Getting stuff sorted for the upcoming season, and I came across my first call - a little peg / slate made by A.M. Coiner out of Waynesboro, Virginia. Killed my first bird with it in the fall of '79. Killed several fall birds with it actually. Never hunted spring until '84 and I had already started on mouth calls by then, after talking with Dick Kirby one year at the Sport show in Harrisburg.
(http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b421/32SteelerFan/Coiner2_zpsgefvxgqb.jpg) (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/32SteelerFan/media/Coiner2_zpsgefvxgqb.jpg.html)
(http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b421/32SteelerFan/Coiner1_zpsv3kxdjc2.jpg) (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/32SteelerFan/media/Coiner1_zpsv3kxdjc2.jpg.html)
That should be a killer. I'm a believer that if you have a call that can fool hens then it is a great call. My first was a piece of cane. It's long gone. My first high tech call was a piece of slate and you used your hand for the pot with a corn Cobb top and hickory stem. Killed a few birds with both. My first production call was a Penns wood single sided box. Sounded horrendous but fooled a few here and there.
I really like your first call. Reminds me of the Lonnie Sneed Lonesome Hen I just purchased. Love that sweet little Hen that can come from it. I lost my first call, a 1970's Roger Lathom (SP) box, before the second season. Never got to shoot a bird with it.
Don't have any of my first calls or guns.
Wish I did but due to circumstances beyond my control I had to start from scratch when I started working at 18 other than a muzzloader and .270 my mom bought me for christmas presents when I was 15 and 16. We didn't have much money and I am sure she was really stretching things to get me those. I still have them. Thanks mom :)
Lynch Foolproof from as close as I can remember 45+ years ago.
I was probably 11.
I had 2, but lost 1 somehow.
Don't remember, but I've only had the empty box for it last 10 years.
Still have mine, it is a Lynch Foolproof Box. Called in quite a few with it over the years.
Yep, still got it. A green pot Ol Yeller that I had Knight and Hale sign at Nashville two years ago.
Called in my first and several gobblers after that with it. It's now retired.
(http://i63.tinypic.com/25t9vkl.jpg)
I don't have the first call, or calls for that matter. I've got the call my grandfather used to call in one of my earlier birds for me. It was my second bird if I recall correctly. I don't use it as it's got some sentimental value. I'd like to get proficient with it but it just doesn't sound that good to me. Never did really but it sure called some birds for pap. Only call I ever remember hi using actually. It's a Lost John scratch box type but the striker is actually a piece of chalk. Never need to chalk it since the chalk is the striker.
Quote from: Happy on March 20, 2016, 07:53:02 PM
Don't have any of my first calls or guns.
Wish I did but due to circumstances beyond my control I had to start from scratch when I started working at 18 other than a muzzloader and .270 my mom bought me for christmas presents when I was 15 and 16. We didn't have much money and I am sure she was really stretching things to get me those. I still have them. Thanks mom :)
Fellas, beware of the man that owns but one deer rifle. He knows how to use it, and he uses that one well. Rarely misses with it and when he does, it's usually the follow up shots at a deer that didn't fall over immediately. The volley sounds like that of an automatic. And, when that deer hits the ground, I'll bet there's more than one hole in it. Fella can shoot.
Happy belated birthday btw. Hope all went well.
Quote from: West Augusta on March 20, 2016, 08:52:49 PM
Yep, still got it. A green pot Ol Yeller that I had Knight and Hale sign at Nashville two years ago.
Called in my first and several gobblers after that with it. It's now retired.
(http://i63.tinypic.com/25t9vkl.jpg)
That's REALLY cool Steve! :icon_thumright:
My first "turkey call" was a 35mm film canister, some black tape and a chunk of rubber glove that I cobbled together. Killed my first spring bird with it. It may still be around somewhere.
My first store boughten call was an H.S.Strut Champion Yelper one-sider box call.............a plastic box with a cedar paddle and sound board and factory painted camo. Have not used it in over 25 years. But I still have it.
My first call was a walnut pushbutton call bought at a NWT event in my county before we even had a turkey season. Not sure who made it but killed my first gobbler with it and a few more then gave it to my nephew when he started turkey hunting along with my old mossyoak cotton vest. He used it for years with success. Sometimes the simple things are the most productive.
