How Chip Differs From
Many Other Callmakers

In many ways I am quite similar to other callmakers. But in the most fundamental beliefs there are some subtle differences. It's up to each person to determine how I differ from the callmaker(s) they're used to. We will use this page to cover some of my thoughts and you can make your own mind up. I asked ten of my regular customers to pose questions for me to answer on this page.

Call Sound?

I'm from a new school of theory about how a call should sound. I'm not so sure that a call that sounds the most like a turkey is the best call. I have studied several recordings of turkeys I have made in the wild. We used a computer to analyze the pitch and frequency of the turkey and compared them to the pitch and frequency of several calls we used on these days. In almost every case the turkey responded to a sound in a higher range than the one he was making himself. It is my belief that when a turkey responds he is not responding to what he thinks is another turkey but rather a sound that irritates or possibly confuses him.

I tune most of the calls I send out of my shop high. I do this for two reasons, it's the pitch I have had the most luck with, and second the end user can adjust the call to a deeper tone by simply sanding the inside of the call lightly with 220 grit paper. If someone requests a deeper toned call I'll make it for them. But let's not confuse a higher pitched call with one that screeches. Screeching and high pitch are two different things.

Number Of Calls You Build?

I build them as inspiration hits or an order comes in. If you order a turkey call from me I don't pull one off a shelf, I build it after you order it from block of wood to finished call. On average I build only a couple of calls a week. I'm fortunate in that I'm a writer by profession and thereby don't rely on callmaking for my living. This gives me more time to work on each individual call.

What Is A Custom Call?

I see folks selling calls they built on Ebay calling them custom calls. How can they be if they don't know who is buying it when they build it? A custom call to me is a call that is built after consultation with the buyer and building a call to fit their individual needs. It's not taking a call that one mass produces it and embedding a penny in it, stamping a turkey on the side with a rubber stamp and calling it art.

Who Builds The Best Calls You've Ever Seen?

There was a gentleman from Georgia that built a call named Leonard Rogers. Before passing away he built calls and only used cedar and walnut. I don't think he ever sold a call for more than $10, and they weren't overly pretty. In fact, he didn't put any finish on them at all. But those were the sweetest sounding calls I've ever seen.

Who Builds The Most Over Rated Calls?

I won't mention a single name because that would be unfair. For every call I don't like there are probably several people that swear by it. I guess I will just generally say anyone who builds a call and thinks by adding their name to it, it's automatically worth a couple hundred dollars.

Do You Compete In Call Competitions?

Actually yes and no. I compete in a few regional and club related competions as well as display in some woodcraft shows. I don't however, compete in the NWTF Convention show. I'm a member but I just don't think it's right. I thought and still think the convention should showcase lesser known callmakers. I'm fortunate in that I have a good reputation and come from a respected family of callmakers mentioned in at least two books I know of. I just don't think it's right for someone who owns a callmaking business to be competing in those contests. It's hard for the guy who builds three or four calls a year to compete against someone who build several hundred. the guy that builds several hundred can go to his warehouse and try a couple hundred to find the best sounding one, then doll it up to win a competition. I'd like to see the NWTF create another competition class for the hobby builder that excludes callmakers like myself.

Do You Teach Callmaking?

I will teach anyone what I know any time they want to learn. I'm not a callmaker that thinks his calls are the only ones that work and thereby must guard his technique like the Holy Grail.

In fact, this website carries several tutorials by myself and others covereing the basics of callmaking. And I probably answer ten or fifteen e-mails a week from several folks across the nation in the process of building their own.

What Is Your Favorite Wood For a Call?

Usually whatever I just used. Every time I build a call I like to think it's the best one I've ever built. But to answer the question I guess walnut and cedar are the easiest to work with and also the easiest to tune.

What Kind of Call Do You Use?

Whatever call works that day. I never go out with only one call. When I go to the woods I look like I'm going to a callmaking convention. If it helped I'd jump up and yell "HEY TURKEYS OVER HERE."

Have You Ever Came Close to Getting Shot on a Hunt?

Self inflicted wounds withstanding I guess the closest I ever came to getting shot was by my hunting buddy Earl. He told me to leave his Beanie-Weenies alone, but our rule was any food left unattended in the woods was fair game. besides i convinced him a bear ate his pork treat.