Waterfowl Calling Tips

[Selecting a Goose Call] - [Short reed Mechanics] - [Types of Calling]
[Watching LIVE Geese] - [Sound Files]

Tip: When learning to properly use a short reed it is important to master ALL of the fundamental mechanics of short reed operation. Building a strong foundation of fundamentals will allow you to do all the advanced work later. Too often callers wish to skip right into double clucking before they've mastered proper air control and hand position, the two critical mechanics of doing the double cluck.


Tip: There are two types of calls, people pleasers and goose getters. What's appealing to the human ear isn't always what Mother Nature likes to hear. Some of the best field callers I know couldn't call a judge to a buffet, but they take top honors more days than not in the field. These calls are usually higher in pitch than you would hear on the stage.


Tip: There are two basic schools of thought to calling geese. First do as geese do, when live geese do it. The best ways to learn is to watch and listen to live geese. This process is often successful on geese using a local area/hunting location. The Second school of thought is also born from watching geese. If you watch enough geese you'll see they fly by live geese on the ground. This is where the process of making the geese do what you want comes into play. I am of the opinion that geese key in on a note, or cadence. Find this note or cadence that peaks their curiosity and often times you can stay with the rhythm/sound until you pull the trigger. A good guide friend told me once "you put them in a trance". In a Tim Grounds seminar I heard him make reference to geese triggering on a certain frequency of sound. Whether it's a double cluck, rapid clucking, etc. This is usually what harvests season wary geese, "when they want to hear a call". To be the most successful in the field try incorporating both methods into your "bag of tricks"


Today's waterfowl hunter has huge selection of calls from which to choose. Calls currently available on the market range in price from around $10 dollars up to and often exceeding several hundred bucks. As you open up any waterfowl catalog you'll find what seems to be a limitless selection. Following the simple steps below will help alleviate the confusion in choosing the right call for you. For more information refer to the instructional HONKER TALK video. If you would like to submit a tip or request a calling tip send an email to Calling Tips and Sounds.

Selecting A Goose Call
1. Choose a call that fits you and your needs. Determine what your goal is and select the appropriate call for the right situation. Some calls are better suited for the field, while others on the stage. Some calls can do both, like the Grounds Super Mag, Saunders GP or the GK Comp Killer.
2. Determine your cost criteria. More expensive calls don't generally mean better quality. Most times it is the type of material, manufacturing process and serviceability that determine price, not the amount of magic the call will produce.
3. Although most good call makers can tune a call to a desired pitch range, some material lends itself to certain tone characteristics. As a rule softer woods offer mellower tones and acrylics are sharper and higher.
4. Match the call to the sub-species of geese you hunt. Not all geese sound alike and you will need the right tool for the job.
5. Select a call that is comfortable in your hand. Goose calls come in all different shapes and fit is important.
6. Longer calls and smaller exhaust diameters are generally easier for the beginner. Conversely shorter calls and more open exhaust diameters are more suited for the advanced callers.

Sound Files
The following are sound files from the instructional HONKER TALK video , Fowl Pursuit Vol. 1 and live goose recordings. QuickTime required to play audio clips.