Need advice on duck calls

I am in the minority of duck hunters in that I never use calls.

I find the biggest way to scare decoding ducks is to let them see movement, and it's hard to call without moving. Plus, I mainly target coastal blacks, and calling is a waste of time there anyway. If I hunted mallards more, I'd definitely reconsider. And I think calling is pretty important for geese.

But, if you have your decoys in the right place, a call won't make much difference, if you stay hidden. None of the closest shots I've taken over the years have required a call.

Someday I'd love to try a call on oldsquaws but those calls are super rare and Uber pricy.
 
In the past I have used Olt 66 & 99, Haydels, a Beauchamp and Stubble King calls. I don't believe any were over $ 25. They all worked just fine.
Learning how to call well, when to call ( and maybe more importantly ... when not to) and not over-calling all contributed to my success.

I sometimes think some of these "fancy" new calls are more to "call-in" ( read" suck-in) the waterfowler than the waterfowl themselves !
 
beretta boy said:
In the past I have used Olt 66 & 99, Haydels, a Beauchamp and Stubble King calls. I don't believe any were over $ 25. They all worked just fine.
Learning how to call well, when to call ( and maybe more importantly ... when not to) and not over-calling all contributed to my success.

I sometimes think some of these "fancy" new calls are more to "call-in" ( read" suck-in) the waterfowler than the waterfowl themselves !
Click to expand...

Hunters are alot easier to "call in" than any game I've ever hunted lol.
 
beretta boy said:
In the past I have used Olt 66 & 99, Haydels, a Beauchamp and Stubble King calls. I don't believe any were over $ 25. They all worked just fine.
Learning how to call well, when to call ( and maybe more importantly ... when not to) and not over-calling all contributed to my success.

I sometimes think some of these "fancy" new calls are more to "call-in" ( read" suck-in) the waterfowler than the waterfowl themselves !
Click to expand...

I believe a large part of it is the fact that hunting in the states requires the most realistic calling possible and in the cold to boot. I guided some other duck guides from the states and by the sound of it the hunting pressure is so crazy in some places that hard hail calls and intense fast chuckling is the only way to catch the birds attention. I think thats where the more expensive calls begin to shine.
 
Yotarunner said:
I believe a large part of it is the fact that hunting in the states requires the most realistic calling possible and in the cold to boot. I guided some other duck guides from the states and by the sound of it the hunting pressure is so crazy in some places that hard hail calls and intense fast chuckling is the only way to catch the birds attention. I think thats where the more expensive calls begin to shine.
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This........plus the time of year dictates duck calling while hunting. Ducks do not get really vocal until they have pretty much migrated out and the pair bonding process starts taking place again which is pretty much late november onward. Yes we hear ducks during the hunting season but even ducks gathered on the sloughs and fields here by the thousands are not very vocal when you compare what you hear against the number you are looking at. I find the birds are most vocal when they are gathering up for the big push south and they are flying from water to feeding field back and forth continually all day long sometimes for days back to back and then the best call is by far a spinning wing decoy! I rarely use my duck calls any more except for the odd feeding chuckle or whistle just to add a little something. Even then I don't really find it necessary. Goose hunting however is completely different and a call and flag are absolutely essential in my opinion.
 
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Certainly ducks seem more suspicious the more they are pressured.

Just read of a nice hand-made, hand-tuned, deluxe walnut, hand-checkered call starting out at a base price of $ 800 ... and a more bargain priced "world's first" carbon fibre and titanium call ranging from $ 130 to $ 250. Not disparaging anybody's product here, but really, does a bespoke London-best SxS far outperform a good Wingmaster in the
duck-blind ? If you are convinced so, then go for it. Even a fine Stradavarius won't sound like much in the wrong hands.

Heard a Stutgart 'Champion of Champions' caller perform ... an incredible competition caller ... but lukewarm performer in the duck blind ( loud and over-called). Bought one of his hand-made hand-tuned calls ...and it wasn't that expensive at the time. Didn't like it as much as an Olt's DR-115 that I had and gave it away.

