AdrianJHare

Is your calls dry when you store them away ? I'm not understanding why the laytex is going loose on you as most calls on the market are set not to move. Another issue is the bending of the frame, something that loosens off any call makers stretch set. Mouth calls do not need to be bent...

That is very well done. I would like to add one thing to the list if it would be alright... Quote: After working many years in this industry, I see several qualifications that are a must to make it. You don't have to be great at all of them, but if you don't have decent skills in each, you might want to consider a different career: — Knowledge and a background in the hunting industry (the broader, the better) — The ability to sell (yourself, and who you represent) — Patience with people, a good personality, and excellent communication skills — Public speaking skills — The ability to travel at any time — A primary and very flexible job (to put food on the table). — A very understanding spouse, significant other, or family (because they won't see you very much). The time away from my family is the reason I would never consider it./Quote -- Have very good listening skills

Conditioning Turkey Calls The time of year comes when practice is essential to tune up yourself and your calls. Practicing with your calls can help you find the better areas on your call to have that perfect Yelp or Cluck come out. After you have dug out your calls from the last season or even have just taken it out of the package, it’s time to get your calls ready for use. Whether its Mouth, Friction, Box or Tube, like calls, they all need that little added touch to keep them performing properly. Box Calls Box Calls are made of different woods, for different sounds; these calls are a two-part call that is lightly rubbed together to produce a friction sound of the Wild Turkey. This call works best with a Non-oiled chalk to help produce the best friction. The two parts are, the Paddle and the Box, these parts need to be cleaned often, to rid of any oils and obstructions, and to have the proper fiction to produce the best tone and volume. By taking medium grit sandpaper and with light pressure, rub the length of the paddle with out changing the bevel of the paddle, this cleans the obstructions and old chalk off and produces new sanding groves on the surface to hold your new chalk. The box edge is very delicate and caution needs to apply here, the upper edges of the box should be rubbed very lightly with light grit sandpaper to just clean off the old chalk with out changing the shape or bevel of the box. Your box call is ready to be rechalked once again, by only adding chalk to the Paddle part, rub the chalk the length of the paddle over the sanded area (do not rub the box side with chalk). Companies have entered into the turkey hunting world the new style waterproof box calls. Most of these type calls don't need a lot of care. These type calls do need some cleaning up and most will find that the paddle sides of the calls tend to smooth and friction will diminish. By taking a scotch bright pad or heavy grit sand paper, one can take one or two light passes up and down the Paddle area to create a better friction surface with these style calls. Warning: Do not rub hard on these calls as one can take off the water proof effect, all you need to do is mark into the smooth effect that the on going use has created. Push Button Calls Push Button Calls are just another type of Box call and can use the same care as the others. By dismounting the spring inside the Box opening, the wooden block that is on the push dowel should flip up. (Pay particular attention to where and how the spring sits, before removing it. This helps when putting it back together). Take medium grit sandpaper, and sand the area of the wooden block from the narrowest side to side. This will clean the old chalk and produce new friction groves in the block material. Lightly rub the Striker Block that is fixed to the bottom of the box to clean it from old chalk and this will rough it up to allow a better friction. (Do not touch these areas with fingers after sanding takes place). By taking your Box Call chalk only rub chalk on the moveable block, then place the spring back to the same area that it was in the beginning. Sometimes the tension spring can use a little straightening to apply more tension to the block when in use. When tuning this call you may have to dismantle the tension spring and slightly move the fixed block at the bottom of the call, to achieve a better quality sound. Pot Calls, There are a number of different material surfaces for these types of calls Slate, Glass, Aluminum etc. and all need the same maintenance. These calls also have two pieces to them, the Pot and Striker. Both parts need to be cleaned regularly, and freed from oils and obstructions on a regular basis while being used. For the Pot, take medium grit sandpaper; Rub the surface in one direction, scuffing the area. This cleans off the work area and produces a rough area to produce great friction and sound. By blowing the area after sanding, it will rid of sanding dust. (Do not rub your hand over the area) This will put skin oil on the surface and break down the sounding ability of your call. The Striker is easy to look after, there is only one end that needs care; the pointed or narrow end is the end to clean. Take light grit sandpaper and lay it flat, easily rub the striker end to clean material fiber’s from it. Some Glass calls need extra work as the surface are very hard, Cleaning sticks to ruff the surface can be found. These are close to a peace of wet stone for sharpening knives. They can be rubbed on the glass to scratch the surfaces, these tools work better then ruff grade sand paper. To help keep your friction calls in good shape, pot call cases are available to carry the call in. This can help keep the outside pot material from dampness and UV rays while not in use. Tube and Snuff Calls, These are calls that operate with latex over one of the open ends. Most times the barrel of the call needs no maintenance at all. The latex end is the part of the call that could use the most care. Latex tends to break down if not cared for in the proper way. By taking these calls and replacing the latex it will give you the quality sound when most needed, it will also keep the call from breaking down in use. Most times the latex is held by elastic around the tube and barrel, this should be checked as well for deterioration. By taking off the old latex and replacing it, you may have to adjust latex tension to get the proper sound, volume and tone. By keeping this call out of direct light it will ensure longer life for the latex. Mouth Calls or Diaphragms, These calls require the most care to ensure longer life. The mouth call is made with Aluminum, Tape, and Latex. These calls break down the most often. By not bending the frame a lot it will ensure the proper tension of the latex. Over blowing the call can also stretch the latex in the call, and this will breakdown the quality of sound, tone, and volume. By soaking the call after use, for about 15 minutes in mouthwash (with no alcohol), or dilute mouth wash and water 50/50. After soaking, rinse under fresh water, and let to dry, this will stop the growth of bacteria. In a multi-reed call, it is good practice to very gently place toothpicks, or some Companies like Quaker boy add Plastic call Savers with their calls, for between the latex reeds. This will help the reeds from sticking all together when dried. When you’re ready to use the call take a few moments and moisten the call to remove the toothpicks or Plastic Savers. This will stop the stretching of the latex when the user pulls them apart, and also helps the period of Life, Sound and Tone of the call. By storing Mouth calls out of direct light, it will help stop the deterioration of the latex reeds from the UV rays. A good place for the storage of these types of calls is in a “call container” kept in a refrigerator crisper. This keeps the calls out of direct light and the cool temperature help stop the growth of bacteria, and also leaves your call fresh for the next use. By regularly washing all blow type calls of any game in a Non alcohol type mouthwash, will slow the growth of bacteria and will help the fight of germs that form on the calls. Another good practice is not sharing or using other users calls, this is how infections spread. Gobble Shakers, The gobble shaker is a good call at times. Safety comes first, but to use the call it can be used 2 handed or with one hand with a swinging wrist action. This Call is a good Locator or a hung up bird enticer, as the gobbler will move in to fend off the close tom. Some of the market shakers should be looked at as some are one time only and others can be taken apart to replace the Insert that makes the gobble. These calls should be kept out of direct heat in a cool place. This will keep the laytex in good shape on the refills. Adrian J Hare Realtree PS

