Name: James Keith
Address: P.O. Box 262; Oolagah, OK 74053
Phone: 918-443-2292 Fax:
E-mail: FoggyBottomCalls@aol.com
Personal Website:

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 Foggy Bottom Calls

James Keith starting making calls in 1986. His interest was peaked after reading an article on another call maker in a magazine. His neighbor and hunting partner was a machinist and help with the first attempts at making a call. The first calls were not very good. James interest continued to grow while the helping friend cooled off quickly. To continue in his call making James purchased the tools and equipment he needed. James comments that he made allot of fire wood as he started learning.

The call’s style is Arkansas, single reed. James produces two style calls S2 and S3. Both work in all conditions. The S2 design has the stopper and barrel contours blend together. This call can’t be banded. It’s about 4.5" in length. The style of the S3 in longer at about 4.75" and is designed to allow the call to be banded.

All single species wood calls are all turned from the same sections of wood. This way the grain matches and is continuos in it’s pattern. Barrels are snugly fit to the insert to insure that the call stays together while in the field. Favorite woods include Cocobolo, Maple (Birds Eye) and Osage Orange. One of James’ favorite combinations is a Birds Eye Maple Barrel and a Cocobolo tone board insert. Additional woods are available and very from time to time. In addition to wood James also works with Acrylic. These calls are available in a number of colors including clear, smoke, green, amber, blue, copper and ivory.

James calls are used across the country and are gaining in popularity. In 1997 one of James calls won second best hunting call in the Callmakers and Collectors Association Annual Competition in St. Charles IL. All His calls are designed for the blind and not as competition calls. Hence the motto of his calls, "built for the blind". There isn’t a duck on the water that could win a calling competition. The ultimate goal for any call and call maker is to bring in and work the birds in the field. James needs people to understand that his call as it comes from the box will not make anyone a better caller. Nobody’s call can do that. It takes time and practice. A caller needs to blow his call and practice, practice, practice.

Call making is an extension of James interest in waterfowl hunting. It adds that personal touch to his hunt. To James the hunt is working the birds and getting them to land where he wants them. Pulling the trigger is just the icing on the cake. James comments that he has learned to like the cake even without the icing. There are no limits to the amounts that can be had.