Ken Hammel (Preacher) of Mountain Hollow Game Calls

Ken Hammel and deer (not from VT)

Ken Hammel is the owner of Mountain Hollow Game Calls.  He is called "Preacher" by some, because he is also a preacher...as in real preacher, from a pulpit preacher.  His preaching skills are evident when Ken speaks to fellow sportsmen.  He is also refreshingly candid when recounting his own outdoor adventures.*

I had the opportunity of meeting and speaking with Ken Hammel during the Yankee Sportsman's Classic, January 18th through 20th, where Ken was both a seminar speaker and a vendor.  Ken's seminar topic was "Trophy Whitetail Calling Tactics."  While his company sells a variety of products, including deer grunt tubes, deer scents and lures, and de-scenting soaps, Ken's presentation focused on rattling for deer.  Ken's talk was definitely focused on helping hunters rather than selling product.

The major take-away from Ken's presentation was that if you hunt in the Northeast, you need to rattle for at least a half hour.  Rattle for about three minutes, then wait and listen...repeat.  Ken suggests continuing rattling because it may take time for a buck to locate the source of sound, especially with hilly topography.

During his presentation, he mentioned that some hunters cut off the brow tines on their rattling antlers so they don't hit their thumbs when rattling.  Ken, however, is a firm believer in keeping as much antler as possible to make the most noise, an occasional thumb whack, notwithstanding.  I don't think that using too much antler mass or too-long brow tines are much of an issue for local hunters using Vermont deer antlers.

Other deer-hunting tips and facts include:

• The best time of day to rattle is between 10 AM and 2 PM - which is when I expected it would be the worst time;
• Ken's own success rate with rattling is about one time in fifty;
• Grunting and rattling is better than just rattling alone (a second person is helpful);
• Rattling has been more successful for Ken when done on the ground, rather than from a tree stand;
• Ninety percent of the time Ken looks for a spot with the best visibility (where he can see furthest) and doesn't worry about wind direction (since he doesn't know where the deer is coming from anyway);
• The best day to take a Boone and Crockett buck is on November 11th; 5 days, plus or minus, are best days for success;
• The best week for rattling success is the second week in November;
• Bucks grunt while fighting; and
• A doe rarely comes to a buck call, but will usually respond to a doe call.

Ken at the VT show

Ken's company, Mountain Hollow Game Calls, is just over 30 years old.  The company was originally started by Ronnie Johnson and was taken over by Ken when Ronnie left. Ken says they produce about 10,000 calls a month.  He is assisted in his business by many people, including about 10 family members, such as his mom, who assembles the lanyards.  His late father had also assisted in making the lanyards.

When I asked Ken what he likes most about his business he said he likes designing and building the calls.  He describes Mountain Hollow Game Calls as a very friendly company that likes teaching people.  They have a Pro Staff of about 40 and want to teach you to be successful.  From talking with Ken and listening to him talk with people he knew at the show, it seems that Ken also enjoys a fair amount of hunting.  Ken said the least enjoyable part of the job was selling.

Ken said he attends 14 to 16 sportsmen shows a year, the largest of which is the show in Harrisburg, PA (recently cancelled due to a vendor boycott following the promoter's ban of modern sporting rifles).  While he sells his products through stores and on the internet, Ken says that the best deals he offers are at shows.

I asked Ken what was one of the coolest product he sold and he said it was Mountain Hollow Game Calls Barred Owl call.  The call is used for turkey hunting.  What?  Before sunlight, you can use the call to locate roosting turkeys, because the turkeys will answer the owl call, but would be wary of a turkey call at that time of day.  This allows the hunter to best position himself to call turkeys at daylight.  (I was won over and bought an owl call - not because I hunt turkeys, but because we have many barred owls.  Let's just say that my owl call sounded nothing like Ken's owl call.  My call works great if your objective is to have an English Setter launch himself at you every time you practice it.)

I want to thank Ken for taking the time to talk with me and answer my questions.  Ken is an interesting guy with great company...and a seemingly very tolerant wife.  If, during the night, you hear a sick sounding Barred owl followed by a dog's howl, don't be alarmed, it's probably just me.

*After hearing some of Ken's stories I would love to meet his wife.  As I mentioned above, Ken is refreshingly candid.  He asks the audience if anyone has ever been lost in the woods.  A few honest men raise their hands.  Ken volunteers that he's been lost.  In fact, he adds, over 200 men were once out looking for him.  His wife said he could never hunt again...that didn't work.  My favorite story came when we were discussing using mouth calls - the diaphragm-type calls that fit in your mouth.  Ken said that the first time he tried one of these calls (remember, these are a staple sale of his company) he gagged and threw up.  Once again, his wife said, you aren't doing that again...and, once again, that didn't work.  Ken says he can now keep several of the calls in his mouth at the same time and just rotate them as needed.  When I comment on what a great story this is, Ken quickly points out that it is impossible to actually choke on any of the mouth calls.

