I don't know if it has been mentioned before *Pic*

[greenheadgrimreaper]

But with all the talk of collecting calls, some on the forum might want to check out the Bass Pro in Shreveport. They have hundreds of old calls ranging from $100 to $500+. Just a heads up.

Here's a pic of the calls they have on display. I ran into the guy later on who is checking out the calls in the picture, he makes his own calls around the Minden, LA area. Company is called Clear Magic Duck Calls, really nice guy.

Oh, btw, I finally was able to flag down a bps worker/diva to ask him why they had a Chien Caille duck call with the year 1998 written on it for sale for $400 when they are $50 new, and, in general, to see if the calls are actually for sale. He said, "they are not real numbers." Well hotdamn that's news to me! I asked him what the white tags around the calls with the fake numbers were for and he said, "a lot."

I wasn't sure if he was implying that I was too poor to buy any of them or what. So, I said, "what?" He said, "They aren't for sale they are a lot but not for sale." I had no idea what that meant at the time, nor do I know what it means now. I gathered from talking to the beast that they are in fact not for sale. I reported the encounter to the Dept. of Interior's Endangered Species Act division. I will give updates as I find out more. High possibility the Stank Tank species has been rediscovered.

[RedEyed Duck]

Calls that are for sale or on display?

[greenheadgrimreaper]

I am assuming they are for sale. They sure had price tags attached. I didn't bother to find an associate to ask, we all know how that can go at BPS...

Think BPS in Jackson- now go upstairs- now stand by the railing near the stairs and look towards the footwear- think of that railing being twice as long- now picture every 3 feet, attached to said railing, going all the way to footwear, a display case maybe 36 inches long loaded down with old, antique duck calls. The cases are spaced every few feet from each other. They have everything from old calls that I'd be scared to even handle because they were so worn and used, all the way to calls made of ivory. The price tags are not always visible, but I know I saw some that I can almost positively say had 4 digits in them. Very cool display of duck calls.

[teul2]

That's cool, I'll have to go in next time I am that way.
It is not surprising to see 4 digit prices on collector calls these days. I watched a 1983-85 Westinghouse micarta RNT go for $900 (1 of about 150 of a material that will never be found again) the other day. And that is an 80s call. Not an old call. I can't swing that, but if I had it, it would have been mine.
There is a 1905ish JT Beckhart going to auction Tuesday at Guyette, Schmidt & Deeter that was rumored to be the one to break the $100K landmark (highest price ever paid for a duck call). A Kinney & Harlow duck call, believed to be one of only a handful of its kind, established a new game call standard with a $63,000 price tag (highest to date).

[greenheadgrimreaper]

I love blowing a duck call. But I think that is crazy. With that being said, it'd be a small and boring world if everyone thought like I did.

[teul2]

It is not even about blowing it for most collectors. That Beckhart that is supposed to go to 100K, is missing the reed and wedge I think.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

It usually isn't for collectors. That's what I am saying- from a practical standpoint I love duck calls. Hell, I revere them but not to the point where I will pay $100, much less $100,000 for one. I walked into a fellows office the other day who's entire wall was covered in arrowhead collections all framed up nice and neat. I asked him if he found them he said noooo I just collect them. Seems boring to me, but hey, whatever someone likes to do- more power to them. If anything it keeps tradition and history alive, collecting that is. I suppose that is why collectible items usually become valuable after a period of time, other than the rarity of the object. Just because I think folks pay $100,000 for a duck call or $5,000 for an indian point are crazy doesn't mean I am right in general, it just means I am right to Austin. If I run across a $100,000 duck call or arrowhead, betchur booty I will give a 20% ducksouth discount!

[fieldt76]

I know that this is nowhere near the level of what y'all are talking about, but I bought an old style DC this spring and have every intention of hunting with it this year. Is it crazy of me to think that part of the "coolness" of older calls is putting them in the field from time to time?

[teul2]

Absolutely not.

[novacaine]

I know that this is nowhere near the level of what y'all are talking about, but I bought an old style DC this spring and have every intention of hunting with it this year. Is it crazy of me to think that part of the "coolness" of older calls is putting them in the field from time to time?

You have got to put your own slobber on them........then they can be parked in the display case.
Just my opinion.

[RedEyed Duck]

I know that this is nowhere near the level of what y'all are talking about, but I bought an old style DC this spring and have every intention of hunting with it this year. Is it crazy of me to think that part of the "coolness" of older calls is putting them in the field from time to time?

You have got to put your own slobber on them........then they can be parked in the display case.
Just my opinion.

Most of my collection are calls that were made by family so maybe it's a but different. However, I'm with u novacaine I gotta kill a duck or two with em before I put em up for good

[novacaine]

I know that this is nowhere near the level of what y'all are talking about, but I bought an old style DC this spring and have every intention of hunting with it this year. Is it crazy of me to think that part of the "coolness" of older calls is putting them in the field from time to time?

You have got to put your own slobber on them........then they can be parked in the display case.
Just my opinion.

Most of my collection are calls that were made by family so maybe it's a but different. However, I'm with u novacaine I gotta kill a duck or two with em before I put em up for good

I love the few antiques that i have because of who made them or who may have used them in the past but i always want to be able to say that the last duck that was killed with "that call" in my collection was killed by ME. Then they are ready for retirement.

[teul2]

There is a 1905ish JT Beckhart going to auction Tuesday at Guyette, Schmidt & Deeter that was rumored to be the one to break the $100K landmark (highest price ever paid for a duck call).

The Beckhart just sold. Bidding started at $40K, gavel fell at $90K.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

DANG.

[teul2]

I failed to mention the 15% buyers fee.
$103,500 total.