A complete guide to bustard hunting: reading flights and anticipating routes

1. Biology and behaviour of the Canada bustard

Social structure and loyalty :

Bustards live in close-knit family units made up of the parents and their young of the year. These families remain together throughout the goslings’ first year. Several families gather in flocks of 20 to 200 birds to migrate and feed.

This hierarchical social structure influences their movements. Dominant families occupy the best sections of the feeding grounds, while younger and less experienced groups make do with the outlying areas.

Memory and learning :

Bustards have a remarkable spatial memory. They precisely memorize the location of productive fields, sources of danger and safest routes. A bustard that survives a hunting season will return the following year with a heightened distrust of caches and decoys.

Site loyalty:

Once a flock of bustards adopts a field, they will return daily as long as food remains plentiful and no major danger is perceived. This loyalty can last 3 to 6 weeks in autumn, until the field is exhausted or winter conditions push them further south.

Voice communication :

Bustards communicate constantly in flight. The famous “honk-honk” is used to maintain group cohesion, signal feeding areas and warn of danger. Understanding these vocalizations helps you anticipate their intentions.

2. Observing and decoding flight corridors

Flight corridors are the aerial highways that bustards use every day between their three vital zones: dormitory (night), rest (mid-day) and feeding (morning/evening).

Spotting methodology :

Day 1 – Evening observation (4pm-7pm) :

Position yourself on a high point with a panoramic view. Bring 10×42 binoculars, a topographical map or GPS, and a notebook.

For each flight observed, note :

• Time of passage (accurate to the minute)
• Direction of origin and destination
• Estimated altitude
• Group size
• Flight training
• Vocalisations

Day 2 – Morning observation :

Repeat the process at dawn. Morning corridors are often identical to evening corridors, but in reverse.

Day 3 – Confirmation :

Check the consistency of the patterns. If the weather changes (wind shifts), the corridors may shift slightly.

Table 1: Flight corridor characteristics

Factors influencing corridors :

Wind : Bustards prefer to fly upwind or crosswind. A strong wind alters their trajectory by 15-30° to compensate for drift.

Obstacles: Bustards avoid dense forests, high power lines and urban areas. They bypass these obstacles using predictable routes.

Topography: They often follow river valleys, ridgelines and natural corridors that provide visual landmarks.

3. Identification of priority feeder fields

Food preferences by period :

September – early October :

• Freshly harvested corn fields
• Harvested soybean fields
• Green pastures (clover, alfalfa)
• Cereal fields with regrowth

Mid-October – November :

• Grain corn fields (top priority)
• Newly ploughed fields
• Autumn pastures
• Newly sown winter wheat fields

Field spotting techniques :

Method 1 – Road reconnaissance (4pm-6:30pm) :

Drive along rural roads in the late afternoon. Bustards can be seen several kilometers away in open fields. When you spot a group, don’t stop immediately. Continue for 500 meters, turn around, and observe from the vehicle with binoculars.

Method 2 – Morning observation of dormitories :

Position yourself near a large body of water at sunrise. Observe the direction of departure of the first groups.

Method 3 – Collaboration with farmers :

Farmers know exactly which fields are frequented. A friendly conversation and a request for permission often reveal valuable information.

Table 2: Quality of feed fields

4. Strategic field installation

Positioning principle :

Like all birds, bustards ALWAYS land into the wind. They first fly over the field at 50-100 meters to assess safety, then turn into the wind and spiral down towards the feeding area.

Optimum configuration :

Place your spread of decoys exactly where the bustards were feeding the day before. If they occupied the northeast corner, set up there. Don’t try to “move” the bustards to another area.

Table 3: Number of decoys by context

Training for effective decoys :

Family training (the most natural) :

Create 8-12 family groups of 6-10 decoys each. Space the groups 10-15 meters apart. Within each group, the decoys are 60-120 cm apart. Orient each family in a different direction.

Landing zone :

Leave a 15-20 metre diameter pocket WITHOUT decoys, 20-30 metres downwind of your cache. This is where the bustards will want to land.

Types of caches :

• Layout blind: The absolute reference. Ultra-low profile (25-30 cm high), rigid structure, integrated camouflage.
• Panel cover: Camo fabric panels supported by stakes. Less comfortable but more economical.
• Dug pit: If the owner allows, a pit 40-50 cm deep offers the best camouflage.

