Soggy Mouth Call

[seb5315]

Has anyone ever had a mouth call where after you've been running it for a while and it becomes "soggy", it loses it's "pop" say when you are cutting?  Maybe it's somewhat normal, but I've had it happen on a couple of different calls and was just curious if anyone else has experienced this. 

[Tail Feathers]

Yes, it's a thing.  I think latex absorbs liquid with enough exposure.

[Lcmacd 58]

Absolutely
I carry 3 of the same call just for that reason

[hilliard113]

For sure. Tends to happen to calls that are more tuned or broke in though. Newer calls don't seem to get as water logged as easily. But definitely a thing.

[Ihuntoldschool]

Happens all the time. I've gotten them so soggy the tape wears off .

The Reed tension can also change if you're using it alot.

[bbcoach]

I have to ask, is it the tape that causes this or the prop or latex?  Seems the prop or latex shouldn't absorb moisture, but the tape sure does for me.  Like a sponge but after it dries some I'm back in business.  Maybe we need to push it out of our mouth and bite it with our teeth when we aren't calling, so it doesn't get so soggy.

[Paulmyr]

From what I've heard saliva slowly degrades latex. Take your call out of your mouth when it's not in use you'll get a better life span from your call before the latex weakens.

[RutnNStrutn]

That happens regularly to me. So after I call, I slide the diaphragm forward, holding the tape between my lips, but the reeds out in the air to dry out. But I also carry extras just in case.

[Marc]

From what I've heard saliva slowly degrades latex. Take your call out of your mouth when it's not in use you'll get a better life span from your call before the latex weakens.

Chewing tobacco or gum, or anything else in the mouth with the call will degrade it even faster.

[eggshell]

I agree with everyone that it happens. Rinse it in warm water and lay it out to try once you come in from hunting and it will have a better life. I often soak mine in mouthwash too.

[GobbleNut]

As everybody has suggested, yes, leaving a call in your mouth will, after a period of time, result in the latex relaxing and the "sound" out of the call changing. Generally speaking, I have found that the "crispness" (or "pop" as you put it) of the sound will be harder to maintain. On the other hand, a relaxed call will often allow the user to make those softer, less-crisp calls that are, at times, important, as well.

One thing I have noticed is that many callers want to achieve that crisp sound with distinct roll-over from that high initial note to a more raspy lower note. Unfortunately, that often results in the overall volume needed to produce that sound being unrealistically loud for a lot of folks. In my opinion, that is okay for long-distance interactions with gobblers, but there comes a time when the volume of the call becomes important.

That is the time when that more relaxed-latex call...one that has been in your mouth for a while... can come into play. Again, generally speaking, it is easier to tone down the volume and make those close-range sounds needed with that latex being relaxed a bit. Bottom line is that there is a balance needed...and sometimes that "close-range-calling" is easier for some folks to achieve by keeping a call in one's mouth for when that time comes.   

[dzsmith]

Absolutely... I carry 3 at all times . Obviously once setup if you have a tight mask like I do, and I keep mine tucked under the back of my hat.... Changing a mouth call is a maneuver you/I can't really get away with . My mask has no hole I'm real paranoid about any skin showing.... But anyway like another user said , if I'm not making a call... i hold it with my teeth. Which is also a con, because if it gets too dry the reeds will stick . So occasionally pull it back in . But yes if mine get over saturated they don't sound right . I generally go through 3-4 a season. Eventually they stretch and no longer have the sound I desire .

[Paulmyr]

As far as sticky reeds go. I don't drink anything except water when hunting. I save the Gatorades and other flavored beverages for camp. I find the sugars in these beverages do fairly good job of sticking my reeds together if I let them dry and the the plain water helps keep the saliva at bay.

[WV Flopper]

 Holy Cow! Does Semen water log latex? That would explain a thing or two...

[Paulmyr]

Holy Cow! Does Semen water log latex? That would explain a thing or two...

You looking to experiment?