The dates for the Unicoi Custom Call Makers Show have been set!! Those dates are January 13th & 14th. Unicoi is already accepting reservations for the show. We will be extending the hours on Friday. That specific time is still up in the air right now, but I'll post it as soon as we decide what time we want to kick it off.
I would like to thank all of you that came out to help make this first year a success. It takes more than just call makers to make these things successful!!! But, without the call makers, you would not have been there either. We still promise to keep this show custom calls and custom knives. That way you don't have to wade through all of the other stuff to get to a custom call or knife maker!!
This year we had 60 vendors that showed up. We are going to spread the tables out just a bit and go with 64 tables. The guys that were set up this year will get an automatic first shot at being there next year. Two thirds of them have already responded back saying they would be there again next year. I've also started an alternate list that will be used to fill the spots of any of those that do not elect to return next year. I've already got quite a few names on that list as well. I will be posting that list of call makers in the near future!!
Thanks,
Mark
Thanks Mark your the man :dancingturkey: :dancingturkey: :dancingturkey:
awesome. thanks mark. me and wife made reservations yesterday. they are almost completely booked up already. if you are planning to go and get a room , you better reserve one quick.
Unicoi State Park is booked up. I got the last room tonight. If you are going you might want to get a room booked
There are still some rooms call the lodge direct.
You are correct Bob the booking agent lied. Just got my second room. Thought Robert was going to have to sleep outside. :TooFunny:
Can't wait Mark!!
I've heard reports that they are full. If you call, 800-573-9659 or 706-8782201 to book your rooms, you should be able to book.
I call Unicoi today to make reservation, I dial the 800-573-9659 number and it said to leave a message or go www.unicoi lodge.com. Went to the web site and put my dates in and it said no availability for these dates that you have requested.
Me and Mark are trying to get this solve with Unicoi. If you want to make reservation, for right now you will have to call 800-573-9659 or 706-878-2201 and press 0 for the operator and tell the person you want to make reservation for the Unicoi call maker show in Jan 2017 at this time they have rooms available.
I talked to Ms Chambers today. She said they had swapped software a few weeks back. She said everything should be good to go!! Just remember the promo code "turkey" for the online booking. If you have any more problems, let me know; or, do as Russell suggested. 0 goes to the front desk for reservations.
Just made my reservations tonight. Can't wait.
It was a blast last year.
Follow us on Facebook or
On Twitter at @Unicoiturkeycallshow
Made our reservations for the Lodge. They are about out of rooms there but still several rooms available at hotels in town. Should be a great time.
They still have rooms available. All of the king rooms are gone, have a few queen rooms left, quite a few doubles left, as well as the loft rooms. (1)1 bedroom cabin and (11)2 bedroom cabins are still available. REMEMBER if you call to make the reservations, tell them for the UNICOI TURKEY SHOW!! If you book online, the promo code is TURKEY!!! Ms. Chambers and myself have been going over the reservation list, and picking out the ones that we know are coming for the show, and putting them over into the show list. That way you get the discounted rate. We don't know all of you!!! If I only know you by "turkey killer 101" or whatever you use on these forums and don't know your real name, you are going to pay the regular rate. But if you use the promo codes, I don't need to know who you are...you get the reduced rate.
Mark Sharpe
I've been going over the vendor list for next years show at Unicoi. That list is looking pretty good!! We'll have some new faces there this year, but their names have been in the call making business for a while now. We've lost a couple due to conflicting dates and one retiring from the business. They will be missed, but have stated that they will probably be there in attendance!
Those show dates are January 13th & 14th. Friday's show will open up at 9:00 am and run 'til 6:00pm. Saturday's show will open at 9:00am and run 'til 5:00.
