Is the box call a thing of the past? Back just a few years ago before trumpets became so popular you were on a waiting list for several months / year or better hoping to hear that your name had come up on a list for the box call you were wanting build. I see more and more custom box call builders posting calls on a website they have in order to sell boxes, this didn't happen just a few years ago... So has the box call market become less desirable among turkey hunters?
Bud, it is that way in everything, years ago I bought some old furniture for a few hundred dollars and sold it for a few thousand. The guy took very good care of it and it is in the same condition, he tried to sell it a few months back and Noone would pay more than a thousand for it, the market just changed. I bought some oil lamps that would have cost me a few hundred dollars five 10 years ago they think I paid 35 or 65 for them this Summer.
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There's been, over the decades, ebbs and flows with call trends..........or fads........or whatever you wanna call them. The current one IS trumpet calls with tube calls bringing up second place, I think. But the "latest, greatest" trend is really nothing new.
I think, probably, the BIGGEST contributing factor presently......and I'm just going off of published economic indicators. NOT getting into any political debate......... is the Biden economy. The average Joe 6-Pack (just like me) has a WHOLE LOT LESS disposable income for the last couple, three years than what he had previously. So, while the tops of those 2-year waiting lists were getting whittled down......there weren't near as many orders coming in at the bottom. I think guys got caught up and are now able to meet the slowed demand as it comes in.
I'm not sure how it all plays out on the box call market in the future, but for folks that like box calls it's definitely a good time to be a buyer. Just look at the recent listings from SS calls, top shelf handmade calls of your choosing for $100-125! I recently jumped back on Steve Mann's list because he mentioned that he's down to around a 6 month turnaround now. My first call I purchased from him was a little more than 2 years.
I definitely think the trumpet market has cut into the box call market. A hard to get trumpet is a major must have right now especially among the younger crowd that was never really exposed to yelpers much, pre pandemic. I know this first hand as the father of two younger turkey hunters.
But I will always value, use and love a fine tuned box from any of the "modern" post Cost masters: Williams, Mann, Lapp, Watkins, Fetters, Harwell, Camp, Snodgrass, Harrison, Dawkins, Mckamey, Basehore, Hudson, Shoemaker, Witter, Wittenberg, and some others I missed.
Those who really know the turkey woods know how effective, reliable, unique and valuable the sound of a great long or short box can be.
Quote from: packmule on January 31, 2024, 11:40:53 AM
I'm not sure how it all plays out on the box call market in the future, but for folks that like box calls it's definitely a good time to be a buyer. Just look at the recent listings from SS calls, top shelf handmade calls of your choosing for $100-125! I recently jumped back on Steve Mann's list because he mentioned that he's down to around a 6 month turnaround now. My first call I purchased from him was a little more than 2 years.
He recently retired, so has more time to work on his list
Seems like a bit of a fad.
I've been a turkey hunter maybe 15 years. I am guessing the pot / scratch calls came first then boxes became the thing.
Then mouth calls, now trumpets. If you've got a pair of bell bottoms keep them, they'll come back around.
Myself, I use my long box an awful lot cuz I like it and it seems to produce for me. But I have pots, trumpets and a push pin in the vest and use them depending on the situation to vary my calling.
The box will always have a home in my vest.
I agree .... its prolly just a fad .... when i started turkey hunting if you werent blowing a mouth call you werent turkey hunting.... ive concluded that you better be proficient at the various calls if you hunt turkeys. Every day is different. As far as box calls being a thing of the past ..... i hope everyone thinks that here in Illinois .... cause it'll make my turkey hunts alot easier .... :turkey2:
Quote from: Zobo on January 31, 2024, 12:19:10 PM
I definitely think the trumpet market has cut into the box call market....Those who really know the turkey woods know how effective, reliable, unique and valuable the sound of a great long or short box can be.
If Dave Owens sat down with Ralph Snodgrass to get a YouTube lesson on running a long box, lists from the box call craftsmen would be 2+ years. Most would probably close their lists, and social media frenzy would drive the bidding of $750 or more for a beat up Quaker Boy boat paddle on ebay.
Box calls just aren't what the cool kids are using.
Some good post, keep them coming
It just depends on the Box call. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240131/56be81d001db9e205b622c3d3d14d462.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240131/6051e4b8aa3aa1b9eb88a00c22275095.jpg)
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Indeed it does Jim. It was good watching Mr. Lamar with it. :)
That is a Awesome box Jim, I would buy those all day long, I just got my first Lamar box and just sold a really good one, so there is still a market for some good ones!
