Widow Maker Calls FAQ - How to tune a box turkey call

Before I get into the issues of how to maintain and use the Widow Maker call I feel it is important to discuss the care of the call. This call is make of wood, which is a dynamic material that changes with moisture, heat and light. The Widow Maker Call has a water resistant finish and is constructed with a waterproof adhesive, but constant contact with water can damage the call. This call, as with other calls, is an instrument which needs care to perform at designed levels.

As the call wears, goes out of adjustment or the sound you desire changes, you may need to adjust the call. This is done very easily with the tensioning adjustment screw. The tensioning adjustment screw changes the angle of the lid and where the lid comes in contact with the box. By changing this adjustment you can tune the box to create the desired sounds.

Undesired Screw Movement ~ If the call is tuned a lot the hole for the screw may get sloppy and the call will not stay tuned. Do not put glue in the hole! Simply shim the hole with something like a small piece of wood to take up space and make the screw fit tighter. Note that shimming with too large of a shim could result in cracking the block, which very likely would destroy the box . I like to shave a tooth pick in half, cut it to three quarters of an inch long and drop it down the hole. Reattach the lid and go through the tuning process once again.

Tuning ~ Turn the screw all the way in with a screw driver and then attempt to make turkey sounds. If the call does not make desirable sounds turn the screw out until the desired sound is achieved. Note that small turns, such as an eighth turn can change the call dramatically. Larger turns can be made until the call begins to play. Continue turning the screw out until the call goes out of tune. Now work the screw in and out until the calls at its best level. Some people mark the location of this setting with a permanent marker for future reference.

Wild Turkey Sounds ~ Wild turkeys make a multitude of different sounds . You will have to practice with your individual call to become proficient at making them. The first thing you need to do is determine the sound you want to make. Knowing what you want to hear will make it easier to achieve that sound. I recommend using tapes or better yet real turkeys as bench marks for performance. Try to copy the sounds that you hear with your box. You may not need the whole vocabulary all the time but you need to be proficient with several to fool most gobblers. I will not go into what calls to make and when as volumes have been written and captured on video for this purpose. The process for making the most basic sounds of the wild turkey are as follows:

Holding the Call: The way you hold the box and lid will have a large impact on the sound the call can create. The Gobbler Started and the Sweet Talker boxes have a handle to allow your hands stay out of contact with the vibrating box lips. This is where the box must be held for maximum performance. Different call sounds require that you hold the call differently.

Yelping ~ Hold the call by the handle with the lid on top. Place the lid between the thumb and index finger. With out actually champing the lid between your thumb and index finger, move the lid back and forth on the box lip. The speed that you move the lid will vary the cadence of the yelp. By pinching the lid a different yelp can be obtained.

Clucking ~ Hold the call by the handle with the lid on top. Place the lid in the middle of one of the box lips and apply a small amount of downward pressure with the lid on the lip. Lift up sharply and pull the lid in to the side all at once.

Cutting ~ Hold the call by the handle with the lid to the side and the call straight up. Pull the lid away from the call without dragging it on lip. Slap the lid down on the lip at an angle sharply. A softer cut can be achieved by placing the thumb against the lid while holding the lid in contact with the box and slapping the lid from the opposite side at desired intervals.

Cackling ~ Same procedure as a cut except the cadence is quickened and sharpened between each sound for the first 8 or 9 notes. After the 8th or 9th note the cadence slows and softens to nothing after the 13th or 14th note.

Purring ~ Placing the thumb against the lid while holding the lid in contact with the box and push the lids against your thumb holding the call.

Kee Kee ~ The kee kee is achieved by starting a yelp but not finishing it. The sound is made for about the duration of time it takes to say the word kee slowly. Many times the after 2 or 3 kees the last note will be a finished yelp. This can be done meekly or pleadingly.

Practice ~ The bottom line is that you have to spend time with the box to get it to do what you want. I try to give that gobbler what he wants hear, from where he wants to hear it, when he wants to hear it. The best turkey hunters in the world only get it right a few times a year and it often takes the whole season. Remember this is a game, and the turkey makes the rules!!!