Mark
Here is the latest on the show. As it stands right now, we have the 3rd floor and the 2nd floor rented. We have until 90 days out to relinguish the second floor. We've had a growing number of people asking about wood suppliers and other materials, choke tubes and this such a thing. This second floor will be used for such as this. If you know of someone wanting to do this show and is a custom made item that pertains to hunting and the outdoors, contact us here about a vendor space. There will be NO turkey calls on this floor. There will be no flea market items here!!! All things must be hunting related!! No camo bags that are mass produced, no camo clothing, none of this type of stuff!! All must be CUSTOM made!!! If you build holsters for box calls, if you build turkey totes, and etc., etc., then this area is for you!!
Also, I've been on the phone with a lot of the guys about an idea that Drew Garrett had. It is a box call makers round table. This will be a seminar about how the calls have changed down through the years and a chance to ask these guys questions about box calls. As of now, that list of call makers is Russell Beard, Lamar Williams, Darrin Dawkins, Steve Mann,Bob Harwell, Billy Buice, Marlin Watkins and Richard Hudson. I've still got a couple to contact on this subject. We want some from all different style of box calls.
We elected to cut the vendor list off at 60 this year. That was the same as we had last year. We've got a few new ones this year, but for the most part, all of the ones that were there last year will be returning! For you guys that are on the alternate list, if something comes up that one of these guys can make it, then we will pull from that list again. Here is the list of custom call makers coming to Unicoi next year for the show:
Al & Josh Shoemaker, Anthony Ellis, Billy Buice, Bob & Michael Buckner, Bob Harwell, Brandon Washington, Brian Lawter, Chad Scruggs, Dan Harris, Daniel Kinsey, Darrell Gibson, Darrin Dawkins, David Anderson, Dean (Red Beard) Mundhenke, Del Crow & Billy Macallister, Dickie Champion, Donnie Richards & Wesley Whitaker, Doug Morgan, Ed Jenkins, Fred Cox, Gene Gardner, Gerry Bramblett, Harold & Derick Fowler, Hoyt Brown, Irving Whitt, Jamey Rex, Jeff Lacey, Jeff McKamey, Jeremy Safford, Jerry Wilkins, Jody Harrison, John Dangerfield, Joseph Martin, Kelly Puckett, Ken Martin, Kevin Cantrell, Kevin Dorsey, Kevin Farr, Kyle Osborne, Lamar Williams, Lee Chadwick, Lon Trice, Mark McPhail, Mark Prodhomme, Mark Sharpe, Marlin Watkins, Matt McLain, Melvin Newman, Mike Lapp, Olin Humphries, Richard Hudson, Robert Glover, Russell Beard, Scott Veiting, Steve Mann, Steve Torman, Tim Sandford, Wayne Hendrix, Wendell Lancaster and Will Dutton.
That's quite a line up of call makers!! This is an opportunity to get some of the finest turkey calls that money can buy!!
We are still looking for folks that make custom made accessories and supplies to fill up the second floor of the show. If this is you, or you know of someone, please message us here. The cut-off on this second floor is October.
The hours of the show will be from 9-5, both Friday and Saturday!!
Great lineup, got a cabin booked at the state park a few months back, can't wait! :turkey2:
:camohat: Wish I could make that rendezvous, it looks like quite the gathering. If I could get there I don't know if I would have enough time to check out and try all the callers. I bet this is better than the NWTF Convention by a long shot. Someone should film it and put it on You-Tube.
Yep, we had more custom call makers last year than the Nationals had!! We are expanding this year. So far Sum-Toy choke tubes will be there. Darrell Gosey, makes recurves, longbows, and knives will be there. Got the GA DNR biologist doing a seminar on the decline of the turkey population.
I hope it's not to early to put a plug in for my friend Dan Harris from Texarkana, Texas. He's got some beautiful longboxes all ready for the show. I wouldn't trade my Harris longbox for anything.
I've heard nothing but good about Dan's longboxes. Talked to him day before yesterday and he said he was getting some built up!! He sure makes a mighty good short box too!!
I'm new to this forum and fairly new to turkey hunting. I see a lot of posts that mention Bob Harwell's name for excellent box calls. My question is how do I contact Bob and purchase one of his calls?
You can come to Unicoi and hand pick one or check your PM's for his number!
