Call Conditioning

[AdrianJHare]

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

Edited January 22, 2009 by AdrianJHare

[Guest overundergun]

Thanks Adrian for your good info. I already got mine out and been practicing and tuning them all week long . Everything is sounding great .

[AdrianJHare]

Thanks Adrian for your good info. I already got mine out and been practicing and tuning them all week long . Everything is sounding great .

Overundergun, are you going to be at the Montreal show in February ?

I will be at it, stop by if your going to be around...

[Nut]

Thanks Adrian. Excellant thread about a important matter.

[FireStrut]

Good post.

[Dakota]

Thanks for posting! I'm already getting my diaphram and slate calls out and working.

Dakota

[maytom]

Good info BT!!!