I wrote this call off to crap like most of my other attempts until JakeJJ posted today and it got me to thinking y'all might know what to do. I turned it and before I could finish my many attempts to get it sounding close to a duck the wood swelled and I can't get it apart. I turned the barrel and insert pretty tight (to tight) any advise on getting it apart?

I've heard people putting it in freezer, but not sure if that will work for a wood call, but couldn't hurt.

Hammer a dowel rod through the barrel pushing the insert out

I actually tried that already. Worst case scenario it makes a descent sounding varmint call.

I'll give that a try. Anytime I get rough with stuff I break it. I've got nothing to loose here.

The freezer trick has worked for me once before.. Good luck on the dowel rod..

On your insert do you leave a flat spot on the front? Can you slide a piece of PVC pipe over the insert and it still catch on the barrel top? If yes to all, then freeze the call, take it out line up a 5/8" dowel in the barrel end and then place the PVC over the insert lined up with the barrel and whack it with a mallet. It should drop the barrel.

If not, take a 1x4 and drill a hole centered that will just slide over the insert. Freeze it, set the call on the 5/8" dowel and the slide piece of 1x4 over the insert and then a piece of PVC over the insert, then whack it with a mallet.

If that doesn't work, you need a bigger mallet.

You can also put it in the oven at a low temperature to dry it out. a beef jerky dehydrator would work best just don't burn or cook it. Your probem is water in the wood if you freeze it water turning to ice expands. Freezing it works well with getting bands unstuck but inserts its not as effective. I wouldn't try pounding it out. just work it back and forth until it comes out.

Thanks guys, I'll give this a try tomorrow.

Sounds like some of y'all have experienced this.

Get in the gym, son.

sounds like my kinda logic!