Reelfoot Duck Calling

[Henry H]

Gary (Cedar Creek) was kind enough to share with me his Earl Dennison record (a 45) as I've wanted to hear one of the old masters blow a reelfoot.  Dennison had a few records produced in the 40s to help market his calls and teach duck hunters to call.  To my knowledge, they haven't been sold for decades, and old copies are nearly impossible to find.  I made a digital recording to listen to and thought other reelfoot makers might enjoy hearing this, too, so I posted a copy in a semi-private youtube account (I can't find any suggestion it was copyrighted).  This is side 1 only... if the link works and you would like to hear side 2, let me know and I'll make it and upload to youtube.

[ben]

Henry''

Very good and I would like to hear the other side also.

ben

[FDR]

Thanks Henry! I vote for side 2 also.
Somewhere on youtube is a Wade Bourne video that has Wade blowing a Johnny Marsh call. Good demo also!

Fred

Found it:

[Henry H]

Here you go, Ben.



And be sure to thank Gary for sharing!

[ben]

Henry''

Thanks again. Very good.

A distinct listen on different types of calling and blowing the call verses the Wade Bourne.

ben

[FDR]

Most entertaining Henry.  Dennison was supposed to be one of the best callers of his day and the calling is certainly different from the Wade Bourne style which mimics what you would hear at Reelfoot today.  The guide I hunt with at Reelfoot grew up there and knew all the old guides and was taught to call by them and he calls more like Wade Bourne.  Interesting!!  Dennison was a real salesman that is for sure.  He sold calls to all the hardware stores in Tennessee from the trunk of his car during the 1950's. My father happened to be in the local hardware when Dennison visited and one of the calls followed him home. Sure made a young hunter proud.

Turner Kirkland founder of what became Dixie Gun Works did the same and sold percussion caps, black powder, gun parts, etc from the trunk of his car. Because of Turner I shot a muzzle loading shotgun on occasion.

Fred

[Henry H]

Love the history of this stuff - thanks for sharing the stories, Fred!

If anyone comes across a Dennison 78 record, I'd love to hear that, too!  Or any of the old greats.  It would be neat to gather a digital set of them to share with future generations, since vinyl is, for all intents and purposes, gone and these recordings would otherwise be effectively lost.

[Michael @ Foster Calls]

Wow, really cool!!!

[Matt aka ducknazi of Hawk Run Custom Calls]

Those were great to hear.  thanks for sharing with us.

matt