Hey everyone, R.J. here. Well, being the month of May, it seemed natural to offer up a Yelper for the showcase call of the month. This one is made from Tiger Maple and African Blackwood. She sports a .223 casing and some of Eastons finest arrow shafting, with a cork lip stop. A little something different. Hope you like her,R.J.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/DWCalls/IM001771.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/DWCalls/Picture002.jpg)
Big old PA gobbler.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/DWCalls/Picture004.jpg)
Nice N.Y gobbler.
I was born in 1962 while living on a farm in Ringold PA. The son of working class parents. Dad didn't have much time to hunt. He did however, support me in my passion for it. I devoured everything I could get my hands on in the way of books. The writings of Ruark & O'Conner fueled my fire.
The wild Turkey was my first calling obsession, from the first one I spent lead on in 1975 to the last one. They remain one of my two favorite pastimes. Predators being the other.
A short career as a competition caller drove one very important fact home. To compete with the level of callers here in the east, you must hand set your own diaphragm calls. So, I set about tuning my own calls for competition. This led to calls for friends and family. Soon, I saw the hunting community welcomed custom diaphragms with open arms. Quality being the sole reason. Since those early days, I have applied the same quality to box calls, slate calls, tube yelpers and a full line of Predator calls.
Being a father of two and a machinist by trade, I have to divide my time many ways. I still enjoy making all the various types of calls. Time now is of the essence. I try to keep the lag time to a minimum on orders, and the quality high. I wish I could do more, but there are only so many hours in a day. I want to thank everyone that has supported me in the past. Without all of you hard calling, died in the wool Predator and Turkey hunters, my calls would just be pieces of wood. Knowing my calls are out there doing what they were made to do gives me great satisfaction.
Good luck and Good hunting to you all. R.J.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/DWCalls/Picture003.jpg)
Nice wily PA gobbler and one of my early one sided box calls. That is Ol'Thunder, the Ithaca lying across the gobbler.
I like it!! Good Job and some good reading keep up the good work
Bill
Good stuff RJ!!!! Good pics and good calls.....
Joe
Nice looking call RJ. :yoyo:
Great looking call RJ. Like the write up and the fact that you mentioned your dad. :congrats: :congrats:
RJ,
Dang nice write up partner! :congrats: I enjoyed reading about how you got your start in call making. Very interesting.
I know I sure love the box call I bought from you and love the yelper too!!! Again awesome job, would hate to add a second yelper to my collection. :wink:
Joey
Nice little bio Robert. Homegrown and heartfelt. :yoyo:
Thanks for being a part of our site.
WOW! I didn't know you made diaphragm calls too! :shck: Ever make one for howling? We gotta talk. :biggrin:
Nice call RJ. Your calls are some of the best. I've called lots of critters with one of yours. it goes with me on every hunt.
Bob
Very nice RJ! Well done. Thanks for stepping up and helping out! I enjoyed the Bio and the call looks awesome! Thanks!
Brent
very nice looking call
R.J.
Nice pictures and writeup. Those are some nice looking birds and since I have "several" of your calls, I feel qualified to say that they too are very good.
Keep turning,
Jerry
Great Bio and a beautiful trumpet.
Brian.
Hey RJ, Good to see ya. :congrats: Ya have been keeping low profile for a while.
I see ya have been busy as there are some very nice look'n calls on your "Show Case" Banner, and some nice ones on your web site. :wink: I like the looks of those "Presidentials" and ya know I love the "Executives" :biggrin: Matter fact I might have to add a "Presidential" to my calls.
I really like the box call in your "Show Case" banner thingy, but I don't see any thing like it on your web page yet? Are they available for order? I asked a call maker last fall for one, but lost contact with him, and I just asked another if he made box calls, but if he doesn't make them I'd sure be interested in one like that. :bowingsmilie: :bowingsmilie:
No, not a turkey call collector. Justa strong desire to hunt them and I want one I can practice with and use, if I get the chance to go down south for them. :biggrin:
Very nice write up RJ, ya always been a classy fella and it has always shown in your calls and post. Keep up the nice work.
Great write up, RJ. It's good to see you showcased here.
Brad
Yes, I have benn kinda "low profile" of late. The inspiration level has been a little low. I need to do something about that. I guess I lost track of all you great people, and good friends. It is kinda like coming home. Thanks for the super compliments all of you. You folks are the best.
