Do push pins get a bum wrap? I think they are now getting the respect they deserve. When I first started Turkey hunting in the early 80's, push-pins were known to be "easy to use beginner calls". The truth being said, they are easy to learn, the simple cluck, Yelp, feeding purr etc. can harvest most turkeys. In fact, I think soft clucks on the right push-pin can lure in the toughest gobblers. The early PP's were made from the simplest of woods, the craftsmanship was a bit primitive. Fast forward to today, PP's have come a long way IMO. I confess that I am a bias PP hunter, I'm not ashamed to say that they are the most important, successful calls that I own. Many call makers now offer some real quality, well crafted, great sounding PP's; of course Old Gobbler's calls lead the pack and are second to none. I always carry 2 with me, I create a "fighting purr" situation when the time is right that has been very successful in bringing in a stubborn Tom. I just wanted to throw a Shout out to those call makers that are making PP's, thank you and keep em coming.....be safe, be well, Happy Holidays to all......
I think of scratch boxes as the redheaded step child, and pushpins (like Shannon says) as the side show freak.
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Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on December 22, 2022, 02:02:52 PM
I think of scratch boxes as the redheaded step child, and pushpins (like Shannon says) as the side show freak.
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Never thought of that, but we all know that most calls in the right hands can be deadly....I have heard some great sounding scratch boxes.......
I don't have a ton of them but a push pin was the first call i was ever given as far as I can remember. It was an old knight and hale which I still have and stays on shelf in my man cave. I have some other assorted ones, all I believe would call a turkey but not much to look at.
I'm on the list to get a Mike Lapp push pin (hopefully coming up soon)
Quote from: btodd00 on December 23, 2022, 10:55:11 PM
I don't have a ton of them but a push pin was the first call i was ever given as far as I can remember. It was an old knight and hale which I still have and stays on shelf in my man cave. I have some other assorted ones, all I believe would call a turkey but not much to look at.
I'm on the list to get a Mike Lapp push pin (hopefully coming up soon)
You'll do well with Mikes, I had good success with his. If you can get your hands on one of Shannon's, his sound awesome, all Turkey....be well.
Old Gobbler raised the standard for push-pin turkey calls. He did the work to improve usability and sound. Now others are playing catch-up. The push-pin concept is so simple it's complicated....especially if you're looking to replicate superior turkey sounds. Listening to Steve Hale and Shannon play a push-pin is different from listening to most others playing a push-pin...including me.
Quote from: Tarheel on December 25, 2022, 09:58:17 AM
Old Gobbler raised the standard for push-pin turkey calls. He did the work to improve usability and sound. Now others are playing catch-up. The push-pin concept is so simple it's complicated....especially if you're looking to replicate superior turkey sounds. Listening to Steve Hale and Shannon play a push-pin is different from listening to most others playing a push-pin...including me.
Well said, and so true.....
Good quality push pins are deadly in the turkey woods. Some of the lesser quality ones will surprise you also, it's like going thru a group of calls and finding your sounds. As production calls were coming of age, push pin was another easy call to carry and use in your bag of tricks.
Quote from: Greg Massey on December 25, 2022, 11:10:46 AM
Good quality push pins are deadly in the turkey woods. Some of the lesser quality ones will surprise you also, it's like going thru a group of calls and finding your sounds. As production calls were coming of age, push pin was another easy call to carry and use in your bag of tricks.
Amen Greg...
Guys please knock it off with this topic, no one uses one around me and I would like to keep it that way!!
The push-pin market is dominated by push-pins built to a price point that the callmaker thinks the market will support. In the past, push-pins generally sold for cheap, reflecting negatively. There is still room for research, innovation and development with push-pins, but there are few who will make the commitment and do the work. It is work.....
I never go to the woods without one or .....two!!
Quote from: 3bailey3 on December 25, 2022, 07:35:20 PM
Guys please knock it off with this topic, no one uses one around me and I would like to keep it that way!!
Thank god..........same here.....
Like it or not, the push-pin momentum will continue to see some increase.....slowly, but surely. Old Gobbler has shown the way....LOL! Personally, I doubt few will spend the time and effort to take the push-pin to the level Shannon does, but we will see.....
When it's said and done both the scratch box and push pin are the redheaded stepchildren of turkey calls. I do not use a push pin hunting at all. It's just not my thing. I use scratch boxes a good bit while hunting and will do so over a box call any day of the week. Most will not take the time that's needed to learn how to run a good push pin or scratch box. And truth be told at least to my ear there's not many really good sounding calls of either type. There's still a good number that can and will work under the right conditions but when it comes to going after that boss gobbler that's been pressured, that number of the right calls drops a good bit. Bottom line. Learn to use and get everything you can from any call you choose to hunt with, and the end result will be much better at season's end.
