Have a couple of Woodhaven and David Halloran calls at the moment. Just wondering what are some of your guys' personal favorite call makers. Thanks!
Marlin.
Incredible calls !!!! Outstanding individual !!!
I couldn't pick just one. There are guys recognized by most as top of the heap that I definitely agree with but I've also ran into a few off the beaten path so to speak that have made me great turkey calls. I've made some friends besides laying hands on some great calls of several different types
Lots of great custom calls but here are a few of my personal favorites.
Steve Mann
Albert Paul
Bob Harwell
Jerry "Dad" White
SS Custom Calls
Jeff White
Quote from: NightHawk24 on April 06, 2022, 08:14:05 PM
Have a couple of Woodhaven and David Halloran calls at the moment. Just wondering what are some of your guys' personal favorite call makers. Thanks!
Be helpful to know what type of calls you're looking for. You say you have Halloran and Woodhaven so I'm thinking pots, but most the suggestions thus far have been makers who primarily specialize in box calls. What type of call are you wanting?
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I think there's a lot of good call makers out there. For me personally, I like buying from the makers that are easy to get a hold of and nice to talk to. I've had a few that are frequently mentioned on here never message me back for whatever reason so I just buy from someone else. I've had good experiences with Buster, Watkins, Sneed, Halloran, Stumpy, Lapp.
I'm fortunate to call both Mark Cornelius and Roger Parks friends. They both make great calls that will hunt with the best of them. And they also are both killing machines in the woods.
I only have one custom call, I was looking for a copper call and Mike Yingling's was mentioned often. He made a copper/birds eye maple call for me and it looks and sounds awesome.
Way too many to list. It's not just that they are awesome call makers, they are just great people who genuinely care about their customers and do everything possible to meet or exceed your expectations. They consider it an honor and privilege that you chose them to make a call for you.
There's a lot out there
I have to admit that John sinclair is my favorite
N looks and more importantly sound
One more thing Mike Yingling for the. 3" copper
Too many to list, doing shows for over 20 years I I've made a lot of call making friends, and sadly a lot are no longer with us.
My short list right now for a combination of price/value, quality, pretty available (not impossible)/ ease to deal with the maker/likability (memorable phone conversations!):
ShortBox- SS/Shoemaker*, A Paul, J Harrison
Longbox- R Snodgrass, S Mann
Pot-B Halford, B Roberts
Trumpet- L Stowe, R Permar
They're not inexpensive but they represent a value in that you'll be glad you own them and they all are absolutely deadly little weapons in the turkey woods. (PS: I put an asterisk on the one that for me represents a truly exceptional value that I would strongly recommend without hesitation to a newer/younger hunter looking to get into custom calls)
Oh and I forgot striker: JLH
Watkins as mentioned by many is great all around too and usually available
That is rough to answer have dealt with alot of good guys and a number of them on here. But without a doubt Lonnie Mabry for me. Awesome guy to visit, chat turkey with and get calls from. Given it's an uneven field, he's the only one I've met in person besides a show or two.
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Boxes
Albert Paul
Lamar Williams
Marlin Watkins
Pots
Daybreak
Brad Roberts
Buster Halford
Cody
Trumpet
Lewis Stowe
Anthony Ellis
Billy Buice
These are the Call Makers I talk with the most and have the most calls from
Marlin Watkins
TJ Johnson
Paul Platz
Brad Roberts
Brad Roberts
Buster Halford
Tj Johnson
JLH strikers
These guys are making the best calls (strikers) out right now Imo.
Scott Witter - My favorite longbox...on his list for a short box.
Bob Harwell (not sure if he still makes calls) - Trained by Neil Cost, he built my box for me in 2004.
Mark Cornelius - I have 2 great pot calls from him.
Buster Halford - I love his double siders.
Couple makers in the vest year after year......
longbox/mini boat: Snodgrass
short box: Marlin, Spring Creek
yelper: Bott, Ezolt and Permar
mouth call: Gulvas and Gooserbat
Shannon Kelly. I use pushpins primarily, his are by far the best IMO. They definitely changed the game for me....
