Duck calling question?

[lentz]

Last year was my first year of duck hunting and i got the fever. Last year i was considered the "guest" among friends, not this year. I have been dubbed the "rookie" and with that comes some new things like carrying the dekes, setting dekes, bringing the drinks, and learning to call. Now here lies the problem. I've been "loaned" a call and now need to learn to use it effectivley. I've looked on the net and have found a few sites to hear call and the like. I really don't want to spend $$$ for videos, so does anyone know any good sites or any other places to find the needed info. Thanks !

[lor]

If you just want to know what good callers sound like.
I did videotape the last two rounds of the state duck calling contest at OWF.
If you have a mini DV camera, I could dump a copy on tape or burn a DVD.

[sprigkiller09]

Originally Posted by lor

If you just want to know what good callers sound like.
I did videotape the last two rounds of the state duck calling contest at OWF.
If you have a mini DV camera, I could dump a copy on tape or burn a DVD.

The only problem with with listening to a routine is that competition calling is one thing and calling while hunting is another. You will defenitely get a sense of what a good call sounds like but to get all the elements necessary proper of calling for hunting. IN my opinion a cd or callingducks.com is the best. Or go listen to the real thing and mimic... Or for the last bit.... i am sure there are some I-fishers that would be willing to help including myself. I am by no means an expert but i have killed a duck or two and love working with people on calling.

[MossyOarReelCreek]

Originally Posted by lentz

Last year was my first year of duck hunting and i got the fever. Last year i was considered the "guest" among friends, not this year. I have been dubbed the "rookie" and with that comes some new things like carrying the dekes, setting dekes, bringing the drinks, and learning to call. Now here lies the problem. I've been "loaned" a call and now need to learn to use it effectivley. I've looked on the net and have found a few sites to hear call and the like. I really don't want to spend $$$ for videos, so does anyone know any good sites or any other places to find the needed info. Thanks !

Make sure the ducks you really like are in your "Five"

[quackerjack]

If you were around Corvallis at all i would love to meet up and give you some pointers. I'm not the best but can make do and get the feet down. i've been learning to call since i was 9. I think one of the best ways to learn is by first hand experiance and tips from a good caller that have heard you call and can work with you. I would talk to your friends and have them teach you the fine points. send me a PM if your around Corvallis sometime
Travis

[Hunt'nFish]

Lentz,
Fleece is only like Oregon's best caller.....how many years Eric?
Seriously do an advanced "calling" "calls" search and search by poster "Fleece",
read everything he's ever written about calls, calling, decoys and such. Worth the your effort & time for sure.

Also, I might add that if you can get the Outdoor Channel & OLN record duck hunts and listen and mimic their calling. I think of it as kareokee for calling. Maybe that is what Eric ment by the Callingduck.com site. I DVR a lot of shows and will pause, backup and mimic their calling. Also I like walk the daog at the local park ponds and will listen to the differnt duck species chatter and will mimic them and try and get them to answer. Listening to real ducks really helps get a sense of what sounds real and what is just calling.

A few years ago I couldn't call worth a hoot, in fact it was best I didn't call at all. But hunting around some of these guys here I've gotten to where I can make a decent sound. Don't feel like I know the language yet but at least I can make a good sound.

I think what has helped me the most is hunting with guys here that can call REAL GOOD. You guys know who you are and I thank you for taking the time to help me.
Hunt'nFish

[Dave Smith]

lentz, get on it hard right after the season ends and practice all Summer. Pry open that wallet and get a few good CD's. Go listen to ducks throughout the Spring breeding period. Don't worry that you're learning "breeding calls", if you learn to sound like a hen in April, you're going to have a fun time next December, no matter what anyone tells you. For now, I would call pretty sparingly until you get it down, and stick with the sounds that you have strictly mastered. Get a good whistle or drake call- you can do more of the good kind of damage and less of the bad kind of damage with those right now.
Dave

[gotZem]

Atta boy Dave! Steer him right! Go listen AND WATCH ducks live!! Then you'll know what they do and why they talk the way they do. We that know how to call, love to mimmic ducks. That's the fun of it all is to mimmic. No better teacher than the real thing.( I grew up on a farm with two hundred ducks! Lucky me!) Watching DVD's does help to learn when to apply a certian type of call. My two cents is that most "bad" callers call too loud when it should be just a "chuckle or two". Closer they get, quiet it down! Just listen to everyone else on the pond that day--- and cut that in half. That alone will bring in ducks. It's really cool when they come in because YOU called them in! Oh, and big $ on calls? I run a Heydel's call that cost me $15 back ten years ago. I adjusted it's reeds one day and it "sounded right". Never touched it again and ducks love it! I also run two Buck Gardner calls that were free for joining Ducks Unlimited--- Which you should also do if you haven't. Great organization and good reading magazine they put out quarterly. They save more habitat than any other organization. Delta Waterfowl too! Good Luck!
gotZem!!!

