Answering the call

Duck season never ends for Brian Phillips, even when the legal season ticks away on that final day every January and waterfowl hunters mourn the close of another chapter.

Phillips is 29 years old, lives in Guntersville and has been a duck hunter for about 15 or 16 years. He loves it. Is passionate about it, probably about like one of those bumper stickers that reads "Hooked on Quack."

A few years ago Phillips got the itch to try his hand at making duck calls.

His older brother, Tracy, is an avid turkey hunter and call-maker, with a solid nod with his paddle box calls to the legendary Neil Cost.

"He was really good about letting me come over and use his tools," Phillips said, chuckling at how brothers can sometimes swap hugs and haymakers. "I'm sure after a while he was getting tired of it and I bought my own tools. But he's been very supportive and helpful."

What has transpired in about three years is success with his Dixie Land Calls, which is gaining traction with hunters and within the contest circuits. Phillips stays busy working, hunting, tending to customers who want a custom call, attending shows or contests and also helping young calling champion Devlin Hodges of Kimberley.

Phillips captured top honors at the 2007 Callmakers & Collectors Association of America last year at Reelfoot Lake. His wooden call won its class and then claimed "Best of Show" for its design and utility as a "working call" that must perform to attract ducks as well as it does customers.

Other honors include a best of show runner-up at the National Wild Turkey Federation "Grand National" last year.

Phillips is young enough to be able to understand that today's generation of callers wants a little bling.

He produces fluorescent acrylic calls and they're snapped up like hotcakes, especially a neon green that stands out.

But he's also traditional enough to understand the older generation that enjoys wooden calls. For those of us older than 40, acrylic is still relatively "new" and wood often is favored.

"The more seasoned hunters seem to want wood more," Phillips said. "I don't know if it's what they grew up with or what, but the young guys want the flashiest calls."

That's one great thing about hunting, the mix of tradition and new blood.

Phillips may turn out calls a punk rocker could like, but also has some stunning burl with intricate grain patterns along with ivory, caramel and black acrylic as stylish as Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Phillips is a hunter, so he knows what hunters need and like.

He cuts a lanyard groove into the insert but also has added rubber o-rings to the insert.

"Most calls are held together right there with friction," he said. "That o-ring just gives it extra stability.."

Many parts of calls found the trash bin before Phillips had his "a-ha!" moment.

That first "good" call is his favorite hunting call and a reminder in the shop when he's at the machines turning out another call.

"It's my visual reference," he says, "my inspiration."

Contact Alan Clemons at alan.clemons@htimes.com and visit blog.al.com/outdoors this week for "The Call" and more from Brian Phillips and Dixie Land Calls.