Yep I do. The first calls I've ever bought was a Lohman short box and a Primos trough slate call, back in "82. Killed a few birds with the trough call, then retired it. Since I started building calls I've never used anything but my own since.
Yep. Still have mine. 1992/Grand ol master. In my vest every year!!
Quote from: lmbhngr on March 20, 2016, 10:59:23 PM
Yep. Still have mine. 1992/Grand ol master. In my vest every year!!
I started hunting about 1990 with a Grand ol' Master... Lost it a few years back, but found it the next season. It does not work so well, but have kept it for sentimental reasons.
Since I bought my first call last year.... Yeah I do lol. Halloran Crystal Mistress
yup, Quaker Boy double faced pot call with black acrylic striker, used the slate side for my first I called to the gun. Also have the home made no name box my father in law used for my first kill. Mike
Officially retired years ago..It was a slate call that my mentor made and gave to me along with my Lynch box call.
Yep, still remember right where I was standing when I drew my first gobble from my then new quaker boy aluminator. Lost the maple one piece striker along the way but still have that raspy old aluminator. Still carry it sometimes and it plays well.
Lynch Fool Proof I bought in Oshman's Sporting Goods in Tucker, GA. Only boxcall they had. It worked and still does. Killed my first Gobbler in April 1978. Bird gobbled off the roost, Flew down in a cart road in some planted pines, strutted for about 8 seconds ( which was as long as it took me to shoulder my Grandpa's Model 12 and knock off the safety).. It is a cherished possession.
Yeppers. Quaker Boy Grand Old Master from around 99. Called in a lot of birds and it still has a spot in the vest
Quote from: Double B on March 21, 2016, 11:55:11 AM
Yep, still remember right where I was standing when I drew my first gobble from my then new quaker boy aluminator. Lost the maple one piece striker along the way but still have that raspy old aluminator. Still carry it sometimes and it plays well.
I also carry a Quaker Boy Aluminator. Great sounding pot call. Bought it in the bargain bin along with a generic slate call that I also sometimes carry at K-Mart in St. Claresville Ohio about 10 years ago.
Ah, you never forget your 1st... Mine was a P.S. Olt Gobble Box I bought in 1979.
Today it sits in a place of honor in my trophy case- the one that started it all! :camohat:
I wish I did. I lost my old Lynch box trying to get ahead of a traveling bird one morning. I tried to retrace my steps on my way out and went back and spent all afternoon looking. Didn't get the bird either.
Bob
Mine was some sort of garbage plastic push pin call. I think it was either primos or knight and hale. I scared many of turkeys off with it the first few years. I think I through it out of my truck window one morning
Quote from: Bolandstrutters on March 22, 2016, 04:23:22 PM
Mine was some sort of garbage plastic push pin call. I think it was either primos or knight and hale. I scared many of turkeys off with it the first few years. I think I through it out of my truck window one morning
:TooFunny: :TooFunny:
I still have mine. I'd never sell or get rid of it. A Tim Sanford ambrosia maple glass. I've killed several birds with that call. I don't even hunt with it anymore because I'm afraid I'll lose it. One of my kids will get that call someday.
Yes I still have mine, a Lohman Double Thunder box call. I wrote the date of harvest on the underside of the box.
My first was a Lynch "World Champion" early 70's. It's gone but I found another just like it about ten years ago. Great sound! The older they get the better they sound.
Mine was a Lynch World Champion as well. It broke one day in 1984 when I was crossing Robeson Creek in Chatham County, N.C.. I slipped on a rock and landed with the box between me and another rock, which broke one side of the call. It was trashed and sounded dead after that. I kept looking for another World Champion with a similar squeaky pitch that mine had, but the ones I found didn't have the same tone. I moved on and got corrupted by long boxes. I've only used a short box a few times over the past 3 decades, though I do have a Hustlin' Hen by Billy White that talks the talk. I just haven't hunted with it yet. It is hard for me to remove the old faithful Boat Paddle from my vest and exchange it for anything else.
Jim