill birds with every day season but thats just not what i hear turkey sound like in my area so i dont use them  and as was said dont have confidence in them but would never come on say bad things about them sound wise  ,,, how bout wing bone and trumpets in my area i dont hear to many turkey that sound like them but they work people kill with them also  i dont judge a call as bad on sound ,,, to me its all bout how easy it is to run. The perfect call to me should have nice breaking yelp rolls over easy and dont have run striker in 2 in circles get yelp out it  Have some nice rasp to it and with little striker pressure should have clear sound ,,, i always felt if a call runs high clear pitch right off their hard get any rasp out them   ,,,
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: ferocious calls on March 28, 2021, 12:36:42 PM
When I send a call out I tell the hunter that I need him to love the calls sound. I already know if played well, it will call turkeys. If the hunter is not extremely satisfied I ask them to send it back and I will send another. We are only as good as the last call we shipped.

At 40 bucks they tend to want more as well. Many Elite call makers turn their noses up to a built call. The turkeys sure don't. 
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: 3bailey3 on March 28, 2021, 04:32:56 PM
I brought a call on here from a call maker that gets a lot of good reviews, when i got it i thought it was just average. Someone else on here was looking for one a few weeks later and we worked out a trade but he wanted a sound file, so i sent him one and he loved it and we made the trade. I had also sent that sound clip to a few buddies that started raving about how great that call sounded. I had never listened to the clip but when i did i called the guy up and tried to buy the call back. No luck there. I think it is good to record yourself and you and buddies listen to it.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Bowguy on March 29, 2021, 06:23:30 PM
People are often trying to be nice not saying but there’s some bad ones out there. I’ll give ya their number if you want to try a few! Kidding
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: mspaci on March 30, 2021, 04:41:30 PM
Guess Ill vent. Just today sent a long box call back to a big name that everyone raves about. Got it yesterday & the box has no right side, none, zero turkey in it. So when I questioned it, he says thats how his personal call is & its not always easy to get both sides to play well. Really? Its already back in the mail. Mike
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: TrackeySauresRex on March 31, 2021, 01:32:46 PM
What constitutes a bad call? Or maker? Sound, pitch, tone and deflection. Or.. construction.? I’m not a call maker however I called in a hen once. She sounded like she smoked two packs of Lucky Strike for 20 years. For sure I thought it was a hunter messing with me. So if is sound, it’s what they want to hear that day JMHO. I’m strictly a novice  ;D
If they take to long or don’t get it to you that’s a lil different.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: West Augusta on March 31, 2021, 03:46:52 PM
Yes there are bad calls and callmakers.  That being said, the hardest thing for a call maker is to match the turkey sound in your head.  That's what you want the call to sound like.   And a call that you hate, another hunter may think is the best sounding call he's ever heard. 
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: mtns2hunt on April 07, 2021, 08:33:21 PM
Yes there are bad calls and callmakers.  That being said, the hardest thing for a call maker is to match the turkey sound in your head.  That's what you want the call to sound like.   And a call that you hate, another hunter may think is the best sounding call he's ever heard.

x2
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Snood Life on April 07, 2021, 10:08:09 PM
Yes there are bad calls and callmakers.  That being said, the hardest thing for a call maker is to match the turkey sound in your head.  That's what you want the call to sound like.   And a call that you hate, another hunter may think is the best sounding call he's ever heard.

Yep, that is why there are so many transactions in the classifies. One mans squawk box, is another mans perfect hen.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: RiverBuck on April 07, 2021, 10:19:50 PM
Funny part is every year I use my worst sounding box or pots.. mainly a old short "custom" box because it's loud off my back porch.. I do this every year a few days before season.
Actually, been doing it the last couple evenings. My season opens Saturday but this routine has become an annual event for me.
This box sounds horrible, inconsistent, high pitch, like throw it away type call... But every year I get a pile of gobblers surrounding my place before season. I went out on the porch at first light this morning and just smiled.

Hate to break it to you, turkey aren't that smart.
Call buying from the outside looking in is a hobby.

Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Sir-diealot on April 07, 2021, 11:52:06 PM
If I made them there would be!
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: EZ on April 08, 2021, 11:47:28 AM
If I made them there would be!

 :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :toothy12: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:

That made me laugh!!!!
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Old Gobbler on April 17, 2021, 09:16:31 AM
The main problem with came call business and hunters is they habitually 99.9% of the time never try to listen to recordings of actual wild turkeys ..but instead try to mimic other guys running a call ...think about this , never does a gobbler hear a hen and say to himself "naw" natural hen calling is very convincing,  some guy squaking unrealistically in the woods doesn't


Is there,  has thier been , and will there be substandard quality game calls made ...you betcha! This also applies to waterfowl calls ..but thats another painful subject for another time ...with that said a a expert caller can make a horrible call sound very realistic...and a terrible caller on a fantastic call can sound horrible.

It is no accident there is a "youtube" video section here on oldgobbler to demonstrate game calls ....

My motto is my turkey calls do all my talking  hence the video section , it helps people sell calls , it also helps people who purchased calls sound as good as the maker

This may ruffle some feathers ...so be it , if you ever want to meet the largest collection of tone deaf individuals,  go to a turkey convention and listen to not only the people running the calls (customers) but even some of the ones manufacturing ....

Lots of opinions on calling , but I will say that find the call that is most realistic in your hands and work with that


Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: Sir-diealot on April 17, 2021, 05:58:29 PM
The main problem with came call business and hunters is they habitually 99.9% of the time never try to listen to recordings of actual wild turkeys ..but instead try to mimic other guys running a call ...think about this , never does a gobbler hear a hen and say to himself "naw" natural hen calling is very convincing,  some guy squaking unrealistically in the woods doesn't


Is there,  has thier been , and will there be substandard quality game calls made ...you betcha! This also applies to waterfowl calls ..but thats another painful subject for another time ...with that said a a expert caller can make a horrible call sound very realistic...and a terrible caller on a fantastic call can sound horrible.

It is no accident there is a "youtube" video section here on oldgobbler to demonstrate game calls ....

My motto is my turkey calls do all my talking  hence the video section , it helps people sell calls , it also helps people who purchased calls sound as good as the maker

This may ruffle some feathers ...so be it , if you ever want to meet the largest collection of tone deaf individuals,  go to a turkey convention and listen to not only the people running the calls (customers) but even some of the ones manufacturing ....

Lots of opinions on calling , but I will say that find the call that is most realistic in your hands and work with that
I spend a lot of time listening to Lovett Williams CD's as well as the Spitt'n Feathers CD's and they help me a lot, especially when it comes to cadence.
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: rodney gillikin on June 01, 2021, 05:53:20 AM
 I think should try to support the sport of hunting turkeys, I have more respect for a call builder telling me about what he / she is not hearing in my calls. But some people think their god gift to turkey hunting and there not. So there are a great many variables in call making until you have experience trying to build a call you will never know. But some people think they can run their keyboards and that makes they a great turkey caller, not. Try being nice help your friend right or wrong support them it their quest to build. If you don't like don't buy , but just think birds are smart and hear the same old thing year after year, you have to change it up some so he will think its a new bird in the area.

In high school you can be walking down the hallways and be 100 people walking down them everyday but let a new boy or girl show up and everyone notices why? Something difference... 
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: mmclain on June 02, 2021, 10:35:37 PM
It’s more than simply good or bad.  It is experience and the experience of years of failure and learning from those failures to develop consistency.  There are call builders, call makers, and then you have the ones that are talented and experienced enough to think of new ideas on design and bring them to fruition.   If you make hand made turkey calls and never failed you didn’t learn a damn thing.


Years ago there was no YouTube instructional videos or CNCs to easily turn a call out.  It was all learn by fail.  That instruction is shortening the learning curve but at the same  it has caused a lack of fail experience which is highly important to the art of learning.   
Title: Re: Such thing as a bad call or maker?
Post by: culpeper on June 03, 2021, 08:35:24 AM
Well stated Matt!