Some old calls, a gift from an old duck hunter...

These calls were given to me by a friend of my mothers. His name is Gibby, and he is 87 years old. My mom had told him I was a duck hunter and she said his eyes lite up. He used to be an avid duck hunter in his younger days. I have spoken to him numerous times and he has told me about some of his hunting adventures. He still has a bunch of duck stuff in his office. He sent me these old duck calls with a letter saying that he hopes I could use them to bring in some birds. Several of these calls were given to him by his hunting buddies, some of which have passed away. He used the whistle to make little "chirps" for teal and pintails. I thought these calls were a very cool gift. I may try them out in the field next year, but right now they are in my gun cabinet. I joked with him that I was going to see what I could get for them on ebay. That made him laugh. Anyway, I just thought I would share them with you guys and gals here on the THF.





From left to right: Unmarked goose call: Sure Shot Duck Caller, Groves, TX: 1981 Royal (never used): 1981 Royal (well used): Unmarked duck call: Haydels DR-85 Doublereed Mallard: Faulks Duck Call: Faulks Goose Call CH-44, Lake Charles, LA

cool gift

Super cool, I bet that old cat has some awesome storys to listen to around a fire with some beer.

Aint nothing like an old Sure Shot Call

Man, that is freakin' cool. Thanks for sharing.

Very cool

The DR-85 was the first call I bought back on the day. Very easy to blow

those haydels sound really good, my dad used one just like that clear one

Those are some awesome old calls! I bet he has alot of great storys to go with each one of them

That was very nice of him.

Congrats thats really cool!

I take it that the old gent lives some distance from you. Let me make a suggestion to all of you younger fellas that will especially apply to older members of your own family.

Make a time when neither of you are rushed or under any time constraints. Sit down with those older folks with good video equipment, or at least a tape recorder, and get them to begin sharing stories of their younger years. In the case of family, it could prove invaluable to your children, grandchildren and future generations to actually hear, in their own voice, the life and times of a forebearer.

In the case of an older fella like the one who gave you these calls ... I noticed the nickel plated Acme Thunder Whistle in the first pic. I'll bet he could share stories about duck hunting with his dawg that would raise the hair on your arms and bring tears to your eyes.

awesome suggestions Cappy!

Funny part is that I have (had) about 4-5 of them calls...

What I cut my teeth with!

Very cool deal! Thanks for sharin'!

J.J.

I wish I had of done that with my grandpa, he was a hell of a deer hunter.

Those are nice calls and a wonderful gift. Ihave a Faulks call and it is my favorite for timber. It is a soft call that is really easy on the ears and easy to blow. I found it in the barn when I bought my house. It has the box and the original paperwork that was wrapped around the call from Faulks.

That's great stuff. Cappy's idea is a great one. I would really enjoy seeing that fella tell his stories and I am sure he would have a great time sharing them.

That is great Cappy. I have an Uncle that went through the South Pacific Campaigne WW2. He is still sharp as a tack and can tell you every blade of grass, rock and cave on the islands. He is without a doubt one of the greatest influences in my life.

My dad gave me his old Sure Shot duck call and whistle. It is what I used this past year and I think they sound great! I know I will use them until I am able to pass them along to any kids I have. That is a really cool gift you got there.

Very cool!!!

well said cappy I've owned a few of these still us a couplenow great calls

Very Cool

I would also make sure that you do use them next season and make it a point to take photos and share them with him while you recount the hunt.

I have an older fellow that befriended me and lets us hog hunt his land. He is at the campfire waiting every morning to hear the stories for our hunts the night before. He loves to tell his yarns as well!

Those are sweet! How do they sound after all these years?

There are only 2 that sound weird, but it may just be my calling on them. The rest of them sound just fine. There are 3 that I really like the tone of, and I will be sure to use them next year!

I always wished I had a mentor, a kind of legecy to the old days of hunting. I taught myself and have passed it to my son. I know the older fellow would want you to use them. In a mannner of speaking he could still be part of the hunt. Tell him about some particular bird that his old call brought in to the spread. Let him be part of it one last time. I know that's what I would want.

The unmarked call on the left looks like an Olt of some sort. It's kind of short, but it has the same basic shape and scrolling of my #66.

The call by the DR-85 looks like a Yentzen. However, I've only seen those in photos so what would I know.

If he is up to it maybe you could take him on a Teal hunt next year.

Awesome.

One of the many benefits of owning or controlling your own piece of land for duck hunting is being able to make access to the blinds in such a way that you can drive a vehicle or UTV right up to them. In the case of Carol's 4'X8' wooden blind, it's on "stilts" at the water's edge and you could actually get in and out of the blind from the vehicle in tennis shoes without getting your feet wet.



Carol and I are both in our 60s. She has a bad knee and has been trying to avoid reconstructive surgery. I have my own health issues. We both want to continue hunting for the dawg's sake as long as our health and bodies permit it.

Carol's mom is 84, had both knees replaced and yet she too enjoys going into the blind with Carol for 90 minutes or so on warmer days to watch the action and her "grandkids" retrieving.

We've had a number of friends and relatives who've never hunted before come along with us for a short hunt to help them understand why the two of us are so hooked on this sport. They see a side of Carol and the two dawgs that they just couldn't otherwise conceive of.