Trumpet -Anthony Ellis
Scratch box - SS Custom Xalls
NOTE: Most if not all of the call makers recommended are great but understand that you won't be able to get calls from a lot of them. B Buice, K Pedelahore, S Kelly, A Bott, P Platz, Cody are not taking orders and some have years long wait lists: A Ellis, L Williams, D Dawkins, M Lapp to name a few.
Just so you're aware before you go asking around.
Thanks to everybody for all the replies and recommendations! I appreciate it.
MAC Calls !
Sweetbriar Custom Calls in walnut
Just for the record. I did not train under Neil Cost. Neil & I were good friends for 9 years. He & his protege Lamar Williams showed & told me a lot about call making. They encouraged me to start making calls & 21 years later I'm still making them.
Quote from: tal on April 06, 2022, 09:12:32 PM
I couldn't pick just one. There are guys recognized by most as top of the heap that I definitely agree with but I've also ran into a few off the beaten path so to speak that have made me great turkey calls. I've made some friends besides laying hands on some great calls of several different types
I agree with you and there are certain builders that make some types of calls better than others then they aren't as proficient with other types.Oldgobbler is full of great builders that will treat you right.
Might be a bit before you can get one, guessing a lot of back orders...
Mine is CODY Turkey Calls, my World Class Slate and SPEC 1 Legend are exceptional!!
MK M GOBL
My favorite people and call makers are
Mr Bob Buckner
Mr Billy Buice and
Mr Bill Lyman
Quote from: outdoors on April 07, 2022, 10:37:35 AM
There's a lot out there
I have to admit that John sinclair is my favorite
N looks and more importantly sound
One more thing Mike Yingling for the. 3" copper
x2 on John Sinclair
Dawkins
Richard Hudson hen box
Buster Halford hands down
If I could only name one it would be Lamar Williams.
Lots of great and good call builders, i will just say i appreciate all of them who make calls for us ... I'm mainly a box and pot call guy myself ... But i will add CLay Townsend makes some of the best strikers period. IMO
Mark Cornelius of MAC Calls
This week, John Eddleman(gator gobbling stribling), Mike
He who shall not be named.
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I have a lot of great calls and i have some good calls. I see no reason to name the makers... i have some from makers that have gotten little recognition, but are still in my collection of good call builders. I also think some call makers are way overrated compared to others ... What i like about calls and sounds, another person may not like them at all...
Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on May 18, 2022, 08:40:40 PM
He who shall not be named.
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Do you have contact info for Voldemort?
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Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on May 18, 2022, 08:40:40 PM
He who shall not be named.
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Do you have contact info for Voldemort?
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Quote from: Greg Massey on May 18, 2022, 09:43:13 PM
I have a lot of great calls and i have some good calls. I see no reason to name the makers... i have some from makers that have gotten little recognition, but are still in my collection of good call builders. I also think some call makers are way overrated compared to others ... What i like about calls and sounds, another person may not like them at all...
I agree with Greg. I like to try different makers because I like the diversity and individuality of the calls. My favorite call makers tend to communicate well, are consistent in the calls they make, and last but not least, take time to chat about calls and turkey hunting with a customer.
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Boxes: Mann, Mabry, Williams, David Beard, Russell Beard
Pots: R Padgett, Mabry
Yelpers: Stowe, Permar, L Chadwick, DES,
In my opinion the finest call makers are also fine gentlemen altogether, they care about the calls they sell but also value the friendships and fellowship that goes along with it. And in that regard, Steve Mann and the late Lewis Stowe are in another category all by themselves.
Quote from: Ranger on June 05, 2022, 09:56:22 AM
Boxes: Mann, Mabry, Williams, David Beard, Russell Beard
Pots: R Padgett, Mabry
Yelpers: Stowe, Permar, L Chadwick, DES,
In my opinion the finest call makers are also fine gentlemen altogether, they care about the calls they sell but also value the friendships and fellowship that goes along with it. And in that regard, Steve Mann and the late Lewis Stowe are in another category all by themselves.
Not sure what you know above being a gentleman the way you cut in on guys WTB posts and buy calls out from under them. Stowe trumpets in particular.
I buy calls to hunt with and lay on top of feathers, not to profit off of, and if I take criticism from a buyer-seller prospector then I'll take it. But you wouldn't talk out of place in person, and I definitely wouldn't be a gentleman about it.
