Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: Osagetree on November 26, 2006, 06:37:00 PM
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I am on vacation this week and I'm planning to go deer hunting this week. But, I got board today and got some things from the freezer to start preperations for the Spring Turkey Season.
I thought to myself that you guy's and Gal's might want to follow along,,, again!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Copperheadwingbone.jpg)
Fethers for fletchings, wing bones for turkey calls, some wood for box calls and a small copperhead skin for a special touch to something I create.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Copperheadwingbone1.jpg)
The wings were from a friends birds that he harvested back in the spring and one this fall. My spring 2006 bird went to the taxidermist. The copperhead was a roadkill. It was hit before I got turned around to go back and catch him. Luckily it was just the head that took the hit.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Copperheadwingbone2.jpg)
This will be my first year turkey hunting with traditional archery tackle. But, I've made the decision to go for the home grown version. I'll make everything I need to hunt the tricky birds myself and maybe even get lucky on some predators if my calls are inticing enough for the coyotes and red fox.
I've got a couple selfbows to build for friends this winter and several box calls I have to have completed before Christmas. It's only 5 months until Spring Turkey Season comes in here in Ohio. So, I'm pushing my limits a bit!
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Oh yeah......I cant wait for this!!!!
This is gonna be another great thread!
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Tell me your not going to stick that snake in your mouth. Please! Hap
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I'm looking foward to this one
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Hot Hap,,, what ever it takes! :archer:
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I know this is gonna be a good one :thumbsup:
Kevin.
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I'm straped in for the ride!!!
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Oh Lawd, it's back...YYYYYYYYYYYYYES!!!!!!! :thumbsup: :notworthy:
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That last one was a doozy of a roller coaster ride. Let me add my early prediction for this epoc... dead turkey walking.
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I'm really looking forward to this!!! The last one had me glued, I still go back and read it!!
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Another build-along? Ya gotta love it! :goldtooth:
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Yipppppeeeeeeeeeeee
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This one will be fun!
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here we go again!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:
yyaahhoooo.......!!!!! :archer: :jumper:
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yay! alright! Lets get it on!
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Did the "1st Build-Along/Homemade-Huntin'-Stuff" get Saved in the Archives?
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Ok break is over- I think we is ready for it---
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Coffee.....check
slippers....check
reading glasses.....check
anticipation....... :)
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Suns coming up time to get to work :eek:
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Alright!!! We're back in business.
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ttt
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come on you lazy bum! WE ARE WAITING :p
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Hang in there guy's,,, I'm on vacation this week muzzleloader hunting for Ohio whitetails.
And, I got till spring before turkey season comes in!
I did manage to get he wingbones boiled up! Pics later this week.
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Glutton for punishment aren't ya Joe? Well ya done good during deer season so I'm laying my money on the table AGAINST the turkeys! :thumbsup:
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Muzzleloader? Who makes that bow? JK! Good luck, i suppose we can wait.
kyle
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Allright Joseph thanks for taking us along and good luck with the smokepole.
John
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Cant wait for more.
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Well, muzzle loader season is gone. Saw plenty of deer, even a couple small bucks. It was just to warm outside to shoot one.
The wife almost shot a nicer buck. But, it was on a dead run and she did the ethical thing and let him go. She's a good'n!
Most of the week was spent dreaming of turkey season and my projects I wanted to get to in my little building.
A good example of how thrilled I am to be hunting at almost 70 degrees.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/IMAG0003.jpg)
Dreaming of Spring Turkeys!
As you can tell by the rainbow, it sure seemed like spring.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/IMAG0005.jpg)
As I drempt of drawing my longbow on a wild Tom,,, I still had my eagle eye's trained on the woods.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/IMAG0002.jpg)
:saywhat:
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Okay,,, had some time today so I went out to the building to get started.
I've boiled the wing bones and they turned out pretty clean. I have my box call material cut and marked, ready to shape and glue up. The copperhead skin cured out nicely. I just wish I could find me two big enough for a bow.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall1.jpg)
Here I have the 6" Walnut base, and 9" Cherry paddle, both 1/4" thick.
