To Kill a Turkey With a Turkey Wing: Bone Hunting Call

How to make a wild turkey wing bone hunting call. Also, scrimshaw, lampblack and horsetail sandpaper.
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[@keithharden6543]

Always better at it at the end of turkey season got to love it

[@trollforge]

I made a few of them 18 years ago ish.I was dating a girl from Texas, who's grandfather went by the name Wingbone, and had published some book on turkey hunting, anyway, she's the one that taught me to make them.

[@SkillCult]

Cool name.

[@trollforge]

Just sent you an email.

[@emlillthings7914]

",,, bet she's a freak. I'm gonna get me some of that" And you probably look good and artsy if you're at least 20ft away (not enough, I know, but esthetics and freaks are relatable in that way). I thought it looked cool, but I also like crude in general. The sound though,, nope, not very pleasant.

[@SkillCult]

Yeah, I'm a real looker to a turkey from 100 yards.

[@fouroakscrafts7240]

I made one of those from a turkey I harvested but haven't used it in the field yet. You sound pretty darn good with the call you made.

[@SkillCult]

I'm pretty much the Bob Ross of turkey bone wing calls.

[@larryroberts808]

Do you sell the calls you make ?

[@cronkthecrunk]

I like that you hold yourself to such high standards. Says alot about you.

[@barryfowlie8686]

Another great video Steven thanks. I foolishly got a little nervous when you mentioned epoxy but of course you didn't disappoint ha ha! Would pine pitch glue be another option or is it too malleable?

[@SkillCult]

Pitch glue would work, but might need occasional maintenance. rarely is pitch used in the gooey state. It is usually cooked so the volatile solvents that make it sticky cook away, and mixed with powdered charcoal. It makes a good filler and will not shrink, but it's a bit brittle if the item is moved a lot. It is usually used in conjunction with a wrapping of sinew for arrow head hafting. Repair might be as simple as re-heating though, since it is just thermo-setting. I want to make a set, one glued and one not glued and see how different the sound is. it might be nice to havce one that breaks down and you put it together just to use it. I probably would work fine, but I'd like to compare the sound with bones from the same bird.

[@burkejones8277]

I have used pine sap as an adhesive to build wingbone callers.

[@mvblitzyo]

Excellent ! Really appreciate the end. Meaning it’s easier to pluck the feathers off a warm turkey. Oh I really like my strap

[@SkillCult]

Yes, much easier. it's really pretty easy, just takes time. So much less messy.

[@kpfriesi]

I just finished a couple and found that UV glue for fly tying works great for the joints....you can shape it somewhat and cure it almost instantly with a UV flashlight. I did put a little wood glue on the inside though...just in case.

[@bushcraftchip]

I use pine pitch glue. Works great and looks good to...

[@SkillCult]

I don't know if I've used it. Probably not. I've used it a lot for other stuff and a lot of objects that are handled a lot will eventually break loose. I think the hide glue and wood flour is going to end up my glue of choice for this.

[@chuckwood4702]

Great video!!! Would love to see the Slate call you meantioned!!!

[@SkillCult]

Maybe I'll team up with Wiley sometime and make those.

[@traytongoodrich3587]

I use a smaller round file to get the inside of the trumpet part because you don’t have to apply much pressure while it gets in it deep

[@1hillbilly]

Super cool.

[@rubygray7749]

Brill! My grandmother bred turkeys and used to keep us kids occupied with various projects involving turkey feathers. Lots of whoopin & hollerin as we wore turkey headdresses. She used to cut the wing tips off, with feathers on, allow them to dry out, then used them as brushes to sweep the fireplace. Geese wings too. They work so much better than the nasty synthetic fibre hearth-brushes. See, you can use that wing tip for something after all!

[@SkillCult]

Great for fanning the fire too!

[@chucksmith5002]

How do you like that Opinel Knife . I use a plastic store bought need to make me one . I heard that a Wild Turkey Gobbler works the best ..

[@quintond.7888]

Very cool. We have some that are nearly tame that stroll through the yard at times, now I kind of want to harvest one.

[@SkillCult]

They need that hunting pressure to become wiser :)

[@quintond.7888]

Apparently so. You had to be a stone cold ninja where I grew up to bag one. I asked my 4 year old what she thought of them. I'll have to leave the semi tame birds alone. Lol

[@prattsgreenhousefarm9473]

Nice bird! You must not be to bad if you got 2 already. Boy those birds got a great eye I have tried many times to get a turkey in the fall while deer bow hunting from a tree stand. It's as if they have a sixth sense. Thanks for showing this I may give it a go.

[@SkillCult]

I find them pretty easy to hunt in the spring. That may just be here though. Also, I usually have the luxury to hear them gobble from home and then go after them.

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Dude, you're a badass.

