I spend my season hunting with my Fowler and dressed in 18th century clothing. In researching the use of calls, I only found the use of the wing bone of a turkey or one’s natural voice. I use a wing bone call a lot but there are times you need to reach out to bring one in. I like the box call. I can get loud or soft with it when needed.
A friend of mine Ken Wood did some research on calls and found information on some early made box calls. Still not in my time frame but better than one in camo with HSStrut stamped on it.
His calls are hand made using different woods and tunes them to sound great.
I order one from Ken last year and was very happy with it. This year I got this idea to finish a call to look like it was from the 1700.
I called Ken and told him of my idea and asked if he could make one for me in the white and I would finish it.
So the call in the red is what I came up with.
The box of the call is of cherry and the lid is of chestnut from an old barn. I used a colonial red milk paint, put on heavy and sanded back to expose the grain of the wood and give it a worn look. I then seal it with rubbing in bear grease. I burned in a little accent trim on the handle, added a few small brass nails and called it good. I think it looks good and even though it didn’t exist in the 1700 it fits in and doesn’t look out of place with the rest of my kit.
Ken made both box calls in the photos.
If you are looking for a good sounding box call you can contact him at.
WattleWoodTurkeyCalls on Face Book or at WattleWoodTurkeycalls@gmail.com
The fall season is just around the corner, so check him out and give one of his calls a try!
