Lannom Call Company - Goose Calls - Duck Calls - Turkey Calls by Altie Lannom

Altie Lannom

I am a lifelong resident of Southern Illinois. I own a construction buisiness, Drake/Chase Builders, named after my 2 sons.

When I'm not hunting or fishing, I'm thinking about it. I've always had an obssesion, if not an addiction to the outdoors. I also enjoy loud music, and playing the guitar.
I recently started the Lannom Call Company, and by 2010, hope to add predetor and deer calls and videos to our line of Waterfowl and Turkey calls. I am also working on an outfitting buisiness, offering a limited number of hunts every year, so that some of our customers may get to spend some time with us in the woods and in the field.
I've had a lot of help with a lot of things to get where I am today. I am thankful for everything I have, as nothing has been easy.

We will be hitting as many shows and contests as we can this Summer and Fall. We be talking hunting and shaking hands, and we want to meet you all. My brothers and I, as well as our staff, will be willing to answer any question and help everyone as best we can. So if you see us, stop by and say hello.

Caitlin O'Connor

Caitlin’s passion for the outdoors started at a very young age.  Born and raised in Minnesota, she has been Dad’s hunting and fishing buddy for as long as she could remember and now, at 22, she still is.  In the fall she hunts western Minnesota for geese, ducks and pheasants.  In the winter, spring and fall she fishes all over Minnesota for anything that swims, but ice fishing for Walleyes is by far her favorite.  Along with hunting and fishing, she also enjoys camping, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, boating and really anything else that involves the outdoors.  She is currently attending Winona State University, studying advertising.  During her free time in the summer, when she isn’t working as a nanny, she tries to spend as much time as possible at her cabin on lake Mille Lacs.   

Paul Wise

Paul Wise was born and raised in southern Illinois.  At a young age, his grandfather encouraged Paul’s interest in the outdoors.  As a child, neighbors and friends took him waterfowl and deer hunting.  He has a passion for hunting and his main interest is waterfowl.  He has hunted from northern Illinois to Arkansas.

Paul has a ten-year-old daughter, Katelynn, who also loves the outdoors.  He works for UPS as a driver.  During the summer months, he enjoys fishing, Cardinal Baseball, and attending his daughter’s softball games. 

Steven Avila

I currently live in Hermiston, Oregon with my wife Latonya and my two sons Dominic and Damion. I was born in a small town in Eastern Oregon where I spent most of my time killing ducks and geese with my close family and friends on the Columbia river and small potholes, shooting everything from mallards to coots, geese and everything in between. I also love to hunt turkeys in the spring, chase deer and elk with my bow, but my true passion is chasing ducks and geese all over Eastern Oregon. I love every aspect of waterfowl hunting, to experiment with new decoy spreads, moving my spread around in the middle of a hunt to make sure the birds work right, to adjust to the areas river systems and lakes with the time of year and weather to make my hunt a success.
 
During the off season you could find me fine tuning my calling skills for out in the field, and the comp stage, that I'am excited to start doing this year. I also love to watch waterfowl videos, painting and flocking old decoys, brushing up blinds, scouting new areas, fishing but most of all spending time with my family and friends. Hunting public land all my life has truly tested myself in becoming the best waterfowler I can be, I live and breath waterfowl, It's in my blood to stay.  

Ryan Duncan

I began my hunting career hunting quail at the early age of 5 with my dad.  I was 12 years old when I started hunting whitetails and harvested my first doe with my bow.  I have been fortunate to be able to hunt and trap many of the species of wildlife that we have in Southern Illinois.

At 16 I started waterfowl hunting.  One year later I tried out turkey hunting...years later I STILL LOVE IT!  I am proud of the opportunity to get to join Lannom Call Company and help make them the BEST in the world!

I am currently working on my competition calling side and am looking forward to representing Lannom Call Company in the near future on the turkey calling stage.  My goal is to represent LCC with pride, professionalism, and respect.  I would like to thank Altie for this opportunity. I also look forward to his continued support, help, and hard work with us at Honey Creek Outdoors.  I am also proud to represent HCO's Prostaff along with Lannom Call Company's Prostaff.  Thanks and good luck in all of your hunting adventures.

