Choosing the Right Duck Call

By: HuntingRDR Mood: WATERFOWL HUNTING Date: 10/30/2007 18:15:20 Music: None

Well guys, I have been asked this question a lot now when I meet new people that are just getting into duck hunting.  What call should I buy, what is the best one?  I feel that this has to do with personal opinion. When I got into duck hunting I was asking everybody I knew this same question.  Some would tell me to go buy this call and the others would tell me to go buy a different call.  I went to the store and picked up about 3 new poly carb duck calls off the shelf.  The people I were hunting with back then told me that these were the best duck calls to start out with.  It was a Primos Nag, and Haydel DR-85, and a duck commander call.  Now don't get me wrong these calls can kill ducks and some sounds very ducky, but they just did not fit me.  I tried and tried with these 3 calls and still could not get one that I liked.  I did some more research on duck calls and found out that there is no right or wrong answer on a call.  If you like it and it kills ducks then it works.  I decided to save up enough cash to get a nice acrylic duck call that I could tune to fit me.  I went up to Cabelas one afternoon and went up to the call counter.  I picked up pretty much every call and tried each one out.  Some I liked and there were some that I hated.  I hit a call that I knew it was right for me.  It blew a lot better than all the other calls that I tried out, meaning that it fit me the best.  I liked the sounds the call had too, it had a nice raspy sound and could get very snarly too.  I ended up buying it.  It was a RNT short barrel.  I took it home and practiced and practiced with it for ever.  I later decided to take the reed and cork out and try to tune this call to fit me even better.  Now don't get me wrong or anything the call already sounded and fit me good, but I wanted something a little better.  I bought a few reeds and cut them down until I hit the jackpot.  It took me a little while and a lot of reeds to get it where it is now, but it was well worth it.  

       I practiced and practiced with the new call, but I still did not know what I was suppose to be sounding like.  I figured that the best way to learn was to listen to live ducks.  I packed my gear and headed down to the local park with my dog just about every evening when the mallards were coming back.  I listened to them and tried to do everything that they would do.  After going to the park week after week I knew what I should be sounding like, but just could not get it down on the call.  I went up to Cabelas and bought the RNT The Right Stuff CDs and popped them into the computer.  If I did not buy these CDs, I do not think I would be where I am today with my calling.  After listening to the CDs I found out how to make the note on my duck call, so after practicing for a while I went back down to our local park and listened and talked to the ducks some more. Also, if you have a video camera, film yourself calling on your duck call to see what you really sound like.  This is what I did and it helped a ton.  All the small stuff that you would not really think about stick out on film.  Now I feel a lot more confident calling ducks than I did before.  

Also, try not to skip around when you are starting out.  Heck I tried everything on the CDs in one day and was so frustrated with myself.  I would suggest that you stick to one note at a time, and once you get it then move on with the more advacned stuff.   I know it is tempting to try and do everything on the duck call in a week and be perfect but it just won't happen.  So stick with it one note at a time and eventually you will get it and be a lot more happier and successful at calling ducks than you have ever been.

 So to answer your question on the best duck call, all I can say is go to the store and try every call you can think of.  Select a few from that and then narrow your search down until you find the one you like.  This is what I did, and I could not be happier.  Remember, if you still can not find the duck call that fits you, you can always retune them and file the tone board down and it might fit you better.  Pick the call that fits you best in the call case then you can take it home and fiddle with it to see if you can get it sounding better.  Good luck with the new duck call you decide to get, and if you have any questions about tuning them or anything else please ask!

Good luck!

Robert