Turtle shell slates - North Carolina Hunting And Fishing Forums

Tony Hawkins · 02-06-2010, 07:29 PM

So if a person had a few box turtle shells lying around, and wanted to make a slate call as shown in these instructions, where might he find 1/8" slate?

http://www.nwtf.org/jakes/xtreme/callmaking.html

Would they have the appropriate slate in Home Depot or Lowes? I was thinking in the isle with ceramic tile?

Looks like something fun to do with my kids.

Zach's Grandpa · 02-06-2010, 08:07 PM

You might want to check the law, I don't about N C but in Tn it's against the law to have the shells.

Zombie · 02-06-2010, 08:16 PM

I see those turtles all the time.. i think i may have a couple shells laying around too. Might have to give that a try!!!

Tony Hawkins · 02-06-2010, 08:31 PM

I wondered about that as the box turtle is our state reptile.

On the other hand, it looks like an easy (old-school) way of making a call. Kindof like making a wingbone yelper.

I have seen the turtle shell slates here and there, and wonder what kind of sound they would produce.

gobbler · 02-06-2010, 11:44 PM

www.brooksidegamecalls.com they got all sorts of pieces of slate glass aluminum crystal; striker materials, unfinished wood pots, good luck, a lot more goes into making a good sounding call than just glueing the pieces together.

shadycove · 02-07-2010, 01:30 AM

for you it's easy to get slate--just get on 49 toward Asheboro and make a right on Slate Mine Rd--if you get to 109, you have gone too far--once you get some waste slate at the mine [cheap], all you have to do is take a chisel and split off a thin 1/8" layer, sand it smooth and start gluing--SC

CJF · 02-07-2010, 07:01 AM

They are legal to make and possess in NC. I know they are illegal to sell in

TN as I make them myself

bshobbs · 02-07-2010, 08:30 AM

Great idea...think the next shell I see I'll try one. This may be able to run over into clam or oyster shells..??? No much to lose but a little glue and slate....

I've wasted more for less....

Tony Hawkins · 02-08-2010, 06:11 PM

You were right about it being easy to get. Good suggestion.
However, I am a teacher so I went into the school's basement (storage room) today and found the motherload of old slate blackboards. I found a piece that had broken off (about 2.5' x 3'). It is a little thick, but it should work fine.
T

Tony Hawkins · 03-14-2010, 05:45 PM

I had to sand the slate down from about .25 to .13 because all of the instructions online said to use 1/8" slate. Not sure if it matters. Decided to paint the shell that had lost all of its plates (Kilz then some oil based duckboat paint), tried to make a stencil of a bird for the back. One for my son and one for me.

02-06-2010, 07:29 PM	#1
Tony Hawkins Four Pointer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mount Pleasant, NC Posts: 259	Turtle shell slates So if a person had a few box turtle shells lying around, and wanted to make a slate call as shown in these instructions, where might he find 1/8" slate? http://www.nwtf.org/jakes/xtreme/callmaking.html Would they have the appropriate slate in Home Depot or Lowes? I was thinking in the isle with ceramic tile? Looks like something fun to do with my kids.

02-06-2010, 08:16 PM	#3
Zombie Twelve Pointer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walkertown, Forsyth Co. NC Posts: 3,537	I see those turtles all the time.. i think i may have a couple shells laying around too. Might have to give that a try!!! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ^Join the group, Click the link!^ "Born to bleed fighting to succeed Built to endure what this world throws at me!" - Hatebreed - In Ashes They Shall Reap

02-06-2010, 08:31 PM	#4
Tony Hawkins Four Pointer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mount Pleasant, NC Posts: 259	Thanks for the heads-up about the law. I wondered about that as the box turtle is our state reptile. On the other hand, it looks like an easy (old-school) way of making a call. Kindof like making a wingbone yelper. I have seen the turtle shell slates here and there, and wonder what kind of sound they would produce.

02-07-2010, 07:01 AM	#7
CJF Twelve Pointer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ronda, NC Posts: 3,707	They are legal to make and possess in NC. I know they are illegal to sell in TN as I make them myself __________________ Support Sunday Hunting, NC's newest tradition Southern Yankee Although 65% of those surveyed in NC don't hunt, they have seen Bambi in its entirety thereby making them wildlife experts and worthy of being surveyed.

02-08-2010, 06:11 PM	#9
Tony Hawkins Four Pointer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mount Pleasant, NC Posts: 259	Thanks for the tip shady.. You were right about it being easy to get. Good suggestion. However, I am a teacher so I went into the school's basement (storage room) today and found the motherload of old slate blackboards. I found a piece that had broken off (about 2.5' x 3'). It is a little thick, but it should work fine. T

02-06-2010, 08:07 PM	#2
Zach's Grandpa Twelve Pointer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Locust Hill Posts: 2,130	You might want to check the law, I don't about N C but in Tn it's against the law to have the shells.

02-06-2010, 11:44 PM	#5
gobbler Spike Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 99	www.brooksidegamecalls.com they got all sorts of pieces of slate glass aluminum crystal; striker materials, unfinished wood pots, good luck, a lot more goes into making a good sounding call than just glueing the pieces together.

02-07-2010, 01:30 AM	#6
shadycove Ten Pointer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yadkin River Valley Posts: 1,597	for you it's easy to get slate--just get on 49 toward Asheboro and make a right on Slate Mine Rd--if you get to 109, you have gone too far--once you get some waste slate at the mine [cheap], all you have to do is take a chisel and split off a thin 1/8" layer, sand it smooth and start gluing--SC

02-07-2010, 08:30 AM	#8
bshobbs Four Pointer Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kenansville, NC Posts: 379	Great idea...think the next shell I see I'll try one. This may be able to run over into clam or oyster shells..??? No much to lose but a little glue and slate.... I've wasted more for less....

03-14-2010, 05:45 PM	#10
Tony Hawkins Four Pointer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mount Pleasant, NC Posts: 259	Finished 2 today... I had to sand the slate down from about .25 to .13 because all of the instructions online said to use 1/8" slate. Not sure if it matters. Decided to paint the shell that had lost all of its plates (Kilz then some oil based duckboat paint), tried to make a stencil of a bird for the back. One for my son and one for me.