• Help Support TNDeer:

Hand made Diaphram call

No I never have. I started making them for myself because I'm pretty hard on them and tend to go a few of them a season. I did make a single reed for a buddy who was struggling to master a diaphragm for the first time. I figured a single reed would be the easiest way to learn, and I'm not sure you can easily buy a single reed call. When I make them for myself, I usually make a double reed with a V notch. Simple design.

If you want me to make you one I can. Do you have something specific in mind?

I'll probably get flamed for saying this but I really don't think the specific tone matters that much. I don't buy into the idea that some gobblers like a young hen vs. a raspy old hen etc. That's just marketing to sell more calls IMO. I use one call till it wears out, then switch. I don't buy the theory that certain gobblers like certain types of calls better. You do need to get a the cadence right and have enough volume to be heard. Beyond that, I personally don't think much else matters.
 
I started making my own around 2015 or 2016. I have to use youth frame calls and just didn't have a large selection of those from commercial makers. Hooks and Legacy were my go-to before I started building my own.
 
Dennis said:
No I never have. I started making them for myself because I'm pretty hard on them and tend to go a few of them a season. I did make a single reed for a buddy who was struggling to master a diaphragm for the first time. I figured a single reed would be the easiest way to learn, and I'm not sure you can easily buy a single reed call. When I make them for myself, I usually make a double reed with a V notch. Simple design.

If you want me to make you one I can. Do you have something specific in mind?

I'll probably get flamed for saying this but I really don't think the specific tone matters that much. I don't buy into the idea that some gobblers like a young hen vs. a raspy old hen etc. That's just marketing to sell more calls IMO. I use one call till it wears out, then switch. I don't buy the theory that certain gobblers like certain types of calls better. You do need to get a the cadence right and have enough volume to be heard. Beyond that, I personally don't think much else matters.
Click to expand...
I have the one he gave me but thanks so much for the offer. I find one that's easy and stick with it till it's wore out. I'm not a great caller so I use the "very" patient approach. Less calling and just trying to stay in the game till it happens.
 
Jbird22 said:
I started making my own around 2015 or 2016. I have to use youth frame calls and just didn't have a large selection of those from commercial makers. Hooks and Legacy were my go-to before I started building my own.
Click to expand...
I bet you feel like "the man" when you call one in with your own call.. that's awesome
 
Dennis said:
No I never have. I started making them for myself because I'm pretty hard on them and tend to go a few of them a season. I did make a single reed for a buddy who was struggling to master a diaphragm for the first time. I figured a single reed would be the easiest way to learn, and I'm not sure you can easily buy a single reed call. When I make them for myself, I usually make a double reed with a V notch. Simple design.

If you want me to make you one I can. Do you have something specific in mind?

I'll probably get flamed for saying this but I really don't think the specific tone matters that much. I don't buy into the idea that some gobblers like a young hen vs. a raspy old hen etc. That's just marketing to sell more calls IMO. I use one call till it wears out, then switch. I don't buy the theory that certain gobblers like certain types of calls better. You do need to get a the cadence right and have enough volume to be heard. Beyond that, I personally don't think much else matters.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree, the Woodhavens of the world have convinced a lot of hunters they need to spend $15-20 on a mouth call or the gobblers will turn up their noses... I'm not bashing Woodhaven calls, they are good calls, I've used them but I just think they've become way over priced...
I know guys who love a raspy call and others that love a high pitched call, I think the tone attracts the caller more so than it does the gobbler. To me there are a lot more important things in calling turkeys than tone... like cadence and when to call loudly, when to call softly and when to shut up and stay shut up.
I think if you just learn to make the basic calls, yelps, clucks and cuts, then learn correct cadence and volume, you can use just about any decent call and call birds.
I'm no master call builder or master caller but I build my own and call plenty of turkeys, the call doesn't screw me up, it's usually my impatience.
 
Layne said:
I tend to agree, the Woodhavens of the world have convinced a lot of hunters they need to spend $15-20 on a mouth call or the gobblers will turn up their noses... I'm not bashing Woodhaven calls, they are good calls, I've used them but I just think they've become way over priced...
I know guys who love a raspy call and others that love a high pitched call, I think the tone attracts the caller more so than it does the gobbler. To me there are a lot more important things in calling turkeys than tone... like cadence and when to call loudly, when to call softly and when to shut up and stay shut up.
I think if you just learn to make the basic calls, yelps, clucks and cuts, then learn correct cadence and volume, you can use just about any decent call and call birds.
I'm no master call builder or master caller but I build my own and call plenty of turkeys, the call doesn't screw me up, it's usually my impatience.
Click to expand...
Yes… I've often said that most real turkeys could never win a calling contest at the NWTF. A few yelps and a bunch of patience has put many many birds in front of my gun.
 