Quote from: callmakerman on December 26, 2022, 02:17:24 PM
When it's said and done both the scratch box and push pin are the redheaded stepchildren of turkey calls. I do not use a push pin hunting at all. It's just not my thing. I use scratch boxes a good bit while hunting and will do so over a box call any day of the week. Most will not take the time that's needed to learn how to run a good push pin or scratch box. And truth be told at least to my ear there's not many really good sounding calls of either type. There's still a good number that can and will work under the right conditions but when it comes to going after that boss gobbler that's been pressured, that number of the right calls drops a good bit. Bottom line. Learn to use and get everything you can from any call you choose to hunt with, and the end result will be much better at season's end.
Callmakerman, you no doubt know more about calls than I ever will being a renowned call maker yourself. I have to confess that Shannon's and a very short list of other pushpin makers do produce great sounding PP's. Shannon's is superior, the clucks and purrs at least to my ears are killer. I can only speak from experience that they bring in long-beards better than anything else I've used. I do practice often, but since I have switched to PP's as my primary calls, I have had tremendous success. You are 100% correct that learning and practicing on the particular call you choose is the secret to end of season success. Great response, thanks...
Quote from: Tom007 on December 26, 2022, 05:02:19 PM
Quote from: callmakerman on December 26, 2022, 02:17:24 PM
When it's said and done both the scratch box and push pin are the redheaded stepchildren of turkey calls. I do not use a push pin hunting at all. It's just not my thing. I use scratch boxes a good bit while hunting and will do so over a box call any day of the week. Most will not take the time that's needed to learn how to run a good push pin or scratch box. And truth be told at least to my ear there's not many really good sounding calls of either type. There's still a good number that can and will work under the right conditions but when it comes to going after that boss gobbler that's been pressured, that number of the right calls drops a good bit. Bottom line. Learn to use and get everything you can from any call you choose to hunt with, and the end result will be much better at season's end.
Callmakerman, you no doubt know more about calls than I ever will being a renowned call maker yourself. I have to confess that Shannon's and a very short list of other pushpin makers do produce great sounding PP's. Shannon's is superior, the clucks and purrs at least to my ears are killer. I can only speak from experience that they bring in long-beards better than anything else I've used. I do practice often, but since I have switched to PP's as my primary calls, I have had tremendous success. You are 100% correct that learning and practicing on the particular call you choose is the secret to end of season success. Great response, thanks...
Shannon's calls have an unmatched sound that others have yet to ascend to that's for sure.
Quote from: callmakerman on December 26, 2022, 06:00:51 PM
Quote from: Tom007 on December 26, 2022, 05:02:19 PM
Quote from: callmakerman on December 26, 2022, 02:17:24 PM
When it's said and done both the scratch box and push pin are the redheaded stepchildren of turkey calls. I do not use a push pin hunting at all. It's just not my thing. I use scratch boxes a good bit while hunting and will do so over a box call any day of the week. Most will not take the time that's needed to learn how to run a good push pin or scratch box. And truth be told at least to my ear there's not many really good sounding calls of either type. There's still a good number that can and will work under the right conditions but when it comes to going after that boss gobbler that's been pressured, that number of the right calls drops a good bit. Bottom line. Learn to use and get everything you can from any call you choose to hunt with, and the end result will be much better at season's end.
Callmakerman, you no doubt know more about calls than I ever will being a renowned call maker yourself. I have to confess that Shannon's and a very short list of other pushpin makers do produce great sounding PP's. Shannon's is superior, the clucks and purrs at least to my ears are killer. I can only speak from experience that they bring in long-beards better than anything else I've used. I do practice often, but since I have switched to PP's as my primary calls, I have had tremendous success. You are 100% correct that learning and practicing on the particular call you choose is the secret to end of season success. Great response, thanks...
Shannon's calls have an unmatched sound that others have yet to ascend to that's for sure.
You bet my brother, be well....
The past couple of seasons I have had the most response from push pins out of anything else. In particular last season I was fortunate to get one of Shannon's and worked incredibly well and had instant responses every time I used it ...that's confidence in my opinion. To my ears they produce the most authentic clucks and soft yelps that birds haven't heard and being able to use them in close situations is a huge plus with little movement . I also have one from Mike lapp that is tops in my book
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Preach on Bill, guys that's some wisdom that there.
Quote from: limb_hanger on December 26, 2022, 08:11:15 PM
The past couple of seasons I have had the most response from push pins out of anything else. In particular last season I was fortunate to get one of Shannon's and worked incredibly well and had instant responses every time I used it ...that's confidence in my opinion. To my ears they produce the most authentic clucks and soft yelps that birds haven't heard and being able to use them in close situations is a huge plus with little movement . I also have one from Mike lapp that is tops in my book
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Amen my friend. Your comments are dead on. I too have a Lapp PP. it is fantastic, has a great sound. I do however think Shannon's are more versatile, making the more realistic sounds. The way he designed his call with the longer striker, and ability to play the "Paddle" without using the pin sets it apart from all the others. This design allows you to play it one handed at your side in close encounters. It's played totally different than a standard pushpin and can call extremely soft, but has the ability to reach out. His calls have changed the game for me for sure.....