Hey Todd, good to hear from you buddy. I know, I need to update the old web site. For the moment, the fancy boxes are on an order basis. Put quite a few of them in service this spring. Lots of good feed back too. I like a good box. Here are a couple pics of the last ones to go out.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/DWCalls/IM001687.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/DWCalls/IM001774.jpg)
This showcase thing was a great idea. It is going to be fun seeing everyones posts and bios. I'm glad I got to participate,R.J.
I used one of your box calls just yesterday to help me bag a nice tom. I think it is the best sounding box I own.
I really like the looks of that trumpet.
RJ,
Those are both perty. :congrats: :congrats:
Awesome call and boxes, Would love to have any of them in my bag'o'tricks! :congrats:
Great stuff there RJ! I'm going to try turkey hunting for the first time this weekend. Probably be the start af a new addiction. Can't get enough of the crack of dawn outdoors! :yoyo: I'm sure you'll be on my shopping list for next year!
RJ
very nice looking stuff,i am a machinist too AND a mechanical maintenance man,i havent machined in about 6 years but have been thinking of setting up my own shop,,manual and CNC but i still have cold feet,,there is a shop over here that is pretty big in the replaceable spade drills,end mills and other odds and ends,,i was thinking of going down there to run their CNC turning centers,,do you FIND that your machinist background helps you in making AND designing of different types of calls?
Do you sharpen your wood lathe tools on a grinder like HSS metal lathe bits/tools ? or use a hand file & ceramic hones?
Thank you very much
Bob
Hey Bob. I don't know if being a machinist really does much for me in the way of call development. It might give me an edge in the manufacture of my own jigs and fixtures, as well as the sharpening of tools. I do all my sharpening under power. Sanding and grinding. I have never used a hone on a wood lathe tool.My tools are very disposable. Modified files for the most part. I have 4 Sorby tools, but the majority of my turning is done with files. As far as designing a call, say the shape or style of the call, you just have to have an eye for it. Good luck with the new job endever,R.J.
:yoyo: very nice rightup there RJ I like the showcase it gives the call buyer a mental pic of the time and heart that goes into each and every call your calls are great and that yelper is just cool one of these days I'll learn how ta use one ....keep up the good work
Ed
RJ,
nice looking call and great write up
Very nice call and write up RJ.It is always good to hear how someone got started.I know for a fact that your calls are top notch.I love the meat whistles i got from you.
Thank you for sharing a little about yourself, and one of your great calls. Love your box calls also. Thanks
Nice write up and pics! That yelper looks great! Glad you are part of the crew here. :yoyo:
Semp
Nice writeup RJ. Those box calls are very nice. I sure wouldn't mind winning that yelper to go with my wormy chestnut box call. :biggrin:
Thanks for the opportunity to win that call!! I certainly do appreciate it. I think the Showcase is a terrific idea!!
OK let me see if i get this straight,,one day in THIS thread there will a 4th caller post a bio AND a call in here and all i have to do is post something in their thread and i am entered in a drawing for THAT CALL?
AND if this is the case WHEN do the call makers start THE NEW threads?
would it be like the 10th of EACH MONTH? i mean is it a certain day of the month that the new call maker post's his Bio AND a pic of his new call?
This would be GREAT since i just posted at the "other" place :innocentwhistle: that i JUST started buying my 2 boys and me hand calls,,not a lot but every now and then,,but i posted over there that i LIKE TO KNOW the guy i am giving my money to and that by THEM having a "hidden" room that i would NOT be able to see the makers "character" flaws so i guess they DIDNT AGREE because they locked the thread AND over here at FnF you put the call makers credentials right out there for God and everybody to read,,hmm that must mean there is NOTHING to hide from us Regulars(bottom dwelling scum suckers) over here at FnF,,,hmm i guess no one wants to "start" a magazine over HERE huh? :shck:
Thank you very much
Bob
^^^^ :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
Bob: you are such a hoot! :laf:
Very nice bio and calls R.J.
I have and use several Dogwood Creek calls for predator hunting and they are definately top notch!
Nice comment BOB!! :rolleye:
:yoyo: Nice yelper... :yoyo: Now I have to check out the rest of your calls. :biggrin:
Geezz....I been so busy turkey hunting that I forgot there was a new show case up.
