Anybody oil duck calls for cold weather?

Steve Sanford

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
During our zero-degree Mallard shoot this morning, the topic of oiling duck calls with olive oil came up. It is supposed to prevent freezing up during the hunt.

Anybody have any experience with this? Advice? Do you take the call apart and oil the innards?

Thanks,

SJS
 
Interesting question Steve, I've never heard of that before. Intuitively, I would think it would make it worse and gum up the works. Maybe something like a hard wax would work. You know, when I was a kid we used bar soap on our eye glasses - rub it all over and then polish it off to prevent fogging. Might be a similar principle. Maybe a chunk of parafin or candle wax?
 
Concept of treating the reeds with a hydrophobic substance seems like a good one. Soap is intriguing and to me makes more sense than oil as intuition suggests the increased viscosity of oil would increase adhesion especially with double reeds. Might also get some beautiful bubbles at the same time.

I'm thinking about the anti-fogging sprays for spectacle lenses or maybe the Rain-X for auto windshields. Other thoughts are a silicone spray or what about dry lube for shotgun actions? These may also all be bad for the material and I look forward to the call making experts sharing their expertise and experience.

Great idea to bring up.
 
I would not do this. Other crap sticks to the oil and fouls the call. Do you have an inside pocket you can put the call in? I have zippered pockes on all my hunting coats to do just this. This way the call stays unfrozen.

Another option is Pam vegie spray. doesn't pu on as thick a coating as what you are considering.

Mark W
 
Mark~

So I guess the Oregano and Parmesan Cheese are a definite NO??????

BTW: I LOVE late-season gunning!

All the best,

SJS
 
I like the Rain-X idea, wonder how toxic it is? Hmmm, thinking out loud, how about food grade silicon spray?
 
Steve

Rub the Olive Oil on your hands and skin, it's Great moisturizer - TRUE. Do Not apply to your calls, as it congeals in cold temps quickly, but if you keep the calls warm use the very good oil that tastes good......... Your dogs may take a real liking to your calls.

Seriously though, I recently had a 1980's custom wooden call retuned, and brought back to life. I do believe the maker applied a small amount of Lemon Oil, to the inside of the call. This does not prevent freeze up, but really helped the call.

Check with the CCAA - www.ccaacalls.org they may be of help.

I prefer Pecorino Romano over Parmesan.
 
If Rain-X is toxic, I'm a dead man. I don't have to deal with extremely low temps, but it works when the call starts to squeak and not blow right, and it's a good for prevention of that problem. I keep some in my blind bag and use it most hunts. It also helps to wash out the call with soap and water after each hunt.

Ed.
 
I have used a little of whatever your favorite lip protector is applied with a piece of dental floss
 
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