My dad used a push pin back when we started turkey hunting in the early 90's. It was a cheap plastic Hs Strutt model. Its been relegated to the back of the closet since he learned to use pot calls. I see it every once in a while rummaging through the turkey hunting tote. The call didn't sound to bad. A guy with zero experience turkey hunting could pick one up and have decent, consistent turkey sounds coming from it in a minute or 2. It made some excellent fighting purrs, problem is it looks like it was sold at the Dollar store, on clearance, in the toy dept.
I've seen a vid where Shannon gives a little tutorial on one of his PPs and plays the call. Didn't sound like the push pin I was used to hearing. The versatility and quality of sound don't compare. The craftsmanship on his calls scream pick me up off this mantle and play me! The HS Strutt not so much. It looks like it would be more comfortable in a bag of them little plastic army men.
Quote from: callmakerman on December 26, 2022, 06:00:51 PM
Quote from: Tom007 on December 26, 2022, 05:02:19 PM
Quote from: callmakerman on December 26, 2022, 02:17:24 PM
When it's said and done both the scratch box and push pin are the redheaded stepchildren of turkey calls. I do not use a push pin hunting at all. It's just not my thing. I use scratch boxes a good bit while hunting and will do so over a box call any day of the week. Most will not take the time that's needed to learn how to run a good push pin or scratch box. And truth be told at least to my ear there's not many really good sounding calls of either type. There's still a good number that can and will work under the right conditions but when it comes to going after that boss gobbler that's been pressured, that number of the right calls drops a good bit. Bottom line. Learn to use and get everything you can from any call you choose to hunt with, and the end result will be much better at season's end.
Callmakerman, you no doubt know more about calls than I ever will being a renowned call maker yourself. I have to confess that Shannon's and a very short list of other pushpin makers do produce great sounding PP's. Shannon's is superior, the clucks and purrs at least to my ears are killer. I can only speak from experience that they bring in long-beards better than anything else I've used. I do practice often, but since I have switched to PP's as my primary calls, I have had tremendous success. You are 100% correct that learning and practicing on the particular call you choose is the secret to end of season success. Great response, thanks...
Shannon's calls have an unmatched sound that others have yet to ascend to that's for sure.
X2 Shannon's push pin are in a different league in craftsmanship and sounds. No other builder can come close to his push pins in quality. In saying this, there are other builders of push pins that do a pretty good job of making them also. Some of the lesser quality ones do sound pretty good, it's a matter of just finding your sound. Good post everyone ...
If you want to own another great push Pin , i would suggest you contact Winky Hicks his push pins that are made for a old farm post and having the ability to soft call on his push pins with cedar corncob striker are priceless . You're missing out on meeting and talking with a fine gentleman, musician and push pin builder. His push pins have a lot of great history. You will not be disappointed in owning one of his calls ... His calls are really 2 calls in one with the added slate to purr and cluck on...
Quote from: Paulmyr on December 27, 2022, 09:57:09 AM
My dad used a push pin back when we started turkey hunting in the early 90's. It was a cheap plastic Hs Strutt model. Its been relegated to the back of the closet since he learned to use pot calls. I see it every once in a while rummaging through the turkey hunting tote. The call didn't sound to bad. A guy with zero experience turkey hunting could pick one up and have decent, consistent turkey sounds coming from it in a minute or 2. It made some excellent fighting purrs, problem is it looks like it was sold at the Dollar store, on clearance, in the toy dept.
I've seen a vid where Shannon gives a little tutorial on one of his PPs and plays the call. Didn't sound like the push pin I was used to hearing. The versatility and quality of sound don't compare. The craftsmanship on his calls scream pick me up off this mantle and play me! The HS Strutt not so much. It looks like it would be more comfortable in a bag of them little plastic army men.
Amen my friend
Quote from: Greg Massey on December 27, 2022, 10:44:38 AM
If you want to own another great push Pin , i would suggest you contact Winky Hicks his push pins that are made for a old farm post and having the ability to soft call on his push pins with cedar corncob striker are priceless . You're missing out on meeting and talking with a fine gentleman, musician and push pin builder. His push pins have a lot of great history. You will not be disappointed in owning one of his calls ... His calls are really 2 calls in one with the added slate to purr and cluck on...
Ditto here, I love the sound of Mr. Hicks PP. Another real good PP option....
Although I don't currently own one now, I did have a cheap push pin that sounded pretty good. I have no idea what happened to it. To me it's a very functional call, especially when turkeys are close and the less movement they see the better. A push pin ca n easily be used with one hand, which I like. I plan on obtaining a few good ones in the future.
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