Protect the surface
The surface of your call must be protected in order to perform optimally. It is never a good idea to touch the surface at all, especially with bare fingers. Oils in the skin will be absorbed into slate, and will sit on top of other surfaces, affecting performance.
Wood and finish care
Care must be taken to protect the wood pot of the call and striker from moisture or abuse. The walls of the pot are very thin and can be delicate. My calls aren’t designed to survive dropping, being sat on, use in a downpour, or storage in harsh environments. Store your call in a conditioned place when not in use. If left in a hot car, exposed to water, left in a humid garage or other unfavorable condition there is a high probability that the call's pot or finish will suffer damage. If the call is dropped on a hard surface, there is a chance that the soundboard can break loose, irreparably damaging the call. It is always a good idea to keep your call in a carrying case or pouch when not in use. The majority of my calls are finished with a clear oil-based finish inside and out. Some of the more oily exotics such as cocobolo and bocote are finished with a wax-based friction polish that may show wear after years of use and handling. Pure carnuba wax or Minwax paste wax can be lightly applied and buffed with a soft cloth to restore the shine to the wood. Bug spray can damage a call's surface or the wood's finish.
Finding the sweet spot
Each call I make is different. No two are exactly the same because I don’t use patterns or any measuring devices when making the calls. Each is crafted for the best sound based on what wood, soundboard and surface are being used and what sound the customer wants. You must locate the sweet spot on your call based on your calling style, desired sound and the striker you use. I suggest running the striker from the middle of the call toward the outer edge in several directions to see what sounds each spot on the call makes. Some people mark these spots. As a rule of thumb, the outer 1/3 of the call is where the best sound will come from. The inner 1/3 rarely produces acceptable sounds on any friction call. Try working the outer edge about 1/8" from the rim, as that is often overlooked by many people but can yield excellent sound.
Calling
There are too many ways to do it to describe here in depth, but for yelps I suggest making small (1/2" more or less) circles or ovals in a counterclockwise fashion while holding the striker between the thumb and index finger. The striker should never leave the surface of the call and the sound will come on the pull stroke somewhere between 12:00 and 6:00. Don’t death-grip the striker, as it needs to vibrate. Purrs can be achieved by pushing the striker away or drawing it toward you, letting it skip across the surface. Clucks and putts are done with a deliberate and short pulling motion and firm pressure.
I'm more than willing to offer further assistance if you’re just getting started using a friction call, just let me know. I'm a turkey hunter and not a turkey caller, and my calling skills won't win any competitions, and I assure you that you can effectively use your call in the field with just a few basic skills. There are a number of good instructional videos available online as well.
Safety
Some of my turkey calls are made with woods or laminates that possess vibrant colors, some of which could be mistaken for something they’re not by other hunters in the woods. Please remain cognizant of this fact when using or holding your call and use extreme care when in the woods... You never know who might have wandered into your favorite spot, and you never know how bad their eyes or their judgment may be.
Warranty
If your call ever fails to meet your satisfaction, please let me know and I’ll do whatever I can to make it right. I cannot warranty calls that have been dropped, sat on, dropped in a lake, or otherwise abused.
Disclaimer
The maker of this call assumes no responsibility or liability for the use of this call in any situation, or any injury or damage to the user or others that may result from the use or misuse of this call or associated hunting or calling activities.
Thank you for putting your trust in me to create a one-of-a-kind custom turkey call for you. Have an enjoyable and safe turkey season.
