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Post by hornharvester on Aug 23, 2006 13:51:09 GMT -5
I don't have much waterfowl hunting experience and am thinking about going this fall. how far can you call geese and have them respond? what is a good economical call? what is the minimum amount of decoys you can use? thanks, h.h.
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Post by pigeonflier on Aug 23, 2006 14:14:58 GMT -5
Maximum calling distance is as far as they can hear you calling. Minimum decoy requirements are as many as you can afford.
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Post by dec on Aug 23, 2006 14:55:56 GMT -5
When it comes to economical calls, the king of the econ short reeds has to be the Buck Gardner Canada Hammer II. It is like $20 or $25. BUT, many rookies struggle with a short reed, so you may want to go with a flute. Go to Wal-mart and pick up a Game River flute. They are inexpensive and easy to blow.
A short reed is difficult for a lot of people. Personally, I love them and have ditched the flutes. I blow the Winglock calls. Very versital. The long neck is easy to blow but is a $50 or so call.
As far as decoys. I've hunted over as few as 6 shells and as many as 9 dozen full bodies with 4 or 5 dozen shells thrown in. In the case of geese, more is not always better. In early season you can draw in the local birds with a dozen shells pretty easy. Later in the year decoy spreads get pretty tricky. You have to watch how the birds react and adjust accordingly.
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Post by duff on Aug 23, 2006 17:01:56 GMT -5
Black flag can be seen a lot further then a good call can be heard. If you know anyone who has goose calls try a few out. Some have went strait to a shortreed and really caught on fast, but it helps to have someone coaching you on it. But a flute is super simple and there have been tons of geese killed with flutes.
Start with whatever you can afford with decoys, make your own shilloettes. Most important thing is to hide well when they are working.
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Post by supr87gt on Aug 24, 2006 11:05:33 GMT -5
I just started waterfowl hunting/calling last year. The only call I've ever used is a Foiles SMH. That and a little help from shawn stahl's honker talk video and its not that hard to learn.
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Post by duff on Aug 24, 2006 11:22:20 GMT -5
I just started waterfowl hunting/calling last year. The only call I've ever used is a Foiles SMH. That and a little help from shawn stahl's honker talk video and its not that hard to learn. Maybe you should have stuck with a flute too ;D  |
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Post by keithh on Aug 24, 2006 13:02:41 GMT -5
2nd on the Winglock.
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Post by supr87gt on Aug 24, 2006 15:54:42 GMT -5
I just started waterfowl hunting/calling last year. The only call I've ever used is a Foiles SMH. That and a little help from shawn stahl's honker talk video and its not that hard to learn. Maybe you should have stuck with a flute too ;D The only thing you can blow is the whistle on your train. You did say you were an engineer didnt you? ;D |
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Post by snakeeye on Aug 24, 2006 18:01:13 GMT -5
The Big River Game Calls Final Flight goose call is fairly cheap, extremely easy to use and sounds pretty good. Bigfoot full-body dekes attract a lot of attention and hold up to abuse, but they are somewhat expensive; however, a few Bigfoots mixed in with some other cheapers dekes would be a good start.
Don't listen to duff 'cause he no longer hunts geese. : )
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Post by hornharvester on Aug 24, 2006 19:45:52 GMT -5
Thanks for all the info guys. h.h.
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Post by duff on Aug 24, 2006 21:33:50 GMT -5
Don't listen to duff 'cause he no longer hunts geese. : ) Definately listen to Snakeye, he is The Master Goose Slayer if I ever knew one  I will probably hunt them harder then you this season, even if I don't shoot my gun once. My idea of hunting is more then asking "Who has the hot field?" and " Can I go?". |
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Post by snakeeye on Aug 25, 2006 7:57:37 GMT -5
duff taught me everything I know...
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