re: What's the 2nd most important factor in duck hunting success?

I'll throw my vote in for good shooting.

Sound like a duck. Don't try to sound like Eli Haydel or Rick Dunn. Listen to real ducks. Doesn't matter if it's in the duck woods or at a park somewhere. Very few times do I hear 7-10 note cadence from a suzy just sitting on the water. Most time is a 3 or 4 note call that is fast and raspy. To me, it almost makes a popping sound. Short quick burst seem to be the trick, at least in the timber. May sound odd up close but sounds realistic as hell from a small distance.

To me, cut down style calls mimic that sound of an old raspy hen sitting on the water closer that the traditional double reed type calls we all grew up with. JMO of course

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Surprisingly, the followup video explains it best. Good to see Haydel jump on this also since I grew up with a DR85

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The combination of a warm cup of coffee from a thermos, and a full pack of marlboros. It's just something about somebody in the blind lighting a cig that just makes ducks magically appear.