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Turkey Calls => Box Calls => Topic started by: Davyalabama on February 24, 2026, 06:42:13 PM

Title: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: Davyalabama on February 24, 2026, 06:42:13 PM
What style(s) do you like and why?  Short, boat, mini boat, hen box.  What do the different styles give you, if wood is equal, which it can't totally be, but....  I do realize different woods in different calls is a factor, too.  Too many variables to mention them all, including call makers, and the goodness, ... so many rabbit holes.      Ok, I had to update the thread:  Wait, I didn't mean just one style box forever, oh goodness gracious, I didn't mean to imply that.  I was just thinking of having 2-3 in your vest and/or what types and what they do for you.       
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: Spring Creek Calls on February 24, 2026, 06:49:53 PM
I'm a short box guy. Any wood combination that has a good high to low rollover will kill gobblerz.

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Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: greentrout on February 24, 2026, 06:57:40 PM
I have been converted into a long box guy. The amount of different sounds in one call really appeals to me. I'm still learning and trying to get consistent with finding all of the different sounds in my Billy Bush and Steve Mann boxes.
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: Will on February 24, 2026, 07:22:36 PM
Longbox with the right wood combination. I can get several different turkeys from one call. Kee Kee calling on a long box is easier for me than a short box. Plus I can get some gobbler/jake yelps.
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: Yoder409 on February 24, 2026, 07:42:45 PM
I've never met too many box calls of any description that I did not like.

Just ask my wife....
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: Zobo on February 24, 2026, 07:57:47 PM
I like a good shortbox best, either a Cost style or fiddlebox
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: Bowguy on February 24, 2026, 08:04:56 PM
Longbox does everything a shortbox does and more.
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: Greg Massey on February 24, 2026, 08:45:32 PM
You run a box call and you finesse hen boxes ...

Springs are somewhat different from - non spring boxes ..

Some are a lot easier to run than others .. It just depends on what you like /  Hunting style
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: bigwoodstom on February 24, 2026, 08:50:14 PM
Short and checkered
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: Davyalabama on February 25, 2026, 07:36:32 AM
Wait, I didn't mean just one, oh goodness gracious, I didn't mean to imply that.  I was just thinking of having 2-3 in your vest and what types and what they do for you.   
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: crdierlam on February 25, 2026, 08:39:22 AM
I have a Matt Van Cise short box with me every day. I also have a Marlin Watkins longbox that comes most days. The short box fits in my vest a little easier so its always there. I also just picked up a Fulkerson hen box at UNICOI and it will be placed in the rotation once I get it figured out a little bit better. Its my first hen box so there is definitely a learning curve.
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: War Eagle on February 25, 2026, 01:26:44 PM
I stick with domestic wood, traditional style boxes. I like long boxes and one siders the best but I'll still grab a short box from time to time.
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: boatpaddle on February 25, 2026, 04:02:43 PM
Bush, Snodgrass, or a Watkins paddle call...

So many more turkeys in a paddle call vs a box call..

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Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: paboxcall on February 25, 2026, 04:59:55 PM
Long - Snodgrass and Bush. Mini - Snodgrass, Watkins, Van Cise.

What do they all have in common? They all have handles.
Title: Re: What Style Box(es) Do You Prefer
Post by: crdierlam on February 26, 2026, 04:06:29 PM
Quote from: paboxcall on February 25, 2026, 04:59:55 PMLong - Snodgrass and Bush. Mini - Snodgrass, Watkins, Van Cise.

What do they all have in common? They all have handles.

Exactly. I learned on a handle and it just feels more natural for me.