Yooper,

Three words, you know what they are, PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!!!

I'm embarrassed to say how many mouthcalls I've purchased over the years, I'm talking triple digits my friend.

I got some fantastic tips from another forum online Dedturkeys.com - its where all the contest callers talk, and yes you can talk to the big name dudes on there,all of which are kind and helpful.

Here are some of the things I learned,

1 - gotta take care of them, rinse as often as possible, store them in the freezer - I wash mine out, real good between the reeds, pat dry with a paper towel, wrap them in a paper towel and then store them in a ziploc

2 - its a TOUGH TOUGH thing to teach someone how to do, just keep trying different pressures and movements and sooner or later it'll start to come - kinda like the ole bike riding thing, once you get it you'll have it!

3 - no two calls are alike, and the pros (and the people that want to sell you calls!!) will tell you this - I've found a calls that I run much better than others, gone back to the store and purchased three more of the same exact one, bring them home and none of them run like the one I have. Contest callers know this all too well. Its frustrating and so what a lot of those guys do is get to making thier own.

4 - unfortunatly my best sounding call (maker and style) will NOT be your best, its funny there as well - I've got ones that work for me, someone says 'try this one, its awesome'.......I sound like a goose on it!

5 - another unfortunate - a call goes through a life - they don't last as long as slates, boxes, etc. this is another reality. I don't contest call, but I'm threatening to try it (if I could find the time) but these guys have dozens of calls all numbered in various levels of 'seasoned in' - when I first get a call I stick with it for a week or so before I decide if its going to be a good one - it takes a while to break them in, as I said earlier, for me, some never make it. Also, I've had ones that I've set aside, figured they weren't for me,I left sit out and stick together, left on the dashboard (a real no no!!!)etc.and picked them up months laterfigure I'l try itonce just before I throw in the trash to find outthat damn, I can purr like a madman on it now!!!!

6 - I may be totally psycho, but I'll startpracticing real real heavy right around Christmas for the spring (hey that only4 months!) and will begin with maybe 2dozen or so calls, by the firsthunting morning I have it narroweddown to my best 1/2 dozen, its just something that helps me stretch out the season longer thats all (practicing in advance that is). Hopefully those will last me the entire season (being in your mouth all season long first breaks them in and then begins to wear them out)

MOST IMPORTANTLY (the call makers on this page are going to kill me for this!) - you don't have to soundlike the grand masters to call thatgob in. I think many of theseasoned hunters on this page will agree with me that sometimes the thing that works is sounding like S&^% on your call, orjust trying something a little different. Maybe I have't been around long enoughyet but I'm a big believer in if that bird wants to come in, a few goodyelpswith your own vocal cords is allit MIGHT take (I'vedone it!).

But hey, turkey calling is just plain darn good fun. I just love the challenge of trying to get 'real good'with my calling because its more rewarding and I like doing it.

Keep practicing and good luck, don't give up and have fun.............................I've long drove my wife mad with it, I'm working on the neighbors and co-workers and the like at this point!

hootnscoot