Here is the call that I KNOW I will receive the most backlash for writing about it. I know the most seasoned hunters will say, how can you name the hail call the third most important call? Here’s why! The majority of people that will read this, hunt in open water or field type situation. Those hunters have to be able to use their lungs to get the attention of ducks in the distance. What are the chances of turning ducks that are over three hundred yards? I think once you get to three hundred yards and past that distance, the chances lie between slim and none, but the ducks FOR SURE will not hear a quack or greeting call. I want to try and get their attention, just to look! While making the call, it is very important for there to be movement in the decoys.
If the ducks make the turn, now is the time to read them and work them with quacks or greeting call. The hail call has increased my odds of killing ducks on a daily basis during the season and it can for you too! Does it work 75% of the time? No. 50%? Negative. 30% of the time? Well…. I would say it works 10-30% of the time. When you duck hunt for a living, like myself, every duck and minute in the field counts.
How To Blow A Hail Call
For this call you want to blow the notes just like the greeting call, but we are going to present more air into the call. Also, the first notes will be held longer than in the greeting call then taper off. I will put around seven to fifteen notes in mine. If you look at the sound in the image above, you will see the pressure and length of the first notes and then they get smaller and less pressure as you get to the end of sequence.
I would love to hear some of you guys trying this call, email your sound files to Rocky@DuckSouth.com.