Hawk call

ditchparrot19 · Post by **ditchparrot19** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:46 am

I ordered a screaming hawk call from an Internet site, and it arrived today. Seems like it's pretty easy to use. I listened to a recording of an actual red-tail scream on another site, and it doesn't seem too difficult to duplicate.

I bought the call primarily to use on wild ringnecks in Montana this fall. Those birds run like crazy from day 1, and I'm 275 pounds with a reconstructed knee, so I need any advantage I can get.

Does anybody have any experience with these calls or tips for using them?

Post by **ezzy333** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 6:50 am

I had one but never used it. Just couldn't believe something that loud close to the dogs ears would be comfortable for them. I have heard people who have used them say it tends to flush the pheasants or at least the dogs don't find as many. Think if I was a bird, I'd try to run out of the county if I heard one in the distance.

Ezzy

TNovoa · Post by **TNovoa** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:11 am

I used my hawk scream setting on occasion last fall. It was nice when the cover was too thick for a dog or person to get through easily but a great escape route for a running pheasant. The scream only goes off when the dog is locked on point, not all the time. We never had a problem getting our daily limit (which isn't many in our area) when using this setting. It's supposed to simulate an actual hawk which is supposed to keep the pheasant frozen in it's tracks, not flush or run. "Supposed to", so I'm not sure if it actually did it or we just got lucky.

One of my dogs will not function with any sort of beeping going on around his neck, he has sensitive ears. I only turn it on if and when I can't find him.

snips · Post by **snips** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:06 am

I have heard it worked pretty good, just always kinda thought it was cheating

TNovoa · Post by **TNovoa** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:15 am

snips wrote:I have heard it worked pretty good, just always kinda thought it was cheating

LOL - Isn't hunting a clueless, pen-raised, released pheasant considered cheating too?

We're not as lucky to be where the pheasants self-populate.

I don't mind the state releases, a few days after they release, but there's nothing worse than a preserve hunt. In my book...

AHGSP · Post by **AHGSP** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:52 am

A friend uses one on his Britt and Grouse would still walk out from under her if we were slow getting to her. Sometimes it would take several relocates to get on the bird in thick, tough to maneuver cover. I'd guess those were birds that felt safe and secure from above and were willing to risk walking under the cover. Could be very different where cover is not so **** impenetrable!

ditchparrot19 · Post by **ditchparrot19** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:57 am

Sorry, I didn't mean a collar with a hawk scream setting, but an actual wooden mouth call that you blow into to produce the sound. Supposedly, a wild rooster won't budge if he hears it and believes it's real – he knows that if he shows himself by flushing or running, the hawk will be all over him.

I don't think I'll use it when hunting with my setter. But it might come in handy when hunting with the Lab. I haven't yet gotten to the point where I can stop him when he's hot on the trail (we're working on that), and it might lead to a few more flushes within gun range.

I don't think I'd want something that made that type of noise attached to my dog's neck, either.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 2:16 pm

I like the wild birds way better than preserve birds too. The preserves are useful for training, whether that is a yound dog or an inexperienced hunter. But as for this,

I don't mind the state releases, a few days after they release, but there's nothing worse than a preserve hunt. In my book...

Yes, there is something worse, and that is not hunting at all. Which seems to be what is happening in many eastern states because of lack of habitat and therefore birds.

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:01 pm

A state release and a perserve hunt are the same thing. Both tame birds. I am not saying don't goto a perserve or anything like that, it is alot of fun. It is good for the dog also. I do these a few times a year and it really helps with training. I do hunt wild pheasants most the year but my dogs don't get enough wild pheasant action. You know the pen raised pheasants I get act just like wild ones if you don't put them to sleep. I will put a carrier with birds in it out in the field and just open it. This keeps the pheasants on the ground when they run out. I just go back and pick up the carrier in 15-30 min and check from a distance to be sure the carrier is empty.

thorson · Post by **thorson** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:15 pm

I use one quite often when hunting prairie chickens, especially after they get bunched up and flighty. Also has worked well on roosters and huns too. Two years ago I was actually able to walk up on a bunch of 50+ chickens the week before the season's close with the ol call in my mouth. Oh yeah, should mention I did that on a bet with my long time hunting buddy who now owns one too! Even my brit was surprised when a pair fell to the 28 guage

!!

crittercontrol · Post by **crittercontrol** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:05 pm

So where did ya'all get the call and how much?

Sounds like the new fandagled tool for the late season flighty types.

ditchparrot19 · Post by **ditchparrot19** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:07 pm

Here's where I got mine.

http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/H ... 9C155.aspx

silver elhew · Post by **silver elhew** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:01 am

so you get to your hunting destination,blow the hawk call then you start hunting,is this right.

ditchparrot19 · Post by **ditchparrot19** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:21 am

I was only planning on using it when I knew there was a runner in front of the dog, but this whole concept is brand new to me.

sdgord · Post by **sdgord** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:45 pm

I have a buddy that uses a mouth operated hawk call when he see's his dog getting birdy. It seems to make running birds hold up a bit in Crp. Contrary to popular belief sharptails will run on occasion too and it, according to him really works on sharptails and chickens.SDGORD