Chris Lannom

I consider myself a good ol' boy from Southern Illinois. I have lived in Marion my whole life and i don't plan on ever leaving. I have an amazing wife who puts up with alot from me, especially during hunting season, and two beautiful daughters that i  hope have the same passion for the outdoors that I do. I never went to college, school just wasnt for me... I thought about becoming a male model once but, turns out, i'm not good looking. I'll do just about anything to get people to laugh. I love to golf, love speding time with my family, love sitting by a campfire throwing back a few with my brothers, pretty much if it's anything fun or relaxing im all over it.  My older brother Altie got me started goose hunting at an early age and i've been hooked ever since. He is one of the best goose callers/killers to ever play the game, and i look up to him in the hunting world like no other. I remember when Tim Grounds came out with the Half-Breed, Altie gave me one and my short reed game was on... it just felt right... After many years of listening to Altie call, watching him work in the field, and shake the competition on stage i sort of fell into my own. A friend of mine once told me that i could talk a goose into doing whatever i want, and that is one of the best compliments i have ever gotten...  I love everything about waterfowl hunting. To me it is a sport where you always have a worthy competitor... it keeps you on your toes.. you slip up, you go home empty handed. Hunting in southern Illinois has changed dramatically over the years but i still get just as fired up as i used to when season rolls around. Kill out or not i always give it 100%, have fun, and try to learn something new.

Bill Lannom

My name is Bill Lannom and my fascination with hunting started at about the age of 6, I can remember back then waking up and hearing my dad and my brother Altie getting up early in the morning to meet my grandpa to deer hunt. I remember watching them gathering all their gear to spend the morning in the woods wishing I could just go sit and watch. Later in that year dad signed myself and chris up for our hunter safety course and it was on from there. After that all I did was spend my time watching all of dad and altie's hunting videos studying everything the hunters were doing and picturing myself in their place. I finally got my chance in the woods later that year and bagged my first deer on the seasons opening afternoon and from that day on it seemed like nothing else in the world mattered.
   
As the year went on the Illinois goose season came in and my focus was turned to  studying Altie and his friends, He had picked up goose hunting a few years earlier and right off the bat I knew I was gonna be hooked to.
I would spend countless hours in Alties room looking at all of his hunting gear and standing at the back of the house glued to the door hoping to catch the sight of a flock of geese going into their decoys they had sat out in the back field. As Altie's hunting knowledge was growing so was mine. That christmas Altie got me my first goose call, an old Olt flute call, He spent hours teaching me how to hold the call and showing me how to make the different notes. It was slow going at first but he was patient and I can remember one afternoon when there were several geese in the area altie took me outside and we sat in the back yard near a field full of geese and he told me Billy the best way to sound like a goose is to sit here and  listen and hear and remember the sounds they make and try to imitate them with your call. So thats exactly what I did! I spent hours in the field without anything more than my goose call and what little camo I had hiding under a half moon shaped piece of chicken wire blind, that I had covered in pieces from a cedar tree I had cut from the trees in mom and dads yard....needless to say I freshened up the camo on my little blind daily and every tree in the yard was bare form the ground up to about five feet up.But I continued to do it calling at the geese and watching their responses to the call as they looked for the geese on the ground. From there on I started to hunt with dad a little bit he would take me down in the field and we would stand in the tree line with the hope that a flock of geese would fly by so I could take a pop shot at the birds. Thats about the time altie got his first job guiding at the D&M hunting club, he would come back to the  house flying up the driveway in his truck and burst through the door telling me and chris to get our stuff on and HURRY!, this meant the geese were flying good and all their hunters were killed out and the owners always invited us to hunt, This was like a dream come true to us we always had good luck there.

As I got a little older I would show up at the club with altie and eventually got to know many of the hunters and guides. I later started to help the owners around the club by serving lunch and working my way up to riding out in the field to drop hunters off, I remember one morning I had showed up and one of the owners Marlene came to me and said one of our guides couldnt make it today and asked if I thought I could handle filling in. I got so excited that I ran all the way to the pit with my gun in hand only to realize when I entered the pit with them I had left my calls in the seat of alties truck. So after running back and getting my calls we shot several geese and had a good hunt, So good that one of the guides informed them he would no longer be able to work there and I was offered a full time spot guiding and let me tell you it was a dream come true.That was when I was 15 years old and ive guided there ever since and it has been quite an  experience, ive met some amazing people and had some unforgettable hunts! This will be my 13th season there and I cant wait to get back in the field. Especially now that the LANNOM CALL CO. is under way im anxious to show off the calls and show their unmatched performance in the field. Its truly a dream come true for all of us and its been tossed around for a long time now. I never was big into competition calling I had a couple brief moments on the stage but you can bet with this new call on the market the Lannom names and faces will be seen alot more around the big stage! I hope everyone enjoys the site contact us with any questions and comments!...Good luck  and happy hunting!

Mike Mckinney

Bio Needed...

  

Mike Smothers

My name is Mike Smothers, and I have lived in Southern Illinois my whole life. I have grown up learning from some of the best hunters and championship callers in the world. Living in Southern Ill, goose and duck hunting became a passion for me. I have another passion in my life, and that is playing college baseball. I go to school at Reinhardt College in Georgia on a baseball scholarship, and will be graduating with a degree in criminal justice.

