Derby City Calls had a booth in the innovations zone for this year’s ATA show.  The trade show is an order writing event and is geared more to Archery, however, we had many people interested in checking out our high quality turkey calls.  Derby City signed up 6 dealers who will carry our calls this spring.  These dealers ranged from the deep South, up into the midwestern United States.  We hope to have a dealer page set up for our visitors soon.  This would allow you to drop in and check out what they have to offer if they are located close to you.

Derby City’s Jeff Sullivan, Brent Stoner, Rick Denkhoff, Dave Berry, Scott Cronin, Tedd Moffett, and myself helped man the booth for 3 days.  We met a lot of good people in the hunting industry and made some good connections.  We hope to establish good working relationships with many of these people.  We were really pleased with the responses we received on our calls.  Many people were interested in our newest release, the turkey track.  This call will be available soon on our website.  There are some pictures in this blog that show you the new design.  Let me assure you, this is not just one beautiful looking call, it sounds phenomenal.

We all had a great trip and are now focusing our attention to Nashville for the NWTF National Convention in February.  We will have several Turkey Track calls on hand, for all you diehard turkey hunting fanatics, to try.  If you are looking for a true one of a kind call this year, all I can tell you is “TRUE AMERICAN CHESTNUT.”  Hopefully, this will get you excited to come and see us.

If you live in or around the Louisville area or are just passing through, we invite you to come and visit with us.  Let Derby City help you fill those tags this year.  We would like to thank everyone for a great start in the call making business.

Two Shot's Hen

Brent Stoner had a very successful fall turkey season in 2010.  Here is a summary of his season in his own words-

“The first segment of the 2010 fall season ended today. I am happy to say that I filled my tags with two hens in this early segment.  We opened  the season on Saturday, October 23rd with a killer miss on video. I talked my good friend and Midwest Whitetail Pro Staffer, Jarrod Hedrick, into going with me and Jim Dawson to film the hunt.  Thankfully, he decided to film us so I could provide some comic relief for the guys at the shop.

We arrived early to a spot on my farm that always holds birds.  I started doing some soft calling using my Derby City Call.  It did not take long for 7 nice toms  to filter into the field.  These gobblers cut in between Jim and myself.  They were working away from me, so I decided to take a shot.  Well, a couple of shots.  Two shots and no bird.  After reviewing the video, I just flat out missed. 

We went back out on Sunday morning.  This time a group of hens started to work up through a bottom towards the field.  Yes, if you watched the video, it took me two more shots.  However, I did down one this time.  Everyone at the shop is calling me Two Shot Stoner now. 

On Friday, Oct. 29th, I decided to try and bag another bird.  This was the last day of the early segment.  Jim and Jarrod had to work, so I was all by myself.  I got a good shot on another hen and I dropped her with one shot.  I texted Jim about the bird and one shot.  He felt the need to give me a math lesson via text.  His text was 5 shots @ 2 birds=40% shooting.  Jim and Jarrod both work as educators.  I guess they feel the need to make a lesson out of everything.   I would like to thank Jarrod for taping the first weekend’s hunt and thank Jim for the math lesson.”

Congrats to Brent.  We have a lot of fun together hunting and at the shop.  It is nice to have friends who you can have fun with.  Make sure you check out www.midwestwhitetail.com to see the hunt.

This past weekend was the first segment of Kentucky’s Fall Shotgun Turkey Season.  Brent Stoner, Jarrod Hedrick, and myself went to Brent’s farm to try and bag a couple of birds.  Jarrod is a Pro Staffer for Midwest Whitetail.  He films hunt for their website and hunting show.  Check out his videos on www.midwestwhitetail.com.  Most of his videos will be posted under the Indiana section.

  The first day was an eventful day.  We saw a group of nice gobblers working their way through the middle of the field.  Brent and Jarrod were on one end of the field and I was sitting in my Vision blind on the other end.  Needless to say, Brent shot twice and missed.  The best part is that we have it on film.  If you remember last fall, I shot and missed.  I took a little heat for that, so Brent is getting pay back.  We went home empty handed that day.

The second morning was a little different.  We decided to sit together in my blind and position it towards the middle of the field.  Jarrod brought along the camera to capture the hunt on film.  At about 8:30, we heard a lot of noise behind the blind.  It sounded like scratching.  Brent peaked out and could not see anything.  Eventually, Jarrod peaked out the back and saw a couple of cows right behind us.  Over the next few minutes, Jarrod and I kept hearing some soft yelps.  I decided to look again.  Definitely cows behind us, but there were some birds working there way up through the bottom as well.  We made the decision to move the blind away from the cows.  That decision paid off.  The birds, all hens, came out and started angling away from us.  Brent had to take the shot, because I had to move the mesh on the blind to allow Jarrod to film out the blind.  Brent shot and missed.  Hard to believe, I know.  However, two of the hens stopped at the edge of the field and gave Brent one last opportunity.  This time, he put one down.

We had a great time hunting this weekend.  Derby City calls worked great.  Brent did some fighting purrs and soft yelps that helped bring these birds in our direction.  Great times with great friends.  Jarrod, I really enjoyed hunting with you and look forward to more times in the field together.  Brent, thanks for allowing me and Jarrod to hunt at your “Honey Hole”.  Look forward to more hunts together in the near future.  Congrats again on your bird, Mr. Two Shot Stoner. 

Click on this link to watch the video, http://www.midwestwhitetail.com/gallery/72/media/2429/midwest-whitetails-latest-show.html.

Brent Stoner had a very successful Spring opener this year in Kentucky.  Brent used his Derby City Magnum aluminum call to bring in this nice gobbler. This bird ended up having 2 beards, each 10 inches in length.  Luckily, this hunt was caught on tape.  Sit back and enjoy Brent’s hunt.  Congrats on a nice bird.

Eric Sullivan, Matt Sullivan, Brent Stoner, and myself attended the “Hunting for a Cure” banquet on March 20th, 2010.  This banquet is a fundraiser for the Ky. Chapter of the ALS Association.  ALS stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  This disease affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually leading to muscle weakness, twitching, and paralysis.  Mitch Ensor, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2006, wanted a way to raise money to help find a cure for this disease.  With help from his family, friends, and numerous sportsmen and women, Mitch began this banquet a few years ago to raise money for the ALS Association.

What a humbling experience this banquet was for all of us.  The generosity of everyone was amazing.  Without a doubt, there was a lot of money raised through games, live auctions and silent auctions.  However, it was the compassion and caring for others that struck me.  Sportsmen and women are incredible.  Whenever someone is in need, they are always the first to offer a hand.  Derby City will continue to help fight ALS with donations for future banquets.  The Ensor family opened our eyes to the struggles of fighting ALS, how to remain positive in times of adversity, and how to be proactive in the this fight.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mitch and his family.

I think the last line of Lou Gehrig’s speech about his diagnosis of ALS says a lot about his character.  He says, “So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.”  I don’t know Mitch Ensor well, I met him for the first time at the banquet.  However, watching him throughout the evening, I believe he would say the same thing.

Mitch: keep fighting, keep hunting, keep believing.

-Jim Dawson, Derby City Game Calls

You can keep up with Mitch Ensor’s “Hunt for a Cure” by checking out their Facebook page.

Derby City Game Calls wants to thank Mike Bevan of Los Angeles California for his purchase of the Derby City Spur design Slate over Glass Turkey Call, upgraded with Old Growth Striker.  Upon follow up by phone from Brent Stoner of Derby City, Mike stated how impressed he was with the call and the striker and the sound it produced.  Mike told Brent that he was so impressed with his new call and striker that he threw his other friction call away.   Mike was in our neck of the woods here in Kentucky on Holiday and got in a little hunting of his own.  While he was here he ordered another DCC call, ( Magnum Slate over Glass ) and two more Old Growth Strikers.  Below you will find Mike’s comments in his own words on how the calls worked.  Thanks again Mike for the purchase of the calls, proud to add this one to the Kill Zone. 

Brent Stoner,  Derby City Calls

” Dear Brent,

Ment to call and thank you for sending me the call when I was in Clarkson but was hunting deer/turkey day and night. The call is fantastic. Got this bird using the call. Birds came in from all directions. Back in Los Angeles now and can’t wait to go back. I will be showing these calls to all my hunting buddy’s. Wishing you guys a wonderful holiday season.

Best Regards,   Mike Bevan”

One of the things I like about hunting is that it allows you to meet a lot of people and develop life- long friendships.  Many of my good friends are hunters who I have met through my love of the outdoors.  Working at Derby City Calls has expanded my network of friends even more.  Brent Stoner has become a good friend of mine.  We recently started hunting together and have had success turkey hunting and chasing rabbits.  Jeff and Eric Sullivan have also become good friends.  There guys are not hunters…yet!!  My love of hunting allowed me to meet these guys when they were looking at manufacturing turkey calls.  Jeff and Eric are hardworking business owners.  They have been great to work with and I look forward to many years of friendship. 

To Brent, Jeff, and Eric- I am blessed to have you guys as friends.  I look forward to growing these friendships over the years.

To Rick Denkhoff (another good friend)- You better kill a big turkey or deer this year if you still want to be a Pro Staffer. 

Derby City Calls ended its first fall turkey season on a high note.  On Oct. 30th, 2009, the weatherman was calling for high wind and rain to move in with temperatures in the mid 70’s.  It is the last day of the season and I wasn’t going to let the weather stop me.  I hit the woods early and set up near a roosting site.  The wind was picking up, just as I heard a flock of birds moving through the woods.  I made some soft putts and few kee-kees, alternating between my Derby City Spur and Magnum calls.  I was also using one of our Old Growth strikers made from the old cabin wood we recently purchased.  Our calls worked great.

In a matter of minutes, I had 5 nice birds closing in.  The biggest gobbler passed to the right of me, a mere 5 yards from my blind.  Unfortunately, I was set up for a shot to my left and I could not pull off a shot without spooking all of them.  I had to let that big longbeard walk.  I was whispering to myself, “I know where you live and I will be back for you this spring, Tommy Bird!”  I sat still and waited for the others to move into position for me to get a shot.  I lowered the boom on a nice, big bodied, bird.  This bird, along with the hen from opening day, filled my fall turkey tags.  I have learned the hard way that the breast tastes better than an unfilled tag any day.

I love the fall turkey season.  Kentucky is blessed with 2 fall seasons.  I love to put fresh wild turkey on the table for Thanksgiving.  My family and friends enjoy it as much as I do.  I have a feeling that this year’s harvest will be the best ever.  Even though my fall tags have been filled, I can’t wait to meet up with “Ole” Tommy Bird this spring in his own backyard.

Derby City Calls- a great, proven turkey call.

Footnotes: for field staff and pro staff

8 birds taken this fall season with Derby City Calls

Best Bird – Dave Berry  

24 pounds 12 inch beard  1 1/2 inch spurs

Best shot- Scott Crume, nice bow kill

Best Review- Clark Bush (check it out on his site, All About Shooting)

Best Time hunting- Brent Stoner, and smallest Bird!

Best Bruise- Jim Dawson (nice one)

 Best Effort – Rick Denkhoff (better kill a bird in the spring or you go from Pro Staff to “No Staff”)!!

: No photo available…. check back in the spring!

Also, congrats to Jim on getting his first fall bird ever.  He was a trophy bird and a very close 2nd to Dave’s trophy.

After agonizing over missing that nice longbeard on Saturday, as well as nursing a bruised shoulder, I redeemed myself Sunday morning.  Brent Stoner and myself hit the woods again early on Sunday.  At 8:09, a lone gobbler came strolling into the field.  Brent could tell I was getting excited.  My heart was about to beat out of my chest and I had to control my breathing.  Brent said he thought I was about to hyperventilate.  Although I looked like a nervous wreck, I was very much under control.  One shot was all it took this time.  (No Bruises either).  We decided to sit tight for about 30 minutes, hoping another bird would come in for Brent.  However, the anticipation got the best of Brent.  After 5 minutes, we had to go see how good of a bird he really was.  He was a limbhanger: 11 inch beard, 1 1/4 inch spurs, est. 23-25 pounds.  This was my first fall bird ever.  I would like to thank Brent for taking me with him to his honey hole.  Those were two outstanding days of hunting and I look forward to many more hunts with Brent.

After this weekend, Brent and I are stoked about Derby City’s line of Turkey Calls.  We are anxiously awaiting the Spring season to see how well our calls will perform.  If this fall is any indication, Derby City will be the demise of many lovesick gobblers this Spring.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, we were featured on Kentucky Afield. You can now check out our segment online! We thank Kentucky Afield for taking the time to check us out – it’s a pretty awesome segment. Check it out: