Now I am not a duck hunter, not sure if that makes me a barney or not, but if it does I am not real worried about. I am sure I have been called worse, just earlier this morning as a matter of fact. It has always interested me, but the idea of me and my buddies flipping a coin to see who was going to swim out to retrieve the duck just seemed a little risky to me, dang water is cold and i can't handle that...I have enough problems without "shrinkage".

Here over the last year i have gotten a great little jon boat for fishing that would also make an alright duck boat, and a hell of a dog that I am training right now. The part that interest me most is the calling, not so much the shooting, if I could hit anything I might enjoy that more!

My question is this...when looking at calls they range from $5-$150, and i am sure you get what you pay for. Do they all do the same tone, or does each duck species have a separate call? What would be a good CD to learn the basics from?

Haydels,duck commander,primos you should be able to find a 10/20$ call that will work well. Brand realy doesnt matter. Also I would recommend the DC mallard drake call its real versatile and makes different species. teal/widg/mallard/pintail. Hope this helps.

My best rocomendation is HS Bill Collector. You can find it at wal-mart, Bass Pro or Gander for $19.00. If your not into spending a bunch that call is a good one. Phil robertson puts out a no BS CD that I agree with. He gives all species and their calls. It is a put it in and get to it CD. You won't hear the competition calling on that CD. You will hear god useful information. I however am not a fan of his mallard calls. I just did not like the sound when I picked them up in the store. Oh I almost forgot, Tru-tone puts out a single reed mallard call for $45.00 and I liked the sound of that call no doubt.

Welcome to the thought at least of the cold and WET, the road of the duck hunter. Anyway, calling can be one of those things that can make or break a flock of birds and the image you portray with your buddies in the blind. To the hunters that don't even want to give it a try or have never even picked up a call, in a hunting situation, if you can turn a flock greenheads moving at the speed of an F-14 not even giving your spread a second look, than man you friggin' suck on that call! That's sad to say but there are so-called hunter's out there that don't understand that there are times when a duck has a specific place to go! Not to mention the fact that those ducks have been called and shot at since the Dakotas. On the other hand if you turn a group that may come in a little while later your friends will tell their grandkids about it and your there hero. As you can see, the calling aspect of duck hunting can be a very touchy thing in a duck blind. NOt to mention knowing when to call and what sound you want to produce. Now about the calls themselves. YOu have single-reed or double reed. NOt too many sold anymore from what I understand but you also have plastic reed and a type of metal reed. I personally have never know anyone who has owned a metal reed but would love to hear their sound. I don't want to give you my opinion on what call would be best for you because what may work for you may not work for someone else. At the same time I hate to see anyone do what most of us on this board have done and that is shelled out $15 - $20 dollars at random times in our life to find one good call. Believe me, I'm sure others would agree. It may sound disgusting but go into the store when you are ready to purchase and seee if they will let you try one out. You mentioned you are training your dog. I am assuming for duck by your questioning. If you don't plan to hunt get the cheapest call you can if you want because you will need it for training purposes. If you do plan on hunting then you might want to invest a little more money on a quality call that put out a sharp, crisp sound to your liking. Anyway, good luck with you choice.
Ryan

Hey Elliott, here is my opinion. Go get yourself a duck call, don’t worry about it too much, and start blowing on that thing ASAP! I never heard of trying a duck call out before you buy it, sounds like a good idea, but you wouldn’t know what a good sound is anyway because you are just starting.

I bought me a wood single reed Sure-Shot Game Call Deluxe at Academy, can’t remember how much, not much, like $15. I had another cheap duck call before that and lost it. I have only been duck hunting for about 4 years, and it was only last year that I felt good about my calling. But it was only last year that I really got serious about learning too, got me a tape and practiced everyday to and from work in the truck. Practice practice practice, that’s what it takes. I bought a tape “Jim Fernandez” at academy, but I want to get another one. I think I will just get that CD that Wayne recommends. I also want to get me another duck call, a nicer one. Double reed. Wayne has me eyeballing those Hunter Special duck calls. Also, did you see the other thread on duck calls? Below is the link.

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/75348/an/0/page/0#Post75348

Also, you like to fish it sounds like, best thing to do is fish, and listen to those ducks while you fish, even make some duck calls. Great way to spend the day during the duck off season. I got some ponds I take my boy fishing on, we have as much fun listening and watching the ducks as we do fishing.

In response to the last post post, Guy's opinion is correct "go get yourself a duck call, don't worry about it to much". This is true. At the same time, yes, you can try out calls that you feel comfortable with. I know of people that have passed on certain brands of calls not just because they didn't sound right but they didn't feel good in the hand or while at the lip. There is a reason why calls aren't square pieces of polycarbonate,wood or acrylic. However you can't tell anything about a call just looking at it on the shelf inside of a vacuum sealed package. Also, if you blow on a call, or try one out, you may notice soon after it start to stick. Basically, if you have the chance to try one out, great. If not, than hopefully your potluck choice won't "fowl" you up. If you have friends that have the cheaper calls try them out. Get yourself a CD as many have already stated on here. Again, I won't tell you which one to go buy because one is said to be better than this one or that one but pretty much any of them can get you started. Anyway, good luck

Hey Wayne, is this that CD you're talking about?

Duck Commander Duckology 101 Duck Calling Instructional CD

That is it. A lot of people don't like ole Phil for whatever reason. I think that CD puts it right straight and clear. Especially when he says to throw the old competition calling away and stick to what is real. He also covers the other ducks in detail. I learned the woodrow call from that CD and contrary to most beliefs you can put woodrow in your lap with that call. The trick is to be in the spot close to where they are headed. I have covered my people up with woddies on more than one occasion. I like to do a locate call and when they answer just keep answering and they will drop in the pocket looking for a place to land.

Knowing when to quack is great, but hands down I'D say the mallard drake call from the duck commander has killed more birds for me.

Just ordered that CD. That will get me jacked-up to start practice some more.

Now, I think I’m gonna go to Wal-mart and check out some new duck calls. And when I do, I’m gonna open the package and ring-out a hellacious HALE CALL! GAAAAAACK, GAAACK, GACK, GACK, GACK!!!! Oh man, that should be funny!! When the store manager gives me a hard time, I’ll just say brassell said it was ok. Hey Brassell, I’m just playing with ya, that would be fun though!!!

Just do me some justice and make it sound good man! At the sporting goods store I worked at I would open one of the calls that you could get into but be able to close back and just wail away! I'd have to move quick so I could get back behind the gun counter or run away. It was hilarious! The manager on duty 90% of the time had never even heard one! I did find out that I didn't care for Knight & Hale duck calls though. Generally the ones you will be able to test will be the ones locked up in the case that an employee will get for you (high dollar acrylic or wood). Not help yourself to Guy. But if noone is looking ....when in Rome..... :

I bought so many calls over the years I won't buy one that I can't blow first. My wife gets so ticked when we go to BAss Pro or Gander she can't stand it. We went one time when our neice first came to stay with us. I hit the w/fowl section and my wife looked at my neice telling her to hurry up and get away from this section. My neice had a dumb look on her face and asked why. My wife told her you will know in a second or two, but for right now you better move. Of cousre I got the call ready about the time they rounded the corner. I started with a good ole feeder chuckle and then hailed away. She might be a duck hunter, but she aint dyed to the bone yet. I guess the funny thing is if you bought a call from either store in the last few years, guess who has been blowing your call. LOL

As I stated above, "might be disgusting, but..." LMAO That is friggin' hilarious!

You should always try out a call first, I love calling in Bass Pro or Cabelas. You call and instead of ducks showing up its all the duck hunters in the store...

Lookup the big guy at Cabelas, they let you blow anything in or out of the case. He will also be honest about how you sound on different calls. JMO

this is what i like to hear now i know im not the only person blowing on calls in academy. i was in there the other day checking out a coyote howler and those people thought i had lost my mind its just nice to know im not alone

So did you ever learn to use a duck call GR?

I starte out with a buck Gardner double nasty II. Great call to learn on and good enough to keep as you go. I think I paid 19 dollars for it. I just bought a new call that freakin sucks. A Zink ph2. Goes to show price isn't everything. I blew a daisy cutter at cabelas and that's the number one on my Christmas list right now. But I would definitly go with the double nasty if I was you.

I hear they are going to discount Foiles Strait meat Calls soon

He sounded so young and innocent back then...................
See what 4.5 years of whiskey will do to you........

Some took the bait. LOL

i always buy the call bring it home or go hunt with it if i like it i keep it if i dont i return it. but i need practice on my calling skills if i was a bad arse at it id do it in the store.