Learning to goose call

[gallion_t]

How did everyone learn to goose call? I've had calls for several years and have tried figuring it out, looking for videos, reading articles, practicing but am having no luck. It seems all of tge material I have found seems to be geared towards people who already know the basic calls. I have yet to figure those out. Does anyone who knows what they're have any advice or links to article or videos they used to learn? Are there ever classes that offer instruction and guidance? I'm in the Tri Cities.

Im trying to learn on a buck Gardner Canadian hammer 2. I know there's a couple different styles of calls so maybe I'm trying to learn on the wrong kind?

A little about my calling past.. I've been duck hunting for a couple years now and while I'm by no means an expert caller I'm at least passable. A couple years ago I found a class offered by a call maker for beginners to learn to call. I found that very helpful because after he would teach the methods you would practice while he listened to you and gave feedback on what you needed to work on.

Thanks in advance

Travis

[vandeman17]

Are you trying to call in live geese or compete in calling competitions? The reason I ask is there is a big difference between calling to geese/ducks/elk etc than there is calling to judges. Goose calling for me has been the hardest to learn but I have found that just learning the basics and getting really good at those is how to start. From there, its just a matter of really listening to geese as they loaf, feed, fly and all that to pick up on the different sounds they make so that you can try to recreate those. 

[tank21]

I use the Big River goose call.  WHOO-IT is how I blow and I do very well with it.  If you find where they are and are coming then you'll do great.  I've tried the others and haven't been able to get the hang of them.  I will not win a calling competition nor will I routinely be successful with high pressure late season birds but I do still do really well overall I'd say.

https://www.scheels.com/p/big-river-long-honker-goose-call/01743500189.html?src=google_shipping_50&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3u_Qn-ql7AIVIgnnCh1nqgyNEAQYAiABEgJljfD_BwE

[gallion_t]

Just calling for hunting purposes.

Learning the basics abd building from there is what I've heard and read. The problem lies in learning the basics. Everything im finding seems to assume you've already learned the honk and the cluck which i have not.

[callturner]

I started out using the Big River when Mick Lacy still owned them. Got his tape and practiced constantly. Then short reeds came along. Tim Grounds was and still is to me (RIP) the best.  Bad Grammer  to me is one of the best videos for the short reed call. One of Tims students I believe does this vid. 

[Miles]

I use Bill Saunders calls.  They have a lot of instructional info out there.  Do a quick google search.   

Pay special attention to how you hold the call and restrict air pressure.  Try to keep that as consistent as possible in the beginning.  That’ll help you work on the sounds.


Also, don’t be afraid to adjust the reed.  Tuning to your style is important.   Pull the reed out and start from scratch... you’ll learn where you need it positioned/tuned.  Don’t be the guy that’s afraid to touch it or make adjustments.

[gallion_t]

Thanks for all of the help. Im not afraid to adjust things. Just want to get ok enough to not scare off birds.

[callturner]

Learning to tune is fine but ya gotta know how to make the sounds first

[MR5x5]

Short reed calls like the one your using are definitely harder to learn/use.  You can do more with them if you want to put in the time.... but like stated above, a "Big River Flute" call is plenty effective and much easier to use.

[X-Force]

It has been a while since I goose hunted but I found there are cheap and expensive calls that are hard to use. Ended up picking up a Goose Noose Reaper; small call, lots of volume and easy to control. And I came into it with no experience. Using buddies calls and buying some others they didn’t work for me. Keep at it.

[full choke]

I would 100% stick with learning the short reed. Keep at it, it will come to you. Once you make that first sound they are incredibly easy to use. The best part is that they require so little air to create great sounds. I started calling on a flute call. I cannot even muster up the air to blow one anymore.

[YoungFowler]

100% Bad Grammar is an excellent goose calling instructional. I knew how to call somewhat before watching it, but it really stepped up my game especially with higher end acrylic calls.