I would agree that you can get better sound out of a well-made ( I believe machinery is used to make them all !) call than one of the mass-produced hard rubber cheapies, but retail price is not overly indicative of how well you might call with it. ;)
 
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Lots of good info shared so far. You don't need to break the bank on a duck call. I use a Tim Grounds sweet meat and love it. It's a little more than some of the other options listed but there are some advantages. I ended up crushing an olt I used to have, they aren't as robust as my current call. If you are hard on equipment this may be something else to consider. I'm with Spank on the calling theory as well, I believe that unless you are hunting later birds calling is more to make yourself feel better rather than suck ducks into the decoys. I know some will disagree....perhaps it's a difference in hunting area. In the long run you have to find a call you like in a price range your comfortable with and learn to run it. Remember that ducks are just like people, everyone has a different voice. Some if the worst callers I've ever heard turned out to be live birds. Let us know how you make out.
 
I have gone through dozens of calls from yard sale to $200+. I really like the Buck Gardner calls as they are easy to use, cheap and don't screw up when wet. However if I want to talk particularly crafty birds into doing something stupid I grab the Yenzen original small bore. It is very ducky and gets really low when birds are just hanging on the edges of range. Something about the wood and/or design makes that call sound very natural and like the Buck Gardner, they are don't stick on me when wet or cold. The BG I use the most is a Fowl Mouth 2 that came with the pointed reed. The first Fowl Mouths had a square type reed that I wasn't too keen on.
 
So my call wasn't left in the swamp like I thought, my 3yr old son must have grabbed it out of my pockets and stashed it in the basement, my better half found it today covered in sticky little finger prints. Happy to have it back but I will still be getting one or 2 more calls mentioned here.
Thanks again guys.
 
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FWIW, I have used a Mick Lacy cheap call, it was decent, but harder to get a nice smooth feeder chuckle. My daughter bought me a Red Head duck call last year from Bass pro, it is similar to the Mick Lacy, easy to do semi light tone quacks and hail calls but again, a little tougher for feeder chuckles. I now only have higher end calls on my lanyard, and to ME it makes a difference, better sounding, easier to run, and less likely to stick or freeze. My 2 duck calls now are the LMC (Lynch Mob Calls) acrylic Strangle Hold (traded a Zink duck call for it, was a good trade, better call IMPO) and my all time favorite, easiest to use, great sound, etc etc etc (ya ya, some of you guys hate the guy but whatever) is a Foiles Timber Rattler, best call I have ever owned and supper ducky and super easy to use.

Basically, cheaper calls will work, but better calls in my opinion work better, hold their value better, sound better, are easier to run, and less likely to stick.
 
Theres sooo many good calls out there nowadays. Go to bass pro or cabelas or anywhere they let you try them out, and run them all. See what fits you best. Myself, I run an 8 year old Dead Meat Mallard from Foiles. I've owned quite a few, of many different brands but personally, I think I place more faith in spinning wing decoys than calls.

Try this, every time you think of buying a new call, or something better, take that money and buy another spinning wing decoy like a mojo or lucky hd. It's like a swear jar, just one that kills ducks!;)
 
I got an Apple S5 phone and I pewt a few rings awn the qwack qwack sound.
Olie oh fruck, the two German Short'Airs show up.
The gal points and the male sniffs and rayzziss his leg.
Gartzs tuh step back so me pantelones don't git wet.
Tard'ee izz.



:sok2
 
kamlooky said:
I got an Apple S5 phone and I pewt a few rings awn the qwack qwack sound.
Olie oh fruck, the two German Short'Airs show up.
The gal points and the male sniffs and rayzziss his leg.
Gartzs tuh step back so me pantelones don't git wet.
Tard'ee izz.



:sok2
Click to expand...

Let us all know what shows up at your next hunt running that app full of qwackin's sounds over a spread of decoys would ya?! ;)
 
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