Ask Don Miller...or other scatters hunters

[ransco33]

Novacaine how much did the calls cost? Was thinkng about getting some for my boys and myself.

+1 I was kinda wondering that myself. I was thinking it would make a hell of a Christmas present for my little brother.

[teul2]

I did see the acrylic calls but didn't blow them. Really nice.

The calls are $80 each. I have alot of pics that I took and will get them together as time allows and post them.
Here is his display case that he calls his wife's. But the way he brags about it, you know it is all him.






3rd place in the World. He has three 2nd place and one 3rd place finishes in the World.

1959 MS State champ trophy

[novacaine]

Teul 2 and i spend 1 1/2 hours with him yesterday and it was awesome!!! He told so many stories that others have to hear. He said that he has old super 8 video of him and others hunting in the Scatters from back in the 50's. If Don Miller puts together a get together and invites Mr. Son as the featured speaker, wouldn't it be cool to look at those old videos and get a play-by-play from the man himself!!!!!!!!!!! I would love to get the old filmes and put them on dvd-sounds like a mission to me!
He has a million stories to tell and his eyes light up like a little kid!

[paraduck]

sounds like some one need to comply this material and turn it in to a book.....just a thought

[teul2]

If Don Miller puts together a get together and invites Mr. Son as the featured speaker, wouldn't it be cool to look at those old videos and get a play-by-play from the man himself!!!!!!!!!!!

Don Miller,
I mentioned that you may do a gathering and wanted him to attend, and he said he would love to. But, he doesn't drive, so we would have to pick him up and bring him back.

[novacaine]

Mr Son working on Teul2's reed

C.M. Son Jordan (filing Joel's reed).jpg

Mr Son's work table with reed cutter and calls

C.M. Son Jordan (reed cutter and calls).jpg

Jan. 1958 photo of a Scatters hunt

C.M. Son Jordan (Scatters 1958 pic).jpg

[Trip]

judging by the blue jumpsuit, I'd bet that man can wear out some crappie and brims!!

[novacaine]

This is a R.R. (Mr Mac) McPherson call in Mr Son Jordans display case.

The attachment RRMCPherson call.jpg is no longer available

This is on of my favorites(middle). This wall was left unfinished by Mr Son because his grandson wanted to write a note on it as a present to Mr Son.
I can't remember exactly so i will paraphase:
This is the best call in the whole world not just because it sounds so great but because it brings grandparents, parents, and brothers together.
That's not exact-it was actually more poetic than that but i really got my attention. What a tribute.

RRMCPherson call.jpg (3.84 KiB) Viewed 1159 times

[Double R 2]

Pure history. Thanks!

[mfalkner]

I've only hunted the scatters a few times, late in the game, but this gets my vote as one of the coolest threads ever on the board. In my few hunts there I saw some things I've never seen anywhere else.....

[bigwater]

for some reason all i can think about was at the meeting we had with the mdwfp.. one of the committe members..he made two comments that i keep think'n about that relate to this thread ...

the first one was.. i'm as big a duck hunter as any of you all... secondly, he said.. i just don't understand anything about this scatters place...

with all due respect to that gentleman.. i don't think you can claim to be all you can as a duck hunter until you've tried your hand at hunting the scatters .. and yes sir.. that gentleman was correct that he really doesn't have a clue about the scatters...

bigwater's .02

[chevy01234]

One of the coolest posts on this site i've ever read, by far! I always enjoy running into the "old hands" like Mr. Son and Mr. Frankie either at the boat ramps or around town. Looks like i'm gonna have to talk Joel and Bill into making another trip to Mr. Son's so I can get me a couple of calls!

[Don Miller]

One of the coolest posts on this site i've ever read, by far! I always enjoy running into the "old hands" like Mr. Son and Mr. Frankie either at the boat ramps or around town. Looks like i'm gonna have to talk Joel and Bill into making another trip to Mr. Son's so I can get me a couple of calls!

Just go solo. Mr. Son is always there. All you have to do is just drop by his house and strike up a conversation. He will talk duck hunting and call making as long as you'll listen

[Hambone]

judging by the blue jumpsuit, I'd bet that man can wear out some crappie and brims!!

I always noticed that those old time expert perch jerkers favored the blue or tan jumpsuits, particularly the kind with the "half belt" with the brass buckle across the front

[teul2]

Ok, Here is a rundown on the call making.
Here you see Mr. Jordan at the lathe. He has automated this lathe to the point all he has to do is center the wood, pull a lever, and flip a switch. On the lathe now is the tone board profile. If you'll look, hanging on the shelf to the right, is a profile for the call barrel.

You can see the metal profile in the lathe here.

He has all his automations run with cut off or limit switches. So when they run their length, they automatically cut off.


The tone boards would then move over here to be cut.
Note, this is a mounted and modified Skil saw. Place the raw tone board in the hole on top, and run it over the saw blade.



Next he would precisely cut the scrap piece off the tone board by placing it in the jig on the left of this next piece of equipment.

This piece also makes his tone board arch. It is a everyday router, mounted on a slide with a jig to guide the cutting blade. He says that when the tone board comes off here, it is 90% tuned.



Then comes the cutting of the reed. He uses .10mm Mylar. Places in another, you guessed it, jig.
At bottom you see the jig to shape the reed.
In the middle, once the reed it shaped, it is cut to length and notched on a corner to assure correct orientation.
At top, this piece shapes the edge of the reed after it is cut.

Setting the jig to shape the reed.

Then just cut with a pocket knife.

Now, cleaning up the edges of the reed,





Cut to length


We sat down and chatted for a good hour after he showed me his process. Great guy.