WE WON’T BE TALKING TO DUCKS ANY MORE – THE LOST ART OF DUCK CALLING
The more I think about the future of hunting in Pakistan, the more I think of it as a lost paradise. I have been talking about general ethics and values associated with hunting in my previous articles. But what I want to point out now is a License to Kill. Like any other outdoor enthusiast, every now and then I roam around our domestic markets to see what’s new. And it gives me immense pain to see the market flooded with electronic duck calls. These are hyper callers with only a click of a button and it will start shouting out random duck calls at high pitch and sound. Means that, I will do all the calling and you Mr. Hunter shoot as much as you can, for you are born to shoot only and need not know what real duck calling is all about and what it means to be called a waterfowl hunter.
I still remember that moment when I first sighted a flock of ducks during my first waterfowl encounter. The excitement took another dimension when I saw our lead hunter pull out a small pipe and the next thing I heard he was talking a duck’s language. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. How could he speak to ducks? I was more surprised to hear ducks respond back. My heart even started pounding the moment I saw that flock flying straight towards our blind and started encircling above us. My God, it was unbelievable to witness wild birds coming closer and landing in front of our blind. That was the moment I decided to learn the duck’s language. For I knew, it was the art of duck calling behind those unforgettable moments that I was able to witness nature’s most precious bounty that day.
But it wasn’t easy. At the tender age of 6, I could only accompany my elders to carry luggage and assist them in settling our duck blind. I could only observe and memorize what they did. At the end of it, it was me running into the marsh bringing back the bag. I would only play with the duck call during breakfast or lunch breaks. Time passed and I realized that being a waterfowler means much more than just sitting in the blind and shooting ducks. As much as there is a time for everything to develop, there is a certain time and effort put into becoming a waterfowl hunter. There is both science and art involved in the game. The science could be as much as reading the weather, and water conditions, training your retriever, spotting your location, identifying flight patterns, and so on. While the art could be blending in the habitat, maintaining a still when required, connecting with birds, spotting the right moment and so much more. Of all the prerequisites of being a waterfowl hunter, duck calling is something that has both science and art. It is the pinnacle of one’s waterfowl endeavors.
With time, I was taught what was an indigenous knowledge that could only pass through a consistent presence in habitat, observation, and utter respect. I learned there is a right moment for the right call with the right pitch. I came to know that there are intervals between the calls that depend on the flight pattern, distance, and orientation of the birds. Of all the things related to waterfowl hunting, duck calling is something that comes with experience. But once mastered, the real satisfaction and purpose of the game start to reveal itself. Simply put, it’s learning any other language that we as humans speak. Imagine the end result of your whole effort depends on how you speak to them.
However, It is a pain to see how the next generation of hunters have bypassed all traditions, values, and knowledge associated with the noble game of waterfowl hunting. There are no shortcuts in life but with hyper bird callers, we have cut short the life of waterfowl hunting in Pakistan. These electronic calls are completely banned in the U.S and European countries however there are flawed regulations regarding their import and usage in our country. The habitat and birds themselves cannot complain about it for sure. But as humans do we not have the compassion for the conservation of our habitat and birds? What pride does it have to kill the birds without knowing and thinking like a bird? With the advent of these hyper callers, our younger generation has an excuse to bypass a whole array of knowledge, ethics, and values that the game carries.
It is my humble request to all the young hunters who have gone through this article to please stop using electronic calls. Instead, indulge yourselves in learning the science and art of calling. Trust me, the passion would only grow more and each time you will have something new to learn about waterfowl hunting. This very notion will keep your lust for the game alive and you will have a knowledge base to transfer to your next generation with pride and responsibility.