WOODS WISE TURKEY

Woods Wise Limited-Edition Call

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jerry Peterson, creator of Woods Wise Products in Franklin, Tennessee, introduced a new limited-edition, custom-designed call at the Woods Wise turkey hunt at White Oak Plantation in Tuskegee, Alabama, this spring.

QUESTION: Jerry, how long have you been in the call business?
ANSWER: I've been in the call business since 1985.

QUESTION: Have you ever before made a limited-edition series of calls?
ANSWER: No, not for the public. We've only made very limited pieces for family and friends to commemorate special events.

QUESTION: Why did you decide to start a limited-edition?
ANSWER: I decided to create a limited edition for a number of reasons. Because I've always mass-produced products, I haven't gotten to express my artistic side like I want to. You get the feeling sometimes that your mass-produced products aren't as special or as desirable as you'd like to think.

QUESTION: How many turkey calls have you made and sold since 1985?
ANSWER: We've made and sold 4 million since then.

QUESTION: How many people have you taught how to call turkeys in seminars and videos?
ANSWER: I've taught hundreds of thousands of people to call turkeys during seminars and through videos.

QUESTION: Why did you introduce your limited-edition call at the White Oak turkey hunt that you have annually for manufacturers and writers?
ANSWER: Primarily I introduced it then because a select group of people come to this hunt who are industry insiders -- people in the know. We look to this group of people to get insight into the outdoor market, and they're a great bunch of folks.

QUESTION: What makes this call special?
ANSWER: I created this call to commemorate my friendship with you, John. We've known each other a long time. I wanted a call to commemorate our time hunting together, the turkeys we've missed together, and the turkeys we've heard gobble.

QUESTION: What is the base made of?
ANSWER: The base is imported Philippine mahogany, and the lid is African Beminga wood. We chose those woods because of the resonant quality of the mahogany, and the sharp edge that the Beminga wood puts to the tone quality. These woods are probably some of the purest woods we can use, and they're definitely not woods you find in your high-production turkey call products.

QUESTION: Why do you like one piece of wood and not composites?
ANSWER: A single block of wood resonates unlike several pieces. There is a natural vibration to a piece of wood. I like using a solid piece because each call will have its own unique quality. Then each call has its own voice like each hen has her own voice. The Beminga is a very hard wood, and it causes the body of the box to vibrate much stronger than if you use a softer wood.

QUESTION: Is anyone else using Beminga wood?
ANSWER: Not to my knowledge. That was one of the reasons I chose it because it was something I didn't believe anyone else had used.

QUESTION: What do you like about the sound these boxes produce?
ANSWER: They give a raspy but quality sound. Again, because of the two woods we're using in combination, it has sharpness to the yelp. You get a very shrill, high note with it as well.

TOMORROW: WORKS OF ART

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