I know, I know, "Put on my flame suit right?"

Ya'll wouldn't believe some of the PM's I'm getting. Let me clarify this a little bit before you read on. I am only considering charging someone who:
1. Has a bit of experience but has never blown a duck call competitively, and would like some help on developing a contest routine.
2. Someone new to duck hunting altogether AND/OR is young and would like to establish some practice habits that could possibly help them mature as a duck caller and POSSIBLY help them in a crowded, public hunting situation, hold their own and get some ducks on the strap.

What this is NOT intended to be:
1. It was not my intention to imply, nor infer that, I was going to charge any and everyone, especially a seasoned competition duck caller. My mentors NEVER charged me and have helped me immeasurably. If you have followed the sanctioned contest circuit at all or even participated in some high-end meat contest, I will benefit from the time spent together as much or probably more so than you. The fellowship not only develops and cultivates the excitement and enthusiasm it takes to participate in this game competitively. It (the fellowship) keeps ME or, in this case, gets me back into, THE ZONE! This fellowship of competitive duck callers does a few things for all of us.
1. It keeps the duck season alive ALL YEAR LONG! By traveling around to the different sanctioned regional's or going to your specific sanctioned state contest. Which are scheduled throughout the year around the country. We are constantly practicing, or talking with our fellow competitors about their duck season, or who was at the last regional we both know, or maybe what little nuance is scoring well lately.
2. It helps us (competitors, has beens and wannabe's) to stay focused, develop healthy practice habits, maintain an excitement level that is mandatory if you want to stand out in a crowd of GREAT COMPETITORS.

In this phase of MY life, all I was trying to do here was to "stir it up again" and hopefully generate some cash. 2009 was the toughest year for me ever and I am trying to think outside my paradigm.
SO, If you are a seasoned competitor, and are close by and wanna hang out and put some spit in a duck call, I would love to share that time with you.
If your new to this sport, new to duck hunting, or just have some bad habits that someone that has seen a little water go under the bridge and you would like some feedback, I would love to help whether any money changes hands or not.
Now, with that said...Here is my disclaimer below.

Lets get this part out of the way, Who am I and what makes me think I can give duck calling lessons right?

Before you start, I know calling judges and calling ducks are two different things. Just because you harvest your share of ducks doesn't mean you can blow a duck call. I will guarantee you though if you can call judges, it will FORCE YOU TO BECOME A BETTER DUCK CALLER.
I won the VA. State contest in 1984
I won the VA. State contest in 1985
I wont the IL. State contest in 1993
In 93' I placed 25th. at the World's in Stuttgart. (my best finish to date)
I have chased Mallards since 1972 in TN. VA. IL. AR. & TX.
I am not presumptuous enough to think or believe I am the best caller on this forum or believe that I might be in a better position to teach duck calling than anyone else on here.
What I am doing is trying to help you AND me.
Invariably, it seems most of us dont practice blowing a duck call until we are getting our feet wet next to a spread of decoys on opening morning. That is NOT the time to practice or discover we need a new cork or a reed or there is a plug of last years dip stuck under the reed.
My mentor from 72' is Mike McLemore. He is a three time World Champion and winner of Champion of Champions. Over the years, along with Mike, I have worked with Wendall Carlson, of Carlson Championship Calls and of course Butch Richenback of Bitch & Moan, I mean Rich N Tone duck calls. (just a joke here I love Butch's calls)
All of these guys know how to blow a call but more importantly, they know how to practice. It is NOT just blowing your duck call, its about practicing with a purpose and WORKING on a particular part of you arsenal when calling ducks. We all develop bad habits and it is difficult to critique ourselves without recording and listening to it with a critical ear.
If you want to move to the next level or just want to polish that stone a little bit, send me a note.
What am I going to charge? I dont have a clue yet.
For what its worth, I only blow single reed calls. I can help you though no matter what you blow.
Please know that I will be honest, if I dont like your call or how you blow it, I have to tell you. That does not mean you cant or wont kill ducks. We have all been on honey holes where even if you were standing in the middle of the decoys beating on a #6 washtub with a boat anchor you would still kill ducks. And, we have all had those days when you best calling was with your call in your pocket. Reading the birds and I mean READING them will be your success.
Let me know if you think you want to improve.

Harry

can you blow the honker too? Thats what i need help with

I wish, I started learning with a diaphragm call but not very good at it at all. It seems for me, most Mallard holes were/are not very easy access to geese, especially White Cheeks. Even though I have chased ducks for forty years, I bet I have not been on 10 goose hunts total.
In IL. Tim Grounds and his son, were both pretty strong on a flute I love listening to a good Canadian caller.

Pm sent your way .

well that sucks. yeah the grounds guys are friggin amazing. i've watched hunter a couple times

Back atcha Migr8tr.

PM sent.

pm sent

not a bump, but more of an edit!

Harry

I'm interested always looking to better myself. Just started last year so all advice tips would be great. PM me w/ info and I'll try to make it.
Thanks!

PM Sent..

blast where you located? interested and have some questions for you....

I live in Allen, and fire away.

i'll send a pm....

You should go to the Refuge Texas Forum and give those guys some lessons. They all suck over there!!!!!

LMFAO

Mr. Harper????

I presume????

J.J.

Agreed...

I take it you might know this person J.J.?

If so can you give us some insight as to how good he is after you know for sure

Got a dollar says he's better than RGC

Is this a joke?

If it is who I think it is...

Harry Harper, he likes to hang around with Younger women, 2 smelly yella dawgs...and back in his day blow a mean duck call...

And Randy, Yes, I know him!

All you have to do is google people these days:





J.J.

Oh, BTW...

Harry, is a "GREAT" guy...and know's not only how to blow a duck call but how to teach someone to blow one!

J.J.

...........I'm thinkin the same thing

Thanks J.J. I know it sometimes helps new people out on here if someone that is an established member that people trust knows them and can vouch for them. That was the reason for my question. as for it being a joke I think it is great that someone else is trying to help those that are not very good or need help.