Local cane for cane yelper

[Meleagris gallopavo]

Growing up around cane (indigenous reeds) brings back fond memories.  My uncle made whistles and spitball guns out of them.  I was hoping to send a call maker cane local to me to make a cane yelper.  Is this a thing?  What specs do I need to be looking for with this cane?  Are cane yelpers made from indigenous reed, which is the only bamboo relative in North America?


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[EZ]

I do that all the time. Here in the NE, we have no river cane so I rely on folks to send it to me. I love working with cane as it makes an excellent call.
Cane must be straight (or pretty close). Big end 3/8" + or - ID. Mid section 3/8" + or - OD. I usually use a bone MP, but will also use skinny cane.

[Meleagris gallopavo]

I do that all the time. Here in the NE, we have no river cane so I rely on folks to send it to me. I love working with cane as it makes an excellent call.
Cane must be straight (or pretty close). Big end 3/8" + or - ID. Mid section 3/8" + or - OD. I usually use a bone MP, but will also use skinny cane.

Thank you!


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[Meleagris gallopavo]

Plus, I'm around river cane a lot during deer, duck and turkey hunting season where I live.  I can hook folks up with cane if they like.


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[greentrout]

Another thing EZ told me but left out here is to look for the cane that is completely round and not D shaped. A lot that I have found around here has a flat spot on one side growing from bottom to top.

[Meleagris gallopavo]

Another thing EZ told me but left out here is to look for the cane that is completely round and not D shaped. A lot that I have found around here has a flat spot on one side growing from bottom to top.

Good to know.  I may find some from here and snap a picture.


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[Yoder409]

Can phragmites (Phragmites australis or common reed) be used to make cane calls ??

It can be found all over around here where there's no river cane (Arundinaria gigantea or Giant cane).

[EZ]

Another thing EZ told me but left out here is to look for the cane that is completely round and not D shaped. A lot that I have found around here has a flat spot on one side growing from bottom to top.

Correct...good point.

[EZ]

Can phragmites (Phragmites australis or common reed) be used to make cane calls ??

It can be found all over around here where there's no river cane (Arundinaria gigantea or Giant cane).

I'm not sure exactly what that is, but if it's what I think it is, it's not nearly hard enough. We have a lot of bamboo, but it always has a flat on it.

[Yoder409]

Around here, phragmites is usually growing in the road ditch like a patch of cattails does.  Sometimes right beside cattails.   But it's 7 or 10 feet high and has narrow leaves.

[Meleagris gallopavo]

These are some we're using as pot stakes to keep plants from falling over.  One is 1/2" and one was about 3/8".


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[EZ]

That's the stuff I use.

[bwhana]

How long do you normally have to wait for fresh cut cane to dry out enough to make the call?  Curious to learn from those here with more experience than me.

I made a few last spring from cane I cut the previous deer season and it was just barely what I thought was ready or dry enough in my inexperienced opinion.  I did watch it shrink a bit over time as it dried out. I didn't cut it until it was dry either.  All the dead cane in the patch was too brittle for me when I tested them that previous fall too.