Do you really need a $100.00 call

P

Pat Richter

Active member
My sons birthday is coming soon so I thought I'd pick him up a new call. He already has a couple of expensive ones that really aren't all that good. Do I really need to spend another 100.00 to get a decent call? I have been using a Yenzen and an Olt 66 Mallard Duck Calls for 30 years and don't see the need for such an expensive one. Any ideas?
 
A custom made one with the wood you want is probably different then getting a super duper perfect sounding call.
I'd go the route of a personalized handcrafted call from a small maker if you were going to get a call.

I keep a few primos wenches around and think they do just fine.

Tim
 
I agree with Tim, a custom call is well worth it, especially with a unique piece of wood. My favorite duck call was made by RM Custom calls using a Spalted Ambrosia Maple with an acrylic insert. I had a matching set made for me and my son having his engraved.

I will much rather buy a custom one of a kind hand turned call for $110 than a CNC piece of plastic for $140.


JasonFrieSpaltedAmbrosiaMapleGD_zpsdca021d2.jpg

 
I have had a bunch over the years, but the ones that I like the best are made by somebody either local or that I have contacted through this site. Get in touch with Steve Steffy-steves@northbaycalls.com-they are really nice and sound great. Here is another guy that makes nice duck calls-Ron Jones-http://www.acpwildlifepro.net/. Ron is a local Jersey guy and makes a very good duck call. I think the thing about using someone like listed above is that if you have a special requirement or sound, they can usually make that for you.
 
You may want to consider some vintage calls by regional makers. These calls are a very good value now as they have slipped in value as the economy faltered. Ken Martin made an excellent timber style call - the Horseshoe Lake call with cedar wedge has better sound than the cork wedge and goes for about $75 on the action sites. Glynn Scobey recently passed away and his calls took quite a jump but are still an excellent value. A plain Scobey call should go for under a $100. He also made calls featuring hand painted mallards (I have two) these will go for more. Piece of history - great sounding call that will only go up in value.
 
Thanks for the plug there Greg.

And I say no...you absolutely don't need a $100 call...go the custom route, it means a LOT more. And not necessarily by me either. There are quite a few outstanding callmakers out there that would do a great job. If you know of one locally that is even better.

And that is a real looker ya got there Jay! I like it!

Steve
 
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I have drawers full of calls, some still in original boxes 40 years old. A Waterfowler DOES in my opinion, Need a custom Call. I have two, one from Frankie Heidelbauer 1993, and one from Mike Pahl 1984. Both have been recently retuned, by Frankies grandson, and by Mr. Pahl , they are as good as new. They are still my favorites. My next custom call.... do I need one? Most likely from Steve.

Steve, do ya make a Wood Duck Squealer?
 
If i was going to do it over i would definetly go custom. I like having the story behind it such as a homemade or rehabbed boat or a rig of hand carved birds to hunt over it makes the experience that much more enjoyable.

To tell the truth though calling for my spots usually does very little. Since we have very few birds here they get called at all the time (mostly by people who cant call, october sounds like an orchestra of inbred ducks, haha). I actually much better luck being silent and using a jerk cord.

You dont need calls if you scull......
 
Vince...indeed I do. I actually sold the last Dweeter to Yash over at the Havre De Grace Show. He can really make it sing. I have a bunch more just about done, but they're taking a trip with me to the UP of MI next week. I'm hoping to leave them there. Just a hunch, but I'd bet you'll be at Pymatuning in September? I'll have a bunch made up again for that show...stop by and check 'em out.

Yash...What no Dweeter?

Chris...that sounds a lot like Presque Isle[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica] - Good analogy...
october sounds like an orchestra of inbred ducks
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I am a Yentzen man; my old wood call cost maybe ten or twelve dollars. I have used the cheap old Haydel calls with great success. Plus Olt's. My favorite was by Harry Dye of Seattle; not a custom piece but when I got mine a bunch of us went to see him on lunch hour and he personally tuned each one. He's long gone and Dye Calls seem to have vanished. I lost mine I don't know where, and really miss it.When ducks were gunshy and landed way outside the rig, I could chuckle and turk them into swimming all the way in before I flushed them. I guess expensive calls are like expensive guns, they do the same thing as cheap ones but look nice.
 
Yash...What no Dweeter?
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Ohhhhh this precious little gem

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Now u got me all antsy I gotta go give a few toots through it before I hit the hay here soon gotta be up around 3am and head out to the blue water
 
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Pat-

As the others here have already attested, you don't need one. If you know you would like to buy your son a new call, then custom would be ideal. I wanted to give my son something special before the start of last season. He is still young (13y.o.) but he really wanted to start calling. I bought him a matched set (duck and hybrid goose call) from Bob Furia in this site. My sin is learning how to work the duck call, but man did he catch onto Bob's hybrid flute call. They are special because they were made for him by someone's hands, and he knows he is the only one with them. I hope he carries them long enough to pass onto his children.

I carry custom calls made by Jim Chamberlain and Steve Steffy. Bill made me a single reed call out of some Olive wood from Israel. While Steve made me a beautiful amboyna burl double reed. They sound awesome but are more meaningful to me because they weren't turned out by a robot machine from a piece of plastic.

Chad
 
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I hunt with a call made by Bob Furia.....I disgrace the call everytime I blow it it's so pretty but I can't help it. Steve can really blow those calls and they actually sound like ducks. I usually get told to stop hahahaha

However, I really like the Furia call and it's always on my lanyard when i'm headed out duck hunting....
 
I have been using a Carlson Championship Call for over fifteen years, it has a great sound and range. Also the instructional cd is very good. https://www.marshmutt.com/shop/carlson-championship-calls-duck-calls/carlson-calls-competition-volochoke/
 
I'll second Dani's choice. I have one of Bob's call on my lanyard as does my Dad (Wiz Bos) and I bought one for my buddy's young son. All have special meaning. In fact some of the wood came from New Mexico thanks to Al Hansen.
 
Do I really need to spend another 100.00 to get a decent call?

Any ideas?
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No, and yes

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Both calls by DHBP members, top (duck call) by Dave Larsen and bottom (goose call) by Bob Furia
 
Thanks to all you guy,s and girl,s for all your input. I just ordered a pair of handcrafted call,s for my son.I,ll put up some pic,s when they come.
 
For ducks, I primarily use a pair of Paul Kingyon's; one raspy low end for close-in and the other for open water calling. They blow wet. They blow dry. They blow cold. They don't look very pretty anymore(sorry, Paul, I didn't follow your advice and let them hang on a lanyard), but I think Paul would still appreciate what they achieve in the marsh on birds a couple of decades after their purchase;one of the best choices in waterfowling gear I have made.

I would also like to thank Tom Kondrik for convincing me to give Paul a call prior purchase.
 
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