[@cronkthecrunk]

Seems I got distracted looking for your mug video! been wanting to make one of these and I have 2 Turkey tags to fill... what do you think one of these calls are worth?

[@SkillCult]

Depends on if it's production or one offs, power tools or no, probably an hour of time anyway.

[@OakKnobFarm]

Very cool - I've seen those before, but have never seen one made. Do you think pitch glue might work? It would be fun to try making some at camp (after a nice turkey dinner, of course). And I wouldn't have to bring the glue with me ;)

[@SkillCult]

You probably don't need any glue, but pitch/charcoal glue would probably be okay. See my response to Barry's comment.

[@OakKnobFarm]

Sorry... I'm an idiot! Didn't even see that one (face palm)

[@SkillCult]

nah, I don't figure everyone reads through the comments :)

[@christurley391]

Do you find the wing bone size gives much tone variation or volume?

[@SkillCult]

Most of mine are similar in size. I saw some on Bushcraft USA that were much shorter, but never tried that. Not a huge variation in mine.

[@cronkthecrunk]

I think I'll try to make one with some pine tar for the contrast in color. Hopefully that's not a mistake

[@SkillCult]

Usually pine pitch glue the pitch is cooked a little to make it firm and not gooey, then mixed with charcoal and sometimes small plant fibers. It's not very strong, but the good thing is if it cracks, you just heat it up to reset it.

[@KyleMerl]

Awesome video! Just watched this around lunch time and I now have this strange urge for a turkey sandwich...

[@SkillCult]

Save the bones Kyle, save the bones!

[@nonprooutdoorsandmore2303]

I just made my 1st one and a friend of mine has made dozens with different bone lengths and some without the trumpet end, does the shorter the bones make a higher pitch or have u experimented with different sizes? Amazin explanation on the video thank you

[@SkillCult]

I really just make them how they turn out. Turkeys seem so dumb here, that I feel unmotivated to improve my calling game lol. Happy hunting, good luck!

[@nonprooutdoorsandmore2303]

@@SkillCult lol alright man thanks, I git atleast 1 ever yr, 2 or 3 average but thanks man I just like the old ways

[@nonprooutdoorsandmore2303]

Hey bud I didn't think to tell u to bypass it but I boil mine 15 min with a squirt of DAWN, and a shot of 20 mule Borax and the 40 volume hair peroxide and it's bleached after the boil, I do my skulls that way if it helps you out any

[@cronkthecrunk]

Do you make use of the smaller feathers? Or any other "odd" materials/parts?

[@SkillCult]

Yeah. I actually have a video series planned on all that. but I have a lot of video series planned ;) I use the tail feathers a lot for disposable brushes for hide glue and grafting paint and such. Large feathers for pens and arrow fletching.

[@cronkthecrunk]

@@SkillCult can't wait!

[@kylelindberg7771]

can you use bones from a store turkey? or are the wings too small?

[@SkillCult]

I haven't tried. Probably, but they will almost certainly be weaker and a little different. Those things are grown very fast. But I think it's worth a try.

[@cronkthecrunk]

I bet she's a freak 😂😂😂 my entire house is dying of laughter

[@blkcat1254]

Why not use pine tree pitch

[@cronkthecrunk]

How do you collect the lamp black? I can think of a few ways but I'm betting you already know the best ways. Nevermind! Beer mug video is next. Don't mind my spaming of comment I throw alot of random questions I have out hoping it helps boost algorithms or something =P

[@SkillCult]

No, it's fine to comment a lot :) anything that disrupts a flame tip of beeswax, pine pitch, or fat.

[@andrewbrady1855]

Awesome! I use one myself.

[@SkillCult]

Do you find that it requires much care or technique? I don't :)

[@andrewbrady1855]

SkillCult No not really. Those birds got their heads messed up on hens. I know that a lot of people use mouth calls or friction calls. Wing bone is something birds don't hear from hunters.

[@SkillCult]

yeah, about what I've noted. Some just won't come though. That's probably true with all calls, but wouldn't know.

[@andrewbrady1855]

My boss thinks its criminal to whack a guy when he thinks he is coming in to get a piece of tail. 😂

[@vice6996]

what kind of shotgun are you using back there?

[@SkillCult]

12ga Ithica pump. I need to get a full choke tube for it or put one of those aftermarket adjustable chokes on this barrel maybe. Killer shotgun though.

[@wdtaut5650]

Do you use lead pellets in your air rifle?

[@SkillCult]

Yeah. I have tried at least 3 different non lead pellets and none will shoot straight. Like not even close to straight. It's about time I tried some more. New ones are coming out all the time.

[@wdtaut5650]

@@SkillCult I don't know whether California's ban on lead ammo applies to air rifles. That's why I asked. I don't know any non-lead pellet I would trust for hunting.