I see a few more nice boxes just sold on here, but so did a few trumpets!
Trumpets are the new girl in the red bikini that just showed up at the pool. Everyone wants to be around her and talk to her. I jumped on the bandwagon too. Why? 1.) It is another deadly tool in our arsenal 2.) It gives turkey hunters a fun, new call to play with and master in the off season while we are bored and thinking of turkeys. 3.) It gives us something to collect again since we have maxed out on box calls, pot calls, scratch boxes, etc... (Admit it guys, we like calls!)
I am a box call guy. I think they are works of art and great pieces of americana. They are also still terribly effective when it comes to killing turkey. I never go to the woods without a long and short box. They may not be the latest greatest but I don't think the great boxes from the classic makers will ever lose their place in our hearts and in our vests/satchels.
Once again, one man's opinion; it and $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
I rotate interests myself. I started out with pot calls and strikers, then trumpets, now box calls and push pins. I've always used diaphragm calls as a cheap, easy-to-carry tool. I just like turkey calls in general, especially those made with nice wood. I guess my interest in box calls came at the right time...
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Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on February 04, 2024, 07:18:15 AM
I guess my interest in box calls came at the right time...
Yea. It IS somewhat a buyer's market on boxes right now for some of the collectible stuff.....if a guy has the money to toss after them. Some of the higher-end stuff won't be AS affected buy market swings. Neil Cost and Gibson will always be Neil Cost and Gibson (even though they are down in price a bit, too). But more common......yet still collectible stuff is on sale right now.25% - 30% off and more. Lynches, for example.
For years, I would never have gone into the turkey woods without one of my box calls; then I started hunting with a trumpet...then I decided to go back to my hunting roots to hunt with a scratchbox. My maternal grandfather only turkey hunted with a scratchbox and a wingbone, especially the scratchbox. On more than one occasion, my grandfather told me I only needed a good scratchbox. For the last 10 years, I have spent a considerable amount of time researching, designing and experimenting with scratchboxes. The more I work and play with scratchboxes, the less I have a desire to carry a box call in the turkey woods. I have a boatpaddle long box and a short box that have proven themselves worthy of my confidence in them time and again; but I also have a couple of scratchboxes that a number of old mature longbeards could not resist these last 5-6 years. The last gobbler I killed was my heaviest and had the longest spurs in my 50+ years of turkey hunting. I really would like to kill at least a few more old gobblers like that again before the Lord takes me home. So I may be hunting a scratchbox....or scratchboxes...while my box calls are waiting in the truck.
I'll GLADLY re-home your orphaned box calls and paddle callers !!! :toothy9:
Quote from: Yoder409 on February 04, 2024, 10:50:21 AM
I'll GLADLY re-home your orphaned box calls and paddle callers !!! :toothy9:
Amen!!!
The humble selflessness, thoughtfulness and kindness of several members of this group is overwhelming. My heart floods with emotion from the obvious self-sacrifice exhibited in their willingness to step-up to fill in for the fallen among the ranks of former box call toters.......... :TooFunny:
:thanks: :lol: :thanks: :lol: :thanks: :lol:
Quote from: Tarheel on February 04, 2024, 03:23:47 PM
The humble selflessness, thoughtfulness and kindness of several members of this group is overwhelming. My heart floods with emotion from the obvious self-sacrifice exhibited in their willingness to step-up to fill in for the fallen among the ranks of former box call toters.......... :TooFunny:
:thanks: :lol: :thanks: :lol: :thanks: :lol:
You know ME, buddy........... Always, ALWAYS there to help a brother out. :icon_thumright:
"Selflessness" is my middle name. :toothy12:
Quote from: paboxcall on January 31, 2024, 03:31:59 PM
If Dave Owens sat down with Ralph Snodgrass to get a YouTube lesson on running a long box, lists from the box call craftsmen would be 2+ years.
We sure would get a good show from two turkey killers!!!
Quote from: EZ on February 04, 2024, 07:02:45 PM
We sure would get a good show from two turkey killers!!!
:z-winnersmiley:
Quote from: Bedge7767 on January 31, 2024, 06:40:07 PM
It just depends on the Box call. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240131/56be81d001db9e205b622c3d3d14d462.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240131/6051e4b8aa3aa1b9eb88a00c22275095.jpg)
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I'll take it Jim :turkey2:
Yep.