Looks cool. I have never seen on of these up close or know how to use one....... so you'll need to pack instructions with it when I win it :biggrin:
Thanks for participating in the showcase!!
Hey thanks guys. I appreciate the compliments.
Sure thing Stu. I'll put instructions in there for ya. Good luck with the turkey hunting. They are really henned up here now. Tough hunting. Still better than a good day working though.
great looking calls :yoyo:
steve
Nice calls RJ...Great job on the website also. It is very user friendly and easy to navigate.
Steve
[/You The MAN ! When it comes to those call boxes. Does it matter what kind of wood ya use ? Just curious,good write up.
Hey straycat. Well, you can tune just about anything to "function" as a turkey call. But, there are woods that have been proven through time to be classic box call material. In my estimation,number one from a sound stand point anyway, is Butternut. Not real pretty or flashy, but some sweet sweet turkey music lives in Butternut. Another very user friendly wood for box calls is Poplar. Now I am talking about woods for the box portion of the call here. The lid is a horse of a different color. Woods I have had good success with for the "box" of the call are: Butternut,Walnut, Chestnut, Poplar, Soft Maple, Cherry, and Canary Wood believe it or not. That isn't to say these woods all tune easily, but have given me real bird calling sound. As mentioned above, the lid is another story. The material has to be compatable with the box portion of the call. Density and weight are paramount to success. If you are using a hard, high strung box, you need a dense, heavy lid to make it ring. The best materials I have found for lids are: Soft Maple, Cherry, Walnut and Purpleheart. Padauk is a very handy wood to have around for lids, but is such a mess to work with I don't use it much.
I didn't forget to mention Cedar as a box call material. I have had some very sweet boxes come from cedar. I don't use much Cedar for the simple reason it is too fragile in my eyes for serrious hard callin'. There are too many species available to us these days to put 3 evenings into a box that may split or break under real field conditions. If I had an unlimited supply of it on hand you can bet I would use it. There is nothing easier to work, or easier on tools than cedar.
Well, I bet you are sorry you asked about wood now eh? I hope I have shed a little light on the subject. If you aproach box calls as if they were musical instruments, they will be of the highest quality. It isn't hard to make a box sound like a turkey. But, when the box you lovingly hand crafted "FEELS" like a turkey, you will never go "off the shelf" again.
I have NEVER Turkey hunted BUT I have tried to blow a diaphragm call 1 time and had NO LUCK :wo:
My youngest Boy is nuts over turkey hunting and I am thinking of taking it up,,wish we could shot them with a Rifle,hell I could tag out easy then :yoyo: of course we wouldnt have the Turkey population we have around here IF we could shoot them with Rifle,of course I have been told if ya learn how to call them ya DON'T need a rifle :wo:
NICE LOOKIN call
Bob
Hey Bob there should be a new call and bio up 1rst of june as a matter of fact there is going to be a winner here real soon just wondering if I should just go ahead and send my name and adderess to this here call maker so he has got I am feeling lucky.
Bill
Bill....Let her go. Your a married man and should go around feeling lucky. It will only get you in trouble. :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
And the winner is>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, No, No........ :doh2:
The winner is!..................
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/keekee/FNF/showcasewinner.jpg?t=1180669314)
:biggrin: Vvarmiter!!!! :biggrin:
Thanks Dogwood! Enjoyed reading your Bio and seeing the call pictures! Thanks for stepping up!
Congrads to Vvarmiter as well on winning a fine call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brent
Man for a minute there I thought I was watching Deal or No Deal...when I saw those two models.
Oh hey ...Who won anyway? :shrug:
LOL....That's my youngest and a friend she has staying over. I let them pull the winner and then had to bribe them to get them to let me take the pic! Cost me two Ice Creams from the 24 Hr gas station! :sad:
Brent
From the look on your daughters face, it appears your bribing her to stand there, cause sure don't look like a willing participant. :roflmao:
Congrats VV, and again RJ, nice show case. :congrats:
Well at least it is coming to Ohio And not far from my house either
Might just want to keep it under lock and key VVarmitr
Congrads
Bill
Why to go VV :highclap:.
