Valley Quail & Gambel's Quail call

Valley Quail & Gambel's Quail call

Since I already had a clam type fox call, I thought I could upload a little variant that should be suitable for the two species of “desert” quails. This call is using a rubber band reed so you will have to get a suitable rubber band to get it to work. (More about that down at the assembly instructions)

 Note, while I of course tested a few prototypes until I got what I think might be ok sound from it, I'm not from any area with those birds and I have never tried this call in real action. So please come with constructive feedback in the comments and let me improve the call if that is needed. This should be expected as a Work In Progress, not a finished product.

Look at my other game calls:

https://makerworld.com/en/collections/3444293

Printing

Use PLA or another stiff material (avoid CF/GF since you are going to breath in around it, you do not want small CF particles in your lungs). All parts are designed for 3d-printing and no supports needed. I suggest using 0.4 mm or finer nozzle.

My posted print profile is using two colors and standard 0.2 mm layer height settings but finer layer height will look a little bit better with the opening on the call (I do not think it affects the function)

Logos/multicolor parts are just recessed 0.001mm into the model so you choose yourself if you want to paint them or not.

Assembly

First you need to get a suitable rubber band to be used as a reed. I have seen several sources recommend No. 30, 31, or 32 rubber band but more sizes will probably work and I just took something I had home. But be aware that the result will vary with different rubber bands so test other sizes if one does not sound good.

To assembly the call you cut the rubber band (but keep the full length to begin with). Put the rubber band between the halves (easier to lay it on the “under half” since it has ridges that keeps it in place. Let the rubber band ends go through the nuts and fasten one nut hard so it locks the rubber band in place. The other nut you screw a few turns but do not fasten it before you take that end of the rubber band and stretch it. Then you tighten that nut as well. This is how you tune the call, try different stretch by losen one nut, adjust, and tighten it again. When you are satisfied you can cut the ends of the rubber band or leave a bit so you can tune more in the field since the rubber band most likely will change with time. (You will need to totally change rubber bands now and then as well, they tend to get old fast when in tension.)

Use

This is actually quite easy. Compared to a fox clam, you do NOT bite down on it to compress the halves, just blow into the call in a suitable sequence. I provide a link to a tutorial video where similar calls are used.