Short reed goose calls?

[JeffG]

I know the short reeds are all the rage right now, but they are new to me.  I just got the Buck Gardener Canada Hammer II, and I'll be dipped if I can get the low/high cry from it... I tried varying my air pressure, humming during the low note, not good.  Tipping it in my lip during the note changes helps a little.

Any one have any pointers?

[dukkillr]

control the back pressure with your hands.  The break is a little different with every call but cup your hands around the back and experiment until you find it.

[2eagles]

I had a Hammer too.  I gave it away! But, you have to blow from down deep inside, not from your cheeks.  If you want a call that is much easier to blow, Winglocks are a great value.  I've got one in hedge that requires NO backpreasure at all.  Then I got crazy and bought a Foiles call.  (Just to keep up with my son.)  Wow!  Nice.  Only seven days and a wake-up 'till early season goose season.  Jim

[lewdogg21]

A tip my dad gave me when he taught me how to duck call is to get one with a cd/tape if possible (or just get a cd/tape) and practice mimicking the sounds on the cd/tape.   Then after a small amount of practice record yourself and play it back and listen to yourself.  Its very telling to hear yourself.  If only more people would do that we wouldn't have to hear some of the death moans, squawks, shreiks, that people call duck sounds.

I only buy the cheap haydels and other similar brands unless I can pry something better away from dad.

[Bill in IL]

I had a couple friends purchase the Quack Head Goozilla short reed call. It really sounds very good for the small amount of money it costs. I think they paid less than $20 at one of the discounters.

[WesinND]

+1 on the Winglock.  I have three short reed goose calls that I use (not counting a Buck Gardner Canada Hammer II and a Knight and Hale Magnum Clucker) and the Winglock is easier to run and sounds as good as the other two more expensive calls.  I have the walnut verson, and it gets a lot of use.  Wes

[GANDER]

The RNT CD series is very good instruction in both duck and goose calling. I would also recommend getting the Shawn Stahl "Honker Talk" DVD. It's is a good instructional with a visual that also helps.  Other then that it's practice practice practice!!

[Don Dean]

Sound's like you have used a conventional call or a flute in the past it's going to take you some time you have a call that will imitate all the sound's of not only 1 goose but as you get better you will be able to sound like a small flock of geese. The Canada hammer II is one of the easiest short reed's on the market it will do everything that the 100.00 dollar call's will !  My best advice is to get a dvd or vhs from Shawn Stahl it's called Honker Talk and it will take you step by step well worth the money. Dont give up! oOnce you learn you will never use another goose call unless it's a short reed.