I've never had any luck with box calls and don't even own one. Is a box call a necessary call to have in the vest? How many of my fellow hunters use them?
The call or calls to have in your vest are the ones you have confidence in running. Your do not have to have a box call but they do work quite well. There's a ton of guys that only use mouth calls but I don't bother. For me it's pot calls and scratch boxes.
At a distance a box call is probably the most realistic sounding call. It cuts the wind better than most calls, but I rarely carry one. I do the majority of my calling with a pot. Just use what your good with. Chuck
Unless it's pouring rain, I never leave home without one, and often its two that go with me - a short box and a long box.
And like callmakerman mentioned, always carry a scratchbox in my shirt pocket too.
I kept one in my vest for probably ten years. Retired it completely two years ago after it only struck one bird in that time. It made more unwanted pocket sqwuaking than helping produce birds.
Now some boxes definitely sound better than others but at this point I'm running pots and a couple mouth calls and that's it for turkey sounds.
Long box always goes with me. Can do any call I need to make with one. Great versatility.
I would never hunt without a boxcall! Isnt a turkey sound you cant make with a good one
I use them 90% of the time. I'm good with a mouth call but I feel the box sounds more realistic,it is definitely more productive,and that is what I look for in any kind of call duck ,goose,deer,varmint,or turkey,the more realistic the better
A couple of boxes, wingbones and trumpets is about all I use these days.
Have shot maybe 20-25+ toms that worked in to a box call...
Windy days, afternoon, open fields, etc.
I have carried one for 30 years...
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Each to there own but I don't leave the house without a box call. I have mouth calls, boxes, trupmet, wingbone, pot and tube calls with me if I have my vest on. With out the vest: box, mouth, trumpet and or wingbone.
Quote from: chuckward on April 14, 2015, 10:15:21 PM
At a distance a box call is probably the most realistic sounding call. It cuts the wind better than most calls.
Because of this I always carry one.
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Is it necessary to have one? No, but if your hunting thick ridges, open fields, or your birds are roosted at long distances, or you can't move on a bird, they are a very handy tool in your vest. You can work birds at a distance or close up with them.
Thanks for all the input. I'm revamping my vest with new pot calls. Like I said I've never really had any luck with boxes but then again I always had the ones that where loose and squawky. I didn't realize that they sound the most realistic at a distance. I'm no turkey slayer but have killed a few and they have all been taken with Wallyworld slate calls. Im just getting into custom calls. I have an open spot in my vest just for a box so I might just try my luck.
Get a quality box call. a good holster and carry it. It's always good to have that extra tool in the vest that might just be what the gobbler wants to hear.
I feel honored that I have so many big named people commenting on my post.
I carry WAY too many calls in my vest but a Spring Creek longbox (Sassafras over Butternut) has a special place. Love a longbox for the variety of sounds you can get out of them...Have a new one coming from Spring Creek. It'll be a purple heart over cedar (longbox). I'm guessing somebody else is going to have to move out to make room!
Quote from: KY-Hunting on April 15, 2015, 06:49:42 PM
I always had the ones that where loose and squawky.
They all are until you do something about them. Go to Lowes and get you one of those Velcro strips that you put around garden hoses or extension cords. Place the wide end between the lid and the rails, wrap underneath and back up. Problem solved!
I carry lots of different calls , but the long box is my go to call. I've killed more turkeys with a long box than any other call. But you should carry the calls that you run and sound the best with.
Quote from: M Sharpe on April 16, 2015, 12:24:59 AM
Quote from: KY-Hunting on April 15, 2015, 06:49:42 PM
I always had the ones that where loose and squawky.
They all are until you do something about them. Go to Lowes and get you one of those Velcro strips that you put around garden hoses or extension cords. Place the wide end between the lid and the rails, wrap underneath and back up. Problem solved!
x2 or you can get a chalkbox built for you box call. They will keep the paddle off of the lid but like Mark said you will still have to have something to keep the lid secured. Velcro works great get enough for two because if you are like me you will lose it.
I guess I am more of a traditional turkey hunter, I predominantly use box calls and friction calls. I have used diaphragm calls and really do not care for them; I just enjoy making my own calls and using them to hunt turkeys. Between the two types of calls I can make any type of turkey vocalization that is needed at any given time. I would not consider using a "store bought call"; I used store bought calls and had some success, but which I switched to custom calls my success rate went up dramatically.