Lets talk calls

[Freezer]

   I've been water fowl hunting for about four years now and would like to invest in some calls (Mallard and Canadian).  I've been disappointed in the cheap calls and sticker shocked by the expensive ones.  Double reed single reed flute and standard, what the heck am I looking at?  Are calls like optics, ya get what you pay for or are there god calls out there for less than $100.  FYI there are very few sporting good shops in my area so I've been window shopping the Cabela's and Brass pro Shop catalogs.

[dukkillr]

When you've learned to call ducks you'll want to go with a quality single reed.  I've recommended the cheaper Rich-n-Tone calls to friends who didn't want to drop $150.  If you aren't too good at calling yet a double reed will erase some mistakes and keep you from making some more.  Unfortunately a double reed significantly reduces your range and things you can do.  Think of a double reed as a duck call with training wheels.  Think of a triple reed as a wagon you carry the "special" kid in.

I've been fortunate enough to grow up around several state champion callers (including my father) and one world champion.  I've had the opportunity to blow boxes of custom Echo, Rich-n-Tone, and Starks calls among others.  Now I blow a soft little woods call made by Sam Heoper.  Their line is called Smooth Talking Mallard or STM.  My advice, for what it's worth, is go somewhere and blow a bunch of calls.  One good call will last you the rest of your life so it's a good investment, and you won't be one of those guys with 10 calls around their neck switching around all the time.  If you can, go to Stuttgart for the Worlds.  All the call makers are there with cases of calls.  If not, go to whatever local competition you have.  There will be guys there with their calls for sale.

Now for goose calls I'm not as much help.  I've blown a Grounds flute call for a long time but I think there are better options.  I've just not spent the time required to master anything else.

[workin man]

I use a Big River Long Honker goose flute. It sounds good and is easy to learn on. Cabelas should have it and probably under $40. I've tried a couple of other inexpensive ones as well, but I can't get them to sound like a goose so they are gathering dust.

 Jim

[mcwoodduck]

My mallard calls are 4 shaker calls taped together and a call around my neck.
I shake the four shakers to make the sounds of feeding ducks and then blow my call.
Oh all four of the shakers have the reeds a little different and give a different voice.
I will also use the shaker calls as callls lulling the billows while shaking and using the call in my mouth to add voices and make it seem like 4-5 ducks are calling rather than just the one.

[Shooter.250]

I was one of the guys that went through a range of duck calls, none were real expensive although with the 5 or six calls I’ve purchased it did get a little pricey.
These calls have all lasted me for over 30 years though. Although I do use all these calls from time to time as they all have different tones instead of retuning my favorite call. Sorry I can’t tell you the name of the call, all I can say is it is a green, tan and black laminate with a black plastic barrel and it had a metal Mallard head silhouette on the side. Great call although you have to grunt into it to get a good raspy tone out of it. As I said it has been many years since I had purchased a call and maybe they sell them now that you don’t have to grunt into it to get the raspy sound you want. Once you learn how to get the raspy grunt into the call you can make most any call work.
I am using a short reed goose call now and had an old Olt goose call although I can’t get the range of tone out of the old call as I can get out of the short reed. I can look up the name of short reed call if you are interested, although you have to learn how to cup your hands around the call to get it to work properly. I did see one advertised that said you didn’t have to do that to get their call to work. I took that with a grain of salt though.
About the flutes I have never used one and could not give you any advice with them. I have been interested in this style though to give me more of a range of call sounds.
OH! The grunt noise I was talking about is almost like making a buck grunt from your throat. Also learn how to say tucka tucka tucka into the call to get a good feed call. It takes some practice but once you get it you have to learn to slow it down a bit unless you have other callers with you to help.
Hope that helps.

[wild country]

I too was like you and have settled on a few calls that i really like.  For Ducks I like the olt 66, not hard on the wallet, but it has a great low end note.  I also like the primos original wench, again not hard on the wallet but I get the sounds I need for hunting Northern Maine.  For geese I have owned a few, but will tell you that I really like Sean Manns eastern shorman call, it's a flute call and is still in a price range that won't kill you.  It is very easy to blow and can creat all the sounds you need.  That's my two cents, good luck, and what ever call you settle on go kill a bunch of birds and pass it on.........

[Buckskin]

As Killer said.  Double reeds are a duck call with training wheels.  Same can be said for goose calls.  Flute's have the wheels and you are limited with what you can do with them.  Short reeds take much more effort in learning how to blow one, but are worth the effort.  I have a Zink Money Maker now, and used to blow a Ground's Half Breed. The Ground's call was a good call to learn on but the Zink can sound like a whole flock of geese.  Truely amazing.  Duck call - I'm still trying to find my call... I have one that I like, but can't find one that I love.  But as with most things you get what you pay for... Unfortunately, if I would just have spent the money on quality calls in the first place I would be money ahead.

[Freezer]

    Been gone for a week deer hunting so I haven't had a chance to check in.  Thanks I'll be loking for a double reed call soon.  I already have a couple shakers and a wing setter.  I've gotten good with the wing setter but it doesn't do much good on mallards   The cheap malard cals I have just don't sound god but there again I need a lot of pratice.

[Buckskin]

I would recommend looking at Duck Commanders calls for a reasonable $.  I have a wooden one that I bought on clearance at walmart and it is a very easy and nice sounding call for what I paid for it. Double reed also.

[Doc T]

     This season will be my 20th year to hunt in the rice and bean fields of NE Louisiana.  I have tried lots of calls and always go back to the same two.  One is a customized cut down Olt D-2.  The other is an inexpensive, ready to go right out of the package, Haydel DR-85.  I would suggest trying the Haydels call.  I use the Olt (single reed) when they are way out and I am trying to get their attention.  When they start working, I usually switch to the Haydels (DR...double reed).
     As far a goose hunting, we don't get to many Canadas in Louisiana.  For Specks, the best call I have ever used is a Chen Caille made in south Louisiana.  By the way, it's pronounced Shen Ki.  Other good calls are the Cutt-Down call made in Athens, TX and the Speck Tackler made by Quackhead.

Doc T

[59f100292]

Has any one used either the bay country Shore thing or the GLynn Scobey?  Both get good reviews, and I'd like a laminate, but 160 is a hard price to chew.  The glynn Scobeys are 40 bucks and also seem to get decent reviews, but not by any of the real serious guys.  Any one use them?

[dukkillr]

Unless you are in the say, top 10% of callers, it will not make much difference if you use a 50$ call or a 150$ call.  Any decent single reed will work fine.  I used to recommend those cheap rich-n-tones because they always came approximately the same and if you dropped one in the lake you were only out 30$ or whatever. 

If you are a good caller, or just want to own a good call, find a local call maker in your area and go to his workshop.  This is the only way to get the call best suited to your style and volume.  Check the internet, local calling contests, and local DU events.  It won't be long before you find the guys you are looking for.

[manofthe45]

The callgirl by GK calls is a excellent double reed just over 100 bucks.  My lanyard holds 4 calls the MK1(single reed) the callgirl(2x reed) and for Goose the Giant killer all by GK calls and a single reed Buck Garner Kryptonite but honestly I thing the BG is gonna hit the classifieds soon

[59f100292]

PM me when it does