wingbone turkey call

[George]

Made this call from the wing bones of a turkey I shot with my flintlock fowler. It's a pretty simple job, just boil the bones, clean and dry them, and they sort of naturally fit together. Bind the joint with a little sinew and beeswax and you are ready to go.

Haven't shot a turkey while using this, but that's my fault, I'm just not a very good caller with it. I've had a few come and look, but not quite far enough.

Spence

 

[Ft. Jefferson]

Congrats Spence; Nice job on that call. I'm in same boat myself. Made my wingbone call from my first bird and always dedicate the first two weeks of the season to 100% primitive hunting. After that i will use modern calls if needed. Bringin them gobblers in them last few yards for a smoothbore is harder than i thought.

 

[omarick1948]

Spence, Make one of these calls out of a hen wing bone sometime. Smaller and gives a deeper tone. A lot of the wing bone calls used by hunters passed and present make that claim and I have made both and think that is true! JMHO

Rick :idunno:

 

[vern faulkner]

There is a really good article in the November/December 2007 issue of Muzzleloader magazine on page 49 by T.C Albert that gives great step-by-step directions on how to make these calls. I'm not very talented at making anything (except messes) but I've made a few of these for myself and some friends and they seem to work pretty well. From your photo's looks like you did a real good job. :thumbsup:

Stay well my friend.

Vern

 

[rabjr]

Interesting, the ones I have made I use 3 bones so they have 3 sections. They sound just like a turkey to once you master the call. I wonder what the difference is only using two bones. :hmm:

 

[George]

Interesting, the ones I have made I use 3 bones so they have 3 sections. They sound just like a turkey to once you master the call. I wonder what the difference is only using two bones. :hmm:

Never saw a three-piece one. I believe I got my instructions fo making mine from a Muzzleloader magazine article. I agree, these calls make a more natural, organic sound than a lot of modern calls.

Spence

 

[rabjr]

This is how I make them, this was actually the first one I made. Have since learned to angle the tips of the bones for a nicer look.

 

[George]

This is how I make them...

That's cool, I'll have to try that.

Spence

 

[dodgecity]

Will the wing bones from a domestic turkey work ?

 

[rabjr]

I read they don't work as well as wild turkeys but forgot the reason why. It maybe all the stuff they inject them with, makes the bones brittle. Also you don't cook the wing, where most domestic turkey wings would most likely be cooked unless you took the wing off before hand.

 

[Birdman]

Gents I've made several hundred wing bone calls over the years n can tell ya that all the gibberish ya hear about " it has to be a Tom's wing or it has to be a wild bird or it has to be from a raw bone n not cooked" is all rubbish!!! Make the call out of whatever bones ya can lay yer hands on n it will work. The only difference is the size of the hole in the bone end that goes into your mouth, the smaller the hole the higher the pitch, the larger the hole the deeper the pitch. Now like I said I've made a slew of the calls n have had feed back from fellas all across the country about how well they have worked. I agree they have a slight different sound then commercial calls n seem to work well in high call usege areas. Personally I use them as a locater call, walk a bit n call a bit untill ya get a response n then set yerself up quick. I'll switch to a slate call made from a box turtle shell(less movement for the bird to see)I also use my own voice when needed. But don't get caught up[ in all the BS about what bones ya can n can not use, its all just hot air, worst turkey call I ever heard came from an ol Tom down in WV. Take yer time n learn from yer mistakes, patience is a virtue when yer after birds. YMHS Birdman

 

[rabjr]

So a cooked bone wouldn't apt to be brittle?

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Swampy I have only made one that was years ago and I boiled the bones some after cleaning and it has held up ok.

 

[chance]

I love those calls.

 

[nebo]

i have been making turkey calls for a few years now, most of them box calls, made a few wing bone calls also.from what ive read on turkey call forums about wingbone calls is that wild turkey bones are larger and the walls are thicker than domestic birds. you can use either, but they prefer wild.boil in dish soap to loosen the meat up, scrape off with knife , run pipe cleaner thru to clean insides.can soak over nite in peroxide to whiten bones,not bleach that weakens them. or you can soak in strong tea or coffee to get a patina on them .the hen bones sound more like a hen and a gobblers bones sound more like a gobbler. due to the size of hole in mouth piece. most of the guys like hen or jakes because they are spring hunting,if you are trying to regroup afall gobbler flock use one out of gobbler bones .you can also mix bones up, say, using a gobbler bone for the bell,to get more sound, it will flare out more. dry fit the bones first to get the sound you are looking for, mark the bones cut so that about a 1/2" or less is inside of the joining bone. after dry, fill in any gaps to get a air tight seal with wood dough or wall filler or plaster. after dry wrap with what ever, sinew or thread. if the hole is to large in the mouth piece. you can also fill in the mouth piece hole with epoxy glue, and drill out with small bit when dry, smaller hole is easier to run, it is also easier to run with a lip stop on the mouth piece. a small rubber washer can be used , but to be correct, one can be made out of antler, thick leather, or an old button

 

[omarick1948]

Richard, I think the three piece bone assembly is just to help add a little deeper tone. Out here in the Midwest, hunters make them both ways. In recent years some guys are just using half of a ball point pen cover and getting the same sounds and effects.

Rick

 

[Birdman]

yea Swampy the domestic, cooked bones will be more fragile due to the thinner walls of the bones. The wild birds actually use their wings so the bones are thicker walled n stronger but when it comes to the sound produced I defy anyone to close their eyes n tell me one from the other iffen ya took a bunch a calls n mixed them up.They are a bit time consuming to make, cleaning off the meat n the insides but fun to do n not difficult at all. Fit the bones together n if ya need to sand or file a bit off to get them to fit together go ahead n do so, ya can't hurt the bone n they are pretty cheap(smoked turkey wings) at the store n taste great too!!Making wing bone calls is like everything else, the more ya do, the better ya get at it.You can stain them or pait them or after useing the peroxide as someone else mentioned leave them nic n white. I color some of mine for the hunters n paint turkey feathers n such on others as gifts n awards or just to keep in the gun cabinet to show off(but they all work)wish I knew how to post pics, I have several done now n a bunch of bones in the soup for later, to show ya what mine look like. take care YMHS Birdman