How to call early season geese over water?

[Killer Miller]

Hey prostaffers and other experienced hunters, I was just curious how you boys go about calling to early season birds on water? Me and my crew are going to be right where several family groups have been hanging out on a sand bar. I'm guessing we will not need to call much, am I right? I noticed the birds were making no noise what-so-ever also. Gonna put a few floaters and about a dozen full bodies out, it should look great. Thanks for the help before hand.

[Gary Crafton]

If your set up where they have been landing i would probaly just cluck once or twice, and grab my gun if it's opening day, If for some reason you have to call very much to get them in, i would tone it down , a call can really carry over water, I would try the not calling very much theory in the beginning, and if there not working in, i would step it up to see if that works..

[Max4Gooser]

Early season I like to use small spreads, about the size of the groups I see in the area, sometime a bit smaller, as far as calling goes I try to match the birds again, if the birds are vocal then I will "talk" to them, if they are quiet, I will not be to agressive on the call. Maybe a few clucks.
good luck on friday morning.

[IowaMigr8tor]

We are plannin on aboutt 16 decoys which is what we have been seeing for "family groups". I think the light but sparing clucks and soft moans will be sufficent.

[rushcreekganderlander]

If you are where they want to be on opening day don't make a noise. If they look uninterested or want to flare give a couple moans and clucks. They will pitch right in. (I try this approach but I sometimes fail, it just isn't as fun if you don't call them in.) After opening morning you might need to talk a little more, but not to much. Early season birds don't tend to talk a lot on water. After all they are resident birds, they know their territory and companions, and you're invading their home. Good luck and knock'em dead Friday morning.

[takem]

i agree with rush, clucks and moans, that is about all we do, but you have to react to them also so you have to read the geese and give them what they want, but the 2 years we were really quiet only cluckin and moaning and mostly moaning

[Waterfowlhunter2]

Clucks and moans but you also have to read the birds give the birds what they want to hear. But if you are on the honeyhole then I think you shouldnt need much calling at all.

[Beretta_hunter_forlife]

Opening day past and i was hunting water too. Dont call a lot first flock that came in we all called and they flarred even before range. Next flock barely called and got 3 outa 5. At the end in about a half of an hour we had the limit. 5 birds a piece and we had 3 guys. Not bad for opening day by us. Only ones to fill our limit. How was ur hunt???
:lol:

[bassonjigs]

I had read this posting a couple days ago and followed the advice given and it worked to a "T". My girlfriend and I set up on this pond that a couple family groups working in. When the first group flew in, I gave them a couple greeting calls and a couple clucks and they banked right in to the decoys. We each got one out of that group. Then an hour or so later we got a couple singles to finish our limit. Thanks for the advice! :D