What is it that fuels your turkey call addiction?
I often play and admire the at least few thousand dollars in turkey calls. But also think that I could probably pick up a couple hundred dollars or less worth of production calls and have the same success rate. Shortly after that thought, I am thinking about what call I would like to acquire next or trying to talk myself out of buying another call that comes up in the classifieds on here....
For me I believe it is just the uniqueness of each call from all the different call makers. The best call makers are the best because of their consistency and ear in tuning calls to sound like what ever turkey they are trying to make it sound like. But, being done by hand, one at a time, every call is just a little bit different. And nobody else on this planet has that same exact call even though many may be close. Not to mention most of the craftsman ship of these calls is surely something to look at and admire.
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Like the wizard, the person behind the callmaking curtain "fuels" it, at least to me.
Knowing the callmaker, better yet having shared a few hunts with that guy, moves a turkey call they crafted, to something exceptional, invaluable, irreplaceable, indispensable.
While I'm not a collector, not even an accumulator, I am a gatherer of that particular callmaker's calls because its testament to unique experience and relationship.
I enjoy my calls all year long. It's a way to extend my season past the regular season. I have a variety of calls from builders and without buying custom calls I wouldn't have met my extended turkey call family. I have made lots of friends including people on this forum who have a lot of the same interest in turkey call collecting and sharing information about chasing gobblers.
Nothing wrong with a few of the production calls, but I do prefer custom calls.
For me, it's the draw of fine, custom craftsmanship. The beat up hands....the careful precision...the trained, tuning ear....the history.
I have production calls. Mostly ones with historical ( to me, at least) and regional significance.
But, the individual work of master craftsmen.... It keeps me coming back.
Basically, they have become a great investment!
The friendships they have brought into my life.
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Quote from: davisd9 on January 31, 2026, 07:31:31 PMThe friendships they have brought into my life.
Yessir !!
I have made MANY wonderful friends for life through custom calls.
For me, my obsession with turkey hunting since I was a kid started with knowing that you're not "hunting" as in the sense of deer hunting. You're communicating with that animal, in its natural "language" and have learned enough about that animal to be able to replicate its language in a way that they understand and you trick them. The turkey call is the means to that end and that's why I've always been fascinated with turkey calls. And waterfowl calls also.
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Quote from: Greg Massey on January 31, 2026, 05:09:42 PMI enjoy my calls all year long. It's a way to extend my season past the regular season. I have a variety of calls from builders and without buying custom calls I wouldn't have met my extended turkey call family. I have made lots of friends including people on this forum who have a lot of the same interest in turkey call collecting and sharing information about chasing gobblers.
Nothing wrong with a few of the production calls, but I do prefer custom calls.
^^couldn't agree more. I've made some great memories and friends because of custom calls.
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I was almost positive in 1991 that my baseball card collection was going to fund my retirement and when that went south I needed something else to spend all my money on :you_rock:
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on January 31, 2026, 07:56:38 PMFor me, my obsession with turkey hunting since I was a kid started with knowing that you're not "hunting" as in the sense of deer hunting. You're communicating with that animal, in its natural "language" and have learned enough about that animal to be able to replicate its language in a way that they understand and you trick them. The turkey call is the means to that end and that's why I've always been fascinated with turkey calls. And waterfowl calls also.
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I agree with what you stated. I started waterfowl hunting years before turkey hunting but only have a handful of duck/goose calls I use and rarely buy new ones. I think it is also something to do with the depth of communication you can have Turkey hunting compared to other game is what has me hooked on Turkey hunting so much and the want to try new calls.
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