I know a guy that makes them and sells to the big call companies. He will make and sell 20k on this contract, 30k on this contract, etc. The things he has told me were quite shocking. Keep in mind he has won a lot of state and regional calling championships, but he says if he makes 10 calls for himself with exactly the same components, stretch, etc. 2 will be perfect, 1 will be almost perfect, 1 will be usable, and 6 will be unacceptable to him. I'm guessing the average hunter might use 8 or 9 of the 10 and not see a noticeable difference, but that's just my guess. He also told me that it's funny when someone tells him that they only use Brand A calls and Brand B sucks when he just made 20k calls for A and B and the only difference is the color of the tape, color of the latex, etc. I guess my takeaway was buying a call off the shelf is a crap shoot. Almost like buying a scratcher at the convenience store. It is fun to sit in his shop and have him make you a call, try it, and have him customize it for you. I would imagine making your own and customizing them would be even better.
 
Sasquatch Boogie Outdoors said:
I've often said that most real turkeys could never win a calling contest at the NWTF.
Click to expand...
The worst calling in the woods is often a real hen. Same with ducks. Guys say the ducks are call shy when they are wailing away on a high pitched single reed screamer that doesn't sound like a duck.
 
Sasquatch Boogie Outdoors said:
Yes… I've often said that most real turkeys could never win a calling contest at the NWTF. A few yelps and a bunch of patience has put many many birds in front of my gun.
Click to expand...
The worst sounding turkey I ever heard was a hen. Would've sworn it was somebody trying to call until she popped out. I realized then you don't have to sound great to call a bird in.
 
Gravey said:
The worst sounding turkey I ever heard was a hen. Would've sworn it was somebody trying to call until she popped out. I realized then you don't have to sound great to call a bird in.
Click to expand...
My cousin was hunting public land once and heard another hunter over the ridge making the worst sounding hen calls he had ever heard. He eventually got tired of it and thought he should go give this guy some "constructive criticism". When he peeped over the ridge it was a real hen squawking away. 😅
 
Spurhunter said:
I know a guy that makes them and sells to the big call companies. He will make and sell 20k on this contract, 30k on this contract, etc. The things he has told me were quite shocking. Keep in mind he has won a lot of state and regional calling championships, but he says if he makes 10 calls for himself with exactly the same components, stretch, etc. 2 will be perfect, 1 will be almost perfect, 1 will be usable, and 6 will be unacceptable to him. I'm guessing the average hunter might use 8 or 9 of the 10 and not see a noticeable difference, but that's just my guess. He also told me that it's funny when someone tells him that they only use Brand A calls and Brand B sucks when he just made 20k calls for A and B and the only difference is the color of the tape, color of the latex, etc. I guess my takeaway was buying a call off the shelf is a crap shoot. Almost like buying a scratcher at the convenience store. It is fun to sit in his shop and have him make you a call, try it, and have him customize it for you. I would imagine making your own and customizing them would be even better.
Click to expand...
In my experience he is absolutely correct... I can make 10 calls out of he same material, with a gauge to to set the tension the same and I'll throw several away and I'm sure I'm not near as picky as he is. There are just so many variables when you are building one. If a guy could go in and pickup 10 of the same calls off the shelf and test them I believe he would see a big variation but when they cost $15 he's usually just picking up a couple.
 
Spurhunter said:
I know a guy that makes them and sells to the big call companies. He will make and sell 20k on this contract, 30k on this contract, etc. The things he has told me were quite shocking. Keep in mind he has won a lot of state and regional calling championships, but he says if he makes 10 calls for himself with exactly the same components, stretch, etc. 2 will be perfect, 1 will be almost perfect, 1 will be usable, and 6 will be unacceptable to him. I'm guessing the average hunter might use 8 or 9 of the 10 and not see a noticeable difference, but that's just my guess. He also told me that it's funny when someone tells him that they only use Brand A calls and Brand B sucks when he just made 20k calls for A and B and the only difference is the color of the tape, color of the latex, etc. I guess my takeaway was buying a call off the shelf is a crap shoot. Almost like buying a scratcher at the convenience store. It is fun to sit in his shop and have him make you a call, try it, and have him customize it for you. I would imagine making your own and customizing them would be even better.
Click to expand...
That interesting I've gotten the last 2 or 3 years where I buy them on sell after season most of the time half off or more. I'm not a world class caller like most here of course but I have bought 2 of the same calls at the same time and they sound and run different. Not a ton different but noticeable. That's interesting for sure. I also not nearly as brand worrisome as I was say 10 or more years ago. Only notices a lot of differences in fit and size of the call more then anything.

Now friction calls I'm snobby but I also semi collect as well. And don't use them a whole lot anyways.

I also agree with the some hens having some of the worst yelping I've ever heard in my life.
 
deerhunter10 said:
That interesting I've gotten the last 2 or 3 years where I buy them on sell after season most of the time half off or more. I'm not a world class caller like most here of course but I have bought 2 of the same calls at the same time and they sound and run different. Not a ton different but noticeable. That's interesting for sure. I also not nearly as brand worrisome as I was say 10 or more years ago. Only notices a lot of differences in fit and size of the call more then anything.

Now friction calls I'm snobby but I also semi collect as well. And don't use them a whole lot anyways.

I also agree with the some hens having some of the worst yelping I've ever heard in my life.
Click to expand...
Yeah if you are selling friction calls you can test those and discard the crappy ones before they are on the market so they will be more consistent... with mouth calls you hope that they haven't been tested, even though if I make one for a buddy I always tell him it sounds good... :)
 

Latest posts

Back
Top