Brent.....I wish I could still bribe Cam with ice-cream. Now its ammo, rifles, fishing gear, gas for the dirt bike.....ect. But his real weakness is not telling, any of his girl friends, tales on him....LOL
Once again, beautiful work RJ and Congrads VV. :yoyo:
congrats VV :congrats: and again very nice work RJ
Hey V.V! :yoyo: You lucky hombre. AT least you know how to use this thing. I promis to put a little dust in her for ya. :innocentwhistle:
RJ,
Sorry I missed out on posting. I read the thread A few times, then woke up today and the kids changed my calender to June. :confused: WTF!!!
Thanks for putting on the show, bro. Overtime just got the best of me this month!
Congrats to the broken in half W ~KT
:thumb2:WOW! :yahoo:
What a privilege to win this call & it's in my favorite combo ... blackwood/curly maple. ;yes; I have a DCC Twister in that combo & it's on the lanyard. :wink:
However, I'm going to decline & ask the girls to draw another name. :huh: :doh2: :doh2: Even if I have to buy the ice cream, Brent.
I'm already a customer for life to RJ & I concider him a friend. Someone else needs to see the quality that he puts into his calls. Besides I already have one of RJ's yelpers & I don't even turkey hunt. :shrug:
Boy, am I kicking myself in the butt from the insideout. :rolleye:
Well! Will do VV. Thats a heck of a nice thing to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!
The new winner of the call is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STRAY CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrads Stray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :biggrin: :biggrin:
Brent
STRAYCAT?!? :doh2: Is it to late to renig on my last post?
j/k Joel. :laf: Congrats on the call. :biggrin:
That is way too cool of you VV. :yoyo: another fine example of our exemplary member here! :yoyo:
Congrads Stray Cat!!!!!
VV you are to nice
Bill
V.V.
I sure am glad to see someone do something nice like that.
Jerry
Ditto what my friend Jerry said........good form!!!
Joe
:yoyo: :yoyo: now thats comraderie right there nice thing to do there VV ...and congrats straycat :congrats:
EDIT: now you better change yer sigline under that thare stogie :biggrin: cuz I think you just earned a heck of a lot of respect :thumb2:
Yah congrats VV on the new toy :biggrin:
And thank you much RJ for the generosity and the opportunity to showcase DogWood Creek Calls :highclap:
Thanks V V .........Don't know what else to say. Thats a hell of a nice thing ya done.
Thanks to R.J. for giving ALL of us a chance to own a call of this caliber!Thank You!
And lest we forget..................Thank You to the two little cuties for drawing the names !
P.S..........R.J. hope you got some gooood instructions that come with it ! :huh: :laf:
Quote from: FinsnFur on June 02, 2007, 07:58:30 PMYah congrats VV on the new toy :biggrin:
What a putz. :huh: :doh2: :roflmao: StrayCat got it Jimbo. You were skimming the thread weren't ya. :nofgr:
StrayCat: You're most welcome! ;yes; A little hint on the instructions ... have a drink of choice ready when ya get it figured out. :eyebrownod: An inside joke between RJ & I & if you bring it to the LBL so I can see it (
& kick my butt some more for letting it go) I'll let ya in on it. :eyebrow:
Thanks for the appreciation fellers. Means a lot! :biggrin:
Sure Stray, I'll send instructions. V.V got it figured out :confused: :wo: :whew: Now, I realize he is an extreamly talented and intelligent individual. Not your average duck for sure. Be careful letting him near it at the L.B.L. I can picture you chasing him around with him hollering MINE, MINE , MINE! :roflmao: That would be a hoot! You will do just fine with the yelper. After the first couple drafts on it, it is all down hill. :wink:
Very nice call, I finally got my first (spring) tom this year. Turkey hunting is second only to coyote hunting, a much shorter season, if you get a tag.
RJ,just got the call today, Awsome work as always ! It's a little easier than I thought it would be but still a challange. Thanks alot I appreciate it. :bowingsmilie:
P.S. Thanks Vic for passing on this..........it's a beauty !! :yahoo: :yahoo:
You are very welcome my friend. Glad to do it. Just remember to be careful showing it to V.V. down in the LBL. :wink:
Really glad for ya Joel. ;yes; RJ does great work doesn't he. :wink: He does tend to worry to much. You go ahead & bring that yelper to the LBL so I can at least get to see it first hand. :eyebrow:
Maybe he just doesn't me to tell ya the little story. :wo: :eyebrownod: :laf: