Hey guys, I'm just getting back into turkey hunting and am resupplying my turkey call collection. I've been drooling over all the sweet looking box calls on the forum here. There are some great builders and calls here. I would like to pick up a new box call and was curious if you recommend for me to start with a long or short box. I'm not in a position to spend $150 on a box call even though I'd like to. I've seen some short boxes in the 50-75 range which I could go for. My goal for now is to get one new box and one new pot call. I know the short and long may have different applications but I can only start with one for now. What say ye ole wise forum members?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Get yourself a long box. Much more versatile than a short box. A quality, well tuned long box can have multiple hens, jakes and gobbler yelps and clucks in it. A quality long box will kee-kee on the top end, have a solid young hen, raspy hen and jake yelp, and finally a gobbler yelp on the bottom end of each rail. Change your finger position and pressure and you inflect a different tone in each spot on the rail. A quality long box can gobble too.
Here's my Lightning Strike long box from Ralph Snodgrass, which does the above and simply gets better every year I've had it:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4345/36531342736_db38d1efa7.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XE9FsQ)
Another option is a mini-boat - again, a quality mini will do everything above - kee-kee to gobbler yelp - but in a smaller box.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4396/35702649353_010b996151.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WoVpMT)
I never leave home without a box call, it's a short box most of the time. Windy day, it's a long box.
I would recommend the short box based on what you have said here. I think they are more user friendly and take up less real estate. It kinda depends on the terrain you hunt too. I do love long boxes and I have some of the best but I just don't use them very often. Good luck on your quest and let us know what you get.
You can get a nice box call in your price range there are a few makers on this site that are in that price range and one of them replied to your post already. I don't own a long box only because I know I wouldn't like carrying it. I know they sound good, but a short box is easier to carry.Don't over look scratch boxes either they produce good box call quality sound and are a real pleasure to carry and totally silent until you play them,no accidental squeaks. You could probably get both for the high end of your budget,have fun choosing
Yes I have been listening through a lot of Spring Creeks calls. They sound great to me. I'm totally unfamiliar with the scratch box calls. How long have these calls been around for?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: aclawrence on January 21, 2018, 05:10:32 PM
Yes I have been listening through a lot of Spring Creeks calls. They sound great to me. I'm totally unfamiliar with the scratch box calls. How long have these calls been around for?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
they have been around a long time. I actually think Spring Creek makes some or has in the past
Check out the scratch box forum on here
I would not mess with a scratch call just starting out. I would purchase a short box call and a glass pot with three to four strikers of your choice but one should, in my opinion, be black locust. Black locust will play on almost anything and is easy to use. Finally, while I like listening to sound files I would only purchase a call that I could personally play first. I would be looking for a call that is user friendly and very forgiving. Then practice it alot.
Many on this site and others are selling good calls that they play well but lacking their experience it may be difficult to duplicate. I frequently go to gun shows or sporting events, where vendors are demonstrating their wares to purchase calls. They will also provide plenty of free advice and demonstrate their calls while providing instruction. Just my two cents but I got tired of buying calls only to end up selling them on e-bay because I could not get the right sound.
Short box and long box for your bag of tricks ... Spring Creek on this site sales a good long box and shot box for the money..just message him and he will help you with your needs at reasonable price... Jim Shelley makes one of the best walnut slate pots you could ever own , he has facebook page and online site..he has a great glass call also..he will you send you 2 strikers with each call so don't go out at first and just buy strikers
Short box from Spring Creek or SS will serve you well.
Longs aren't that difficult to play, but I would recommend a short to a newbie, or someone getting back into it every day of the week. I would tackle learning the long box before a scratcher too.
Thanks guys for all the recommendations. I've killed a lot of turkeys in the past but it's been a while. I didn't connect last year and I'm looking forward to round two this season. I will be looking over the calls y'all have suggested.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Where do you live??? There might be callmaker not far from you that you could go try.
Long boxes are great sounding calls, but they don't fit my style so they never make the starting lineup for me. A short box is always in my vest. It just so happens I was in a situation similar to you where I couldn't spend much and Mike of Spring Creek helped me out immediately with a short box that sounded awesome for a great deal. That's just my experience
Quote from: Happy hooker on January 22, 2018, 04:59:48 AM
Where do you live??? There might be callmaker not far from you that you could go try.
I'm in NW Alabama. That would be cool if there was.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I feel like a short box is just easier to run then a long box, also much easier to carry even out in Nebraska if the wind wasn't howling I carried two short boxes over a long box I just prefer them but there are many that go the other way and give the long box the edge, when you get good they are more versatile as far as sound tone because of the longer rail.
I don't think for the money I could recommend anything over a SS field grade from Al Shoemaker.
I live in Minnesota but if I lived in the next state over from Georgia,,I would drive over to Lonnie Mabry s house in GA and for exactly $150 you could get a short box AND a longbox of superb quality and value that you would treasure forever. Not to mention the personalized instructions you would get on a visit to his house.
It lists you has a junior member but if you have a way to get there it would be worth it.
Lol. Is the Jr. member an age thing? I'm 35. I think I read in one of the threads where Mabry was in Rome, GA. Is that right? I've been there once before to some kind of campus. I was doing worship for a Fellowship of Christian athletes thing.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Look up SS custom calls. His field grade boxes are prob in your range. Jr member I think is being a newer member with low post count.
Thanks I'll check them out. I thought that's what it meant but I wasn't sure bc of the find a way to get there comment.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: aclawrence on January 22, 2018, 09:46:53 AM
Thanks I'll check them out. I thought that's what it meant but I wasn't sure bc of the find a way to get there comment.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
SEE you only have one nut...because of number of post...
