WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (WVDN) – In a quiet workshop scented with wood shavings, a family tradition is carried forward one carefully tuned turkey call at a time. Howard Fraley of White Sulphur Springs, owner of Satisfaction Turkey Calls, reflects on a lifetime of a multi-generational craft that doubles as a vocation and a passion, all tethered to a promise to keep the legacy alive for generations to come.
Howard’s journey started 55 years ago when he was only five years old.
“I idolized my grandfather’s work,” Fraley recalls. “I would watch my grandfather make turkey calls with his pocket knife and wood rasps, a passion passed on to me. He put his blood and sweat into making those early calls. He taught me the importance of making a quality call one at a time. My turkey calls were a hobby early. I was making many calls for my hunting buddies, and I realized I had a quality product you couldn’t buy in any store. Remembering the quality put into one call at a time,” Fraley went on to say.
Fraley chose the name Satisfaction Turkey Calls in his first year of college. Making turkey calls, you have to have an ear for sound, tone, etc. You are trying to sound exactly like a living wild turkey. “Quality wood is so important,” he stated, and black walnut is Fraley’s favorite for box calls, as well as pot calls. He can produce the most realistic turkey sounds with black walnut. Also, he shares that depending on the call you are making, several materials can be used, ranging from slate, glass, crystal, aluminum, ceramic.
Fraley’s journey is filled with memorable encounters in the outdoor industry. He shared that he has met thousands of great people over the years in the outdoor industry. The most precious to him is spending time with his family and sharing the gift he has. He feels privileged and honored to have made the great Jerry West a box call years ago. West enjoyed spring turkey hunting. He decided to take the family business back to a hobby again. After it had started to feel stressful with the quotas and demands, he took it back to a relaxing atmosphere, like his grandfather had shared the art with him many years ago.
The lineage continues, a deliberate choice to keep the art memorable and meaningful. He has shared the art of turkey calls with many, including his kids and now grandkids. The biggest challenge he faced with the turkey call business was resisting mass production, refusing to go that route because he would lose that special attention put into each call. Every call passes through Fraley’s hands before being sold or gifted. Each call is personally tuned by him.
The shop’s standard remains unwavering: if the call doesn’t meet high expectations for sound and appearance, it doesn’t leave the shop. Consistent quality continues to be Fraley’s mindset.
The outdoors community has shaped Fraley in countless ways, and he is quick to give back. “I enjoy giving back. Sharing my knowledge with our youth is another passion I have. Seeing a successful hunt using one of my calls is a feeling I can’t describe. I remember the hundreds of pictures I would receive from successful youth and adult hunters,” he added.
The Satisfaction Turkey Calls brand reaches nationally with the family business shipping calls to turkey hunters in all 50 states. The heartbeat remains the same consistent quality. Looking ahead, Howard Fraley says, “I envision the legacy staying alive by keeping the memories alive for generations to come.” He suggests to anyone starting a family business, “Remember it is your name and your legacy you’re putting on the line, do it with excellence!
