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Turkey hunting has been a passion of the Clarks for many years. Donald killed his first turkey at 12 years old and Sarah had a joint venture killing her first turkey with Donald and her father-in-law James Clark years later. This method of hunt is one of the distinguishing Clark ways, it is referred to as “Clark-en it.” It consists of several Clark family members getting together and surrounding the bird. This is how Clark-It calls got the name. Donald and Sarah’s team work has become a love they both share. They have been married for 34 years and reside in Sheridan Arkansas. They have one daughter Dusty Denney of Sheridan, a son-in-law, Justin and two grandchildren, Clark and Claire. They are members of Immanuel Baptist Church and have many family and friends who encourage them with there hobby.
They are in Earl Mickel’s third book “Longbeards, Callmakers, and Memories” on page 38. There is also a story in this book that Sarah wrote on pages 142-143, “The Hard Rock Gobbler.” This story was also published in “Real Hunter” magazine a couple of years ago.
Donald started making box calls around 2002. Several years ago he attempted to make one but “chunked” it, but always had the goal in mind of making a call that would call up a gobbler. His first calls were glued together, but the tones just were not good enough. After several more “chunking of the calls” he now makes a solid box call. He makes a short box, long box, and a one-sided box call. He has also made a few wing-bone calls but has never sold any. He won 4th at the NWTF Convention in the Hunting Division-One-Sided Box Call Category. He strives to beat his good friend, Mike Lapp, in one of these categories at next years NWTF Convention. They could talk for hours if there was not such a long distance between them. At the 2006 NTWF Convention they won 1st & 2nd place in the Decorative-Division- Painted Category and 3rd & 4th place in the Woodburn Category.
Donald loves to use different types of wood and is like a kid at Christmas when he receives a box in the mail from one of his buddies (Randy Carswell, Gary Herd or Mike Lapp) with some new or different woods. Some of his favorites are Cedar, Walnut, Persimmon, Chinkapin, Sassafras, Maple, Bois D’ Arc, Poplar and Purple Heart. He loves to find out the history of the wood and has said “that old wood has personality.” When he makes that first stroke on each call after completion, he resembles a fine instrument maker with his eyes closed anticipating a sweet beckoning tone that he hopes any gobbler would run to.
Sarah started adding her “two cents worth” a little while after Donald started making the turkey calls. Anything he’s interested in she usually becomes interested in as well. Her addition to this “calling” is the artwork. She has always enjoyed drawing but had never drawn any wildlife. Her love for hunting made it very compelling to attempt the wildlife drawings. She draws a picture of a turkey or a hunting scene on the lid with a pencil first, then either woodburns or paints over it with acrylic paints. They tell people to send a picture of what they would like and they will do there best to resemble it. No two calls are alike, even if the same picture is used. Sarah’s favorite source for pictures and scenes’ of turkeys is the “Turkey Call” magazine. Some people have requested other things on calls such as an Arkansas Razorback, a LSU fighting tiger, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission logo or an elk. She loves a challenge! To her, working for hours seems as if it has only been a few minutes of work.
Usually all calls will have a woodburnt feather or tracks on the side of the call along with Clark-It Custom Calls & Arkansas Diamond that are chiseled on the side. The wood is described in detail on the back of the call. Each call is dated, numbered, and signed, and may also be personalized. Every call also bears the Christian fish symbol because it is important to them to give God the honor and glory. They are both well aware that He is the reason for their success thus far. They love a satisfied customer and want to hear feed back when their call has been used successfully in bagging a turkey. Their motto is “If you like- tell others, if you don’t –tell us.” |
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The -Playhouse-where every call is made |
