In the beginning......... - 10/30/22
About a month ago, I ran across this hacked up 35mm film can ( less the reed) in a box of odds and ends hunting stuff. 40-some years ago......around the age of 14-15, I made a tube call from a 35mm film can, a piece of surgical glove that my mother (an RN) brought me from the hospital and a few wraps of black, electrician's tape. Total cost..... zero.
My (5 years) older brother and his best buddy were expert turkey hunters back then. Neither had ever killed a bird, but......
So a day or two before spring season opened, I showed my call to my brother's buddy. Played it for him. He said, "That's the good thing about homemade calls. When they're junk, you can throw them out and you're not out nothing."
The first morning of season, I called two jakes in to 20-couple yards and shot my first ever wild turkey. I called my brother's buddy and asked him how he did. He had worked one and was "just THIS close". He asked me how I did. I told him I called two in and shot one. He was speechless. Told him "That's the good thing about those homemade calls...... When they're no good you can just throw 'em out and you're not out nothing". π
So, I had a doctor appointment a couple days ago. While sitting in the exam room, I spied latex gloves (not easy to find in these days where everyone is allergic). The nice nurse was kind enough to send me home with a couple gloves. This evening, I cut a fresh reed and stretched it......success first try......and 40-some years later, the call that started it all is back up and running. I just need to lock it all in with some black tape. π
Today was our fall opener. I'm don't really get excited to shoot a fall bird. But, I believe one of these days, soon, I need to hit the woods one more time with this call that started it all......
My (5 years) older brother and his best buddy were expert turkey hunters back then. Neither had ever killed a bird, but......
So a day or two before spring season opened, I showed my call to my brother's buddy. Played it for him. He said, "That's the good thing about homemade calls. When they're junk, you can throw them out and you're not out nothing."
The first morning of season, I called two jakes in to 20-couple yards and shot my first ever wild turkey. I called my brother's buddy and asked him how he did. He had worked one and was "just THIS close". He asked me how I did. I told him I called two in and shot one. He was speechless. Told him "That's the good thing about those homemade calls...... When they're no good you can just throw 'em out and you're not out nothing". π
So, I had a doctor appointment a couple days ago. While sitting in the exam room, I spied latex gloves (not easy to find in these days where everyone is allergic). The nice nurse was kind enough to send me home with a couple gloves. This evening, I cut a fresh reed and stretched it......success first try......and 40-some years later, the call that started it all is back up and running. I just need to lock it all in with some black tape. π
Today was our fall opener. I'm don't really get excited to shoot a fall bird. But, I believe one of these days, soon, I need to hit the woods one more time with this call that started it all......