[fabsroman]

What is a corn buzzard? Would that be a snow goose?

As far as calls are concerned, I couldn't blow a short reed at all when I tried them and just thought they weren't for me. A buddy got one and started blowing it pretty good out in the field, but he had practiced for hours. When I went to look at them at the PA show, I was talking to a lady that said, have you played a musical instrument before. I answered that I played the trumpet for many years, thinking she might say it was just like that. She didn't. She said that I should know that you cannot pick up a trumpet and start playing great without plenty of practice, and that is what a short reed takes. I bought the Tim Grounds plastic short reed for around $65, practiced with it in the car during the summer, and got pretty decent with it.

You need to buy a decent call and practice with it. I am debating the purchase of a Foiles acrylic call for $150, but just have a hard time parting with that much money. The first short reed I bought was a Uncle Buck one for $30 and it sounded like crap and it still does.

As far as going to Cabelas or Outdoor World, I always find it better to shop on-line than in the store unless I want to buy a gun.