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Post Info TOPIC: Having heck with hand calls.
Dale


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Having heck with hand calls.
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I have bought Bobs cd on handcalling crows and his hunting dvd.   I still can not figure out how to use the dang mouth calls I have.  I have bought two high end calls, one is a Mallard tone and the other one I can't remember the make.   My problem is the reed continues to stick on me.  This happens after just a few minutes on both calls.  I am assuming this is operator error.  How do I correct this?  The other problem I have is understanding how to use your diaphragm like Bob talks about in his cd to get the correct sound.  



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camo


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When i blow into my mouth call i say ( paw) ( paw ) (paw ) ( paw ) four times, sometimes 5,6 or 7 times. that's what i hear the crows around here doing. it works well for me, i also cup the end with my other hand to get the right sound. i found that blowing lightly & just using the tip in my mouth call it doesn't stick on me. practice, practice, practice. when i got my faulks C-50 i sat in the house watching tv & practicing. I heard crows so i muted the tv & come to find out they were outside in the tree !!! i knew i was doing good then. i want to see what others have to say on this topic also.

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Dixierunner


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Hey Dale! Like Camo says, practice, practice. When I started with my mouth calls, I'd go to the nearby McDonalds or Walmart and try calling there. Lots of stares, but like the Hoodoo Lady says... who's gonna know in 100 years! Got where I'd call them away from those fries!

Bob



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boba


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Dale when you inject the air from your diaphragm you will feel your stomach muscles tense up if not you are just blowing through the call. In some of my calling sequences I will just blow through the call mixed in with using my diaphragm to get the desired sound at that particular time. Once you get that first note that sounds like a crow you will understand what I am trying to convey to you. Stick with it because it is most rewarding calling your own crows! With me I am almost saying ugh ugh through the call to sound like a crow. The timing is the part that will take some time for you to figure out by trial and error in saying ugh and injecting the air simultaneously through your hand call.

Bob A.

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Bob Aronsohn
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Dale,

Although not the ultimate fix, try Rain-X on your reed to help with the sticking. You can even use the cheap Rain-X windshield fluid.

Also, some of the better calls take much less air to make the proper sound. If the reed sticks, try backing off on the amount of force used to blow.

Hope this helps.

Demi

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boba


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Dale,

Demi just jogged my memory about your reed sticking. Keep your mouth "dry" when using a hand held crow call. Saliva is what causes your reed to stick in weather above freezing. Cold temperatures cause your reed to stick due to condensation with your warm breath blowing the call in freezing weather. Good luck my friend.

Bob A.

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Dixierunner


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Sorry Dale, I misunderstood what the topic is about. As Demi suggested, try rain-x or something like that. I coated my reed with a little Wesson oil to keep it going. Also, when I blow my mouth call, I start like I'm gonna say either "ten" or "two" and end with a short hum. You having Bob A's cd is a great way to learn. Listen to how he does and try to get the right tone and inflection. I think that is the key. Listening to your local population of nasty boogers will give you their dialect and goes a long way, as Camo said. Kinda like the difference between me and, let's say, someone from California. Both speaking English but sounds different. And practice, practice, practice! The Hoodoo Lady made sure that if we went anywhere, I had my call, in case I heard or saw any nasty boogers and could practice on them. 

So welcome to one of the most aggrevating and fulfilling shooting sport there is. Practice, and soon you'll be bringing those nasty boogers in. Good Luck.

Bob



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Dale


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First off, big thanks for all the advice that I have received from you guys. Second thing is I apologize for not writing back sooner. For some reason I thought the site might be dead because I haven’t seen much activity and it was supposed to email me if someone replied and it did not. I have spent many hours reading through the old forums on this wonderful site.

Since my last post and before reading all the advice on it, I actually made progress with my calling. I am new to hunting from a fixed blind ( usually run and gun). Anyways, me and my 11 year old got 35 two Saturdays ago at a local pecan farm. Best two hours of hunting in my life! Period! We should have killed 80 or more. Then this past Saturday we hunted another small pecan farm and got 21. But the highlight was when I broke out the hand call. I was able to turn a group of crows around twice, ending with three extra bodies on the ground. After watching your video Bob and copying the calls you make I made a break through.

