Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Is it mostly the fun of collecting or do you find enough variation in box calls to make situational swaps worth it when hunting?

Guys have dif calls for many reasons but if you are just starting it's like imagining you have one fishing lure. It'll work sometimes but not always the best tool all the time.
With one box for instance you can run different sides for dif sounds. You can change cadence a little to sound like a dif hen. We're not discussing pots but that would include all the things you could do with strikers to change sound too. Areas of any call to run on.
Long boxes are superior to most short boxes be advised cause you can do even more.
It's always better to have more than one call, type call, etc but you can do things initially to change em up. Hope that made sense

I have short and long boxes that are high pitched young hen and some that are low pitched mature hen. I also have some that give a nice deep gobbler yelp or Jake yelp. I carry 2 boxes that cover all of those sounds. I have them because of versatility.

Quote from: Bowguy on March 18, 2025, 08:02:19 PMGuys have dif calls for many reasons but if you are just starting it's like imagining you have one fishing lure. It'll work sometimes but not always the best tool all the time.
With one box for instance you can run different sides for dif sounds. You can change cadence a little to sound like a dif hen. We're not discussing pots but that would include all the things you could do with strikers to change sound too. Areas of any call to run on.
Long boxes are superior to most short boxes be advised cause you can do even more.
It's always better to have more than one call, type call, etc but you can do things initially to change em up. Hope that made sense

This is a great answer.

Because they just keep showing up at my house.   :TooFunny:


 :z-dizzy:    :help:

Any wood combos recommended for a less raspy young hen sounds? Already have nice raspy black poplar box with an ebony lib.

Quote from: Penguin907 on March 18, 2025, 09:53:07 PMAny wood combos recommended for a less raspy young hen sounds? Already have nice raspy black poplar box with an ebony lib.

Try walnut/walnut

I own several different box calls because of the friendships I've made. Owning something made by a friend facilitates more than just owning a turkey call. I really don't need another turkey call, but I'll take and enjoy all the friendships I can make the short time I have left on this earth. Enjoying a turkey call a friend has made just makes hunting turkeys more special. It's like sharing the hunt with them.....and every callmaker I know just loves getting those pictures of turkeys and the call of theirs you used to call them to the gun.

Variety is the spice of life


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Contact a maker. Tell them what you're looking for. All calls even the same combo will never sound exact. Wood density changes for one thing. Some makers will send you soundfiles or play it on the phone for you. Next option and this may be a decent one is get some used ones. They've already depreciated and if you take care will be worth about what you spent if you don't overspend initially. Sell what doesn't suit you

I make my own box calls have tried different types of wood combinations and my all time favorite for an old hen is black walnut over mahogany I love that combo ifni want a young hen I will get maple over Canary wood killed few with that combo. Crap I could go on love a good box. Cherry over butternut is great

Quote from: Bowguy on March 19, 2025, 09:40:18 AMContact a maker. Tell them what you're looking for. All calls even the same combo will never sound exact. Wood density changes for one thing. Some makers will send you soundfiles or play it on the phone for you. Next option and this may be a decent one is get some used ones. They've already depreciated and if you take care will be worth about what you spent if you don't overspend initially. Sell what doesn't suit you

Yes, agree. Also some makers just tend to tune more raspy than others. So the maker has a lot to do with it not just the wood. For example Preacherman boxes are generally raspier, that's how Jody likes them. Steve Mann's boxes tend to have less rasp built in. But remember too that the player for the most part can make any box more or less raspy by how you run it. Playing the rail in the middle or higher(toward the screw,usually runs clearer, running it lower on the rail(toward the closed position) and with a softer touch will usually produce more rasp.

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 18, 2025, 09:08:26 PMBecause they just keep showing up at my house.   :TooFunny:


 :z-dizzy:    :help:

Funny but the same odd occurrence keeps on happening to me too...weird 🤔  :TooFunny:

Cause I make so many different boxes. Have to keep a few of each around at all times.  :)

Heck this one showed up last week, I don't know why but damn it sounds good!
(https://i.imgur.com/b7zYgXu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Rpjsnm6.jpg)

I like them all!
(https://i.imgur.com/YiUp0Jq.jpg)

As I have said in the past I enjoy all the different woods, they remind me of my father who collected antique furniture and all the different wood type and the magnificent grains they all had. I also have said that turkey are like human men, some like blonds, some like brunettes, I like redheads and I want a hair color for every turkey in the woods. I also like giving calls away to newcomers, especially youngsters.

I have a bunch because I'm a box call guy. I use them. I don't collect them. I have plenty that now look bad because of the use. Weather takes a toll. But again, I use mine rain, snow, sleet or sunshine. But they still sound great. So now, when it's rainy, I take the ones already weather beaten.

I'd say the majority of the birds I've killed have come from the hands of a box. I keep 2 in my vest (yes I have a vest with 2 box call pockets and won't consider a vest that doesn't). When I travel, I have 4 with me just in case. I've lost a few, still can't place where.

They all have a different pitch too. Box calls are the best. You can never have enough lol

Why do I have multiple box calls? I don't know.

But I needed a little Van Cise added to my life. This came the other week, quite the box call in sound and looks.

 :icon_thumright:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54513015915_83b5a078a3_z.jpg)

not big on box calls myself but I own a ton of pots and strikers....although I I a box from x calls Mike Robare...cedar and bloodwood boy that girl is mouthy she will do well this year for me

Because the man isa weak


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I can tell you one reason I do.  One year I stepped on my box call while in the woods and broke it.  I carry a spare incase I do something stupid like that again :)

Call the maker and let them know what sound you are looking for and don't get hung up on a specific wood combination. It can make the difference between getting a good call and a great call.
I have several sets of calls from the same maker in the same wood combinations that sound nothing alike.

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I never hunt with a box, but I still own 3 or 4 nice ones. I have built a bunch of boxes myself, and just love the process of building/tuning/running them. Most guys build one better than me, so I own theirs and burn mine...lol....Not sure what it is about a box call in the woods, I just can't get comfortable with one.

I make my own Cost style boxes. Each sounds a little different. Purpleheart over anything is generally louder and sharper, while a Sapele over Ambrosia Maple is toned down and easier to call softer on. Same with Heart Pine. I keep 2-3 on me when I hunt and just see what the turkey wants to hear because they all sound different! Once I kill a bird with one I retire it and move to a different one.

I have a few. The box is my main call. Couple have been given to me by friends that made them. Nothing fancy they just work. I use to carry 3 in my vest. I change them during the season. Out of all the box call used to take birds my lynch have  taken the most. I as I've gotten older I carry less. I guess you can say I cut my teeth on the box call. Good day.

I have 4 nice ones but only carry 1 in my vest. They are bulky and awkward to me. I much prefer a pot call.

If someone made a vest with 3-4 box holders and 1 pot holder, I would own it.  Currently have a "Yoder Toter" attached to my vest to increase my capacity to 2 boxes.  I typically carry 1 that is higher pitch and 1 that is lower pitch.

My newer lynch is the worst one I own.  It is not one of the "originals" like my dad had from the 80s...because I sat on that one and broke it.  Soul crushing day right there...

Quote from: btomlin on May 14, 2025, 03:27:05 PMIf someone made a vest with 3-4 box holders and 1 pot holder, I would own it.  Currently have a "Yoder Toter" attached to my vest to increase my capacity to 2 boxes.  I typically carry 1 that is higher pitch and 1 that is lower pitch.

My newer lynch is the worst one I own.  It is not one of the "originals" like my dad had from the 80s...because I sat on that one and broke it.  Soul crushing day right there...

I would own that vest too. Instead I use a tactical belt with a magnetic buckle, easily clips on and off, and is comfy.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54513062595_0e3a738731_c.jpg)

Quote from: btomlin on May 14, 2025, 03:27:05 PMIf someone made a vest with 3-4 box holders and 1 pot holder, I would own it.  Currently have a "Yoder Toter" attached to my vest to increase my capacity to 2 boxes. 

Yoder Toter !!!

 :TooFunny:   :TooFunny: