I happen to stumble across this and Mr. Orville “Orv” Robertson has quite the past time or hobby if you want to call it that. He makes wishbone turkey calls.

By: Rick Kratzke

River Falls resident Orv Robertson shows off his custom-made turkey call, which he crafts from the three bones found in a turkey’s wings. Look for his video demonstration online at www.riverfallsjournal.com. Debbie Griffin photo

Resident and local sportsman Orville “Orv” Robertson likes to hunt turkey. He uses every bit of the bird, right down to its wing bones. He even uses them to make custom turkey calls.

“It’s a total of three (wing) bones,” said Robertson.

He learned the practice from friend and fellow sportsman Wayne Bailey, author of “Wayne’s Turkey World.”

He met Bailey at a gun show. The two found they had much in common, including a love of turkey hunting.

“It’s his calls I’m trying to imitate,” Robertson said.

He scrapes, boils and disinfects the three wing bones, cuts off the knuckles and hollows out the insides a bit. He sands the bones until they’re smooth then connects them with epoxy, fitting one bone just inside the other.

Robertson uses a copper band to attach a lanyard.

He said hunters, especially those using bow and arrow, like being able to hang the call around their necks because it leaves their hands free. And in turkey hunting, Robertson said it’s important to remain still.

He says the birds have excellent vision. Hunters must camouflage themselves all over, including their face, and usually line themselves up with a tree.

“You want to hide your silhouette,” Robertson explained.

He started making the calls about a year and a half ago and says he’s made about 15 of them since then. Always on the lookout for turkey bones, friends often give him ones from the birds they’ve killed.

Robertson smiles, saying, “Sometimes I reward them with a call.”

He said the custom call makes a different sound than the ones people buy in stores.

Read more of Talkin Turkey:

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Story By: River Falls Journal

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