Straight Meat Honker hand position

[Bullzeyebenny]

Just learned to call at end of last season on a short reed. I'm a rank amateur. Bought a straight meat honker and seem to have the basics down so far. My question is about hand position. Do you have to create back pressure to make the call work better? It seems like this call sounds way better with very little back pressure. Am I doing something wrong? All the videos I watch on youtube seem to state that a significant amount of back pressure is needed to make a short reed sound right. Just wanted to make sure all the practice I've been doing has been with the correct hand position. Getting lessons this week and want to make sure I'm not starting from scratch. Any suggestions / comments on hand position would be greatly appreciated.

[Greg Ruark Jr.]

The Strait Meat Honker will operate with little to no back pressure at all. However will find that the call will run easier and have a deeper tone when you apply some back pressure. Nobody hunts a call without using their hands to create some sort of back pressure. Have you considered picking up a copy of Callin Geese 2.0? This is the FMI instructional and is taylored to the proper operation of the entire line-up of Foiles calls. Great tool for learning the short reed.

[oakleaf]

Greg is right. The SMH does not require alot of backpressure for your basic honks, cluck, or moans. You will find if your call is very high pitched and raspy thats when you need more backpressure. On the other hand when if sounds muffled and it is hard to break over you are most likely applying to much back pressure. Keep practicing and you will find just the right hand postion to get the deep goosey tone. Callin Geese is a great instructional as well.

[Bullzeyebenny]

Thanks guys. Glad to hear I'm not on the wrong path. Instructional video sounds like a good idea too.
Thanks for the speedy replys

[badandy970]

http://shortreedgoosecalls.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/blowcall.jpg