The Real Duck calling

[KSgreenhead]

Been duck hunting for a couple years now in KS. Of course the shooting is fun, but I am really getting into calling and reading the ducks. I bought a DMM double reed for this season. Just wondering what sort of calls I should be working on for when I am out in the field. Also my first two-three notes, and single quacks sound really good in my opnion, but I sort of trail off at the end and do not sound good, any pointers? Kind of a broad question but I am open to any sort of tips. Thanks.

[mdh2ofowler]

greenhead-
I've had that problem too. I found that is mostly just practice making sure your use clear crisp notes and building up lung capacity so you can do it. For example, i used to sound like quack-quak-qua-qua qua. You really got make sure you get that "quack" (or however you go about making you notes, i know people use many different words and noises . . .) every time you call.
Hope this helps and keep shootin em

[Nick McArthur]

Hey guys.....as far as trailing off, thats what you need to do.....each note, whether it is a 7, 5, or 3 note cadence needs to be progressively getting quieter and a bit shorter in length. Its like stepping down the stairs.....each time you quack, you kind of step down in volume as well as length of quack......so you kind of get that trailing off sound. Listen to live ducks, it will be very easy to understand what I am saying if you do that. But practice and air control is a big part of it.....as well as finding some ducks to listen and try and copy what they do as far as cadences, sounds, pitches, and whatever. Hope this helps, if you need something addressed further or I was not clear, or didn't even come close to answering the question, please post up again.....

[Killer Miller]

Yet, I agree with mdh2o. Just gotta preactice. A few of my buddies are the same way, they havent been calling since they were 10 or 12 like me. It'll just come to you eventually.

As for field calling, I have noticed in the past few years while field hunting mallards and honkers that when the mallards are coming to the field, the majority of them are feed chuckling. In fact, sometimes theyre so high that you here them chuckling before you even see them. So chuckling I would say would be the best call, with some short 5 or 6 note greeting calls and single quacks.

But I think what really works for ducks in fields are spinning wing decoys. It seems like they wanna land right on them. Last year in Illinios with my dad, we had about 100 mallards try to land right in the kill hole. I think when we called it, some of the ducks had already landed!! They were allover my Lucky Duck. It was probably the coolest thing that has ever happened to me while waterfowling, besides when a few days later we killed our 8 bird limit of geese outta one flock and 7 had lege iron! :D :D :D

[Nick McArthur]

Forgot to answer the other part of your question pertaining to what type of calling I do at ducks. I use 7, 5, and 3 note cadences that vary in speed depending on what the ducks are doing....once I get their attention, I will usually quiet down, and do some single cut feed (don't like the rolling fast type....keep it as real as possible to ducks on the pond), and mix in some quacks.

I think the key is to keep it simple and call within your ability and you will be able to read and kill ducks!!