I was so happy to hear that Michael's daughter Mills had won the call, but knew right away I was in for an additional challenge....I'd never made a snakeskin wingbone call for a girl!
The challenge now was to "girl it up", but not make it gaudy....hmmmm....
Michael said she wanted copperhead skin, and we agreed it needed to be down sized....the rest was up to me.
I thought a lot about this call before I started on it. The two things that kept coming to me were...pink.....and flowers.....so that's what I went with....
Used the three wing bones from the fall hen I killed in 2011 so the bones where naturally scaled down. I also gave them a smooth taper bone to bone to make it look less segmented.
When I about had it done, I texted Michael to ask if he thought she'd like the glossy look or if I should hit it with some satin....he thought the same as my daughter....glossy!
I shaped the end of the call to have the appearance of flower petals.
Used a piece of antler to make a tag of sorts to have a place to write something.
And in keeping with the spirit of Trad Gang, I made an adjustable lanyard to look like a flemish bowstring.
So, here it is.....
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• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/millscall001.JPG)
To get an idea of the size...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/millscall002.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/millscall008.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/millscall003.JPG)
Antler "tag"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/millscall004.JPG)
I also added a bone lip stopper...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/millscall005.JPG)
And hopefully I pulled off a subtle flower look/shape...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/millscall007.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/millscall006.JPG)
My daughter loved the call so much that I had to promise to make her one just like it!
Now Curt, That is spectacular. Great Job!
Curt that looks totally awesome!!!!
Man What a nice looking call. I think It shows how much thought and work went into it. I can't wait to see it up close in person.
Thanks, Curt, for your support of this hunt. I know Mills will be thrilled.
That is too cool, Curt! :notworthy:
That is impressive, very nice!!
Awesome bud :thumbsup: You are very talented!!
Beautiful work on the call Curt!
Wow, she is going to be thrilled. :clapper:
Freaking awesome work dude!
Sweet. Looks great.
The hen bones sound better too IMO.
Cool! :thumbsup:
Nicely done for a good cause, Curt! Beautiful.
Hey Curt! You done good! :)
Holy Moly ,that is awesome!!!
Very cool and a Very nice job on the call
That looks awesome! Great job!
Very nice!!
:clapper:
Awesome work, Curt! She'll love it!
That is awesome! Definitely the coolest wing bone call I've ever seen.
Very nice Curt.
Very very creative approach. Way cool. :thumbsup:
:archer:
:thumbsup:
Outstanding job.
Thats incredible Curt.
I'm sure she will love it. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
very nice :clapper: :clapper:
Wow. As you were describing it, I was thinking "that doesn't sound too good".
Well when I saw the pictures...I will say it again WOW. Heck with the girls, I want one too. :-)
Amazing job.
Good Job Curt,I'm sure she'll love it. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Gee, I wish I hadn't looked at this. What the heck am I gonna do now - LOL . See, I have also promised to make one for the "winner", and Curt and I even exchanged a couple of PM's, after the drawing, regarding the need to girl them up, without messing it up. I had made one in pink for my granddaughter a few years back (because I did for her brothers - twins), BUT that was easy because she doesn't hunt, and just wanted one, made by me, to hang on her bedroom wall.
Curt, that is probably the prettiest, without being too girly, wing bone call I've ever seen. You have done a magnificent job, my old friend. Man, am I ever in the pickle barrel now - and I don't even have a set of hen bones (except for a call of my own I made some years back) to start out with. I have been thinking some on it already - but, heck, the ones I make are NEVER that "special". Now, I guess I better think some more - LOL. Just kidding - I can't compete with that one, but at least she'll have a "back up wing bone call" at any rate.
Again, congrats on a great job and lots & lots of thought and effort, and as Don said, "Support" for the project. I'm impressed, buddy.
Nice workmanship Curt.
Wow, fantastic work Curt. She'll be pleased for sure.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Curt,
When I first started reading your post I had envisioned what a "Girly" wing bone call would look like, but man that far surpassed my thoughts. Well done indeed!
Opps
That is stinking cook. She is going to love that.
You nailed it Curt!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Very cool!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
QuoteOriginally posted by ber643:
I have been thinking some on it already - but, heck, the ones I make are NEVER that "special".
Bernie, any gift that is made from ones hands and comes from the heart is special. Even if the two calls don't look the same I'm sure they will be special in their own way.
Well said Leatherneck. By the way, I love the shirt you sent her.
That is true, of course, Mike, and thanks for saying so.
Awesome! :thumbsup:
Curt
Your not only a GREAT DAD a GREAT HUNTER but your also a GREAT CRAFTSMAN. :notworthy: :notworthy:
That's a beautiful piece!!! Lucky young lady.
What a great idea, I have made many different styles of wing bone calls but nothing to match your vision of a snake skin wrapped wing bone.
Congratulations on such ingenuity!
Tom
One word man... Awesome!!
Jason
:eek: awesome
That's a beauty Curt! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Wow Mr. Curt!! That looks awesome!!!
I can't wait to see it in person and to try it out on those NC turkeys with Mr. Don and Mr. Joey.
Thank you SOOOO much! :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
That is just AWESOME, Curt!!!!
I got my first (and only) wingbone call from a friend of mine from a bird I shot a couple years ago. Mine is real plain and near as fancy as yours but it still makes noise. I hope to use it to call in a bird this spring.
Again, AWESOME work and congrats to Miss MIlls!
Bisch
Dang buddy, you nailed that one, like the kids say that thing rocks! And Bernie, Mike said it well, I know you call is gonna "rock" as well. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Thanks for doing this guys!
QuoteOriginally posted by Don Batten:
Well said Leatherneck. By the way, I love the shirt you sent her.
:bigsmyl:
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Doug. I was counting time just yesterday (on the calendar) and I guess I better get busy soon - (even to just get a basic one crafted, let alone decorating it- LOL)
Thank you everyone for the kind words :thumbsup:
Whoa....that right there is pure talent! :eek:
Thank you, Curt. I still think I fell in love with the one you made though - even if you did make it for a young "Lady" - LOL I heck of a job of craft work, my friend. :thumbsup:
Curt you did an amazing job on that one,Bernie I know what ever you make will be awesome as well.
Very very nice. I think you hit that one on the head. Great job.
Wow!!!!!!!!
Looks awesome Brother!!!
Curt you did an awesome job and turned out a beautiful call. I'm sure it sounds as pretty as it looks.
Jamie
That is amazing..Great craftman ship there..Blown away...