Question about open reed calls?????

Yellerdog and I were some of the first callmakers on here. I helped develop the YDD2 toneboard with Lee.These days I fly to Michigan at yellerdogs to cnc machine my toneboards. I have made a lot of happy customers over the years I think they make a great Howler. Rick
 
The custom call makers on this forum all make some really nice calls, howlers included. Anyone who buys their howlers should have no trouble learning to use them and produce some high quality sound. Experience is a great teacher in this area. A little patience, coupled with some effort ought to be a winning combination.
 
I only own two custom Howlers (besides my own) one is from years ago that I bought from Rick and the other is a TJ Shockler horn I traded for.Looking back I missed out on a lot of the great ones..
 
Originally Posted By: canislatrans54Originally Posted By: msincOriginally Posted By: canislatrans54Here's my opinion,.......

My point...long-winded as it may be...is just this: People need to get off of this "this one's better than that one"; or "diaphragms are better than _____"; or "blue bubble gum makes bigger bubbles and pops louder than red bubble gum"; yada yada yada.

I get what you are saying, but it just aint that way...the entire world turns on the fact that people are going to buy what they decide they like or because they believe it is "best" for them. You are not going to change this. You cannot, as a business man, produce what you like or believe in and then choke it down the rest of the worlds throat...you will starve. I learned a long time ago regarding business and it has served me well, one...don't argue with people, just take the money and run...and two, it's a lot easier to come down in price than it ever will be to go up.
I am not saying any one brand or type is better or best. I am not qualified to do that with many things, especially howlers. I get that like anything it takes practice. That is the challenge and the part I enjoy almost as much as calling up an animal.


You are correct, sir. it isn't that way. I am very well aware that we all are going to buy and use what we each feel best suits our desires. I just get tired of the seemingly constant "this one's better than that one".
It reminds me too much of days in Kindergarten, and every boy shouting "My dad's bigger and tougher than your dad is".
Which is "best" is irrelevant, because we DO each have our own preferences.
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Sir, I humbly apologize if I offended you or anyone else. That wasn't my intent.

As far as me being a "businessman"....I guess THAT is a matter of perspective as well.
Yes, I sell my calls.
However, I don't do it as a business. It is a pure hobby. So, I don't actually see myself as a businessman.
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And, I certainly don't try to "choke it down anyone's throat". (no, I don't think that you meant anything by using those terms)

Again, I'm sorry for any offense. I am not the best with words...in person, nor online.
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Absolutely no apology is needed at all, You said nothing offensive whatsoever. Maybe somebody else got offended, I don't know for what, but I was definitely not. If you think the old "which ones best" is bad regarding calls...you should have a couple coon dogs!!!!
 
I just stepped outside my shop and wailed on one of Will's horn howlers and was instantly rewarded with about 20 dogs going crazy and some yotes in the field answering me back. I live in the city. Life is good. Please let one screw up and get too close to get some lead poison.

I live on the edge of town......
 
msinc.....I can almost imagine about the coon dogs, if it's anything like guys who hunt coyotes with greyhounds & staghounds. Hahahaha
And I am glad that you weren't offended.



ronbeaux.....I'll be hoping (for you) too, that a coyote or two get too close to your place!!




*** I was supposed to be outside today (where the worktable is located...man I wish I had a shop, some days), finishing a special order that is due to be picked up by the customer on Friday.
However, the wind has been blowing here (since I woke up) at 35-40mph, with some gusts reported near 50mph.
So...Instead of doing work that desperately needs finished, I have been sitting in the recliner, watching TV.
Just for fun, I stepped outside about 10 am to test a toneboard/reed combo for the howler.....I think the only person/thing that heard me, was....well, ME!! Hahahaha

The wind had better die down a little by morning. If not, I will have to find some big rocks to hold down my sheets of sandpaper, as I finish this order of a horn howler & an open-reed distress call. ***
 
We don't have a lot of coyotes here where I live in southern Maryland, but they are here. I have heard them howl several times, but you usually don't hear them until like January or at least the dead middle of winter. I guess the eastern variety is not very vocal most of the time.
I own land and a cabin in the mountains of Virginia and there is quite a few coyotes there. I hear them howl just before dark almost every time I am at the cabin. I have an e-caller and I get good responses with the "adult female mating call", sometimes I get an answer...sometimes not, but they almost always respond by coming closer.
I am retired now, but I used to work for a govt. contractor. The only time I ever heard 20 or so coyotes all sounding off was one evening on the rifle range at Quantico.
I think I would relocate that worktable to an indoor location...at least for the Kansas winter!!!!!
 
Originally Posted By: msinc
I think I would relocate that worktable to an indoor location...at least for the Kansas winter!!!!!



