Turkey trackers answer call

Greg Slusher and Jack Losey love to talk turkey.
In fact, when the two men are not at their jobs at the General Motors plant in Lordstown, you might find them talking turkey to prospective hunters, practicing their call techniques during the off-season or, if it happens to be the spring or fall turkey hunting season, gobbling up a storm trying to call in a tom.
The two men have been hunting and calling turkey for several decades. A couple of years ago the pair got together for the sake of business when Slusher formed his own company, the Windy Hill Call Co., and started making turkey calls for sale.
"I really loved making calls," Slusher said, adding that at first they were just a hobby.
"I had a small shop call me and ask if I could make them for their store to sell," he said. "I look back now and can't believe how far we've come."
Windy Hill makes 37 products, Slusher said, and produces about 30,000 to 50,000 calls annually.
"Greg brings me his calls to check out before they go into production," said Losey. "I guess you could say I'm the technical adviser."
Losey is also one of five Ohio turkey hunters on the company's "pro" staff. The others are Denny Cowger of Niles, David Wright of Champion, Rodney Mayle of Newton Falls and Mike Warren of Belmont County.
Started with their dads
Losey got his start hunting turkey in Pennsylvania with his father. However, the improvements in the Buckeye State turkey flock have made the birds over here a better target.
"They're bigger in Ohio," Losey said. "The birds are all corn-fed." He said that Ohio's turkey quality has gotten better over the past 30 years and that he was very happy when the state started stocking birds years ago at Trumbull County sites.
Slusher, of Bristolville, also got his start hunting with his father.
The elder Slusher, Lee, now works with his son at the Windy Hill business.
"He was a huge part of my life," Slusher said. "He started taking me hunting when I was 8. If it wasn't for him, I would never have had the opportunity to do this."
Lee Slusher handles billing and the like for Windy Hill. "He's my dad, my best friend and my business partner," Slusher said.
Jack and Greg both believe in spreading the word about Windy Hill Calls as well as turkey hunting in general. Both men attend local hunting events such as the National Wild Turkey Federation's JAKES events for children and other NWTF local chapter functions. Losey also does demonstrations and seminars on calling.
Losey is a member of the Trumbull County Rod & amp; Gun Club, and Slusher is vice president of the Thundering Toms of Trumbull County chapter of the NWTF.
Where they are sold
Windy Hill has been selling calls through such outlets as Gander Mountain as well as other sites such as Rattlesnake Hill in Braceville and at smaller stores across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Texas and Arkansas.
The company also makes calls for deer, duck, elk and other species. "Greg has branched out pretty good," Losey said.
Losey said his favorite call the company makes is a box call. "Greg makes an excellent box call, and I really enjoy them," he said.
The Southington man is also becoming even more involved in the making of the company's calls. The artwork on a new model now in development -- called "The Judge" -- has artwork done by Losey.
"He's a good artist and painter," Slusher said.
Losey, also an Ohio hunter-safety education officer, said he can't stress safety enough when it comes to turkey hunting, especially when young hunters are involved.
"Safety rules for children are most important," he said. "Turkey hunting is one of the most popular and most dangerous sports. Safety rules are essential."
Important among the rules for young hunters to remember, he said, is hunt close to whichever adult is taking you, don't stalk a bird and don't wear red, white or blue while hunting.
Above all, both men expressed a love of turkey hunting.
"The thrill of going out after being idle all winter and having a bird respond and trying to get that bird to come to you, that takes a lot of skill," Losey said. "A lot of birds don't want to come. They're a very wary bird. That's what the challenge is all about."
Slusher is also a competition caller, pitting his skills against other callers at NWTF-sanctioned events.
Daughter's involved
He's even got his daughter, Lauren, 7, involved in calling, and the youngster recently won her first calling competition.
"She beat three 10-year-old boys last week at a contest at Rattlenake Hill," the proud father said.
The company recently affiliated with Skyline Camouflage of New York, which provides camouflage for Remington and Horton Bows.
Slusher said a couple of top officials from Horton Bows are scheduled to film a turkey hunting experience locally in May with Windy Hill's assistance.
braun@vindy.com
XTurkey seasons: Ohio -- Youth season, today and Sunday; regular season, Monday through May 23; Pennsylvania: youth season, today; regular season, May 1-29.