Early Goose/Private unpressured land/Lousy caller.... what to do

[Dan-o]

Here's my situation:

I have access to some pretty good private land that doesn't get hunted besides me.

I am not a serious waterfowler......   done a fair amount of it over the years, but never taken it seriously.

I have a few goose decoys - like 5-6.

Lots of small flocks flying around the area.

I m a lousy goose caller.  Picked up my first goose call this week and I'm about a C-.

My thought si that  have the best chance if I call a bit when the geese are out a ways, then SHUT UP and hope they come my way.

Thoughts?

How call savvy are geese?

Should I not call at all?   Or maybe keep calling?

Thanks for any advice.

[h2ofowlr]

Practice!  Don't over call and once you have their attention just throw out some clucks.  Geese make a variety of sounds, you probably can get by.  May not finish them like some can, but as long as you know when to take them, you might get some shots.

Hide and decoy placement are more key.

[Dan-o]

Thanks.  I appreciate the insight.

I'm practicing when I can.....   my wife and kids are suitably annoyed.   :-)

[h2ofowlr]

Hit a remote location and follow along some of the YouTube videos for reference.

[Odell]

Just make a racket when they are at a distance and when they are coming do whatever you are most confident in, clucks and moans and get more and more quiet as they come in range. Shoot anything in range.

Have fun!

You could team up with someone with decoys and a little more experience, I've made some pretty good friends that way. You're probably going to get some offers of help anyhow!

[YoungFowler]

If your not confident in your calling skills a good investment would be a goose flag.


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[CP]

If your not confident in your calling skills a good investment would be a goose flag.


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  - even if you are a good caller a flag works better than calling to get their attention at long distances.  And get more decoys.  Silhouettes work well for Canada geese.

[Dan-o]

Thanks all. 

I might be up to a C or C+ on my goose call


I'll have to check out a flag. 

[Colin]

Field proven calls has a pretty good set oh videos on youtube. I usually practice in my car and listen to the video in a ear bud.

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[silverdalesauer]

I love that my 14 year old son (YoungFowler) is in here giving advice    and he's figuring out how to help others. Last weekend we went out for early goose in area 2 and knocked down 3 honkers. 

[Dan-o]

Nice!

I am not too proud to learn from a capable 14 year old.   

[silverdalesauer]

Nice!

I am not too proud to learn from a capable 14 year old.

Me neither. I'm learning from his passion.



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[Dan-o]

P.S.  I love your autosignature - I have 5 children, and they are indeed an inheritance.

[Wingman509]

I bought the bad Grammer dvd from molt and have really liked it.

[pianoman9701]

Thanks.  I appreciate the insight.

I'm practicing when I can.....   my wife and kids are suitably annoyed.   :-)

Where are you, Dan? I have about 5 dozen dekes and silhouettes that I could loan you. You don't really have to call at all if you have a good spread.

[Blackjaw]

I you can't call, just don't call. Let the decoys do the work for you. Lots of over-calling happens (IMO) when hunting both ducks and geese.

[Dan-o]

Thanks.  I appreciate the insight.

I'm practicing when I can.....   my wife and kids are suitably annoyed.   :-)

Where are you, Dan? I have about 5 dozen dekes and silhouettes that I could loan you. You don't really have to call at all if you have a good spread.

I'm in federal Way/Auburn....   Sure appreciate the offer.

[pianoman9701]

Well, i don't see me hunting this season. If you're down this way, they're yours as long as they come back they same way they left. 

[Pathfinder101]

I don't know if you are as bad as I am, but I have hunted with CoryTDF a few times and he advised that if I every try decoying in waterfowl by myself that I just put out the dekes and don't call. 

[Bill W]

on calling..... everyone has to start somewhere.  Don't be afraid to try.  Worst that happens is ducks and geese won't come in.  Best that happens is they come in, you get a little confidence, and then start on the road to improvement.

On a personal note the first time I used an elk call I thought my calling was so crappy I expected people to make fun of me.  I thought I was calling to a guy and his friends the first time I tried in the field and after going over to where their camp was supposed to be, found no camp.   The next morning we shot a 6 point in the same area I called the first morning.

[Tealer]

I wish I would have seen this. I got everything you need and I'm on the tuna grounds till October.


