A custom-calling plan

Darrell Gibson’s custom-made crow calls range inexpensive walnut models to high-end calls made from exotic woods.

Born and raised in Rutherford County, N.C., veteran crow hunter, guide and call-maker Darrell Gibson was exposed to crow hunting at an early age by his father. After developing his own style and combination of calling techniques, he became dissatisfied with the quality of crow calls on the market. So, in 1979 he began the work of developing a better-sounding crow call. Soon after, Gibson Custom Calls was born.

“Most call-makers approach making calls as a wood-working project,” said Gibson. “They turn the wood on a lathe and work it into a call. I was more interested in designing precision-fitting calls. I approach call-making like it is a machine shop project. That means creating precise-fitted mouth pieces and reeds like they were machined parts.”

Gibson offers two distinctive types of calls. The first are production calls that average retail in the $25 to $30 range and are made from walnut. While all of his calls are hand-tuned by Gibson himself, he also offers a line of high end custom calls made from exotic woods like koa, African blackwood, and Mediterranian briar — the same materials used to produce high end woodwind and stringed instruments.

“I started making calls in the late 70s and by the mid-80s I was selling quite a few,” said Gibson. “Once I teamed up with the owners of Crow Busters and started wholesaling to vendors like Crow Mart and Midwest Turkey Supply, the business just took off. My calls are now shipped worldwide, but to me each one is an individual project, and I want it to be the best.”

“These calls are truly magnificent looking calls and sound as good as they look” said Skip Woody, one of the Crow Buster staff advisors. “Having one of these is like owning a Stradivarius violin.”

Gibson custom calls are available through CrowMart at 410-742-1445 or www.crowmart.com, Midwest Turkey Call Supply at www.midwestturkeycall.com or by contacting Gibson at 828-287-9277.

About Phillip Gentry 815 Articles
Phillip Gentry of Waterloo, S.C., is an avid outdoorsman and said if it swims, flies, hops or crawls, he's usually not too far behind.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply