My son wanted to start making some mouth calls so we bought a jig and need to order supplies. Was hoping I could get a starting point from some of you who make their own. Been looking over Pioneer's website and lots of options.

What thickness latex do you like the best? Frame size? What's a good starting point for tension? What's the best way to make cuts, like a ghost cut?

this may be an interesting thread 3toe.

Ha, I hope so. I'm not looking for trade secrets, more of just a place to start.

. I hear ya, the best calls I ever used where cheap calls made out of lead, yea lead. I can bend those things any sort of way, they sold them at the local Ace Hardware (private Ace) for like .50. I could stretch them to get them tighter (can't do that with these new calls), bend them to get a good fit to my mouth, just a little water, and they were good to go. They switched from lead to aluminum at some point, the aluminum didn't have the fullness the lead calls did. They were single reed and deadly with a cluck or series of yelps. We didn't call much back then, but man, it was some good music to those toms. I won't say how many we used to kill each year, but it would floor some of these newer turkey hunters.

I think that would be a great endeavor for you and your son, something to enjoy besides the hunt. Most of the new guys just want to kill, they haven't found the joy in the preparation, and the hard work that goes into scouting.

Think it would b neat to make your own mouth call

The guy w Panola said he makes his own - maybe pm him and see if he got any tips - prob lot of guys on here make their own

I'm far from any kind of expert on this, but I've dabbled in it and made my own for the last 3 years.

I typically use the standard size frame- which they call the 'small' frame and the appropriate tape for that frame in the color of your choice. I've had some of the bright colors taste about like battery acid, so be wary of that, maybe his won't.

I typically use proph, .0025, and .003 latex for my calls. I find I can run them easier with thin material and only 2-3 reeds.

Tension- who knows? I used to stretch some at .200 and kept dropping it down over the years. I usually stretch mine to .140-.150 now if I remember correctly.

Hope some of this helps!

Buy more proph than anything, but some .0025, .003, .004, and .005 to start with, then order more of what works. Definitely get the standard size frame, it’s the same size that everyone uses. The large is too thick.


I would recommend giving Lyle at houndstooth a call and seeing if he will sell you some supplies. His tape and latex are a lot better than the stuff I’ve purchased off pioneer.

I’ve found that the calls that sound best for me are typically either 3 reeds calls with 2 proph and 1 .003 latex, or 2 reed call with 1 proph and .004 latex. I usually set side tension at 0.15. For back tension, I stretch the reeds til I get a slight “smile”.
There is a lot of good info about this on the old gobbler website.

Ned how does your jig work? Does it measure side tension or will you be taking a measurement?

It’s a feather ridge so it has the side tension dial.

Ordered supplies today. Hope to get to started in the next week or so.

Y'all will enjoy it! There's something a little extra special about killing one with a call you built yourself.

The ghost cut is the hardest cut to make. You make the 2 side cuts then stretch the center piece out super tight over your scissors and cut it out. Your scissors have to be perfect or the cut won't be smooth.

Go buy the best scissors you can buy!

Already been asking the Aldeer experts where to get the best scissors.

It should be fun.