What's the most versatile type box. I'm kicking around a hen box and long box. May just look at a Cost style, I have a couple of them already. I've never used a box a great deal but every once in awhile I pull one out for a change. I really want a box that has a good gobble along with good cutts.
I really like the way Mr. Bullock sounds on his website. I know that he's running a black limba and bloodwood box.
Oh yeah, it needs to be ugly. The two Cost style boxes are from Mr. Paul and I never hunted them because I thought they were too pretty for the woods.
I like longboxes. There's nothing you can't do w em.
X2 for a longbox. They will do everything, even kee-kee. Ernie fetters makes great long boxes at an excellent price.
I always carry a longbox, shortbox, and hen box with me, but if I could only carry one, it would be a longbox. A good longbox is very versatile, and out here in the west the extra volume and typically higher pitch is helpful when hunting Merriam's in the open spaces and high winds that are often encountered. A good longbox is tough to beat for locating birds.
I don't have near the experience of these other guys but I really like my long box the most. Hope to get another in August.
Longbox for sure. Once you find several distinct turkeys sounds on each rail (kee-kee and first-year hen yelp high on the rail, through gravely gobbler yelps lower on the rail), change your finger position on the paddle handle, which slightly changes the tone, and go find some more turkeys on those rails.
Mini boat, same thing, but quite the unique sound all its own because of its smaller size.
Who makes a mini boat? That sounds interesting too. My biggest concern is packing a long box. Is it's a call I won't use much and is a pain to pack I can see it just sitting on a shelf. I'm really hoping to get my hands on different type boxes at Unicoi. I figure I'll either come home with one or order one.
If i had the choose of one call to take to the woods it would be Matt Fulkerson snake / apple hen box ... you can just do so much more with hen box.... loud , soft it doesn't matter hen box has the most natural sound of hen...
Quote from: Rzrbac on May 13, 2019, 07:59:11 PM
Who makes a mini boat? That sounds interesting too. My biggest concern is packing a long box. Is it's a call I won't use much and is a pain to pack I can see it just sitting on a shelf. I'm really hoping to get my hands on different type boxes at Unicoi. I figure I'll either come home with one or order one.
Ralph Snodgrass, Lightning Strike Turkey Calls, makes an awesome long box and mini boat.
A long box will fit in most vest deeper interior pockets, but I prefer carrying mine in a leather holster on my belt. Lot of people think long and mini boats are just locators, but they perform from start to up close at the gun, quality long and mini boxes make the soft talk.
Again the birds really hammered Ralph's mini boat this year. Something different about a mini.
Well I've narrowed it down to a long box, mini boat paddle, hen box or Cost style. All the options are equally intriguing. I have looked on Fulkerson's website. There are some nice looking calls. Almost too pretty for the woods. Wished I knew turkey hunters who used custom calls around here. Never ran across anybody using anything but production boxes and pots.
Hope to get reservations for Unicoi made in the morning. It's a long time till January to get my hands on some of these calls. Glad I got some trumpets to occupy my time.
Been on the phone twice today with Mr. Fulkerson. I'm leaning that way but not quite committed, kind of like that last gobbler I messed with ;D
For those that have one, what wood combos do you have? For those that have multiple boxes, what is your favorite combo. Think I would go with English Walnut and Snakewood but I'm basing that off of looks.
Snakewood/Black Limba is a great combo in a hen box. I have one from Matt and one from Richard and they both sound fantastic.
Quote from: Rapscallion Vermilion on May 14, 2019, 05:39:18 PM
Snakewood/Black Limba is a great combo in a hen box. I have one from Matt and one from Richard and they both sound fantastic.
Funny you post that. Just got off the phone with him and again. That's what I went with. Super nice to to speak to by the way.
Quote from: Rzrbac on May 14, 2019, 06:04:22 PM
Quote from: Rapscallion Vermilion on May 14, 2019, 05:39:18 PM
Snakewood/Black Limba is a great combo in a hen box. I have one from Matt and one from Richard and they both sound fantastic.
Funny you post that. Just got off the phone with him and again. That's what I went with. Super nice to to speak to by the way.
snakewood / apple and snakewood / english walnut ....
My most versatile box is 2004 paddle call from Steve Mann.
It will do it all. Soft , loud and every call that can be made with a box. I don't have a clue how many Gobblers I have called in with her, but its a tall stack.
Quote from: Rzrbac on May 14, 2019, 04:11:16 PM
Been on the phone twice today with Mr. Fulkerson. I'm leaning that way but not quite committed, kind of like that last gobbler I messed with ;D
For those that have one, what wood combos do you have? For those that have multiple boxes, what is your favorite combo. Think I would go with English Walnut and Snakewood but I'm basing that off of looks.
I'm not sure if your referring to Fulkerson or just in general. If a general question I like bloodwood/mineral poplar from McKamey the best. Bloodwood/Butternut is good too. Truthfully I most often use a cedar/butternut one that's real good as well
My Fulkerson bloodwood over apple should be here today & a buddies snakewood over black limba is ready. Have heard both calls & they are outstanding. Will huntit Friday. Mike
He was playing a Snakewood over black limba over the phone yesterday.
I'm no hen box man ( YET. ?) but I have one on order from Matt Fulkerson . But I can tell you that I really believe in a long box . I have killed more than my share and called many more up to meet their death with several makers long boxes. Lamar Williams , Marlin Watkins , David Halloran and Jack Scott mostly but a Doug Camp was my first ( screaming Hen) I almost always have one on me especially on out of state hunts . I live in Georgia and have 10 Grand Slams with 2 Royals and have had at least 1 long box with me on all the trips .
I've not ruled a longbox out. I have the hen box on order from Mr. Fulkerson but will also be at Unicoi. If one strikes my ear just right it may come home with me. I really have no box playing skills so I'm pretty hesitant to order one. I'm not sure why I'm drawn to try the hen box. They seem like a big scratch box and might be easier to run than a long box. I admit I'm pretty limited on my call playing abilities. I've always been a mouth call user I'm just trying to branch out and add some new sounds.
Quote from: Rzrbac on May 17, 2019, 11:33:20 PM
I've not ruled a longbox out. I have the hen box on order from Mr. Fulkerson but will also be at Unicoi. If one strikes my ear just right it may come home with me. I really have no box playing skills so I'm pretty hesitant to order one. I'm not sure why I'm drawn to try the hen box. They seem like a big scratch box and might be easier to run than a long box. I admit I'm pretty limited on my call playing abilities. I've always been a mouth call user I'm just trying to branch out and add some new sounds.
It will take you little playing to get use to the hen box and how it plays .. Matt has instructional video on Youtube about playing the hen box ....