Buying a Goose Call...But Which One??

[jonboatjunkie]

Hey Guys! I'm pretty new to goose hunting and am looking to buy a new goose call for no more than about $50. I'm torn between either the Foiles Meat Grinder or the RNT Goose Hunter. Which would be a better call? I know the best ones are over $100 but I'm buying a lot of other gear this year and I don't want to use my cheapo Primos goose flute. I don't think it sounds real. I also don't consider myself good at goose calling so I'm definitely a beginner. Thoughts??

Thanks!!!!

[mn_bowhunter]

I have a Foiles meat grinder. I actually like my Buck Gardner canada hammer much better. The canada hammer sounds better to me and is easier for me to blow. It's also only $20. My next call will more than likely be a zink.

[bobbymalone]

I wouldn't support that POS Jeff Foiles in any fashion so that kinda rules out the meat grinder.

can't believe retailers still carry that criminal's junk on the shelf.

OK, now that I've got that out of my system...

I pretty much suck at goose calling, but I would give a toot on whatever tickles your fancy and decide from there. I don't think there is a "better call". Better for you, better for me, maybe but not a universal better.

[TravP]

Polycarb Super Mag.

[uwleagle]

I would never buy anything Foils. I've never tried a RNT Hunter but am sure that it would be ok. If I were you though I'd spent an extra $20 and get a GK Giant Slayer made of Delrin. I think they are $69 off the GK HSOforum. Its a very user friendly call for a beginner. Also for $20 that Buck Gardner Canada Hammer does sound pretty good. I have several buddies that started on that call. Might be a good idea to buy something cheap like that to practice on and then once you are better on a short reed you can try out several higher end calls to see which fits you best. Their are so many good calls out there it just comes down to personal preference.

[Bryce]

Try a Paul Englund pit crew if they are still produced. Was always a good price for a nice call right from right here in MN.

[johnsd16]

x2 for the Ground poly carb super mag. I've been asking for call advice on some of the other waterfowling forums and that Super Mag comes up a lot. There are a zillion different call makers out there now. Any that have been around for a while makes a good call, but like you said all of the acrylic stuff is $100 and up. The super mag is one that guys with a pile of calls of many types will still have on their lanyard it seems. That says something. For a guy just looking to hunt I don't think you are losing anything by not getting acyrlic either. The Poly Super Mag one a couple of big contests in the acrylic era as well, not that contests mean jack to hunting.

I used to blow a flute, was pretty good, not great, but IMO location, concealment, and decoys/positioning all come before calling in the importance to kill geese. I used a Foiles strait meat honker last year and liked it ok, but sold it looking for something different and cuz the guy who's name is on it is a douche of epic proportions.

Grounds has been around a long time and was really kind of the father of the short reed calls for guys like Zink and Foiles. SRs do sound more like a goose than flutes, but there are still some pretty good flutes out there.

[bobbymalone]

Try a Paul Englund pit crew if they are still produced. Was always a good price for a nice call right from right here in MN.

Death Row Calls come from Thief River. Not the cheapest though.

[troutkingmaster]

+1 on not anything with Foiles name on it. Also, take a look at the RNT Goozilla. I know a few guys that have competition calls but revert back to the Goozilla when actually hunting. In the end, try to go to a store and blow a few of them.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Buy a call that fits your hands and is comfortable on the lips. Don't worry if you can make sounds with it or not. The biggest part of the equation is buying a teaching dvd that covers basic calling techniques and also how to tune a call. There are hundreds of great entry level calls out there. But its really a [PoorWordUsage] shoot as to how they are tuned whether or not they will fit you in the beginning. Learn how to make them fit you and you will be that much farther ahead. Some of the more popular dvd's out there are Honker Talk, Bad Grammar, 100% Pure Goose, etc. Not to mention the hundreds of youtube videos on the interwebs as well.

[onthefly]

I bought a call at Game Fair from a couple guys who just starting making custom calls. Sounded awesome! Dirty Dog's Custom Calls - I got what they called a "Gritty" in a cool metallic black acrylic. A little more than you wanted to spend, though...think it was $90, but good deal for custom call.

[jonboatjunkie]

Thanks for the info guys! I think I'm going to pick up a BG Canada Hammer for this year and see how that works out. After a year or two of using it, if necessary, I'll probably jump up to a high end goose call. I'm heading to Game Fair tomorrow so I'll get one then!

[dan z]

Canada Hammer for the cheapr route

TG poly super mag for the "pricey" route

I find myself grabbing the super mag more than the Fat Boy I have loved for years both have a time and place just like everything else

[Knickpoint]

Give Mike down and C&S Custom Calls a shout...helluva nice guy and makes em right there in his Zumbrota shop. He has a molded polycarb series that sound great and are reasonably priced.

[TylerS]

I'll mimic what Dan said: can't go wrong with a TG Super Mag poly. I still have mine on my lanyard and it's my go-to. I actually threw in a shaved reed not too long ago, but took it out and replaced the original because I liked it better. And really, $60 for a great call like a Super Mag is a steal when you consider what you can do with it.

[nate larson]

Can't go wrong with a call from C&S.

[Knickpoint]

BTW, Bobbymalone is right on...check a few out, and try em on for size. Have you ever blown a short reed? If you started on a flute, its time to switch. If you have never blown a goose call at all, get a short reed.

[H0LE HOPPER]

Id say the powerclucker if your looking for a pretty cheap call its a bit hard to learn at least for me when i started blowing it otherwise the big river goose flute still have that call its 6 years old you can work it like a short reed and do all the types of calls you need on it and and the sound is great and really easy to use. call should be 30$ good luck