Hello All,
My name is Rick Howard and I am a custom call maker. I only make predator calls. Selling calls started as an accident for me. I started making calls for personal use 3 years ago. Early on I posted a photo of a call on a web forum to show some folks what I had done. While I was hoping for praise, to my surprise the requests started coming in. As I was new to call making I began sending out a few calls to some valued testers along with doing my own R&D to meet the request with a quality call.
After many hours, days, weeks, months, and a few years of tinkering, testing, and building I have settled upon 3 calls I make on a regular basis. I have a long list of folks to thank for all their help also. They know who they are and many thanks go out to them. The three call are a Horn Howler, Large Distress, and Small Distress. I make each part of the call myself. Each barrel, toneboard, and reed are shaped by me so no two are an exact match. I use a wide variety of Domestic and Exotic woods for my call barrels. Digressing a bit I say that I only make the 3 calls on a regular basis but, I am always willing to take on a custom project or make alterations to my regular calls. I will do my best to craft your vision or come up with a unique design for you. Also from time to time I will sit down and make something different.
The Small Distress, which I am showcasing for giveaway, is capable of soft and loud calling with a high pitch tone. It is about 2 ½†OAL with a uniquely shaped toneboard. I have shaped a flat spot and a catch on the back of the toneboard. The design helps the caller hold and run the call without the use of your hands easier.
Here is the call for the showcase giveaway. It is made from Spalted Maple and have a CA finish Inside and out.
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r612/rhoward327/2013-09-04153413_zps11659a90.jpg) (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/rhoward327/media/2013-09-04153413_zps11659a90.jpg.html)
Small Distress:
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r612/rhoward327/2013-09-04113042_zpsdfeab089.jpg) (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/rhoward327/media/2013-09-04113042_zpsdfeab089.jpg.html)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRMWuruR4Es
Large Distress:
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r612/rhoward327/image_zpsebf29a5e.jpg) (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/rhoward327/media/image_zpsebf29a5e.jpg.html)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEBWrhglt0Q
Horn Howler:
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r612/rhoward327/2013-09-04153959_zps3f960e5e.jpg) (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/rhoward327/media/2013-09-04153959_zps3f960e5e.jpg.html)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvgFHYL2CdU
Very nice Rick. They look and sound great. :yoyo: :yoyo:
Pat
Good sounding calls. I especially like the hands free use of that small distress. :congrats:
By the way, posting videos of the calls and how they sound was a great idea.
You are getting great sounds from your calls. The 'tooth' on the tone board would be a real plus.
Jerry
Price???
Thank you for the kind words gentleman.
The prices vary based on the materials used and the time required to work them. On average I would say the horns go for $70 with a modest reed gaurd such as the one listed. The large distress calls average $35 and the small $25.
The large distress call I have shown in this post is $50. The call being given away would be a $35 call... If not being given away that is lol. The small distress calls pictured with the quarter were $25 calls but are sold.
You can send me a message here or... Email redhatcalls@gmail.com if you would like to pick up some calls. I check both daily.... Multiple times...
Thanks again fellas. Good luck to everyone at snagging this little guy.
The large distress Macassar call is sold.
They both look and sound really good.
I too like that little bite piece in your small distress call.
Thank you, Dave.
Those are some nice looking calls. I've really started liking the smaller calls myself.
Thank you HaMeR. The call was created first because I wanted something I could run without using my hands. Second the size was nice so I could just put it in my shirt pocket, grab my seat, drag, and my rifle and go.
This coyte was taken that way. Well... I forgot my seat and my drag but I remembered the really import things....
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r612/rhoward327/image_zpsd6fce382.jpg) (http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/rhoward327/media/image_zpsd6fce382.jpg.html)
Nicely done Rick...way to find a bit of a niche to fill in the predator call world.
Steve
Thank you, Sir.
Very nice and welcome to the family!!
Like that tone board idea.
Nice looking calls. :yoyo: I like the smaller calls myself.
Thank you fellas! Your kind words are vindication of my hard work..... Okay, it is fun work but still hard. :madd:
Niiiice calls! I really like the smooth tones you produced on the demo videos. I have had to thin the edges of reeds on open reed calls to get them to start easily and fade to a whisper whimper like yours will do.
Thank you. I try hard to get my calls to play with little air or a lot of air. However the caller feels comfortable.
Very nice intro! Nice call too. Like the sound on the small one. :congrats:
Thank you.
Nice looking work Rick. I appreciate ya taking part in the Showcase too. :congrats:
Thank you. i appreciate the oprotunity. It's getting close to give away time!
Really liking your calls.
Thank you.
One more day for the Red Hat Calls showcase. If your not in...chop chop
Thanks again Rick for running a showcase. I'll put the names all together and draw from them tomorrow evening sometime and post it up.
Sounds good. Again I appreciate the opportunity. Good luck everyone!
The drawing has been drawn...did I say that right? :confused:
But YouTube seems to be dragging it's feet while I try to upload the video of the drawing. So unless it kicks it in gear, I might let it upload itself while I get some beauty sleep, and then I can post it in the morning.
We'll see what happens. I'll be in the upright position for about another hour. :biggrin:
And were on, in three.....two....one...
http://youtu.be/kSlAHTD73gM
Jim, I was starting to think that your hands looked better than I remembered. Then the hairy arm appeared and I remembered that you now have a 'Vana' living there who was assisting. :wink:
Congratulations to Dave.
Jerry
Yah were you thinking I need to touch up my fingernail polish? :laf:
Congratulations Dave!! :yoyo: :yoyo:
Congrats Dave!
I was wondering about the nail polish also.... Then I realized what was going on :)
I would like thank the designer and producer, who did an awesome job making the call.
I'd also like to thank the writers who worked through the night to come up with the final script.
I can't forget the folder, who's job was obviously wearing on the fingernails.
I'd like to thank my mom.
And lastly I'd like to thank the arm.
Can't wait to try it out! Thanks Rick
Congratulations Dave!
Congratulations Dave.
Pat
What? My name didn't get drawn???? Rigged!!!
Oh well, Congrats to Dave anyways! :laf:
And thanks to itzdirty for the showcase! :congrats:
Yah congrats Dave. I'm thinking were gonna see Dante standing over something with this call in his clutches in the future. :eyebrownod:
I'll have you two get a hold of each other via private message and arrange shipping the call.
Thanks again Rick for the opportunity.
Kind of a bummer but, I will not be able to take orders for calls in the future. Due to work schedule changes I can not get in the shop during decent times. As silly as this may sound, my tenant and her children live right above my workshop. I refuse to work on calls while they are eating dinner, doing homework, or sleeping. She is a good tenant. They are good kids. I am not comfortable asking people to wait months for a call. If you have an order in, do not fret as it will be finished in the time frame we spoke about. If you have calls from me and have a warrantee issue. Do not fret I will fix what ever needs fixin. Just email or send me a message and I will take care of it for you.
This is not the end of Red Hat. I will still be making calls when I can get to the shop. I will list calls for sale upon completion.
If or when things change I will let everyone know and will begin taking orders again
Thank you,
Rick Howard
You won't give up that easy Rick. :nono: This might put the brakes on things for you temporarily but you'll get around it. :wink: Thanks for the heads up.
Indeed. I love making them. I won't ever give up. I'm heading off potential issues. So for now I am just making calls and listing them when I can.