Cache camouflage :

• Use ONLY field vegetation (corn stubble, stalks, grasses)
• Avoid color contrast
• Eliminate straight lines and angles
• Test from 100m away from different angles
• Minimize reflections

5. Timing and weather conditions

A typical hunting day :

• 5:30-6:00: Arrival on the field (1 hour before sunrise)
• 6:00-6:45: Installation of cache and decoys in complete darkness
• 6:45-7:00: Final camouflage, remote verification
• 7h00-7h20: Sunrise, total immobility
• 7.20-7.40am: First exploratory flights
• 7.40-9.30am: OPTIMAL period – successive waves of bustards
• 9:30am-11:00am: Decrease in activity
• 11h00-14h00: Lull (bustards at rest)
• 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Moderate resumption of activity

Influence of weather :

Overcast + moderate wind (15-25 km/h): IDEAL CONDITIONS

• Bustards fly earlier (as early as 7:00 am)
• Lower altitude (30-60m)
• More confident, less vigilant
• Better call response

Recent cold front (24-48h): EXCEPTIONAL

• Arrival of hungry new migrants
• Naive bustards (unfamiliar with area)
• Intense activity all day long
• Maximum success rate

6. Bustard calling techniques with Recall Designs

Recall Designs bustard calls:

Recall Designs offers a complete line of specialized bustard calls, designed to faithfully reproduce the complex vocalizations of the Canada goose.

Series The One Acrylic :

Recall Designs’ flagship bustard call. Available in multiple colors (Ruby Red, Blue, Black, etc.), The One Acrylic offers exceptional volume and a penetrating tone that carries for hundreds of meters. Acrylic stands up perfectly to morning humidity and cold autumn temperatures.

Ideal for hailing and windy situations. The resonance of the acrylic perfectly reproduces the characteristic “honk” of the bustard.

Dead Zone Series Outarde :

Premium decoy combining performance and durability. Designed specifically for serious hunters who demand consistency and reliability. Excellent sound projection while maintaining precise control for finesse calls.

Goose Break:

Economical call perfect for beginners or as a back-up call. Offers solid sound quality at unbeatable value. Easy to blow, forgiving of technical errors by less experienced callers.

Which Recall Designs bustard call to choose?

• Beginner: Goose Break – economical, easy to master, reliable performance
• Intermediate: The One Acrylic – excellent volume, versatility, durability
• Advanced: Dead Zone Series – superior tone, maximum control, finesse
• Windy conditions: The One Acrylic – maximum projection, breaks through the wind

Bustard vocalizations and their use :

1. Cluck (basic contact sound) :

Short, nasal sound: “honk”. Use 2-3 clucks spaced every 15-20 seconds when bustards are approaching from a medium distance (200-500m).

2. Double cluck (excitation) :

Two quick clucks: “honk-honk”. Use when a group shows interest but seems hesitant.

3. Hail call :

Series of 5-10 strong, descending clucks: “HONK-honk-honk-honk-honk-honk”. Gate at 1+ km. Use on bustards at 500+ meters who pass by without looking at your field.

4. Murmur / Feed call :

Rapid series of low, soft sounds: “urr-urr-urr-urr-urr”. Use when bustards are on final approach (50-200m) and assessing your spread.

5. Moan (long moan):

Long, plaintive sound: “honnnnnnnnk”. Use sporadically mixed with clucks for added realism.

Typical call sequence :

Phase 1 – Bustards at 1+ km :

Aggressive hail call: 7-10 strong clucks, repeat every 20-30 seconds until reaction. Volume 100%.

Phase 2 – Bustards at 400-800m :

Series of moderate clucks: 3-5 medium-volume clucks, spaced apart. Volume 60-70%.

Phase 3 – Bustards at 200-400m :

Soft clucks + murmurs: 2-3 clucks followed by feed call. Volume 40-50%.

Phase 4 – Bustards at 50-200m :

Almost constant murmurs + occasional moans. Volume 20-30%.

Phase 5 – Bustards at 0-50m :

COMPLETE SILENCE or ultra-discrete murmurs only.

Flagging (complementary technique) :

Flagging consists of waving a black flag mounted on a 2-3 metre pole. The movement imitates the wings of a bustard as it lands, attracting attention from a great distance (1-2 km).

Caring for your Recall Designs call :

• Rinse with lukewarm water after each use
• Dry completely
• Don’t dismantle for no reason
• Store in a protective case
• Check the reed before each outing

7. Reading flight behavior

Visual signals indicating engagement :

Positive commitment :

• Group turns and flies directly to your field
• Altitude gradually decreases
• Intense, constant vocalizations
• Training slackens
• Some birds descend below the level of the group

Hesitation/evaluation :

• Group turns but maintains altitude
• Several passes over the field without descending
• Sporadic vocalizations
• Formation remains tight

Action: Increase calls, add movement (flagging), stand still.

Rejection/leakage :

• Group turns sharply and moves away
• Altitude rises rapidly
• Sudden silence or shrill alarm calls
• Fast, tight V-shape

8. Ethics and safety

Positive identification :

Before shooting, confirm 100% that you are targeting Canada geese and not :

• Snow geese (smaller, white)
• Sandhill cranes (protected, rare in Quebec)
• Swans (protected)

Shooting distance :

Maximum 45 meters with BB or #2 steel. Prefer 30-40 meters to ensure an ethical kill. Bustards are tough – a misplaced shot at 50+ meters will wound without killing.

Recovery :

A trained retriever dog is highly recommended. Injured bustards can run for hundreds of meters in cornfields.

9. FAQ – Frequently asked questions

Thank you for taking the time to read us! Got a question? An idea? A hunting story to tell? Write to us at info@recalldesigns.com.

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