duck & goose calls

[ducks]

Are expensive duck calls worth the money? I see many in the range of 15-50 dollars at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Scheels and Cabela's. Are they just as good as the ones that are say $125.00-$150.00? Also, any good CD's or tapes out there that a person can buy to learn to call ducks and geese? What is your preference in duck or goose calls?

Thanks in advance for the advice and input.

[Steve B]

I am an avid duck and goose hunter. I have shoe boxes full of calls. A good number of them are useless. I never spent money on the high dollar calls. I have used the same two calls for ducks for the past ten years, and have had good success with them. My first choice is the Olt #66 duck call (about $25), and the MallardTone call (again, about $25)


My favorite goose call is the Haydells Goose flute, or the Big River Goose flute. Both are cheap in price, but very affective when used correctly.


The biggest mistake most novices make, in my opinion, is overcalling.


This very morning, me and my buddy shot five mallards, and four canadas. It was a great day.

[j9f]

The best call is the one that sounds the best when it is blown by you. Some friends have calls that sound great, but I can't blow them. I have other calls that I can make sound just as good. It is just one of those things.

[JLDII]

The trend the last couple years with goose calls is the short reed. They can make sounds you will never make using a long reed (flute) call. But.....they are very different to use, and not an easy call to learn, especially if all you have blown is a flute (long reed) call. Of the short reed calls, I prefer the Tim Grounds "Half Breed" and after that the "Clearly" Goose talk calls. Another good call is the Quaker Boy call if you learn to use a short reed call.

Short reeds are not for everybody, and not everybody can properly call on them. ALWAYS learn to use a short reed while at home, or driving your truck down the road. NEVER in the field. They are way too easy to mess up on and the geese are not dumb anymore. They will know you are not a goose and flare away at the first bad note!!

As for duck calls. I still prefer my old standards. When its windy, or I need to hail some ducks far away, the Olt #66 is still as good as they come. For closer in, or when it is calm out, (and when the ducks are very spooky), I use an old Yentzen "Sure Shot" double reed. None better!!

Good luck and good hunting.

[j9f]

But the two duck calls you mention are my two favorite mallard calls. That Yentzen double reed is my favorite/best call. The Olt 66's also sound great and are easy to blow, are they ever loud. Both can be tuned to sound great.

One other thing to add, I like a metal reed call for in close giving the feeder / chatter. I have a Glynn Scoby with a metal reed that I try to use to talk them into dropping their feet.

[Rippin_Eyes]

I'll give you the same chat I tell everyone that comes to Gander Mountain looking for a call. I have all kinds of calls from expensive to cheapos. A duck call is a duck call and I'll argue to the death on that one. I have a RNT Quackhead call that is 30 bucks and it sounds just as good as my 125 dollar RNT short barrel. I love my "sure shot" too!!! I also have and Olt and like that aswell. Now a Short Reed call you tend to get what you pay for. Big Guys Best, and Foiles Strait Meat Honker are going to be the easiest for a novice to learn on. The break so much easier than a cheap call. I played a flute for 9 years and I switched over this past summer. It is tough to do I'll tell you that much right now. They blow similar to a turkey diaphram call. There is a tape called Honker Talk by shawn stahl I belive, it is gives you the basic tips and hints to calling a shortreed. I would suggest buying that tape. Any other questions email me chris@sibleycountypf.com

[Todd_NE]

Easy calls to use are the Faulks CH-44 - very cheap but very effective for geese.

For ducks, they are all about the same. OK, not but the $15 Duck Commander is good, the old black Olt is good and Faulks makes a good couple of duck calls also.

I used to be a Woods fan (Nebraska guy) but don't see them any more.

Todd
Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed, the glory - Memorial Stadium