A Lamar Widowmaker is a good'n !!! :icon_thumright:
The market on calls fluctuates pretty much like everything else... For the most part the box call market is down a little as of now or just holding stable... Even Neil Cost calls are holding in price along with Gibson .... They could even be down a little in price couple hundred dollars ... IMO
Quote from: Tom007 on February 06, 2024, 06:37:26 AM
Quote from: Bedge7767 on January 31, 2024, 06:40:07 PM
It just depends on the Box call. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240131/56be81d001db9e205b622c3d3d14d462.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240131/6051e4b8aa3aa1b9eb88a00c22275095.jpg)
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I'll take it Jim :turkey2:
I better keep it.
I am not nearly in the know as most of you guys as I don't do the social media thing and haven't been to National since 2008 (going this year though). But from what I have seen from competing in the Great Lakes show, donating to banquets and selling a few here and there......I think the box call market is slowed up becuase there isn't an Earl Mickel around. IMO that guy took custom calls to a whole new level. Granted there a lot of other guys that help elevate collecting, but ol'Earl sure was a charismatic son of gun! Just my humble 2 cents worth.
FYI....I stumbled across this site by pure accident and am really enjoying it https://oldgobbler.com/Forum/Smileys/classic/icon_thumright.gif
Welcome aboard!!! Glad to have you here!
Have a good one and May God bless, Bo
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Quote from: Tribute Custom Calls on February 08, 2024, 11:36:39 AM
I am not nearly in the know as most of you guys as I don't do the social media thing and haven't been to National since 2008 (going this year though). But from what I have seen from competing in the Great Lakes show, donating to banquets and selling a few here and there......I think the box call market is slowed up becuase there isn't an Earl Mickel around. IMO that guy took custom calls to a whole new level. Granted there a lot of other guys that help elevate collecting, but ol'Earl sure was a charismatic son of gun! Just my humble 2 cents worth.
FYI....I stumbled across this site by pure accident and am really enjoying it https://oldgobbler.com/Forum/Smileys/classic/icon_thumright.gif
This is a very accurate assessment of the state of turkey callmaking in general. Earl Mickel maintained a circle of serious big time turkey call collector friends, and they talked and competed with one another building their turkey call collections. That group basicly handled the marketing for their chosen callmakers. If certain call collectors liked the calls a callmaker built, it wouldn't be long before their friends were calling wanting calls. It was an interesting time..........
There's a certain popular YouTube Turkey hunting star that if he posted a video of him blowing on a pinecone, you would not be able to find a pinecone!!!
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Quote from: runngun on February 29, 2024, 04:38:08 PM
There's a certain popular YouTube Turkey hunting star that if he posted a video of him blowing on a pinecone, you would not be able to find a pinecone!!!
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:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
Now that's funny.......
The box call is my "Go To" call... Versatile and easy to use.
Well I just received my first box call which is a fiddle box from Don Watkins. I made some "turkeyish" noises with it, but I have a long ways to go. I will say Mr. Watkins is a fine fella to deal with.
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I've been building Boxcalls about 15 years and competing as well, What I have found as a callmaker is "the list" is a big pain in the butt. I had "the list" for many years and would feel guilty if I wasn't in the shop building calls on my days off. I never intended callmaking to be a job and that's what it felt like. It started to drain the passion.. So I stopped taking names, I caught up "the list" and from that point on I have just built what I want , when I want and offered it for sale, my creativity went through the roof bc the passion came back... I am only speaking for me but I understand it! As far as trumpets go, I actually hunted with air operated calls before boxes, but it was always someone else's trumpet. So just like any other challenge I decided to change that, it seems I did it just about the time this trumpet craze started, I expect YouTube and other outlets fueled it, whether or not it's on the rise and box calls are on the decline... who knows. What I do know as a callmaker and turkey hunter is we love good calls, calls that we as individuals can have success with. We all know turkey hunters have a wide opinion on what a turkey sounds like, So I guess we will always look for "that" call. It's just part of our disease... lol
Quote from: trb136 on March 02, 2024, 09:16:53 AM
It's just part of our disease... lol
It IS a disease !!!
Many days they have an ear for wood. My Toms seem to react to boxes better than most others.
Makers that make good box calls, at reasonable prices, shouldn't have any issues. The phone has been ringing for a month and a half. "Yep, I have one rite here"
This was an awesome post on box calls