Two blocks 3/4 bottom and a 1" top, about 1 1/4" tall.
Two 6" sound boards walnut and poplar 1/8" thick, marking it rounded over with the middle of the board at the highest point being marked 1 7/8" high and the ends of the sound boards being 1 3/4" high.
And, the copper head skin.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall.jpg)
Using a table saw cut two opposing 6 degree slots in the base for the sound boards 3/4" apart. Ant shap the handle end of the paddle with the belt sander. Any shape will do!
I rounded the 1/4" paddle so that the thickest point in the middle was 1/4" thick out to the edge being 1/8" thick.
I also use the sander to round over the tops of the sound boards to my pencil lines.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall3.jpg)
Glue up the sound boards into the base grooves and clamp it with the end block in place.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall5.jpg)
The glue and clamp the other end in the same fashion.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall7.jpg)
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I lay the paddle on top of the snakeskin and mark the outline with a pencil, then cut it out. I rinse the skin well in warm water and dawn dish liquid to remove the salt and oils in the skin.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall8.jpg)
Glue the skin to the paddle with titebond II. Press out all the air bubbles and let it dry well.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall9.jpg)
With a belt sander I sand the edges of the paddle to remove any overhanging skin and trim off my error in measure while marking the pieces for the box.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall10.jpg)
This makes for a nice clean end with no gaps or rough edges.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall11.jpg)
I'll give the skin on the paddle a couple coats of super glur for a finish.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall12.jpg)
And a little linseed oil to weather proof the box. Never get the oil on top of the rails of the sound boards.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall13.jpg)
Mark the paddle about a 1/4" back from the front and in the middle and drill a hole. I use a small brass wood screw, a brass finish washer and a 3/4" small guage spring to mount the paddle to the end block of the box call.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall14.jpg)
Sand the contact points at the sound boards and the paddle, chaulk it all up and sand to tune it where I want it.
Wish I knew how to create and attach a WAV. file so you could hear them,
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall20.jpg)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall19.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall18.jpg)
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neat calls...........awesome job
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Never seen snake skin on a box call before but I LOVE IT!!!!
keep up the good work
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KyleAllen,
Here is one I made last year! :bigsmyl: Western Rattler, Osage & Cherry!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/day12-1.jpg)
:thumbsup:
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Lookin good Joe. Keep it comin.
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Thank you for taking the time to share. That was sweet.
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MW, there is more, so check back till I get a bird flop'n on the ground in the spring.
Adding to the calls I'll show you how I make my wingbone calls from the turkeys wing bones.
Here are the wings after boiling and cleaning
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/copperheadboxcall22.jpg)
The bones avarage in size from bird to bird and my wingbone calls vary from call to call. I need not measure anything, I just do it by fit and feel of the bones. As you can see they are each about 5" long for now
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Wingboneandowlhooter1.jpg)
After boiling the bones the marrow is blown out, and here I am taking a pocket knife to remove the hard honeycomb interior of the bone
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Wingboneandowlhooter13.jpg)
Using the bigger end of the big bone, I remove about an inch from the smaller end with my coping saw. And then use the round file to smooth out the inside of the bone
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Wingboneandowlhooter18.jpg)
Then I cut the midsized bone of to fit in the bigger bone. I get a nice tight fit if I use sand paper to bevel the bones that is to be inserted
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Wingboneandowlhooter19.jpg)
Now I cut the midsized bone at the opposite end and I cut the smallest bone to fit into the middle bone.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Wingboneandowlhooter110.jpg)
When pressed together, most of the time you can get them to fit you'll wonder if you need glue on it. These fit so well I will not be glueing them but wrapping them with camo serving string
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Wingboneandowlhooter111.jpg)
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Wingbone calls are great locator calls because they are really loud if you want them to be. Good to have on windy days as well.
Here is the call with the two joints wrapped with the camouflafed serving materials. I will soak the wrapping with a little supper glue to make hem hard and permanent.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Wingboneandowlhooter113.jpg)
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An OWL HOOTER,,,, I need an OWL HOOTER!
