Western Sport Shop: Hunting Dept

Waterfowl Hunting

Duck Season Just around the Corner!

As always, effective camoflage, calling and decoy spreads will maximize your day afield, so tune those calls, get out to the blind early and stop fidgeting! It might be a good time to review the basics - we've actually found an excellent book; "Hunting Puddle Ducks and Divers", that reviews these topics and more. This is a concise and well-written book for waterfowl techniques.

We've also been selling a ton of the classic waterfowl identification guide "The LeMaster Method - Waterfowl Identification" It's a handy little book that will fit in your coat pocket (ok - your duck parka pocket - it's a little bigger than a wallet). It has quick "overlay" pages on bills, wings, how the birds fly and much more. Always a popular resource, it just may prevent you from harvesting the wrong bird near the end of your limit.

Quick & Dirty Duck Calling Seminar

Reprinted from the Western Sport Shop Email Newsletter - Sign up here -

After listening to a number of well-meaning but poorly-executed calling attempts, both in the field and in our store, here's a quick rundown of the basics with a mallard call: Mallard Calls - Since almost any duck will respond to well voiced mallard calls, this is one of the most effective ways to call ducks.

An audio calling tape is always the best, because you can hear what sounds you should be making - but some ideas can be conveyed here. We have the Iverson Audio Cassette for Duck Calling available in our stores and through our Online Store.

There are 4 basic areas of concern.

1) The Proper Quack
Other than Daffy, ducks don't draw out their speech.
Simply, you should sound like "KWAK", with an abrupt beginning and end, rather than "UUUKWWAAAAAAA" which roughly is the sound of bagpipes being stomped on. This is NOT done by opening and closing the hand holding the call - it is entirely controlled by your breath. Most hunters find that saying "KAK" while calling is a good way to start and stop the breath sharply.

2) Watch What You Say
Basically, ducks are creatures of habit - they have four basic calls which can be effectively mimicked: the "Hail" call, the "Comback" call, the "Feeding Chuckle" and the "Lonley Hen". Of these, a well executed Hail and Chuckle are probably the most important.

Hail calls are used to get the ducks attention, and Feeding Chuckles entice them to work close to the blind. If I had to write them down rather than use a call, they go roughly:

(Hail) (Loudly...) KW KWAK KWAK KWAK

(now drop the voume with each one...) KWIK KWIK KWIK KWIK

Most hunters also begin closing their holding hand, so that the last four get more muffled.

(Chuckle) (Moderate volume...)

TIKKATIKKA TIKKATIKKATIK TIKKATIKKA TIK TIKKATIKKA TIKKATIKKA

Ok, that one takes practice to get decent speed, but that and varying the bell of the holding hand gets the right sound. You want to sound like a mingled flock of feeding ducks, rather than the smooth sound of an outboard motor.

3) PRACTICE
Not out in the blind... Go down to the marsh or the ponds on a non shooting day and listen to the birds, then chime in. Practice when you are stuck in traffic on the way to work - well, not if you take the bus. The more you practice, the less likely you are to sound like a scared moose when you have birds working.

4) Use a Good Call
Cheap calls will not produce good tones at the proper volume, and they tend to absorb moisture and either lock up entirely or drastically change pitch. They generally lack the raspy resonance to sound like a mallard. Our favorite calls are the Iverson and Lares, which have the proper sound at all volumes, and will stand up to real-world use. These are now available through our online store, in addition to the regular stores. The new FlexTone Calls are proving to be effective as well, with a unique way of varying tone while calling. Duck Commander and Haydels all have been excellent choices as well.

Good Luck and keep practicing!

Lares Duck Calls Precision-made acrylic & aluminum duck a

Federal Duck Stamps Available
at Western Sport Shop

Don't stand in line at the US Post Office! - Federal Duck stamps are required to hunt waterfowl. These are available at both our Santa Rosa and San Rafael stores. Please note: license purchases must be made with cash or check only. (more info...)

Take a moment to check your California Hunting License for the following:

• Valid California Hunting License INCLUDING Survey Stamp
• Valid California Duck Stamp
• Valid Federal Duck Stamp
• (Hunting for doves, quail, turkey, pheasants or other game? Then you probably need an Upland Bird Stamp as well.)
• Refuge hunters should obtain the proper permits and passes as well.

More Waterfowl Tidbits

We are always collecting photos and information to expand this section. If there are any areas of interest you would like to see covered, please email us at waterfowltips@westernsportshop.com. Thanks for your interest.

If you would like to receive our free email newsletter which includes hunting, fishing and flyfishing information, as well as updates to our website, plase visit our newsletter signup page.

Although we strive to be accurate, Western Sport Shop can not be responsible for changes and updates to hunting times, seasons or bag limits, nor for the ultimate accuracy of any such information which appears within this web site. It is the individual's responsibility to confirm current regulations as they pertain to hunting or fishing by contacting the California Department of Fish & Game.

To report poaching or pollution violations, call toll free 1-888-DFG-CALTIP.

The California Fish & Game code provides that the Fish and Game Commission shall revoke the hunting privileges of any person who is convicted of three violations of the state's hunting laws or regulations within any five-year period.

California Department of Fish & Game:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov

CDFG Headquarters
PO Box 944209, Sacramento CA 94244-2090
916-653-7664

License/Stamps information: 916-227-2242
Lifetime Licenses: 916-227-2290
CDFG Wildlife Programs/Publication Requests: 916-653-4263 (916-653-GAME)
Report Banded Birds: 1-800-327-BAND

CDFG Regional Offices:
Northern California & North Coast Region:
530-225-2300 (Redding)
Sacramento Valley & Central Sierra Region:
916-358-2900 (Rancho Cordova)
Central Coast Region:
707-944-5500 (Napa), 650-688-6340 (Menlo Park)
San Joaquin Valley & Southern Sierra Region:
559-243-4005 (Fresno)
South Coast Region:
858-467-4201 (San Diego)
Eastern Sierra & Inland Deserts Region:
909-597-9823 (Chino Hills)

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