The Art of American Game Calls is a book about a unique American art form, the game call.  Calls are most familiar to duck, goose and turkey hunters.  However, many other types of calls exist and one has been made for nearly every type of sporting hunt as well as for the hunting of most prey animals.  A few other books have been written on calls and the books by Harlan are superb.  Dr. Russell E. Lewis authored Collecting Antique Bird Decoys and Duck Calls, 3^rd Edition and it has extensive coverage (two chapters) of all types of calls.  Yet very little has been written on this subject and few know the value of a good call.  Dr. Lewis has used calls for duck, squirrel and turkey hunting.  He grew up in an extended family that hunted, trapped and fished and used every possible means at gaining their objective at hand, including the use of calls.  As a collector he became interested in the beauty of calls and started keeping a few.  The next thing he knew, he had well over a hundred of them and the calls became a new collection to go with his decoys and fishing lures.

As a former archaeologist and current author on antiques, the next step was to do research on the making and collecting of calls and write a book.  His publisher, Billy Schroeder asked him to do this book with large views of calls to show their intrinsic beauty and tell you a bit about them.  The book is not meant as much a reference as a photographic record of about 300 calls shown in detail.

Dr. Russell E. Lewis enlisted the assistance of Mr. Joe Jaroski who has been making calls since 1945.  Joe has made hundreds of calls and knows or knew most of the major call makers in America, especially along the Illinois River, parts of the Ohio River and Mississippi River hunting areas.

The Art of American Game Calls Identification & values guide

Calling game of all kinds: ducks, geese, turkeys and even big game and large predators is an essential part of the hunt today, whether the hunter’s instrument is a gun, camera or binoculars.  As a result, an amazing array of commercial game calls is available.  Outdoor sporting goods retailers often carry several brands of game calls, mass produced by the tens of thousands.  While major corporations develop some calls, most commercial game calls are adapted from the experimental efforts of custom call makers.

Working alone or with associates, custom call makers have made major contributions to the development and perfection of game calls.  This book includes tips and information from some of the top call makers.  The wisdom, knowledge and practice of these “masters of the craft” are intended to encourage further advancement in this “enduring American folk art”, as Howard L. Harlan and W. Crew Anderson so aptly put in the title of their excellent book on collecting duck calls.

Turning Custom Duck and Game Calls, the complete guide for craftsmen, collectors and outdoorsmen is possibly the first book devoted exclusively to the art and science of turning custom game calls.  While this is not intended as a how to project book with hard and fast patterns, that element is certainly included.  The primary intention is to suggest, inspire and promote innovation and development of the art of custom call making.

The authors have made every effort to gather all of the latest information, methods, materials and techniques currently available on the subject.  While you will find specific instruction on one or more ways to accomplish a particular part of the process, you are encouraged to modify the methods shown in this book in order to suit your own style, skill and taste.  There are many ways to the same –or better-end, some of which may be instantly apparent to you.  Other methods may occur to you as you develop your own manner of work.  This book is to encourage you to become an artist, not a mechanic.

Whether you are a woodworker, hunter, nature lover, collector, folk art enthusiast or simply curious, you will find the contents of this book interesting and informative.  Ultimately this book contributes to the endurance of the art and science of game call making.  Hopefully the readers will come to appreciate the skill and craftsmanship of a custom game call maker.

Turning Custom Duck & Game Calls, the complete guide for craftsmen, collectors and outdoorsman

Authors:  Ed Glenn & Greg Keats