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I would love to.
Unfortunately...#1) I don't have a shed or garage; #2) I live in a tiny one bedroom house, w/o a basement; #3) I rent, and living on Disability, I can't afford to move to a different house & pay more rent.
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Trust me, I have given it much thought!!!
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As it is, about 1/4th of my front room (living room), is overtaken by a table to store my drill/Dremel/ect....and 5-7 totes w/lids, that contain my current antler and horn inventory (which is getting exceedingly smaller).
I used to work at that indoor table a few years ago, during the Winter. But, the dust & mess was just too much. As it is, I can't keep up with my house-cleaning.
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Get an open reed call, practice, and you're good to go. Distress sounds, yote sounds, easy to do, lots of forgiveness.

It's not rocket science. My opinion is backed up by a half century of predator hunting.

Get an open reed call, don't make it harder than you have to.

One man's option.

Rudy
 
I go along with Rudy's comments above. Much more versatile and in most cases, freezeproof. The open reed calls made by the custom call makers on this forum are easy to use and give a wide variety of sounds, including pup howls.
 
I have some calls on the way as we speak...I am not above trying anything!!!! I might not be any good at it, or whether or not I succeed might be a different story, but you can best believe I will try it. Not much chance of a call freezing here...it just really don't get that cold. I have never really messed around with an open reed call and this is the first I have ever heard anyone say that they were forgiving. I certainly believe it, just never heard anyone say they were any easier or more forgiving than any other call. Don't get me wrong...I hope they are because I usually need all I can stand!!! Thanks again guys for the info.
 
Not to derail the evolution that this thread has taken, but I cracked out one of what I consider to be the Gold Standard in buffalo horn howlers last night - I can't make it quack even I try.

God bless Rich Cronk. A deep belly buff horn can d@mn sure sing if you make it right, and Rich sure knew how to cut a board to let them.
 
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I know what you mean about Rich Cronk. He built me a buffalo horn howler when I visited him in 2006. It sounded great right from the get go. Old Rich kidded me and said "Even a possum can blow that howler". I ended up letting my oldest boy have it, and he does a nice job with it too.
 
Originally Posted By: msincI have some calls on the way as we speak...I am not above trying anything!!!! I might not be any good at it, or whether or not I succeed might be a different story, but you can best believe I will try it. Not much chance of a call freezing here...it just really don't get that cold. I have never really messed around with an open reed call and this is the first I have ever heard anyone say that they were forgiving. I certainly believe it, just never heard anyone say they were any easier or more forgiving than any other call. Don't get me wrong...I hope they are because I usually need all I can stand!!! Thanks again guys for the info.


I wish you much success with your new calls!!

As far as open reeds being "forgiving".....IMHO, if the call has a quality toneboard, and the call is made by a call maker who knows how to tune the reed well, yes it will be forgiving. And I would venture to say that the call makers on this forum (myself excluded) are MASTERS at tuning reeds!! And quite a few are MASTERS at making toneboards, too!!
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I wish you much success with your new calls!!

As far as open reeds being "forgiving".....IMHO, if the call has a quality toneboard, and the call is made by a call maker who knows how to tune the reed well, yes it will be forgiving. And I would venture to say that the call makers on this forum (myself excluded) are MASTERS at tuning reeds!! And quite a few are MASTERS at making toneboards, too!!
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Thanks Mr. Horting...I am gonna give it my best and see what happens. I would very much like to kill and mount a coyote that I called up with a mouth call. Might take a while, but I got guns and land and coyotes...all I need is the call.
 
I just wanted to show you an open reed tone board or call that I have made since back in the 80's and it sure works well for me.

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Practice makes perfect. I practice with my calls almost daily, but perfection I may never see. I cut my calls from 1/2" Schedule 40 PVC pipe using s scroll saw and jigs that I make from 1 1/4" by 1 1/4" square metal tubing with 3/16" walls.

You can listen to the following link to hear the howls I make with this open reed tone board or call: Predator Calling

There are many great call makers on this site, please give their calls a try and I'm sure you will find one that will work well for you.

Steve


 
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By no means am I done yet...I will try out an open reed call in the future...maybe win one of the ones that these guys put up for auction!! I keep a watchful eye on them and bid on some now and then. One thing is for sure...I am really loving this howler I got from ultramag...it's not an open reed, but it sure howls perfect. I have had the most response from coyotes with the female mating call {imagine that!!!} and it is very easy to produce with this howler.
 
Originally Posted By: msincBy no means am I done yet...I will try out an open reed call in the future...maybe win one of the ones that these guys put up for auction!! I keep a watchful eye on them and bid on some now and then. One thing is for sure...I am really loving this howler I got from ultramag...it's not an open reed, but it sure howls perfect. I have had the most response from coyotes with the female mating call {imagine that!!!} and it is very easy to produce with this howler.

Awesome...I don't recall what you got,power howler?
 


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