Quote from: mtns2hunt on January 21, 2018, 08:53:33 PM
I would not mess with a scratch call just starting out. I would purchase a short box call and a glass pot with three to four strikers of your choice but one should, in my opinion, be black locust. Black locust will play on almost anything and is easy to use. Finally, while I like listening to sound files I would only purchase a call that I could personally play first. I would be looking for a call that is user friendly and very forgiving. Then practice it alot.
Many on this site and others are selling good calls that they play well but lacking their experience it may be difficult to duplicate. I frequently go to gun shows or sporting events, where vendors are demonstrating their wares to purchase calls. They will also provide plenty of free advice and demonstrate their calls while providing instruction. Just my two cents but I got tired of buying calls only to end up selling them on e-bay because I could not get the right sound.
yes I agree to start I would have a pot call and a short box. I was stating that for around 75$ you could probably get a short box and a scratch box. If you sit down and really practice with a scratch box in a couple weeks you will be good enough to call in turkeys. But yes don't pass on the short box or the pot call to get the scratcher.That is what I was meaning in my first reply.Have fun buying calls
Long box will do it all in the right hands and if your worried about the call being to long then contact Marlin Watkins for one of his Turkey Trot boxes. Shorter more like a do dat call but loaded with many turkeys. This call has become one of my favorites for paddle calls. Ipe/Limba combo.
I've got several box calls and more pot calls than I could use in our short season. Having said that, I tend to gravitate towards the same handful of pot calls when using one. Personally, when talking box calls, I'm generally carrying either an SS, Spring Creek or Mabry box. Don't care which one I've got in the vest because they all sound great. Only long box I've got is a Mabry and it's wonderful as well. Spring Creek and SS are easier to obtain tho. Long boxes do take up significantly more space so I'd lean towards the short box personally and the long box only comes out during fall hunts when a kee-kee is needed.
As for pot calls, I'm a Yingling fan. Tend to pull out one of Mike's calls first and that's honestly about it. I'd wait to catch one of his glass, slate or brass pots. Those are the ones I use most often and the birds here seem to respond well to them.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 22, 2018, 10:16:03 AM
Quote from: aclawrence on January 22, 2018, 09:46:53 AM
Thanks I'll check them out. I thought that's what it meant but I wasn't sure bc of the find a way to get there comment.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
SEE you only have one nut...because of number of post...
Is this an attack on my manhood? One nut? Lol
Quote from: wvmntnhick on January 22, 2018, 04:01:12 PM
I've got several box calls and more pot calls than I could use in our short season. Having said that, I tend to gravitate towards the same handful of pot calls when using one. Personally, when talking box calls, I'm generally carrying either an SS, Spring Creek or Mabry box. Don't care which one I've got in the vest because they all sound great. Only long box I've got is a Mabry and it's wonderful as well. Spring Creek and SS are easier to obtain tho. Long boxes do take up significantly more space so I'd lean towards the short box personally and the long box only comes out during fall hunts when a kee-kee is needed.
As for pot calls, I'm a Yingling fan. Tend to pull out one of Mike's calls first and that's honestly about it. I'd wait to catch one of his glass, slate or brass pots. Those are the ones I use most often and the birds here seem to respond well to them.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks. Those makers definitely seem to be popular here among the forum. I'm sure I'll end up with some of their calls. I think I will start with the short box and start looking at pot calls.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: aclawrence on January 22, 2018, 04:34:01 PM
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 22, 2018, 10:16:03 AM
Quote from: aclawrence on January 22, 2018, 09:46:53 AM
Thanks I'll check them out. I thought that's what it meant but I wasn't sure bc of the find a way to get there comment.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
SEE you only have one nut...because of number of post...
Is this an attack on my manhood? One nut? Lol
Quote from: wvmntnhick on January 22, 2018, 04:01:12 PM
I've got several box calls and more pot calls than I could use in our short season. Having said that, I tend to gravitate towards the same handful of pot calls when using one. Personally, when talking box calls, I'm generally carrying either an SS, Spring Creek or Mabry box. Don't care which one I've got in the vest because they all sound great. Only long box I've got is a Mabry and it's wonderful as well. Spring Creek and SS are easier to obtain tho. Long boxes do take up significantly more space so I'd lean towards the short box personally and the long box only comes out during fall hunts when a kee-kee is needed.
As for pot calls, I'm a Yingling fan. Tend to pull out one of Mike's calls first and that's honestly about it. I'd wait to catch one of his glass, slate or brass pots. Those are the ones I use most often and the birds here seem to respond well to them.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks. Those makers definitely seem to be popular here among the forum. I'm sure I'll end up with some of their calls. I think I will start with the short box and start looking at pot calls.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Not on your manhood, we just have a lot of people asking about why the nut, as you posted more the nuts will increase..
So the more I post the nuttier I get. Hmmmm. Haha
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Get in touch with Al and Josh at SS. They can fix you up with a great short box, Kwila/Butternut a good choice, and they've just got back in to building some pot calls. Talk to Al about what he thinks will serve you best, slate or glass. SS calls sound great are easy to run, and are at a good price. You will be very pleased.
I go with a long box, more sound (loud) and sounds. The length of the lid and box provides many different turkeys, and it is more versatile. Like everything else, it takes practice. It is all in the ear of the beholder, and the Tom ! Even if you don't buy a call, I would go and spend an afternoon and hang around with Lonnie Mabry. Some of his knowledge of turkeys and callin' will rub off on ya. :z-twocents:
I'll definitely have to plan a trip to GA one day. How old is Mr. Mabry?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
When I made a trip to his shop a couple of years ago I think I remember him saying he was in his 70s
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk