Shopping for a new call

After a few years of fooling around with cheaper poly calls, I want to step into something higher quality this season. The problem is I don't know the best way of going about this. As best as I can tell, Bass Pro and Cabela's are the only stores in the DFW area with higher-end calls that you can try out in person - and even they don't have a huge selection. I'd be very hesitant on dropping $100 or so for a call without knowing how well I can handle it. Another option might be the custom route, as I know someone who can build something to my specs for $80. Any advice and pointers would be appreciated.

Check out Fowlaholic calls. All around good call. You can tune to fit you personal calling style. Try the C4.

RNT or echo has something that will fit you. Cabelas has a so so selection.

Head up to Mack's and run em up there.

Yep echo or rnt. I'm an echo man but look, any higher end call will do its part if you do yours. Your main decision is wood/timber call or acrylic/open water call. Good callers can pick up LOTS of higher end calls and go to town on them. If you think you are or will be a good caller after lots of practice... get a single reed.

I love my Sure Shot Triple Reed. Sounds the most natural than any other call I've used and they might as well be a custom by the way they are made. They are also extremely easy to use and will never stop working even if you dunk it in water.

They are 100% made in Texas. Yes, even down to the plastic used in the reeds is sourced from a company in Texas. The wood comes hand picked from Louisiana, made on a lathe in their shop in Groves Texas, hand tuned and packaged.

I also have a Sure Shot One. Highly recommend either! The One is expensive over $100.

But there's a good reason they've been around since 1959 and have won world championships with their design.

I also use an Echo call for loud 'hail' calls but my go to is still the One and triple reed.

You can always order a call and if you don't like it ship it back, I know some companies will send you multiple calls for you to try out and put a hold on your credit card till you return the rest of them. Fowlaholic is onto something great with their new calls coming out, I just got the C4 from Garret and looking forward to using it this year at the State Contest in Grapevine for the meat competition.

what ducknbass said, macks has a pretty extensive call counter. you can easily burn up an hour at their call counter. other than wanting a "high end" call what are you wanting out of it? I went through this for awhile, and don't really want to think about how much money I spent on those types of calls. and to this day,still have a wood/poly echo double reed and a whistle on the lanyard, can't stand a bunch of stuff dangling around my neck. and that call isn't a bad all around to have for the type of hunting that we do most of the time

I'm looking for the best possible raspy sound and something that can make real soft, delicate tones. I've picked up a new $30-50 poly or wood call each of the past few seasons and they just never quite do what I want even after tuning every which way. I don't call a ton - I'm not blasting high balls that I haven't mastered, so I don't need something loud. The loudest I get is a greeting to get their attention at first, then just some basic quacks/chuckles and whistles to bring them in.

Trust me, I'd rather not spend $100+ on a good call. Don't need a fancy call just to have a fancy call. If there is something easy blowing and super realistic out there that's cheaper, I'm all ears.

DR-85 go try one out raspy soft but can get a little loud you are looking at like $20 dollars!

Haydel T2 Teal Call

there are several wood/poly double reed and also some single reed timber style calls that will fit what youre looking for. a lot of these types of calls will have an echo insert in it anyway. id give an echo a try

I've got a few customs and plastic calls. My favorite two are the Echo Diamondwood Timber double reed and my custom single reed call from Wano's custom calls.

If you haven't tried that Echo Timber double you should really think about it and it's reasonably priced at around $60 I think.

I wouldn't pay more than $15 for a call. The ducks dont know the difference.