I have noticed the long honker blows a little bit different than the other big river I have. Both are flutes but they sound different. I guess I am just used to the old one. I do need to practice with it though. If I do it at home I drive my dad and sisters nuts though. It is nice to have geese on the river behind the house to talk to though. lol The only open water we have. Do you do much ice fishing? I went a few times this year-dozen or so but work kinda got in the way. Then we had some funny weather that effected the ice and I didn't trust it enough to drive out there.