Knight & Hales show - late season calling

[Goat Roper]

Probably a repeat last night on Knight & Hale's show on the Outdoor Channel where they showed some late season duck hunting. They confirmed what I have always heard about late season calling. Do very little calling. They just used some quacks and some lonesome Susie calls mostly with alot of drake grunt/whistles. It really worked for them. What do you think?

[Welldoggie]

I think that's true. By the end of the season, the dumb ones are dead and overcalling to the ones still left equals burned tailfeathers.

We use a drake call alot with come back hen calls after they have passed over the dekes.

[RedEyed Duck]

Duck Call = Best Conservation Tool Ever, when someone does not know when to be quiet!!

Usually only takes two elbows to the ribs from someone like myself to teach this valuable lesson!! [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[ September 28, 2001: Message edited by: RedEyed Duck ]

[Jeff]

Twoards the end of the season I think the big thing is location, location, location! Calling sparingly is a big plus, but I think you gotta be in the right spot near the end of the season to kill well most times. There are still days where it don't matter what you do, but for the most part you need to know where ya gotta be to hammer them last couple weeks. Also I find real real raspy calls work better at the end of the season. We have always done that twoards the end of the season in S. La and it seems to work pretty well.

[hemingway]

Not sure I completely buy in to this "late season" stuff even though heard this my whole life...By the time these ducks get to MS they have been shot at from Canada to Illinois, Arkansas and about 15 other states..so I think they are weary, blind shy, call shy BEFORE THEY GET HERE! But after they get here and stay awhile you have to adjust b/c they are Now educated to YOUR area!! Botttom line you have got to adjust your calling on every outing...just my $.02. I did enjoy the show and they did give some good tips.

[Anatidae]

I can attest to the fact that ducks don't respond well, the longer they stay in a certain area. After you've chased the same bunch of birds everyday for 2 weeks, not only do you learn their pattern, but they learn yours, especially what brand of call you're using. [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Last two weeks of the season for the past 3 years, birds got scarce. By the last day of the season we were relegated to a pair of mallard decoys (both, hens), and called only to get their attention....at most, a five-note 'howdy', then SHUT UP. If you called after they spotted the hole, they engaged the after-burners. If they came-in, they usually landed wide and swam out. [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

You just take what you can get and be thankful just to SEE birds, when times get tough. (Makes you savor the days they landed on your front bead.) [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

'Tough to work birds like that. Like Jeff said.....the key (in times like this), is location, location, location, and you better be sittin' on the "X"! [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[ October 02, 2001: Message edited by: Anatidae ]

[GulfCoast]

What Anat is describing is what I call "old stale ducks." Hard to call, and have seen it all. Thats when you say "man, I need a cold front, bad!"