A common question a duck hunter asks is what are the best duck calls. This often follows by what is the best goose calls. This post is meant to take a high level look at what goes into answering this question.
To begin with, we must separate out duck calls into single reed and double reed. A single reed call is a very versatile call that can run the gamut of sounds and ranges, but it more difficult to master. Especially for a beginner a single reed call might not be the best choice. The double reed duck call has two reeds and therefore lacks the range of a single reed, but makes up for that in terms of being much easier to blow and master. Double reeds are generally softer than single reeds which is great for calling in close quarters.
Another aspect is what material is the call made out of. The two most common high quality materials is wood and acrylic. You will also find a fair amount of poly calls as well, but in general I have found them to lack the sound you are looking for. The key difference in materials is that acrylic calls can be much louder and carry much further than wood duck calls. This is especially important when considering what type of hunting you will be doing. In an open space you want a loud call and should gravitate towards an acrylic duck call. Another key aspect is that acrylic has less variance in sound over the temperature ranges you would expect to see in a duck blind. Wood expands and contracts to a much greater degree leading to different sounds depending on the air temperature.
Personally, if I were to pick a perfect duck set up it would be two calls. A single reed meant to reach out and grab them, in which case I would choose a Rnt Daisy Cutter duck call. I would couple that with a double reed meant to work the close in birds, and that would be Fred Zink XR-2 Paralyzer duck call. Both would be in acrylic due to the wide array of temperatures I hunt in.
I’ve listened to many a “champion caller” and they all seem to have learned from the same source, some other caller. They say ok, here is my hail call- Quack QUACK QUACK QUack Quack quack. Next is the over-the-deks call- quack QUack Quack quack. And on and on and on. Here’s a feed call- machinegun tukatuka. And it’s always at around 175-dbs.
Sounds like not a one of the “Pros” has ever been to the local duck pond with a bag stale bread and someone with a “good duck ear” to givwe you feed back on your imatations. You’ll hear the occasional hail but mostly a cacahpony of grunts gurgles chuckles and farts and none of them very loud.
When the new “hunters”XXX (strike that), “shooters” show up at the club or public shooting area (with their new 3 1/2″ x 2 oz. heavy-whatever-shot for 75 yards scrapping OVER DECOYS)they all go for non-stop hail calling the speed of a Suzuki in compression-down, and make Mallards call-shy in a week. OK by me, I use more motion with a “Jerk Rig” and a really good dek layout to get’em in and if a call is required I use the softest hen call I can utter with lots of little noises.
Again,the call contests are fine but they maight as well play rap music as far as the birds are concerned.
I’ve listened to many a “champion caller” and they all seem to have learned from the same source, some other caller. They say ok, here is my hail call- Quack QUACK QUACK QUack Quack quack. Next is the over-the-deks call- quack QUack Quack quack. And on and on and on. Here’s a feed call- machinegun tukatuka. And it’s always at around 175-dbs.
Sounds like not a one of the “Pros” has ever been to the local duck pond with a bag stale bread and someone with a “good duck ear” to givwe you feed back on your imatations. You’ll hear the occasional hail but mostly a cacaphony of grunts, gurgles, chuckles, and farts and none of them very loud.
When the new “hunters”XXX (strike that), “shooters” show up at the club or public shooting area (with their new 12 ga. 3 1/2″ x 2 oz. heavy-whatever-shot for 75 yards scrapping OVER DECOYS)they all go for non-stop hail calling the speed of a Suzuki coming into a motocross turn in compression-down, and make Mallards call-shy in a week. OK by me, I use more motion with a “Jerk Rig” and a really good dek layout to get’em in and if a call is required I use the softest hen call I can utter with lots of little noises.
Oh yeah, when you test a new call at the store, try not blowing into your shirt or hand but rather out into the open air. A call will sound very different once you’re outside the typical store “echo chamber” and again, have someone with you that know’s what a hen mallard really sounds like listening.
Again,the call contests are fine but they might as well play rap music in the field as far as the birds are concerned.
Steve,
I think you are spot on about competition callers and those that follow them in the duck blind. If you can find your way around these and then fine tune your calling to mimic actual ducks you can really set yourself apart from the competition.