Making Sounds with "Scratchers"

If a picture is worth a million words then a video must be worth trillions. Though there are different ways to hold a scratcher and achieve good sound, this is the method I use. Steps one through 8 will take you through the process for making yelps. You may want to watch the video before attempting this. As I said a video is invaluable.


"Holding the Scratcher" Movie <--------- CLICK HERE

1.    Hold the striker in your weak hand.
2.    Hold the "Scratcher" in your strong hand.
3.    Firmly place the "Scratcher" on the striker at the end.
4.    Applying moderate pressure, pull the scratcher toward you.
5.    Push the "Scratcher" back to the end without lifting it from the striker.
6.    Adjust the pressure on the striker to a pleasing sound
7.    Pick up the cadence to an accurate speed.
8.    You are yelping!

Page Menu ------- Page Menu ------- Page Menu ------- Page Menu ------- Page Menu ------- Page Menu
Page Top	Call Care	Maintenance	Adjustments	Turkey Sounds Boxes	Making Sounds "Scratchers"	Making Sounds "Crystals/Glass"

Pot Maintenance: The glass call must be clean to work consistently. Use the sand paper I include to touch up the surface (80-100 grit emery cloth) each day before using or when inconsistencies begin to happen. A one pound coffee can plastic lid can have a lot of jake calls. Cover your call with it while you carry it. I also build a wooden case to carry the call in which protects the glass and helps keep it clean,

Striker Maintenance "Stick" Generally the stick will require less maintenance that the glass but it to can become contaminated. Use the same sand paper to touch up the tip of the striker (it will not require very much to prepare the surface. In fact you may want to work it on the glass afterwards to recondition it back to its smooth, shinny beginnings. Generally it is not a good idea to use a stick on a slate or aluminum call and then come back to the glass. It will usually change the tone of the call or not play at all well.

Holding the Call: Hold the pot in your weak hand, your palm becomes part of the call as tones will change depending on how you hold it. I place the back of my strong hand on the call to stabilize the grip. Then place the striker on the glass much the same angle and manor as a slate call.

Making Sounds with Glass Calls

(YELP) - Begin moving the striker, making small circles about a 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch in diameter. Vary pressure until you achieve the sound you are looking for.

(PURR) - Hold the call the same as described above but this time pull the striker straight toward your stomach for about 5/8 to 1 inch, varying the pressure until it begins to purr.

(FIGHTING PURR) - apply more pressure than you did with the purr and move the striker on an angle toward you about 10 degrees from the purr angle. Fighting purrs are rapid to you must keep the tempo up.

(CLUCKS/CUTS) - Hold the call the same as described above but this time put the striker on the glass apply pressure and lift the striker off the glass toward you quickly. The call will cluck. Repeat this process multiple times, quickly to achieve a cut.

Maintenance	Making Sounds	Adjustments	Call Care
Box Calls	Boxes	Box Call Adj.	Call Care
Scratch Boxes	"Scratchers"	NONE
Crystal Calls	"Double Crystals/Glass"	Change strikers

Water ~ If you are hunting in the rain or the call becomes wet, remove the call from your hunting clothes to dry. The chalk may need to be removed if it gets wet. (follow sanding procedure).	Widow Maker Call Care
Heat ~ Do not place the call near a wood stove where temperatures can rise very high.
Sunlight ~ Don't leave the call on the dash of a vehicle or in an area where heat can rise to very high levels. This can cause the wood to crack, warp, twist or otherwise deform and/or the adhesive to let go which will, in most cases, destroy the call.
Crushing ~ Take care not to apply an inordinate amount of pressure to the call by sitting or laying heavy things on it. If you don't have a place to store your hunting vest in the off season where children, wives, husbands, etc., will not take the care that you do with it, remove the call and store in a safe place.
Doors ~ There have been more calls destroyed by being shut in a closet/car door than most people would like to admit. Take special care to insure that the call is safe from hazards such as these.
Banding ~ Take care not to put a tight rubber band on the box. This action can deform the box lips and destroy the box. Apply an elastic band that is tight enough to keep the call quite when walking but don't over strap it and remove all banding during the off season.