I carry more locators with me then I do turkey calls. Not all locators will make any one bird gobble. Having a few different ones including different toned crow calls can strike a gobble at anytime. Coyote calls do not scare Gobblers, I have killed lots of gobblers that I have located by the yote howler. I have used 2-3 or even more different sound locators at a time just to get a gobbler to give away his roosting location. If you want to see proof of this, get a copy of the dvd "Learning the ropes of Wild Turkey Hunting" it is there in video footage. Locators work not only for a roosting, but also they work throughout the day as one may change setups and want to know where the bird is at the time of the move if he can not see the bird in question. Every time a gobbler answers a locator he is not directed to the call as he would be with a turkey call you hunt with. Playing your birds with hen calls only allow you to have that bird move in and catch you off guard and add presure to him and allow him to ignor hen calling and wait for the call (hen) to come to him. Locators are a very good idea in this type of hunting...

By spending money in a good quality after market choke you will narrow down your choices for shells as you will find a much better pattern out of most guns. Choke constriction is a very important part along with how the taper is in the choke that your using. After years of testing patterns on my own range I have found that this maybe a good start to anyone that is starting out. 12 gauge - Pure Gold - Indian Creek chokes .660 -.665 the .660 is good for copper loads and the .665 is a great heavy shot choke. 20 gauge - Pure Gold - Indian Creek chokes .550 -.555 I have found that Heavy shot with the .555 allows a 20 gauge to extend its range by another 5 - 10 yards giving the hunter a 40 yard gun. So far the Hevi 13 in 3 inch #6 is very hard to beat out of the 20 gauge. I am waiting to try out the new federal wad lock heavy loads in the 20 to see how they fair. I hope this may help some...

Well TG, I can only speak for myself here, but most of the time I am moving in the woods scouting or hunting and seem to keep on a level. Now honest the areas here at home are level without any amount of hills, but when I travel I do get to places that seem to take it out of me in the last couple years. I've started a weight loss and trim up program just to get back into shape and help out with the spring season of chasing gobblers. The hardest part is traveling and doing shows and trying to eat properly late at night and get into the workout rooms before the show. I will stick with it...

