Turkey season is here—and instead of just talking tactics, we sat down with a guy who lives and breathes it from a different angle.
This episode features Josh Ermer, owner and call maker behind Gobbler Ridge Turkey Calls—a small-batch operation built from the ground up by a diehard hunter who learned the craft the hard way.
We get into how he went from a kid getting his first bird called in by his grandpa… to building calls that are now killing birds across the country
This one’s part storytelling, part craftsmanship, and part practical advice on what actually works in the woods.
Josh’s story is about as real as it gets:
Started turkey hunting at 12
Shot his first bird in 2003 with his grandpa
Watched a box call pull birds from 600 yards
That moment stuck—and turned into an obsession
That early experience didn’t just hook him on hunting—it hooked him on how sound influences birds.
Like most guys in this space, it didn’t start as a business.
Began experimenting with calls in high school
Started with box calls first, then expanded
Early production run: ~80 calls to test and learn
What stands out is how much of it was trial and error—not theory.
One of the biggest takeaways from Josh:
Grain direction in wood is critical
The interaction between paddle and box creates the sound
Small variations = completely different tones
That’s the difference between:
Josh dropped something interesting:
His take:
Box calls are the easiest to learn
They offer better range for locating birds
They’re one of the most effective tools—especially early
And yet… tons of guys skip them entirely.
If you strip it down to what works:
If you’re building a simple, effective kit:
Also worth noting:
One of the best parts of the episode wasn’t about gear—it was about passing it on.
Josh shared the story of his son’s first turkey:
Long hours with no success the first year
Came back the next season and did it right
Bird worked off the roost, into decoys, and got it done
That full-circle moment—from being the kid to being the mentor—is what sticks.
Calling matters more than most guys think
Box calls are massively underutilized
Sound quality comes down to craftsmanship details
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” call—especially with diaphragms
Teaching the next generation is as rewarding as killing birds
There’s a difference between buying gear… and understanding it.
Josh isn’t just building turkey calls—he’s building tools that reflect years of trial, failure, and figuring out what actually makes birds respond.
And if you listen close in this episode, you’ll pick up a few things that might just help you kill one this spring.
🧠 How It All Started🔨 Getting Into Call Making🎯 What Actually Matters in a Turkey CallIt’s not just the call—it’s the details🦃 The Most Underrated Call in Turkey Hunting. A shocking number of hunters don’t even use a box call 🔊 Call Strategy (What He Actually Uses)Locating Birds Working Birds🧰 Recommended Call Setup (From Josh)Box CallPot CallMouth CallMouth calls are highly individual—what works for one hunter might not work for another. 🏹 The Moment That Makes It Worth It💡 Key Takeaways🔥 Quote From the Episode“I couldn’t believe that box call pulled those birds from 600 yards… that’s what stuck with me.” 🏁 Final Thought
