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Dan Saelinger
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Calling in a gobbler is especially gratifying when you do it with a peg you’ve made. Materials aren’t fancy: a 1/4-inch oak dowel plus a corncob; a solid fiberglass rod (white bicycle flagstaffs are great) or a broken carbon arrow shaft plus a 3/4-inch oak dowel. Experiment with striker-tip angles, overall lengths, and materials–including hard plastics, laminates, and even hard rubber–to get a tone that works.

A corncob with an oak shaft (far left) is made from dried corncob (sprayed with acrylic sealer) and a 1/4″ oak dowel. It gives a traditional mellow tone. A great striker for close-in work.

For an oak with an acrylic shaft, use a 3/4 oak handle and a 1/4′ solid acrylic peg. This will make high-pitched, true sounds that travel long distances. Ideal for windy days.

A corncob-and-carbon shaft (with acrylic sealer) can be made with a 1/4″ carbon arrow shaft. It has an edgy, gritty sound, with all the rasp of an older hen.

Using oak with a fiberglass shaft (a 1/4′ solid fiberglass rod), provides clear, high-pitched notes, and is good for long-distance calling.

Instructions: [1] Cut the handle 3 1/2 inches long and the shaft 5 1/2 inches. [2] Drill a 1/4-inch hole 2 1/4 inches deep in the handle, and insert the shaft. [3] Ring the joint with hot glue, and spray the handle with acrylic sealer to finish. Note:There is no need to drill a hole in a corncob. Simply cut the dowel at a 45-degree angle and push that end into the center of the cob 2 1/4 inches.

Calls & Decoys photo

striker-instructions

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