Duck call...That quackhead is pretty cool

I got one of those RNT quackhead calls for Christmas. Let me tell ya I have been using a Big Guys Best but for 25 bucks that is a pretty damn good call! If you dont want to shell out 125 bucks for a call take a look at this thing. Tulley

[Gun Rod Bow]

My $.02 on duck calls,

I have used a Haydells dual tone mallard for 15 yrs (not the same one, i've been through maybe three..., you know). Best darn $12.00 duck call made. I've set up next to plenty of guides, and done some pretty fast talking to decoy shy birds. It's all I use.

On the other end of the scale.....I use either a Knight and Hale "tube call" (also about $10.00) or my really cool, super duper, Jeff Foiles "straight meat" short read, honker call that I bought at the Sportsmans Show for enough to pay for a lifetime supply of Haydells duck calls (I must have had a few beers)

But It does sound really cool!!! :grin:

GRB

[crabbait]

RNTs are good calls but they tend to stick. BGBs don't, in my experience. Haydels or Primos are good calls for a little money.

I like my Foiles and Saunders a bunch too. So do the geese.

[Get Bit]

GRB,

I too like the DR 85 by Haydels. Best call for the price. Very Ducky. However, I do think that if you start to really get into the calling thing most folks will eventually want to go to a single reed. A lot tougher to blow but definitely have tone and volume variances
beyond any double reed. Post up and let us know how you did on your goose hunt today. I took one look at the rain and stayed home. I know I'm a whoos.
Tulley, Is that RNT call a single or a double ?

CB, I have a Foiles Timber Rattler (single reed) and two Taylors Talkers and all three of these have a tendency to stick at times. Interesting to find the BGB doesn't. Have never blown one so I am going to have to check it out. Might be my next purchase.
Still want the Saunders GP so the BGB may have to wait. Oh yeah what about the fullbodies I was going to buy. ? Gotta love it!

Get Bit

[ 01-01-2003, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: Get Bit ]

[Flatfish]

Starting to sound like if you can call birds, the call is secondary.
I am pretty sure it's true, cause I hunt with a world class duck caller( been to Stuttgart on Thanksgiving) and he calls ducks well with any call he gets his hands on. Dave Smith can call geese pretty well too. I know he prefers the Saunders calls, but I would be willing to bet he could get birds to decoy with a Bi-mart call too.

The competition calls are nice for highballing , but too loud for decoying birds.

I know little of goose calls( except these stupid short reeds drive me nuts- not the geese- arrrrgh)

See you in the mud.

Mark and the dog.

[Get Bit]

FF,

If you stick with the shortreed you will figure it out. Just takes time. They sure are goosey. Have you blown a Saunders call ? If you haven't , and you would like to let me know and you can take a look at the couple I have. I have another shortreed by Craig Schmitt out of Colorado and its pretty nice too. I agree Dave is awesome and can call with anything, but boy those Saunders, in Dave's hands, are pure goose.

Get Bit

[Gun Rod Bow]

Get Bit,

Great avatar!!

I decided I'm going to get a bunch of dry pallets out of the shop, build a large roaring fire and burn all my goose decoys. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

There were easily 5,000 geese in the field/pond/sea yesterday when I scouted. Large rolling field that is filling quick with flood water from a creek. We set up on a low ridge with big water on both sides (200-400 yds each way).

Got all set up by 7:30, 40 bigfoots, 7 dozen shells, 1 dz floaters, 2 dz duck floaters, final approach blinds (with freash coat of mud brushed on with my little broom)...looked like a darn refuge rest pond.

Lots of birds using the area, had about 300-400 sitting in the same field with us about 400 yds away at 9:30.

The main body of geese had moved about 1 mile up wind of us... birds were flying high, would drop and look at us from 80-100yds up, hear all their buddies and no matter how we called/flagged/begged/pleaded/whined...they just kept with the pattern.

Lots of duskies decoying nicely though :blush: ...enough that we let a couple of tav's go because they were right behind some duskies.

Ended up with a tav and a cack. Checked them in in Amity at 4:00. They were the first two birds checked in today.

You should have hunted. It rained a little till about 10:00, grey skies, wind built up to about 20 mph, good supply of birds. Should have been a slam dunk. I can't figure it out.

I'm going out to gather up some wood for that fire now.

Good Luck

Happy new year

GRB

[ 01-01-2003, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: Gun Rod Bow ]

[Get Bit]

GRB,

Thanks for the report ! At least you killed a couple of birds. I saw the wind going about then and kicked myself. Hope the fire is drying you out. Heading for Eastern OR. tomorrow to kill a few. Waiting for a call from the landowner for the green light. Hopefully he'll say the sky is black with em.
We need to get an IFISH Hunting board hunt going. The permit zone gives us the most time. Anybody else interested?

Get Bit

[Flatfish]

Thanks for the offer Git Bit, but if I blow a good call it will cost me another buck and change. With elk season bearing down, along with the rest of quackers and geese, I should probably lay low until next season. That and a friend is buds with Saunders and I hope to weasel my way into a good deal. But it will take til next season before I get it down.Off season deal weaseling is kinda like hunting. The spot the stalk, and with any luck the call.

Aint it fun to get birds in the hole. When it all goes right, and you think about how none of em are gonna fly off, it just don't get any better....

Mark and the dog, who wishes there was more birds

The quackhead is a single reed--

The BGB dont usually stick because of grooves placed on both sides of the tone board.

[willametteriveroutlaw]

GRB,
Do you have room for my decoys too in your fire. Between us we are looking at 16hrs with no geese, and for me personally 28 hrs with 1.
I like your cynide(sp) idea better, although we could always go get scuba gear and kill em from below, navy seals style.
Does anyone have any ideas on decoying these wary ass birds? a couple, a bunch, none? **** em I am gonna fish from now on.
WRO

P.S. When is the Rifle season going to hunt open for those ********?

[skein]

GRB and Outlaw,

Wait! Don't light that fire! Let me burn 'em for you. Got lots of little orphan children living near me, freezing at night, and a couple of bigfoots in the fireplace should keep 'em warm. It's the decent thing to do - guaranteed to make you feel warm and fuzzy too, just knowing you're helping the kids. I'll even come get 'em. :grin:

GitBit,

Great idea - the one about the Ifish Hunters Hunt. I'm in for it. I'm sure I could come up with something for the good of the order. I don't have a lot of deke's (couple doz ducks, a doz shells), but I've got a trailer that a bunch of us could bunk up in to put us closer to the fields the night before. I think it would be a hoot.

Skein