Learning to call

[tknight]

Does anyone have any tips on blowing a duck call, This is my first year duck hunting and I have a good understanding of the different types of call's ( Hail,Feed,Comeback,etc) but blowing them through the call seems to be more diffcult than I thought. Are there certain things you can say or do that makes it easier,? tapes to watch or listen to,? I know it takes practice but you need to know the proper tecnique to practice it.

[GulfCoast]

The best tapes, IMHO, are the one from Mick Lacey (Big River Calls), Keith "Refugeman" Allen, and Carlson's "Pro Duck Calling" video (verrrrry in depth, Phd level, too much for me, but high quality). Also good are Mike "Big Guy" Keller, Roy Rhodes, and the RNT Series. Best one to start with for a pure beginner is Mick Lacey's tape, to me.

[Hot Rod 1]

tknight,

It is best to start off on the right foot, rather than form bad habits and later trying to break them.

So, I would recommend buying Phil Robertson's video(actually I recommend buying all of his videos) "The Art of Commanding Ducks. It is extremely helpful! It was for me anyway. Phil is the best at eplaining how to call and when. I have several of his videos and love each one of them. He knows his stuff.

Here's the link: http://www.duckcommander.com/Videos/artvideo.asp

You should be able to order it online or order by phone. All the info is on that Duck Commander website.

Good luck!

Hot Rod

[mississippi_duc_htr]

I agree with hot rod I have phils tapes too. If you can hook up with someone who will help ya learn they are a good friend indeed,plus they can stand off and listen too ya and give ya some pointers. on good ones and bad ones [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[RobertM]

I like Greg Hoods (Southern Game Calls) tape. To me, it was better than some of the ones I've heard. I haven't seen the ones mentioned above in the posts.

[oxberrylou]

All the tape recommendations by my duck hunting brutha's are good. I would also recommend getting a call thats easy to blow. Real tough to get good and confident on a call designed for a good caller. As I get old and lazy, I find myself reverting to easy blowing double reeds like my Haydel DR-85. Mississippi ducks for the most part have heard everything and than some by the time they get to us. Go easy and learn to blow soft. There are a lot of hunts where I blow nothing but soft 5 note sexy hail calls. But what the hell do I know? Good luck!
[img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[H2OFowl]

any of the tapes above should get you the get you started.

My 2 pieces of advice for beginners are:

1. go hunt and try it all out, experience is the best teacher.

2. Never call when a duck is doing what you want it to do. (this rule can be modified and work, but I dont recommend it for awhile)

I am not even close to being a champion caller, but I love to work ducks. If it wasn't for getting retrieves for my dog, I would probably go through a whole season with 1 box of shells.

[msdawg]

One thing that my dad told me a long time ago when I was learning was to make a tape of myself calling...you would be suprised what you really sound like sometimes. Wal-Mart has a duck/deer calling cd that you can use on the computer and compare yourself to real ducks. There are a couple of systems on the net too. Just listen to some good callers, a bunch of ducks and practice. Always remember no duck sounds the same, and cadence, cadence, cadence. You should feel it in your gut when you call, your not just blowing you are pushing air up out of your gut. Use your tongue to help control the air just like turkey calling.

[NOHERE]

KEEP WHICH-EVER CALL YOU BUY IN YOUR TRUCK
ALL YEAR, AND PRACTICE ALL SPRING SUMMER FALL
WINTER ETC.

ITS JUST LIKE TRAINING A PUP, IT TAKES TIME.

[tknight]

Lots of great comments, Thanks Guy's

[professor]

Nora Ephron once said, "To write is to write is to write..."

To paraphrase and modify, "To call is to call is to call..."

Nothing replaces practice.

[greenheadhunter2000]

The Big River Duck Buster is an excellent call to begin on.It is a double reed call and very easy to blow compared to a single reed.Will Primos from Primos calls also has an excellent instructional tape to learn by.Good luck and remember,practice,practice and more practice.

[torch]

hey knight I know this is going to sound dumb. but every town has a park with pet ducks. I recommend to spend a little time with them and learn to imitate the sounds you hear. It has helped me and my buddies more than any instructional tape. Good Luck, and I'll see you sunday.

[Ken Griffith]

Some "GREAT" tapes have been mentioned. One of the best (an audio cassette) I've ever heard was by Dud Faulk (of Faulk calls). (And "No" I don't own a Faulk call.) He took each call and broke it down sound by sound and explained how to blow it and when to use it. He explained mallard calls, scaup, wood ducks, pintails, etc. and various kinds of geese.... It was a tremendous learning tool.
I haven't seen it around for a while. If you can find one...get it. And the comment to go out and listen to "real" ducks and learn to sound like them was probably the best recommendation of them all. Hang in there. Keep at it. It takes some time and work.

[GulfCoast]

I love to listen to the ducks in the inner harbour by my house. If you feed them the right thing, and the moon is just right, you too can hear the legendary "Cheetos Feeding Call." However, only the most hardcore can handle this arcane knowledge.