The North Weld Herald     Thursday, July 1, 2010

Duck, Duck,

Goose!

Doug Nelson finds his niche

making award winning callers

 

. Photos and story Bruce J. Bormann

Just how interesting can mak­ing .duck, goose and elk cow calls be? One would never think twice about them unless you studied the craftsmanship needed to make one. And the countless, painstak­ing hours it takes to produce one call.

 

Then there's the sound quality that has to be considered. Did you know there is a variety of 'vocabulary' used in blowing the calls to do their job…actually calling ducks, geese, and elk with a variety of blowing techniques and using your hands to intensify and authenticate the calls.

 

This hobby has become an addiction for Pierce resident Doug Nelson. Why? It's thera­peutic, and the money he makes selling his calls earns just enough to pay for more exotic woods to

make more.

 

Is it a money-making busi­ness? Not at this point. Depending on the design, some of his calls may take up to 70 hours to complete. How much can he sell a caller for? Depends on what the buyer is looking for and willing to pay. Some of Nelson's calls only net him $60, while others have sold for as much as $300.

 

That's chump change by com­parison to what is invested in this labor of love. "I do this more for fun than profit," he said.

 

For Nelson, a 40+ year hunter and office supply salesman, mak­ing his own calls has evolved into a hobby he truly enjoys. Many people wouldn't have the patience to make calls. That may be why they buy them.

Nelson recently competed in the 22nd edition of the Callmakers & Collectors Association of America (CCAA)

Fancy Call Contest, held at St. Charles, Illinois.

According to the CCAA publi­cation, in the Amateur Class, Laminated category, Nelson placed second with his duck call, but in the Matched Set category, Nelson earned Best of Class with his matched set of callers: a lam­inated goose call and a matching cow elk call.

 

The publication reported 33 entries among six divisions of competition. Nelson's entry fea­tured a complex geometric pat­tern of lamination on his pair of calls that scored 141.

 

"Judging is based on work­manship, design, finish, artistic merit and sound authenticity," said Nelson.

To illustrate how complex his goose call is, Nelson said it includes 183 pieces of zircote, maple and Bolivian rosewood. The elk call required 82 pieces of wood. Nelson made compound mitered glued sections, "they're glued like wedges in a pie in a cir­cle, making individual circles. The rings are drilled, stacked on a rod, and glued to get a blank, then counter bored, put together and then shaped on a lathe," he explains.

 

Doug said he will not sell the set of winning calls.

 

 

With a passion for hunting, Nelson was not happy with the commercially produced calls for the sound he was seeking. He and his wife Sue are both wood work­ers. "I picked up a book to make calls and I thought, 'I could do this!'" He added, "I'm always in search for the perfect hunting call. Now that I have the duck, goose and elk calls finished, I'm work­ing on a mourning dove call"

 

 

   His hobby doesn't stop when he leaves his woodworking shop. "Practicing with the calls was driving my wife and cats crazy," chuckles Doug. "So now I prac­tice in the car!" He demonstrates a call. It is very loud. Obnoxious to some as the demonstration shows a variety of blasts, honks, war­bles. True music if you're a goose or duck, or elk cow. "Calling is an art, a science," says Nelson: "It's like blowing a musical instru­ment." And involves hours and hours of on-going practice to per­fect.

 

It takes years of hunting and calling experience to bag the birds he seeks. "They're temperamen­tal. Some days nothing works. They can get call shy as the hunt­ing season advances. Other days nothing can keep them away,” says Nelson. “They make a fool of me on a regular basis,” he laughs. So he practices, and practices.

 

Nelson’s art in the craft also includes using custom jigs to make tone boards, for his calls. "Tone boards are very complicated,” he explains. “A thousandth of an inch can make all the difference.” The reeds are now made out mylar (plastic). Reeds used to be made out of metal. At one time beer cans were used to make them.”

 

So Nelson will continue to prefect his calls. “I want this to remain a labor of  love, I’m not in it for the money.” He adds “Making the calls gives me a reason to go piddling around in the shop.

 

And with a little luck, and a few more bucks in his pocket, Nelson will continue to seek a variety of exotic woods from around the world: ebony, holly, blood wood, tiger maple, rosewood, and persimmon. The list is growing all the time. Many of 12" x 2" x 2" wood blocks can cost upwards of $50. Some day he may even splurge on pink ivory, one of the most expensive and rarest woods one can use to make his calls.

 

Now that Nelson has won the amateur division, future entries must be in the professional division, a feat he is very proud of.

 

When Doug isn’t working on another call in his shop or selling office supplies to his customers, he and Sue are busy maintaining their website www.GooseForSupper.com. On the site, they list their favorite recipes, a photo gallery, and custom call ordering information. They also sell display shelves and scroll sawn ornaments.