The Illinois River Valley R 25 is a mouth call built by DJ Calls specifically to reproduce the bugle of a sika stag during the rut. Sika are among the most vocal of Britain s wild deer and a well timed whistle can pull a rutting stag into range or draw a reply that pinpoints his position in thick cover. The body is moulded from black cycolac plastic a tough weather resistant material that shrugs off damp autumn mornings and stands up to years of hard use in the field. At around five inches long it sits easily in a jacket pocket or on a lanyard ready whenever a stag answers. The plastic reed is the heart of this well proven design giving a clear carrying note that mimics the eerie sika call closely enough to work the rut on British ground. It takes a little practice to master the pitch and rhythm but once learned it becomes a genuinely useful tool for stalkers working sika in October and November. A straightforward dependable call from a maker with a long pedigree in game calling.