There is some true talent in this place. True workmanship in every facet on this forum. From decoys to boats (especially boats, SERIOUS talent) to Eric overhauling every piece of old machinery he gets his hands on. If there is one thing I love in life (besides the world of waterfowl) it is the ability to build and create with hands. A lot of times, I feel that im an old soul in a younger generation. I get lost in a shop before I sit in front of a screen. A big reason why im losing interest in bass fishing is because if you arent good with manipulating a lure in front of a screen, you aren't catching bass at a competitive level anymore. The ability to CREATE and work at a craftmanship level with your hands is a dying art in so many ways. Its no secret I was run off from elsewhere and landed here, and its been a true joy here. Every other thread it seems someone is doing something cool in their little work area. Fantastic stuff here!
With that said, Ive become really good friends with a New Yorker who just does wild and cool things with a duck call. I know, theres a million makers out there. Don't get me wrong, a call can look amazing but the juice is in the toneboard. I was on the hunt to get away from mainstream calls. I am always trying to do something a little different and im certainly not afraid to venture outside the box of "normal" in anything i do. I stumbled across one of Doug's calls and he sent me one of his very first. He kept telling me he had a toneboard he loved but wasn't sure. I had tried MANY no name calls, some catching traction, some still unknown to this day. The very first time I blew his call, I knew there was some magic in the toneboard and he had something. Primarily the hold he had built into the call. I tune all my own calls, even if they come from some of the best tuners in the world. I also have some different reed material that I run in all my calls, no mylar for me anymore. Don't ask, I truly dont know what it is, different story for a different day.
Doug is truly a master for doing different things with material in his calls. Over the last two years, he has refined and made his calls even better in the hand by reshaping and making easier to manipulate around the barrel. He works with the absolute best materials. His calls originally caught my attention because of the ebonite he was able to get his hands on. Then the custom micarta he was using. It intrigued me that he was already using materials that others were using, but his was just of much better quality or way cooler designs. He pushes the envelope by making his own custom bands now, and has recently started pressing coins to make his own bands on calls. His calls just get sweeter and sweeter as time goes on. He is being mentored by some of the best in the game. Best of all, hes an absolute joy of a person and shares the same passion we all do, killing a few ducks and enjoying time with family. But most of all, hes just an a craftsman at heart. Im not asking anyone to go buy any of his calls, but he sent me a call for some decoys, and I refused to open it until I had his decoys in the mail to him. I finally got to open it yesterday and put my own tune in it, and make a little sound file. I just wanted to show off a good friends craftmanship, as I believe he might be one of the best in the world making a true custom turn.
Havent blown a duck call all summer, a little rusty, but I did hit the bouncing hen on the first try. Im rushing air in a few spots and my transitions werent the cleanest, so forgive me on that. But I can scream it and i can get as soft as a whisper on this latest call that hes sent me. From top to bottom, this thing runs and it runs WELL! But just look at wild nature of his calls. Great dude, making great calls! This 9/11 call absolutely blew me away!
With that said, Ive become really good friends with a New Yorker who just does wild and cool things with a duck call. I know, theres a million makers out there. Don't get me wrong, a call can look amazing but the juice is in the toneboard. I was on the hunt to get away from mainstream calls. I am always trying to do something a little different and im certainly not afraid to venture outside the box of "normal" in anything i do. I stumbled across one of Doug's calls and he sent me one of his very first. He kept telling me he had a toneboard he loved but wasn't sure. I had tried MANY no name calls, some catching traction, some still unknown to this day. The very first time I blew his call, I knew there was some magic in the toneboard and he had something. Primarily the hold he had built into the call. I tune all my own calls, even if they come from some of the best tuners in the world. I also have some different reed material that I run in all my calls, no mylar for me anymore. Don't ask, I truly dont know what it is, different story for a different day.
Doug is truly a master for doing different things with material in his calls. Over the last two years, he has refined and made his calls even better in the hand by reshaping and making easier to manipulate around the barrel. He works with the absolute best materials. His calls originally caught my attention because of the ebonite he was able to get his hands on. Then the custom micarta he was using. It intrigued me that he was already using materials that others were using, but his was just of much better quality or way cooler designs. He pushes the envelope by making his own custom bands now, and has recently started pressing coins to make his own bands on calls. His calls just get sweeter and sweeter as time goes on. He is being mentored by some of the best in the game. Best of all, hes an absolute joy of a person and shares the same passion we all do, killing a few ducks and enjoying time with family. But most of all, hes just an a craftsman at heart. Im not asking anyone to go buy any of his calls, but he sent me a call for some decoys, and I refused to open it until I had his decoys in the mail to him. I finally got to open it yesterday and put my own tune in it, and make a little sound file. I just wanted to show off a good friends craftmanship, as I believe he might be one of the best in the world making a true custom turn.
Havent blown a duck call all summer, a little rusty, but I did hit the bouncing hen on the first try. Im rushing air in a few spots and my transitions werent the cleanest, so forgive me on that. But I can scream it and i can get as soft as a whisper on this latest call that hes sent me. From top to bottom, this thing runs and it runs WELL! But just look at wild nature of his calls. Great dude, making great calls! This 9/11 call absolutely blew me away!