Yankee Sportsman's Classic

I'm still digesting all the information from the speakers and exhibitors at the Yankee Sportsman's Classic held this past weekend, from Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, January 18th - 20th.  I won't go into what products I bought, publications I subscribed to, or organizations I joined because there is always the chance, remote as it is, that my wife could start reading my blog.  Let's just say I did my part to defend our Second Amendment rights and I will be receiving at least one extra-large publication from Maine once a month.

It was great seeing a lot of kids at the show.  Many of them were trying their hands at target shooting, archery, and fishing.  Some kids were enjoying themselves by running around with a skunk skin over their arm pretending it was alive and scaring (I mean startling) older sportsmen .  There also seemed to be many spontaneous reunions between old classmates, neighbors, and friends.

 As of Sunday night, I failed to win two raffles.  I'm OK with that.  I have my sights set on the "TWO ALL-EXPENSE PAID MANITOBA, CANADA TROPHY WHITE TAIL DEER HUNTS & TIMBER WOLF HUNTING."  If I win I will, of course, declare the value of hunt to the IRS and pay taxes on it.  I guess I'll have to if I write about it!  I got two tickets, one for me and one for my dad.  I told my dad I'd take him if I won.  I'm hoping Dad will reciprocate the favor.  The drawing is on April 30th.  (I understand that even if you decide not to hunt timber wolves in Manitoba that is no guarantee that they won't hunt you.  Seriously.)

I had the pleasure of interviewing several of the seminar speakers and vendors.  Those interviews will appear in detail in upcoming blog posts.  Here is a quick summary of what I learned:

• Fanatical outdoorsmen are just plain interesting.  They have spent thousands of hours more than you (or least me) studying their craft.  They also probably tend to support the Second Amendment more than your average citizen.
• If you love your job it doesn't seem much like work.
• If you are a self-employed lodge owner and guide in Maine you work awfully hard.
• A professional game call maker can blow through a handheld pencil sharpener and make it sound like a hen turkey or mallard duck.  So when you buy the barred owl call, don't be surprised that it sounds like a constipated goose (not that I really know what that sounds like).  Becoming proficient with anything requires practice and lots of time spent with your dog launching himself at you each time you blow into the call.
• If you are going to rattle for deer in the Northeast, rattle for at least a half hour.  And real antlers work better than a rattle bag...unless they are from most Vermont deer, then just rub two pencils together.
• The best week for rattling success is the second week in November.  The best time of day to rattle is between 10 AM and 2 PM.  (This will make Dick M. happy and reduce our chances of ever taking a midday break at the local diner.)
• The best day to take a Boone and Crockett buck is on November 11th.  To be safe, you should probably hunt other days as well.
• When hunting in Manitoba, always load your gun 300 yards from the road - the minimum legal distance.  You may not be hunting wolves, but that isn't a guarantee they won't hunt you.
• Bucks grunt while fighting.  A doe rarely comes to a buck call.  A doe usually responds to a doe call.  Husbands usually respond to the "dinners ready" call.
• Never bait coyote using an entire cow carcass.
• Never have a frozen cow carcass dropped into the bed of your pickup truck - it could break out your back window.  (I suppose you should also mention it to your significant other that you intend to bring a cow carcass home.)
• Deer are just a fancy, glorified goat.  They will climb up to 3000 feet to avoid hunting pressure.
• Beagles don't bark around the house if you run them 9 miles a day.  Swim them if it is hot.
• Snowshoe hare have two uteruses (or is it uteri?), just the does, and are almost always pregnant, even when nursing a new litter.  Unlike rabbits, hare kits are born with fur and able to see.
• March is the best month to hunt hares in Maine.
• Wood ducks are the best tasting ducks.
• It is no wonder that collecting hand-carved decoys becomes an obsession for some.
• It is possible to try hunting waterfowl without going broke.
• Passion for the outdoors and wildlife is infectious...and not easily treated (even under Obamacare).

Brian and Leo at their booth

Let me thank the following for giving me their time and for answering my many questions:

• Bob Howe (owner and Maine Master Guide) with Pine Grove Lodge;
• Ken Hammel (owner) with Mountain Hollow Game Calls;
• Brian Bouchard (owner and guide) and Leo LaBonte (guide and decoy carver) with Fields Bay Outfitters; and 
• Wayne Laroche (owner and author) with Trackometer.