I have to say that I am hopelessly addicted as is my son to this new way of hunting crows. There is nothing better than to watch one them suckers fold their wings and come diving in to your call and decoys, and being welcomed with a #8 shot from my 20g. I’ve learned an absolute ton on this site and it is due to you guys, THANKS. And to you Bob A, thank you for your instructional dvd and your crow video. I might run into you this season. I’m gonna be making the 3 hour drive to western Oklahoma to get into some serious shooting. My goal is to get 100 birds in one day this year.

P.S. sorry for the novel guys, but no one else to talk crow hunting with.

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Island Shooter


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Dale,

Fantastic report on the hunts, especially hunting with your young son!!!

A suggestion or two:
1) Move up to a 12 ga. shotgun. Unless you are a crack shot, you are handicapping yourself.
2) Switch to #7 1/2’s or 6’s. More crows will be added to your numbers.

One last point...It didn’t happen if you don’t add pictures. biggrin  It’s easy to post pictires on this site!

Good hunting,

Demi



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Dale


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Island, I have seriously struggled with which gauge would be the best for crow hunting. For years I have shot a 12 and last year I bought myself my first nice shot gun. I bought a benellie 20ga, auto and love the thing to death. I am gonna buy a nice 12 to see if I don’t have a higher kill rate. I am not a crack shot by no means. I’d sure take any advice on which gun to look at. Thanks

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"If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be wise enough to be crows."
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killer Crowalski


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Dale wrote:

Island, I have seriously struggled with which gauge would be the best for crow hunting. For years I have shot a 12 and last year I bought myself my first nice shot gun. I bought a benellie 20ga, auto and love the thing to death. I am gonna buy a nice 12 to see if I don’t have a higher kill rate. I am not a crack shot by no means. I’d sure take any advice on which gun to look at. Thanks

 Know your gun-you need to shoot it until it becomes second nature and this comes in time with lots of crow shooting. The best gun is the one you have. The grass is not necessarily greener on the other side. You'll spend more but if yiou cannot hit?

 A "cheap" shotgun is means by no means a lousy gun. An expensive shot gun is means by no means going to make you a better shot . Lead crows in close  by a bill length. Your shot is moving out at a ball park figure of 1,200 fps. That crow is over your decoys gliding about 20 mph..do you need to lead that crow by 3 feet? When shooting and the crow rears up you dshot too far in front. It dives then too far behind it...basically...if you can shoot blackbirds legally in your area , this will sharpen your skills. Pigeons especially. But other wise try not leading them so much.

Others on here can explain this much better for you but practice makes perfect. Soon all you need is more crows!



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Dale


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Thanks for the advice.  If I had to rate myself on shotgunning skills, I’d say I’m an average shooter.  I have good days and bad days.  I think my problem while hunting is I tend not to make a good mount and then rush my shot.  Shooting clays I don’t have the rushing problem and shoot well.  



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"If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be wise enough to be crows."
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killer Crowalski


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Dale wrote:

Thanks for the advice.  If I had to rate myself on shotgunning skills, I’d say I’m an average shooter.  I have good days and bad days.  I think my problem while hunting is I tend not to make a good mount and then rush my shot.  Shooting clays I don’t have the rushing problem and shoot well.  

 If crows are coming in then be ready; snap shooting  is not a  great idea....



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Island Shooter


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Dale wrote:

Thanks for the advice.  If I had to rate myself on shotgunning skills, I’d say I’m an average shooter.  I have good days and bad days.  I think my problem while hunting is I tend not to make a good mount and then rush my shot.  Shooting clays I don’t have the rushing problem and shoot well.  

 Dale,

If you are serious about shooting or hunting, in my opinion, the best advice is for you to seek out a good sporting clays instructor and invest in a lesson or two.  A good instructor will diagnose problems immediately and it will make a big difference.  The cost of a lesson will be inexpensive compared to shells wasted by poor shooting! 

Give me an idea of where you live and I will try to put you in touch with some qualified instructors.

Demi



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Dale


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I live in a small town called Quinton, OK.  I am in the southeast part of the state. 



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"If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be wise enough to be crows."
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Island Shooter


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Try JEROME R HOLDEN in Broken Arrow which is about 1 1/2 hrs. away from you near Tulsa. His number is (918) 640-6762

I don’t know him, but he is a Class 3 NSCA instructor, which is the highest level.

Hopefully he can steer you in the right direction, if he is not available. Keep me posted. 

Demi



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