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[Pathfinder101]

on calling..... everyone has to start somewhere.  Don't be afraid to try.  Worst that happens is ducks and geese won't come in.  Best that happens is they come in, you get a little confidence, and then start on the road to improvement.

On a personal note the first time I used an elk call I thought my calling was so crappy I expected people to make fun of me.  I thought I was calling to a guy and his friends the first time I tried in the field and after going over to where their camp was supposed to be, found no camp.   The next morning we shot a 6 point in the same area I called the first morning.

Unless you are as bad a duck caller as I am.  According to CoryTDF... I should be "afraid to try".     
He listened to me a couple of times and said "...just put out decoys and leave them..."

[CP]

on calling..... everyone has to start somewhere.  Don't be afraid to try.  Worst that happens is ducks and geese won't come in.  Best that happens is they come in, you get a little confidence, and then start on the road to improvement.

On a personal note the first time I used an elk call I thought my calling was so crappy I expected people to make fun of me.  I thought I was calling to a guy and his friends the first time I tried in the field and after going over to where their camp was supposed to be, found no camp.   The next morning we shot a 6 point in the same area I called the first morning.

Unless you are as bad a duck caller as I am.  According to CoryTDF... I should be "afraid to try".     
He listened to me a couple of times and said "...just put out decoys and leave them..."

You’ll never learn to call following that advice.  It takes scaring off a lot of birds before you figure out what works and what doesn’t. 

[Dan-o]

@Pathfinder101 maybe you should practice duck calling while your High. School shooting team practices their marksmanship.....   if they could hold their concentration while you made a commotion on a duck call, nothing could break their concentration. 

[Pathfinder101]

@Pathfinder101 maybe you should practice duck calling while your High. School shooting team practices their marksmanship.....   if they could hold their concentration while you made a commotion on a duck call, nothing could break their concentration.

Funny you mentioned that.  We actually play a game called "distraction", where I team up two shooters of equal ability and they take turns shooting.  When it's not your turn to shoot, you can do anything you can think of to distract the other shooter from making their shot. 
Yes.  Duck, goose, elk and turkey calls have come out.  So has scraping something metal across our concrete floor (kind of like fingernails on a chalkboard, but amplified).  Last year a girl discoverd that a spray bottle of perfume made her unbeatable...

[Boss .300 winmag]

@Pathfinder101 maybe you should practice duck calling while your High. School shooting team practices their marksmanship.....   if they could hold their concentration while you made a commotion on a duck call, nothing could break their concentration.

Funny you mentioned that.  We actually play a game called "distraction", where I team up two shooters of equal ability and they take turns shooting.  When it's not your turn to shoot, you can do anything you can think of to distract the other shooter from making their shot. 
Yes.  Duck, goose, elk and turkey calls have come out.  So has scraping something metal across our concrete floor (kind of like fingernails on a chalkboard, but amplified).  Last year a girl discoverd that a spray bottle of perfume made her unbeatable...

AH THE SCENT OF A WOMAN, WILL DO IT EVERY TIME. 

[Pathfinder101]

@Pathfinder101 maybe you should practice duck calling while your High. School shooting team practices their marksmanship.....   if they could hold their concentration while you made a commotion on a duck call, nothing could break their concentration.

Funny you mentioned that.  We actually play a game called "distraction", where I team up two shooters of equal ability and they take turns shooting.  When it's not your turn to shoot, you can do anything you can think of to distract the other shooter from making their shot. 
Yes.  Duck, goose, elk and turkey calls have come out.  So has scraping something metal across our concrete floor (kind of like fingernails on a chalkboard, but amplified).  Last year a girl discoverd that a spray bottle of perfume made her unbeatable...

AH THE SCENT OF A WOMAN, WILL DO IT EVERY TIME. 

Yup.  Actually, the most effective technique that a girl can use to win is simply to whisper in her opponent's ear.  Doesn't matter what she says, who she is or who the guy is.  A dude simply cannot concentrate with a girl whispering in his ear...

[Thefishguy77]

I practice calling in my truck year round. It was awesome when I lived in Sammamish quick drive down to Redmond roll the windows down and go for it. I miss the looks and the thumbs up.


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[Thefishguy77]

If you have time don't hesitate to practice in the off season. I used to go The merrymore park and practice during weekdays. Lots of year round honkers in there. I'm still not very good but I know when to shut up. Like now😜


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