In memory of Stubbs

[culpeper]

This is indeed a special call.  I received a call about 7-8 months ago from a fine man in Virginia asking about a custom call.  He asked if I could build a call for his brother in memory of his brother's turkey dog who lived almost 10 years but died of cancer in 2010.  He explained that his brother is still at a great loss without his favorite companion and turkey dog Stubbs. This man explained further that this dog was incredible when fall hunting the birds...simply perfect.  In our discussion I also learned that this man is paralized I believe from the waist down as a result of a hunting accident many years ago.  His brother since then has taken him turkey hunting every spring.  I was given a series of pictures and told to create something that would honor the memory of Stubbs and the place where the brothers live.  On the call you will see an old fence with a gobbler thundering behind and in the background 2 distinct mountains--they are mtns directly from where the brothers live.  On the other side is the tribute to Stubbs.  Stubbs sits proudly next to 2 fine gobblers, for which he was largely responsible, draped over a huge tree stump, long since turned into drift wood.  This is a special place to the brothers and their family/friends where they take all their hunting pictures.  These images are from pictures I was given.  Next to this is a portrait of Stubbs done in lighter shading to simulate that he is still with us...looking upon us with pride as the brothers continue to share the love they always have and the great tradition and sport of hunting.  I was very moved by this commission and it is with great pride that I send this call on it's next journey to Virginia to be enjoyed for generations to come with Stubbs fondly on their minds and hearts.

[rdmar]

What a pretty call he will be proud to have it

[Turkey Trot]

Nice work, again.

What is the reddish colored wood inlay?  Something like padauk or bloodwood?

Some walnut and holly in there?

Finally, I notice that you make a creative choice about the horizontal inlay on the side, and include it in calls on which you do a lot of highly detailed burning.  Can you do inlay without the long horizontal line?  

Have you considered omitting the horizontal line when doing so much detail on the side to leave a larger, clean canvas for the detail of your burning?

(Everyone is an art critic, you know.  LOL)    

[stone road turkey calls]

nice job,

[culpeper]

Turkey Trot,

The red colored wood is Redheart.  The white/light colored wood is hard curly maple and the lid and base are walnut and the box cherry.

Not a creative choice exactly...the customer wanted this call just as I built it, but yes, many are better without the inlay with a clean canvas, though some like the one I posted a couple days ago for the landowner turn out quite good.  Many of my Hunter Field Series calls don't have the horizontal inlay.

And, I don't mind any comments/critics...feedback will only make me a better callmaker in the end.

[barry]

This call was for my brother and YES it sounds as good as it looks!
To get an idea of how detailed the wood burning likeness of Stubbs is, here is the photo that Scott had to go by.

[kenturkey89]

Awesome work, Scott!! Really like the story behind that one 

[TRKYHTR]

That looks awesome Scott.

TRKYHTR

[Rope]

Great lookin call!!!

[ceejay]

Nicely done 

[Turkey Trot]

Barry:

Was Stubbs a pointer?

[M,Yingling]

Fantastic lookin work scott,,

[Ranman]

That's a great looking call, and a great story.

[barry]

Barry:

Was Stubbs a pointer?

Pointer/Setter cross