Great gun as long as you have the forcing cone done and trigger work for the pull. 40 yard gun no problem with a good aftermarket choke...

Yes, make sure you get a Good size larger. My Boots are 8.5 and I use the XL size and they fit well. I also ware heavy real wool socks in cold weather....

One of my Ace's for cold weather is 2000 gram Boots and a pair of Artic Sheild boot blankets. The Blankets are worth every dime...

Thanks Muff. I hunt west of Barrie...

October 14th was the first day and what a day it was. We spent more time filming and it was hard to work with the birds as the weather was not all that good. High winds, rain and the same day that every leaf on every tree decided to take that long fall to the forest floor. Well what a start it was on opening morning when Jim and I walked into an old honey hole at the edge of day break and moved into an area that I have seen fall turkeys roost in other years past. As we reached the spot the bust started fast as birds started to fly out of the trees. We ran and did the best we could on the bust and it was no time and we were setup. The birds were not working as planned as the weather was so windy and to hear was near impossible so the birds came together on sight. After a couple moves we got setup and the flock came walking into us with about 4 gobblers in fan. It was something to see, but a shot was not possible as they hit range I could not get the camera on the birds for grass and Poor Ol Jim had to wait it out even if he had the one gobbler in his sights. The wind caused us a lot of problems filming and we decided to give the flock a break and come back in the afternoon, maybe then the wind would drop a bit. 5:00pm we headed out and got back to the same location and worked our way back into the same location the birds were feeding at and got setup. Jim yelped a little before the camera was setup and as I got it running and not even focused yet and I notice a bird coming to wards me and straight to me. I got the camera on the bird, focused and followed it to a point where it stopped and I could not shoot as the camera was in my way. I waited it out for a few minutes and she started to move to the left and still coming into range. At 30 yards she had came to the left enough to allow me to aim a long side of the camera and the 20 gauge roared out once again as I took my first Ontario Fall bird and filmed it all myself. We got setup again and waited out another bird for Jim. Not long Jim whispers I hear a cluck over to our right and as we turned hear comes a flock of maybe 40 birds walking up to wards us. As they made it into range Jim let loose and down goes his bird a young but great looking Ontario fall bird and a American to take a fall bird in this hunt was what he waited and wanted to do. The camera was rolling but under the cover of leaves the forest was dark but some of the footage is good. We got the birds tagged and headed out for pictures. Great day and great way to spend in the first fall hunt and yet another great prize to share with friends....

Canadian Extreme online store out of the Ottawa area has them I believe. Any Canadian Tire or Wall mart sold them and as well as near every sporting dealer in Canada now has them. I know as I see them when I visit all the stores. I have a number of Business cards from stores all across the Ontario area...

Great to see you around Tyson...

Thanks Walter, and same to you. Glad to see ya come out of the wood work LOL! You going to be in Harrisburg this year ? Adrian

I am around when I have the chance. This time of year is going to take away from the forum as a lot of us are in the woods either getting ready or are all ready hunting. Bow season here starts on October 1st ...

I encourage you to take a chance at a Fall hunt if at all possible. The fall season is exciting in a different way from the spring. I look forward every fall with talking yet again to my local birds...

$23.00 and change...

I'm not sure if any better is the right word, but I do however own a 270 WSM and seem to use it over my 308 now. The gun has a bark and seems to level the bullet better in my eye's. What I have noticed is that the proper bullet type is very important for the game you plan on hunting....

I'm around every now and then as well Glad to see some of the other guys and gals...

I'm a Buck Wing Bobblin Head kinda guy

Welcome Joe and Congrats to everyone on the success stories. I had a great season as well. Starting in Ohio and using up a tag on a good bird and called 5 others to guns in 3 days while I was there. A quick drive back to Ontario to start the opener on April 25 and tagging a heavy double beard on the opener. Placed another tag on another great bird in the first part of May. I headed to Pennsylvania for their last week and scored once again on the second morning out. I had a great season and got lots of film action with lots of friends. Everyone have a safe summer ...

Since it started I have bought one and won a Free Coffee and I gave it away to an older fella. I have heard of one GPS winner since it started...

LOL yooperkenny I think your as close to a Canadian as ya can get. Your 10 1/2

I've never shot it, but I see it every year. I don't remember seeing the yardages, but it sure looks neat and would like to shoot it one time...

I can give you information if you Pm or email me. I will tell you it is not all that cheap. I'm in the middle of having some done now....