Playing a box call

[Life of Riley]

On a box call, what is the general rule of thumb on how much of the stroke produces sound? I have seen some where you can open the call up completely so the lid and box make a 90 degree angle and they will squeak the whole way. Others don't seem to make noise until the call is almost completely closed. I've also played with a few where one side makes decent noise and the other side almost none.

[HFultzjr]

Where ever the "sweet spot" is.
Different on most calls.

[paboxcall]

Where ever the "sweet spot" is.
Different on most calls.

  Much of the fun of a new box call is finding all the different young and old hens, jakes and gobblers in it!

[Marc]

You can also change the angle of the lid in regards to pitch...  At different pitches to the box, the call will make different sounds in different areas...  I have a one call in particular that I need to roll the lid to get a decent purr....

[M Sharpe]

On a box call, what is the general rule of thumb on how much of the stroke produces sound? I have seen some where you can open the call up completely so the lid and box make a 90 degree angle and they will squeak the whole way. Others don't seem to make noise until the call is almost completely closed. I've also played with a few where one side makes decent noise and the other side almost none.

Learn to play the box call the same way the guy that built and tuned it plays it!!

[hotspur]

I've been playing with my new custom box and it is a turkey this call cuts very easily. The best sounds come out when the lid is almost closed. I love this call I play it everyday.

[culpeper]

This a difficult question to give one right answer.  Most callmakers have their calls tuned either the way they like them, or how a particular customer asked for them.  I get requests from time to time for a certain sound and sometimes for the call to be sure to run soft, or with a lot of rasp, clear yelp, or what-have-you.  Depending on the callmaker and very often the wood used, some calls run better "wide open" and some run better near the apex and some better near being closed just like Hotspur said.  A good custom calls will run well with an easy stroke without any canting of the lid, but with experience and exploration, the hunter can learn how to achieve other effective sounds.

[ferocious calls]

I often ask what sound they want in thier call, I.E. Mature hen, young hen, raspy, clear, super high front end, deep end, etc.

A fella the other day I asked this to said, "no call maker ever asked him that." He just asked that I pick one with the sound I like best. My favorite type of call to make is one with the sound I like best.

Although the call was tuned to my preference of sound. Many other birds live in the box. Practicing is key to making them all talk.

No call can make all the sounds turkeys can make. It would only take a few hours at my farm to make a believer out of those who don't agree.

[mgm1955]

On a box call, what is the general rule of thumb on how much of the stroke produces sound? I have seen some where you can open the call up completely so the lid and box make a 90 degree angle and they will squeak the whole way. Others don't seem to make noise until the call is almost completely closed. I've also played with a few where one side makes decent noise and the other side almost none.

Learn to play the box call the same way the guy that built and tuned it plays it!!

Right on Mark. Great advice.