Looking for local help

[SGTSLTR]

I'm looking for hands on help with a prostaffer her in Minnesota. I am in Cottage Grove. I have the basics, but I think the tones are too high. Unfortunately I am not blowing a SMH, can't afford it right now. But, if anyone is willing to help me out that would be great.

[SGTSLTR]

Wow we are really helpful here. Makes me want to contiue using this site.

[Max4Gooser]

What are you blowing right now? If you can't swing a SMH right now, how about a Meatgrinder. Posts like the last one on this page and the other, will drive people away from lending you a hand. Relax, and have fun, lots of good stuff on here, but in the end, I would bet their are more of us that are meat callers than comp callers using this site.

[SGTSLTR]

Sorry bout the last post, once i get something on my mind, I don't let it go and get impatient....sorry. Right now I have a Zink poly-carb power maximus. I understand that it is a high wind call, but I have been told that it can be kept low in tone. I would like to be able to figure out majority of the tones, clucks, moans and so on. But I'm trying to be self taught, and so far it isn't working.

[Max4Gooser]

Definately check out the CD's and DVD'z mentioned in response to your other post. They will help you a ton. I would also recommend giving a meatgrinder a try, It won't be as windy, and probably a lot easier to learn on. The best advice I caan offer though is stick with it, don't give up, and practice, practice, practice. You will be surprised how with the videos and cd's and practice how it will all just click suddenly. Hope I have helped some.

[Kelly Rees]

The other thing you need to understand is that it's still hunting season in many parts of the country. Most of the Pro-Staff is on the road or back at work. Getting help DURING the hunting season can be tough, it's just the nature of the beast. Most of the pro-staff are either pro-hunters/guides or contest callers, that makes it tough to help out during the hunting season.

Your best bet is to get an instructional video or cd and practice then hook up with the guys at a show or contest.

Keep practicing bro!

[Nick McArthur]

Sarg,

The way my brother and I learned to blow a goose call was to watch all the hunting videos as possible and try and mimic the sounds being made and sounds we liked. We almost wore out Strait Meat the Video, Blowin' the Strait Meat Way, and The Grind...he moved on and began to blow contest goose, I on the other hand can blow a call, just don't have the wind to compete on a goose call....but I can handle a Strait Street though.

Again, if you want to get into this deal, it takes a lot of practice, a lot of a$$ kickings, and is quite a humbling experience, especially on the goose side of things, these guys that do this are unbelievable. Not to say that there are great duck callers out there, beleive me, there are.....on the duck side of things, one bad note usually gets you cut and it is not as easy to hide that mistake on a duck stage. Anyway....just gotta practice, practice, practice and remember it WILL not come over night, and you will not sound like a pro in a week, it takes a lot of time.

Sorry I got off on a bit of a tangent there, but hope there is something here you can use.

[SGTSLTR]

I think that I would be more on the duck side of things. I think that I have a better understanding of the sounds and tones with a duck call. A short reed goose call is hard for me to get the right wind into, to keep the call low in tone, and not go off in different directions.. Right now I have a Zink Poly-Carb Power Maximus. I understand that this is a call designed for high wind situations, but if I could afford a SMH I would have one in a second. I blew a buddy of mines SMH, and did so much better with it.

We are in process of planing a guiding service here in MN, and just want to be more well rounded with the calls. Dekes and land is no issue. We can lay out a good spread that gets them in, and on good land. Just want to get better on the goose calls.

[SMOKE]

Could always give the meat grinder a shot. i just picked mine up a lil while ago and love it. plannin on buyin a smh though here at spring weekend or this summer just depends on the work schedule. :D

[migrator00]

Listen to Nick...it does take practice, practice, practice! I always thought I could set the call down and not worry about it....WRONG! I guess I didn't listen to Jeff close enough when he told me to take it everywhere. Needless to say I experienced little success..only making a few third rounds and mostly cut in the first or second. My biggest nemesis is lack of air on the stage due to nerves. BUT..that is all about to change..i've been practicin' hard the last couple months and will be ready when I hit the circuit a little harder this year. I plan on blowin in half a dozen to a dozen or so contests compared to just a couple like usual. Also..have confidence..that's one thing that has taken me a while to figure out on stage....like Foiles told me...."YOU PAID FOR THAT 90 SECONDS...IT'S YOUR TIME"!

[Nick McArthur]

If you are looking to just decoy geese, my #1 recommendation is to watch as many hunting videos as you can stomach watching trying to mimic the sounds you like and the sounds they use to finsish their geese. Also, if you are able to listen to live geese, they are the BEST teacher.

As far as a call goes, I have a poly-carb Meatgrinder on my lanyard with the other Foiles acrylics, it is a great call for the price, and as far as comparing to the SMH, it has a little higher tone and a bit more buzz than a SMH, but it is a good tool to carry on the lanyard.

Keep on pluggin away and if you have any questions, post em up and we will try and get to em a little sooner.

[philly]

so nick would you like to get together some time and tell us what you think . i am the 1 with the smh that sgtsltr tryed and i a going to get a new 1 and sell him mine chep so he has 1 . thanks phil

[Nick McArthur]

Where you live at....I live in northern MN.....I keep kind of odd hours at my job and all....but shoot me a line back.

[philly]

i am from st,paul . it would have to be on a weekend . when ever is good for you i will drive 4hr to get beter at calling not a big deal i drive for a liveing m-f so . i am game thank let me know

[Duck envy]

KEITH ALLEN THE REFUGEMAN.REALLY GOOD ON DUCK CALL OPERATION.I THINK IT THE BEST OUT THEIR.GOOSE CALL HONKER TALK SHAWN STAHL GOOD LUCK

[kswaterfowler]

If you want to learn a short reed goose call I recommend Honker Talk with Shawn Stahl. It's an awesome instructional video and I would recommend it to anybody.

[Bill Collector]

Nick, what part of MN are you from, I'm from Bemidji, if you guys get together you should drop me a line i might be able to make it out too. The more heads together the better.

[SGTSLTR]

Well, I have purchased honker talk about a month ago, month and a half, and since watching that video, I have learned so much.

clucks, moans, murmurs, double-clucks, I have also picked up on speeding things up too.

I am still willing to get together with anyone that is willing to teach me more. There is never an end to what a guy can learn on a call.

[Duck Hunter Paul]

Bill Collector

One of my good friends lives in Bemidji, Kevin Baumgartner. He owns American Garage Door. I absolutely love it up there. Totally different from Indiana. I have been up three times now, once for ducks, we killed golden eyes and blue bills and twice for black bear. Finally shot one the second year. Awesome area up there.