Unicoi will be here before you know it. This year we have elected to have vendors on the second floor as well. These vendors WILL NOT be call makers!! This floor will be made up of people that custom make a hunting related item. EX: box call holsters, choke tube makers, wood suppliers, longbow and re-curve bow builders, turkey totes and etc. We will not have production camo bags, production slings, camo clothing and etc. Everything must me custom made. No flea market stuff!
If you know of anyone that fits this bill and is interested, please have them to contact me at 912-531-1845.
Thanks, Mark Sharpe
Some pictures from Unicoi 2016.
If by chance somebody is driving from or through twin cities,Minnesota for this I would be willing to share expenses.
Ok, here's the scoop!! Unicoi has 46 rooms for Thursday night, 15 rooms for Friday night and 17 rooms for Saturday night!! If you want a room you'd better move now!! Come December those rooms will be gone!!!!
Also, we are going to do the buffet again Friday night!! Ms. Chambers has told me they have a new cook, a better cook, than last year. She assured me the issue with the other room not being opened and the running out of food will not happen this year!!! They have the capability of seating about 180 people there. She is offering the same deal as last year...$14.95/person plus tax. I would like to get a head count of those wanting to partake in this buffet! I wish all vendors would show their support atleast one night to Unicoi for helping make this happen!!!
Also, you new guys that were coming to set up downstairs, will be set up in the lobby on the same floor as the call makers. Ms. Chambers neglected to hold the downstairs. She had told me she would until 90 days out. When I called to tell her we were wanting it as well, she said she had you guys set up in the lobby of the third floor. I think you will like this better any way!!!
We will still be holding the box call makers round table downstairs though!!! We will have a premier lineup of call makers there for you to ask questions of and for them to give their thoughts on how box call making has changed down through the years!! If you see Andy (Drew) Garrett at the show, thank him for this idea!!! I'm looking forward to it myself and looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones come January!!
When is the roundtable event? Great idea Andy! Count me in for a meal.
Foks, when you call Unicoi State Park and Lodge to reserve a room, be sure to tell them you are coming for the Unicoi Turkey Show. I called tonight like I was reserving a room. They told me no rooms were available. I asked how could that be because I had talked to Ms Chambers and knew exactly how many rooms were left. I was told it was because those rooms were blocked out for the show!! So...if you need a room, be sure to tell them Unicoi Turkey Show. This also gets you the discounted price!!
All credit goes to Mark Sharpe. I merely had an idea- to give folks a chance to meet and listen to some of finest box call makers we are blessed to have.. Should be fun. We need to have a couple of people with video cameras record the even for historical purposes. Several hundred years worth of callmaking and more importantly- hunting experience on one stage.. Wow!!
:OGturkeyhead:
The Unicoi event itself is a wonderful gathering. To be able to honor and listen to these men will be a bonus not to overlook. I hope to see as many of you there as possible. Let's fill the room up Gents and Ladies. Bring your hard earned money, and if you can - buy a boxcall from one of them.. or more than one.. :icon_thumright:
Best regards,
Andrew Garrett
Looking forward to it fellas. Hope to meet a lot of you on here.
Had a great time and picked up some great calls. Got to finally meet Mr. Ricky Platt, and a good many others on here. Heard today was pretty packed. Overall Great Time.
Quote from: Britton40 on January 14, 2017, 11:24:37 PM
Had a great time and picked up some great calls. Got to finally meet Mr. Ricky Platt, and a good many others on here. Heard today was pretty packed. Overall Great Time.
Britt---Really enjoyed meeting and visiting with you. I appreciate you pointing me in the right direction on the fine paddle call. First time I had met in person your buddy Steve. What a gentleman. I met so many great people but also missed a bunch I had hoped to meet. I was wore out and we got up early this morning and drove 10 hours home. I also missed the late night activities that went on around the fireplace at the lodge. Really slowing down in my old age.
What an awesome show. Good Lord willing we sure plan to do it again next year. We plan to take our wives and let them visit the town of Helen. They would love that.