When I started being aroun the waterfowl business, I met the Lannoms at Southern comfort hunting club in Marion Il, That's when I realized, these guys know what they are doing. I grew up learning from the best, not only hunting, but in competition calling as well. I have listened to Altie, and competed against him in plenty of contests, and everytime we've faced each other, we have always been at the top.

At age 15, I won the 2003 Winchester World Open Goose Calling Championship, which has been one of my best achievements. I have been in the Avery International, and competed against the best goose callers in the world. I guide at Pike's Hunting Club in Marion Il, and a couple of other clubs from Northern Il, to Arkansas.

I think the Lannom brothers have put together something awesome, that isgoing to explode in the waterfowl industry. I think many people would agree with me, that you will never find better people than the Lannom brothers. Altie, Bill, and Chris are one of a kind, whether they are trying to help someone, or just making someone laugh.
I plan on trying to help these guys make this company have great success,
and to compete on the goose calling stage.
Thanks, and hope to see you around.

Jonathan Hill

It all started in my parents Southern Illinois home , Christmas day 1990. All the presents had been opened except for the " big one " which my brother and I recieved as our last present every year. I don't recall what my brothers present was but i'll never forget what mine was as my father pulled it from underneath our couch. A brand spankin' new Remington 870 youth model 20 gauge shotgun and it snowballed from there.
 
I spent every second I could (and some that I couldn't ) at school drawing pictures of ducks and geese on every page of every notebook I had. I once dreamed of being a waterfowl artist , however my lack of talent made it hard for me to draw stick figures so my artistic career was over well before it began. I spent more time listening and watching my ol' man call ducks than most kids spend outside playing. I paid close attention to the reactions of the birds with every note he blew and with a little coaching and guidance before long I had it down to a science. I owe everthing I know about the oudoors and hunting to my father who had way more patience with me than he probably should have and for that i'll be forever greatful.
 
The fact is I live and breath hunting , be it mallards back flapping in a timber hole , a flock of migrating Canada's flipping on the brink of disaster trying to lose the altitude it takes to eye your spread , or hard gobbling spring turkeys greeting the day.  I honestly don't know where I'd be or what I'd be doing without the great outdoors. Our goal as prostaffers for the Lannom call company is to provide you the customers the same oppertunities to learn and enjoy the art of waterfowling just as we have throughout our hunting career's.
 
The Lannom line of calls are the best money can buy , with unmatched proformance and ease of use , and with our pro tip instructional video's we'll have you blowing like a pro in no time. We at Lannom calls aren't like other call makers who want to sell you calls and never see you again , we wouldn't be here if it werent for you. Feel free to contact any one of us at any time with any questions you may have.
 
Hope to see you at many of the waterfowl shows , on the stage , and in the field . good luck in all your hunting adventures !

I've known the Lannom brother's every since i could remember , You couldn't for ask for better guy's , hunters and friends. These guy's arent your typical everyday run of the mill weekend warriors , they are animal whackin , back slappin , funny as you can get die hard executioner's in the field and outstanding people out of the pit , I've had the oppertunity to hunt with all 3 of these guys for years and there is never a dull moment and plenty of memories shared by all. the lannom call company is the REAL DEAL and we couldn't be more excited. I'd like to thank Altie lannom for the oppertunity to be apart of it all , Truely a long time dream come true. 

Matt Sullivan

I was raised in Southen Illinois and steeped in the lore of what Southern Illniois goose hunting used to be.  With family roots deep in the heart of commercial goose hunting, I cut my teeth at Jack Bowmans Goose Club begining in 1978.  In high school I met Altie and we began a great friendship and became great hunting partners in 1990 and have been going strong since.  In 1995 I left an early careeer in competition calling and started Webfoot Connection and Hammertime Custom Calls.  With my brother Brian we started a full service waterfowl guide business traveling from North Dakota to Texas.  I sold Webfoot in 2001 and came back to Southern Illinois to grow up. I started my family in 2002 s well as started Dead Gear Goose Flags.  I make goose flags for the hardcore goose hunter.  It's been great and has opened a lot of doors for me. 

I am proud to see Altie FINALLY got off his butt and made a call.  I've begged him for years to do it.  It aint the call its the man runnin it ! He's one of the best on a short reed or flute that I have ever heard.  He is above and beyond the learned caller he is a natural and has been able to smoke a call for 20 years. Thank god my brother retired from calling and Altie took over the world famous third place ghost. 

Rob Stucker

Rob is 36 years old. born and raised in Southern Illinois where he lives today with his wife Tina and 2 boys Trenton 8, and Toxey 2. In the spring and summer rob is a contractor building custom homes. Rob's hunting and fishing habits started very early. by the time he was 4 or 5 he was being took to every pothole,goosepit,dovefeild,deerwoods in southern illinois.his grandpa and dad are responsible for that. Rob also loves to fish. Bass fishing in tournaments is just another bad habit, but he loves it. Rob's waterfowl season starts early in Canada then back here. He is currently a guide putting in over a 100 days a season in Minnesota Arkansas, Nebraska,and Illinois. The rest of the season is spent with his two boys and their pappa. " always no matter what take the little kids, these trips will be your best ones"

Travis Berlatsky

My love for the outdoors started when I was about 6 years old. And I will just say right now that if it wasn’t for my dad I would probably not even hunt. He gave me everything I needed and it’s because of him me and my brother are who we are today. I shot my first deer when I was 12 years old and not too much longer after that I shot my first goose. I am fortunate enough to be able to hunt some of the best deer hunting ground in Illinois. After shooting some of the biggest I probably ever will, waterfowl is starting to take much more interest to me.

After learning most of the basics of waterfowl from my uncle, He has helped my brother and I become much better callers and hunters. I think it is safe to say that if it was not for him we would not feel the way we do about shooting ducks or geese. Another passion of mine is helping and teaching kids about the outdoors. I try to take as many kids that I can hunting and fishing. Having a daughter of my own now makes it that much better to help kids.
Aside from hunting, I am a union electrician. I have been an electrician ever since I graduated high school in 2001. Hunting and working is not all I think about either. I love to golf and fish. I also have the best wife anyone could ask for. She has seen me gone every winter for almost 8 years and very seldom said anything about hunting. I am very lucky that she has been raised around hunting her whole life and knows every that comes with it.

Last would really like to thank Altie Lannom for giving me this opportunity to sell and promote his product. I would never try to sell anything to anyone unless I truly believed in it. After using his calls for the last few weeks in season, I realized that he truly knew what he was doing. I am very excited to watch this business grow and let people see that these calls are some of the best on the market!

Ross Berlatsky

I come from central Illinois. I have lived here all my life. I began to enjoy the outdoors when I was about 6 or 7, I love everything about it. My dad started me in the outdoors, and if it wasn’t for him I’m not sure I would feel the way I do about it. I graduated high school in 2006 and never went to college; my head never was into school. I would rather be working or doing something outside. I am employed at a private owned fertilizer plant and couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to work for. Thanks to them I am lucky enough to be able to take the time off when I do to go out and hunt waterfowl. I am a very proud member of Ducks Unlimited. I am on one of the best committees a guy could ask for.

When I started hunting I did everything from shooting doves and pheasants to deer and coyotes. Since waterfowl wasn’t really the best around here until 4 or 5 years ago, not to many people really did it. I really spent my time deer hunting and that’s really about it. I would go every shotgun season and try to kill something. Didn’t matter to me what it was just as long as it went down. I would go with my dad and brother and just enjoy the time we had. My best friend hunted right across the street from where we did so it couldn’t have got any better. One year I decided to take my buddy down to Marion, Illinois where my uncle is part owner in a farm of about 700 acres. I just wanted to kill a southern deer; it never did happen because of one reason. Greg had told us to bring a gun and some steel shot just in case we wanted to try and duck hunt. The deer hunting was bad so we chose to try it. That day was the day that changed my whole perspective on hunting. Waterfowl is all I can think about, I love everything about it. Of course I still hunt deer and shoot coyotes and fish, who wouldn’t? I am just into waterfowl a lot more.

If it weren’t for my uncle I don’t think that I would feel the way I do about waterfowl. He has taught me just about everything I need to know about it. Also, my brother, him and I own all of our equipment together and share all of our memories in the field together. He and the group of guys that I hunt with are some of the best guys in the world. Then there is Altie. The first time I talked to him and met him I knew that something good could come out of this. I bought two of his calls and knew that not only did I want to use his calls but I also wanted to help and watch his business grow. I couldn’t ask for a better guy to deal with and am very excited to see Lannom calls succeed. 

Collin Chornak

Hi my name is Collin Chornak I grew up and live in southern Illinois . I am a die hard duck and goose hunter I all because of my dad he is the one that got me on my first duck hunt and as soon as I killed my first duck I loved it . I hunt Kansas, Missouri and Illinois i mainly hunt at pikes hunting club with mike smothers in Marion Illinois. My other love is baseball it is my number one sport I am a freshman in high school and I play for blue valley west high school and play center field. I have been playing baseball for 5 years now and still play. I have started to call in goose calling contest that Altie started me in and I cant thank him enough. He has helped me so much through the past few mouths I have been with Lannom calls. I have made good friend with other pro staffers. I hope to help lannom calls in every way I can, on the stage and in the field. Once again I cant thank the lannom brothers enough for letting me be apart of a awesome calling company.