How to Make Your Own Turkey Hunting Box Call

Editor's note: After reading Michael Pendley's introduction on building a box call, please work through the steps below to make your own. – Steve Hickoff

If you’ve ever priced a custom box call, you know they can get expensive. Competition calls in the $500 plus range aren’t uncommon. And, as every good turkey hunter knows, you can’t own just one of any style call. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to own a cabinet full of custom box calls. Building your own is a fun off-season project and you get to customize your calls to your own sound and appearance preferences.

The great thing about building box calls is that there is a comfortable level for everyone. From a made-from-scratch custom build, all the way through a nearly finished call that only needs the final fit and finish, everyone can build a custom call, no matter what their woodworking skill and experience level is.

You’ve seen us use kits from Brookside Game Calls to build pot-style turkey calls with the kids in the past.

DIY Turkey Calls: Building Pots and Pegs with Kids

They also offer a few box call kits as well. For the Brookside kits, you can choose the wood variety for both the box and the paddle from a broad list. Choose the same wood for both or choose a different wood for each part. You also get to choose the style of your box call from five options: Brookside offers half-moon, large box, small box, single-sided, and long-box call kits. We chose a long box and a large box for our calls.

Like their pot-style call kits, the Brookside box calls are perfect for an off-season project with young hunters. They come with pre-assembled, or in the case of the long box, pre-sawn (the long-box style is cut and carved from a solid piece of wood instead of cut out and assembled like the other styles).

Let’s start with the easiest to build.

Pre-Cut Call Kits

Pre-cut call kits can be ordered online from multiple sources.

Pre-Assembled Call Kit

The large box call kit from Brookside Game Calls comes pre-assembled and only needs the handle attached, some light sanding and a finish.

Assembly Supplies

You don’t need many supplies to assemble your box call. Multiple grits of sandpaper, Elmer’s Wood Glue and rubber bands to hold things together while the glue dries.

Sandpaper Choices

Start with a medium-grit sandpaper, like 150, but finish with a finer grit, like 220 (for a smooth finish).

Next Steps

Insert the screw through the hole in the lid and slide on the spring.

Tighten Screw Down

Use a hand screwdriver to tighten the screw down to the finished height.

Lid Adjustment

Adjust your starting lid height even with the highest part of the side. After, test, and adjust up and down to get the best sound.

Elmer's Wood Glue

Custom call maker Travis Morgan prefers Elmer’s Wood Glue, because it holds well and dries clear.

Glue Lightly

When assembling box calls from a pre-cut kit, or one that you have sawn yourself, lightly glue each piece into place.

Rubber Bands

Use rubber bands to hold everything in place while the glue sets overnight.

Sand Excess Glue

Sand any excess glue from the call’s surface after it dries and before applying finish.

Adjust Screw

Lid heights may vary from one box call to the next. Adjust the screw up or down for best sound from each call.

Painter's Tape

Cover the bottom of the paddle and tops of the sides with painter’s tape before applying finish to protect the calling surface.

Apply Polyurethane or Tung Oil

Apply polyurethane or tung oil with a soft, clean cloth. Allow each coat to dry, sand lightly, and apply another until you are satisfied with the call’s appearance.

After Application