Ed L. said:
MLBob Furia said:
Sealing a bunch of stuff with Val-Oil, so I "turned" to other things while all that stuff is drying.
Spent yesterday turning a bunch of wood duck whistles after sorting through a box in the "wood library" that had a variety of interesting blanks. Always glad I save the odds and ends from nicely figured wood. I found workable blanks of English walnut, Tigre-caspi, Mora, Pecan, & Salt cedar. Shaping & fitting the soundboard is always a bear, but these all tuned up nicely.
Your Woody whistles are just gorgeous Bob! Well done. You'll have to PM me your price list. I've always wondered if they respond as I was don't they usually won't. Well last year I broke down and bought a whistle. I didn't turn him but I did see him turn his head. One day just maybe.
I will say that I have observed, and hunted Wood Ducks, more than any other duck over a long span of years.
IMO Wood Duck calls, whistles/squealers, work very well, to bring the ducks into good shotgun range.
Unless I am on the X, aka food. I do not expect them to land in, or close to my decoys. (I do not hunt where they roost.)
What the hunter requires is patience, as almost in all cases, the hens respond first. The rest of the flock/brood follow.
Then the hunter can pick drakes if so desired.
This means the early flight "dark ducks".
Cannot tell if hen or drake, get a pass until better light.
In years of lean acorns, hunt fresh cut corn, and you will have lots of fun for about 40 mins.
Tain't the killing, it's seeing the birds that matters, and a good call does help.
VP