Here is a little about Chad Gunzenhauser and how he got started making calls.
I started making Duck Calls in 2012 as a Small Shop Call Maker. I’m a middle school wood-shop teacher and had some students that wanted to try their hand at making duck calls. This was in the beginning of the “Duck Dynasty” era when the craze was really taking off. So during study halls we messed around with trying our hand at them. I always hunted geese but ducks were not something we normally targeted. I got hooked on trying to get a duck call made, that sounded somewhat like a duck. I had most of the equipment at home from making pens so I started trying different combinations until I had something that sounded somewhat realistic.
I made a homemade jig out of wood first, then I made one using tool steel. It was close but not perfect. After that I thought I would try my hand at Pot calls for Turkey Hunting. This was in 2015 when I first made a Pot Call.
I love to make duck calls using figured burls and hardwood. For Pot calls, my favorite is a Slate over Glass in a Cocobolo Wood in a Pot call.
I believe I got my first custom duck call jig in 2017. The insert I used to get my custom jig made was one that I made and sold to a customer who happened to be a good friend. He had it for a couple years and everyone that heard it said they loved it. I knew that was the one I needed to send in for a jig to be made from. At that point I was either gonna stop making calls or bite the bullet and pay for the custom call jig. After some negotiations to get the insert back from my buddy, I took the dive head first.
The thing that keeps me going at it is the feedback from customers. I love the pictures of successful harvest and hunts in the field. Additionally, my love of woodworking keeps me focused and loving what I do.
My biggest accomplishment in duck call making was being named the 2020 Amateur Working Duck Call Maker of the Year at NWTF. It is an honor to receive such an award and keeps me wanting to improve and continue with each call I make.
Chad makes calls as a Hobby and lives around the Royersford, Pennsylvania area. Be sure to stop by and check out his Facebook Page to see his craft.