[duck_crazy101]

Originally Posted by lentz

Last year was my first year of duck hunting and i got the fever. Last year i was considered the "guest" among friends, not this year. I have been dubbed the "rookie" and with that comes some new things like carrying the dekes, setting dekes, bringing the drinks, and learning to call. Now here lies the problem. I've been "loaned" a call and now need to learn to use it effectivley. I've looked on the net and have found a few sites to hear call and the like. I really don't want to spend $$$ for videos, so does anyone know any good sites or any other places to find the needed info. Thanks !

when i learned all i did was get a duck comander and sit around and practice or just lisen to a guy that knows how to call and learn from him

[Duckwheat]

Leave it in your pocket. If someone ask, say the reed is out.If you set up where ducks want to be you will shoot a lot more ducks than all the calling in the world.

Most guys I have hunted with or hear on the river are horrible.

I shoot about 125 green heads a year. The only time I get the call out is if I happen to have a bad day and I am bored.

My two cents worth. If you insist On learning how to call I have a cassette tape around here you could listen to.

Remember, friends don't let friends over use the highball.

DW

[Elkguide]

Derik

I will be up there for thanksgiving thurs-saturday evening have to be back in town for my S.I reservation but would love to hunt with you if you have a place!!!!! Let dad know or give me a call !!!

Casey

[Capin' Dan]

I'm surprised some hasn't mentioned get a whistle most duck whistle anyway. I have found the best thing you can do is go early, find a nice spot close to the refuge and just talk to the ducks. you'll get some saucey old hen talking to you and jsut talk back.

[Tar Heel]

While I like the RNT CD I bought a few years ago better than my old Haydel tape, RNT wants you to buy 3 dagum discs to finish their course! I have heard Echo has a good cd, and hopefully u don't need the library. And, Ooh man, I agree that chronic overcalling and too loud calling is hunter's enemy #1, calling ducks is too much fun to not at least throw a ''quiet'' lonesome hen at em once in awhile. The problem is, on dead calm days u'r inperfections, whatever they may be, sound amped up X 10. A simple ''quack'' is useful to communicate w fellow hunters that a bird is working, just a little better than pointing!

[Dave Smith]

Originally Posted by Dave Smith

Get a good whistle or drake call- you can do more of the good kind of damage and less of the bad kind of damage with those right now.
Dave

Originally Posted by Capin' Dan

I'm surprised some hasn't mentioned get a whistle most duck whistle anyway.

:tongue:

[lentz]

Thanks for the info guys!! I bought a Buck Gardner combo to start with. It has a 11 in 1 whistle, double reed call, and a CD to listen to. I'm going to take my girls down to the local duck pond, never even thought about that before. They can feed the ducks and i can listen very closely. I'm going out this thursday and my friend told me to bring along the whistle. I guess that i can't do to much harm with that.

[duckboy]

Originally Posted by Duckwheat

Leave it in your pocket. If someone ask, say the reed is out.If you set up where ducks want to be you will shoot a lot more ducks than all the calling in the world..

DW

Yep!

I like to take out a kazoo and somtimes one of those slide whistles.

You wouldn't believe how ducks will flock to the most lethal call of all "The Cowbell"

Seriously though, I agree with DW said, and only rarely will call with a regular call.

I do think that calling is critical for geese. But not so much for ducks.

[Crashin' Bait]

Also, whenever you are around live ducks, watch how they react to your calling and learn from the experience.

[Duckwheat]

There is a guy that owns duck hunting nirvana near Parma, Idaho. He let me hunt with my kids on the edge of some of the absolutely best hunting this area has to offer.

I was down there one day with hat in hand trying to get some permission. He had a whole pile of dead greenheads they had shot that morning. He wanted me to take the ducks.

He is a jerk, let me preface my comments. Anyway I thought I would pass on the ducks. You shootem, you cleanem in my book.

He starts to go on about the importance of calling. I listened right up till my BS meter was on overload.

Greg, you could play AC/DC, ZZ TOP and stand naked in the middle of the dekes and shoot your limit in.............. oh maybe 15 minutes if you take your time. And you could leave the call in the cab of the truck.

He tolerated me for a few years letting me hunt some of the fringe areas of duck heaven. I appreciated it, but don't tell me what a great duck caller you are.

DW

[Flatfish]

Scout. Whistle. Widgeon dekes. Good blind. Read birds.

I usually put the mallard call away sometime after the 1st of the year. I never lose the whistle.

A jerk string will kill 10 times as many ducks as a call will on calm days.