This is what I call my "OLD SCHOOL OWL HOOTER"
First I glue together some 1/8" thick cedar and Wild cherry. Making the box about 2 1/2" wide x 4" tall x 3 /12" deep.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Wingboneandowlhooter114.jpg)
I drill a 1/4" hole through a block of osage and shape a barrel out of the sage at about 2" long
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/wingboneowlhooter2.jpg)
Taking them to the belt sander I round off everything. Rounding it off makes the joints look cut to fit, and the square edges won't catch anything on your turkey vest, while pulling it or putting it, in and out of the pockets of your vest or jacket.
Now I drill a 1/2' hole in the cherry side of the box.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/wingboneowlhooter3.jpg)
I then glue on the osage barrel shaped stem.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/wingboneowlhooter31.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/wingboneowlhooter33.jpg)
Any shape or size will work, but the one I discribe sounds more like an owl. If you play around you can make a good mourning dove coup.
Add a little linseed oil and walla! Old school owl hooters!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/wingboneowlhooter35.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/wingboneowlhooter37.jpg)
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Joe, Your "build alongs" just keep getting better nad better. Just awesome stuff, what's next? Thanks!!
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Tique, I was thinking about a crow call or maybe predator calls. Heck I'll do both types. might cet lucky and call in a coyote while trying to locate a Tom turkey!
My wife will be hunting with me and she carries a shotgun. So,,,, I'll need something to knock her over the head with. See, if we get a turkey coming in she won't wait till it gets 15 yrds,,, she'll shoot at 30yrds and I won't have a chance.
So,,, that is why I'm building this tomahawk. I'll konk her on the head if we get a hot bird coming in.
:knothead: :archer:
When I was much younger someone gave me a bunch of stone artifacts. They've been sitting in a shoe box in my building for the last 20 years or so.I thought I would like to recreate on of the stones that I thing was an axe head or tomahawk head. I am probably wrong but this si what I did with the one piece.
Here is the head
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/tomahawks132.jpg)
Here is a picture with the lighting so that you can see the places the stone was workes. Also the edges front and back are smoothed/angled like a knife edge.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/tomahawks134.jpg)
A limb cut from a dead dogwood tree that is in my back yard. My Dad had planted this tree in the early nineties before he passed away and it died last summer for some reason.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/tomahawks113.jpg)
Oh yeah,,, Skin off the bark with a draw knife!
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Cut off the knots at each end
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/IMAG0003.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/IMAG0002.jpg)
Clean up the butt end with a rasp leaving enough wood for a nice bulb at the butt of the handle
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/IMAG0007.jpg)
And then I round of the end of the handle to be knotched and hafted to the stone artifact
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/IMAG0008.jpg)
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Get a feel of the handle to direct the way I want to set the head into the handle, I then use the handsaw and cut a notch in the dogwood...
I used a coping saw to cut of the bottom of the notch
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/IMAG0010.jpg)
After some trial and error, I hafted the stone head into the handle by first heat bending the top of the handle over the head to kinda pinch in the head. Then wrapped it with a leater strapping. Soaked the head, handle and leather hafting in warm water for the night and then let it all dry out.
I must say,, it is set in the handle well, and does not move in the handle what so ever. When I showed it to my Son for the first time, I asked him "Do you think it looks corny?" he replied No, Wow you could kill someone with that thing!"
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/tomahwkfinished13.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/tomahwkfinished14.jpg)
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Amazing...absolutely amazing. Sir, you are a true artist in every sense of the word...
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An owl hooter? Creative for sure! I need to remember some of this stuff for camping. Trying to piece together little projects in front of a campfire is one of my favorite things to do. Anything I manage to finish would be crude in comparison though hehe.
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Osage,
I like them "OLD SCHOOL OWL HOOTERS"
:thumbsup:
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I bet you don't hit Mrs Joe with that thing, but it might come in handy to finish a stuck gobbler. Nice owl calls too.
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Treeyelpr,
"When the dogwoog flower is as big as squirrels ears, the turkeys are gobbl'n"
:bigsmyl: Can I borrow that one? :biglaugh:
Shaun,
Would'nt that be something? :jumper:
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Certainly :D
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Joe, Nice job on the "hawk" but watch out what your "konking";, especially when she's carrying a shotgun. I'd like to see a predator and hawk call build along. I've heard gobblers sound off when a hawk makes a call; been looking for a hawk call but have not found one yet. Whatever it is that you choose to build next will be great. I'll keep watching.
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I'm really looking forward to the Predator call too. That is one that I would like to be able to make.
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Do the turkeys ever spot the snake skin on the lid and freak out?
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Thanks for the wing bone info.
That is my son's favorite call and wanted to make one this spring if he gets a turkey.
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Good timing Joe for the wingbone calls. I brought home with me the wingbones from the Christmas dinner, so I'm making two commemorative calls. One for me and one for Lea Ann. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Graham
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Okay Gang,,, I had some spare time today and got back to this thread.
You can use wood for these calls, but I like to use deer antler as it will last forever and they are indestructable.
First, I take an antler from a harvest years past. It takes about 3 1/2" to start, so I cut off the base to that lenght.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall1.jpg)
Marked at three inches or so
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall4.jpg)
Cut off base and mark lines for the next cuts I'll make with a hand saw
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall5.jpg)
Place the base in my vise and cut along the 1 1/2" or so line towards the base end of the piece
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall7.jpg)
Make the cut on the other line
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall9.jpg)
Another shot of the final cut
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall8.jpg)
Draw an outline of the mouth piece
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall11.jpg)
Using my big half round file, I shape the mouth piece to the lines I drew
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall13.jpg)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall14.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall15.jpg)
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In this picture you can see the softer marrow like part of the anlter
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall16.jpg)
Using a 1/4" drill bit, I let the bit follow the softer part of the antler through and out the end of the base. Thus leaving a nice chaneel in the flat side of the mouth piece
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall18.jpg)
Using the end of the bit I finish off the channel leaving 1/8" or so of the antler flat around the edges of the mouth piece
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall19.jpg)
Turn the piece around in the vice so the base is facing me
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall20.jpg)
Using a 1/2" bit I fallow and wallow out the first hole half way back through the base. Thus crating two chambers. A smaller chamber at the mouthpiece end of the call and a larger funneling chamber at the other or base end of the call. Sort of like a megaphone shape inside
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall22.jpg)
Finished inside
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall24.jpg)
Using a rattail file I file off any burrs or sharp edges left by the bits
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall26.jpg)
The flat part of the mouth piece should start flat at the call end of the mouth piece and drop off slightly or slop downwards towards the tip of the mouth piece. This is where you will fine tune your call by the angles on the flats of the mouth piece.
I find,,, A larger gradually sloping mouth piece will be loud and very raspy. A mouth piece that barley slopes at all will be sharp and high pitched.
In other words,,, the distance and slope between the reed and the flat part of the mouth piece of the call will determine the sound you achieve.
Playing around with that aspect takes time and patients,,, you must go slow and try it every little it to see if it where you want it.
With a little practice this call can make a crow "caw" easily and makes very good coyote howls and Challange barks.
I buy this artificialreed material that is sold for making duck calls. I get it off a internet auction site and it is cheap and you can make more calls than you'll ever need.
I cut enough off to the shape of the mouth piece and leave enough at the tail end to fold up on the back part of the call at the mouth pieces base.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall25.jpg)
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Using my round file again making a slight channel around to hold the bands in place I will use to hold the reed to the call
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall26.jpg)
I use the bands they make for castrating your goats for the bands that will hold everything together. You may have noticed them on my wingbone calls too.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall28.jpg)
A little fine tunning with some sandpaper and you've got crow or coyote howler calls. Do the same thing with smaller antler tines and you can make a great rabbit distress call. using your teeth against the reed of the small calls immatates the quivering sounds of a dieng rabbit very well.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall29.jpg)
Note the leftover strings for linyards
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/Spring%20Turkey%20Season%202007/Predatorcrowcall30.jpg)
I wish I could record and post the recordings of these calls so you all could here them. I will be using these in my first trad turkey hunting adventure this spring
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I'm all ears....Ererr uhhh......eyes
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awesome stuff Joe!!
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Great job as usual Joe; I'll be following your instructions as soon as I get the materials together.