Quote from: Ranger on June 05, 2022, 02:53:49 PM
I buy calls to hunt with and lay on top of feathers, not to profit off of, and if I take criticism from a buyer-seller prospector then I'll take it. But you wouldn't talk out of place in person, and I definitely wouldn't be a gentleman about it.
I'm not talking out if place here, I'm stating the facts.
I have pot calls and box calls from a ton of guys. I think Scott Witter makes the best box. Jody Harrison also makes a box I play very well.
Pots-depends on the surface. I'd say Clay Townsend is #1 as far as my collection but I had some success with slate over glass this year and MAC's green slate did the trick. Titanium-John Sinclair
Best service, great pots, nicest guy = Mike Yingling
Someone said " today, it is...."
That is the truth!
I love all my custom calls and their makers are artist
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Best Callmaker Frank Cox. My next choice is Darrin Dawkins! My Opinion and everyone has one.
Quote from: painterjp on July 01, 2022, 12:58:07 AM
Best Callmaker Frank Cox. My next choice is Darrin Dawkins! My Opinion and everyone has one.
interesting combination
Quote from: gaswamp on July 01, 2022, 07:03:04 AM
Quote from: painterjp on July 01, 2022, 12:58:07 AM
Best Callmaker Frank Cox. My next choice is Darrin Dawkins! My Opinion and everyone has one.
interesting combination
No joke. You must be in the turkey woods with LF dressed up as the devil on one shoulder and Darrin dressed up as an angel on the other telling you which call to use and what moves to make.
Why does everybody hate on Frank Cox? I've had dealings with him twice and he's been as nice on the phone as you could ask for. I think he wants to be known as a "mean callmaker" but the man makes as fine of a trumpet as you will ever see.
I would focus my collections on
Lamar Williams
Mark prudhome
Lewis Stowe
Darrin dawkins
Neil cost
Rev Farmer
Billy Buice
Quote from: Far2low on July 13, 2022, 03:12:26 AM
I would focus my collections on
Lamar Williams
Mark prudhome
Lewis Stowe
Darrin dawkins
Neil cost
Rev Farmer
Billy Buice
Good advice. But first liquidate all stock holdings, offshore accounts, bearer bonds, crypto currencies, real estate holdings, gold and silver bullion, annuities, life insurance policies and trust funds. And then after that, I would begin the application process for personal loans. :toothy12:
Those calls are not that expensive compared to many.
Rev. Farmer and Cost are expensive. Buice callers are starting to get that way.
Boxes I like Mann Watkins Williams
Pots Cody Mabry Roberts
Trumpets buice Cox hornstra KP
Wingbone/cane EZ sharpe
Soft talkers parks Watkins
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Quote from: Far2low on July 16, 2022, 01:16:56 AM
Those calls are not that expensive compared to many.
At risk of falling prey to trolling, who are the many? Calls on your list sell into the thousands and are very difficult to obtain.
I'm not going to single anyone out, you can either invest in turkey calls or not. There's only so many call makers that have calls that calls increase in value after you buy them. I'd focus on them. How many times have you heard someone say they wished they bought more of Neil's calls? Lewis Stowe's trumpets were only $150 6 months ago, I don't think you needed a second mortgage for that.
Yeah, I don't "invest" in turkey calls. I use turkey calls to kill gobblers. I think that was the intent of the OP. And if you look back to my first post in this thread, I recommended Lewis Stowe, before he died. Not because it was a good investment but because his calls are awesome and he was a gentleman and a person of high integrity who I liked.
Quote from: HookedonHooks on July 01, 2022, 08:34:58 AM
Quote from: gaswamp on July 01, 2022, 07:03:04 AM
Quote from: painterjp on July 01, 2022, 12:58:07 AM
Best Callmaker Frank Cox. My next choice is Darrin Dawkins! My Opinion and everyone has one.
interesting combination
No joke. You must be in the turkey woods with LF dressed up as the devil on one shoulder and Darrin dressed up as an angel on the other telling you which call to use and what moves to make.
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
:icon_thumright:
Boxes- Marlin Watkins Pot calls- Buster Halford
TJ Johnson and Paul Hicks for me personally