[@SkillCult]

@@wdtaut5650 I was told recently that it does not apply to air guns. I haven't picked up regs to check this year. I actually didn't hunt at all last year, or take out a license, but this year I'm going to make the time! If you take out a license here and don't hunt, it's a big waste of money. now I have to wait til June, or waste a license and upland game stamp on a couple turkeys :/ I think they should price the basic license lower and make up the difference on big game tags, but those are already pretty expensive too. I have seen guys on the net get results with non lead ammo, but It's seriously completely useless in my benjamin discovery so far. And some can shoot them in that gun, so go figure. I'd honestly prefer to use non lead if it works. Lead toxicity is real. But it has to actually work.

[@gunsnreelsoutdoors3796]

Nice call mate, I'll have to try and make one, I still haven't got a Turkey to reply with a box call so maybe this will be better for me. I feel like it could double has a small game call if you vibrate your lips with it rather then putting it deeper in your mouth.

[@SkillCult]

Yes, i think it could act as a predator call. It's tricky though. I've not tried if for real, but played around a bit. I've called in owls before making kissing sounds between my fingers, but nothing bigger and more exciting than that.

[@gunsnreelsoutdoors3796]

Yeah that kissing call works great, I learned it by reading something on Ishi and thought it was ridiculous. Low and behold it works though.

[@gunsnreelsoutdoors3796]

Speaking of Turkeys, is there any particular way you hunt em' with an air rifle? A couple months ago I tried to get a Tom in a flock with mine but they were moving around too much for me to pull off a shot. Granted I chased them over two valleys so they'd wanna keep moving.

[@SkillCult]

I learned that from a naturalist when I was about 15 or 16 and practiced a lot. I'm decent at it I think, but I've never really put it to the test much predator hunting or anything. One time I was in cave and I saw a big owl fly past the entrance. I made that distressed rodent sound and it swooped into the mouth of the cave right at me. I probably screamed like a little girl. I remember that part in the Ishi book. He called in a bobcat I think. Their heads move a lot right! They certainly have to pause for second to get a shot, but I manage to pull it off somehow. Sometimes they stop and look at me and I get a pretty good pause time. On small targets like that in the field I think I'm often doing the thing where I pull the trigger as I come up onto the target, rather than holding a tight bead and squeezing. Holding a good bead often doesn't work in the positions I end up in standing or elbows on knees. That buy's me a second or two. As tough as they are everywhere else, almost any head or neck shot seems to put them down pretty good, at least long enough to run up and grab them. I don't recall losing any wounded that I know of, but it's possible.

[@TraditionalAmericanHunter]

What state do you live in?

[@SkillCult]

Northern California

[@bs431980]

Are u still turkey hunting with the wingbone?

[@SkillCult]

Whenever I go turkey hunting, one of these goes with me.

[@bs431980]

@@SkillCult awesome I used this video to make 2 calls last year and they sound great. Im going give the wingbone a try this year

[@SkillCult]

@@bs431980 Around here the work well. I hear turkeys are smart other places, never seen that here ;)

[@gileschapman1961]

What can 'I say. This ticked all the boxes.

[@FrankMantius]

I am a Turkey Soup junkie. I'd love to know your recipe good sir.

[@SkillCult]

I'm an opportunistic cook, so I use what I've got. I would say if at all possible I add celery or parsley or both, sage, bay leaf, saffron, rosemary and coriander. Other veg are negotiable, though some I would always avoid adding. Also, never oregano. Thyme is good though in moderation. I really, really, like just the clear stock though with a splash of soy sauce or just salt and pepper, maybe a few of the above mentioned herbs cooked in the stock. Major mistakes people make with stock are boiling hard, which I think probably wrecks the proteins and results in a cloudy less bright tasting stock. Also, over cooking. Cooking long enough is important, but long overcooking eventually destroys the clarity and refined taste of stock. I'll often recook stock and soup bones a second time to get a stock for soup base or for cooking vegetables or rice in. The second stock will have more of what is maybe bone flavor, or again, broken down proteins, I'm not sure, but it is a coarser flavor, not bad necessarily it just depends on how you use it. But when I think of getting a turkey, the part I'm most excited about is actually the clear broth I make from the boned out parts and just drink with salt and pepper. Yum!

[@DevaJones03]

since the freaks come out at night, I wonder how it works when the sun is down...

[@SkillCult]

Not turkey freaks unfortunately. They shut down at night like most birds. You could probably climb up in the tree and just grab one. Bobcats do, but they usually fly up pretty high.

[@kianucollis3929]

" Throw that stuff to the ( cannibal ) chickens..."...!!??

[@jovanbergh33]

Kianu Collis it's not of the same species, so wouldn't really be canablistic. Eagles and hawks aren't considered cannibals.