im looking for some exotic 1x1x12 spindle blanks, where are the best places to get them? so far woodturners catalog is cheapest i see.

Cook Woods and Exotic Woods USA are more affordable sources than Gilmer...

padauk,bloodwood,jatoba,red eucalyptus,leopard wood,purpleheart, brazilian brownheart,goncalo alves,osage orange,and mesquite are the ones i have found on woodturners catalog that i would like to try for some turkey calls.

Exotic is a very broad term with regards to wood species and doesn't really do anything in terms of narrowing down your selection.
Many vendors specialize in woods from different areas like South America, Africa, Asia ans so on.
If you have a type of wood in mind, like a Rosewood or Mahogany that would help.
Or,
If you have a region of the world in mind, that would help as well.
Or,
What do you plan to make from the spindle blanks you mentioned, there may be a proffered species for that application.

Everyone has their preferred vendor for one reason or another. Thee main reasons are price and selection. IMO, It doesn't matter if "in general" one vendor has lower prices than another if he doesn't have what you want or need.

We have a place locally, Mike's Bargain Bin, and they have some unusual things from time to time, Bullet Wood what ever that is... They sell a lot of end lots and close outs of all sorts of things. Maybe you can find a place like that near by...

robo hippy