Selecting The Right Call

The first step to becoming an accomplished caller is selecting the best call for you to use in the field.

Is there such a thing as the "Best" duck or goose call? Is the "Best" call the one that your hunting partner uses? What about the call that you saw and heard about on the latest hunting video you just finished watching? Is that the "Best" call? Or what about the beautiful call in the glass case at your local sporting goods store that the salesman told you is "The Magic Flute"? Is that the "Best" duck or goose call for you?

The answer to all of these questions is an emphatic "NO". The "Best" duck or goose call for you is the call that fits you and your abilities the best. Whether it's made of plastic, wood, acrylic or any other material, you need to be the one who chooses which call is right for you.

In order to answer the question, "What's the best call to use?" we recommend using the following system to make the right choice. The system consists of:

Your Calling Ability

Your first step is to make an honest appraisal of your current calling skills. Today, calls range in price from $10 all the way up to $200. If your current skill level is low or you're just beginning to learn the basics there is no reason to buy an extremely expensive call. Instead, buy a call that is one or two steps above your current calling ability but still easy on the pocketbook. If on the other hand, your skill level is advanced, an expensive call may be exactly the right choice for you.

The Fit And Comfort Of The Call

Your second step is to choose a call that fits you well and is comfortable to blow. First, the call needs to fit your hand properly. This is extremely important, as you need to use your hand and fingers to help you create back pressure and control the notes as they leave the call. Second, the mouthpiece must be comfortable to the lips and the mouthpiece must allow you the ability to properly seal the call.

The Versatility Of The Call

Your third step is to choose a call that is versatile. In today's market, you have a variety of calls to choose from. There are:

Duck Calls

Goose Calls

Call versatility is extremely important. A versatile call will allow you to blow notes on the high end on the scale as well as the notes on the low end of the scale, while not requiring you to loose a lung in the process. A versatile call will allow you the ability to produce the multiple sounds a hen mallard or Canada goose makes.

There are people that believe a multiple reed call (i.e. double or triple reed calls) is easy to blow and easy to learn with, but you're basically limiting yourself to only one sound and ducks, like people, don't all sound the same. The same is true with many flute and conventional Canada goose calls. Although they may be easy to blow and easy to learn with, you are for the most part, limiting yourself to only one monotone sound. A call that produces the same tone and sound at its top end as well as its bottom end lacks the versatility needed to sound like many different ducks or geese.

In our opinion, the calls with the most versatility are: Arkansas style single reed duck calls, and short reed Canada goose calls. Arkansas style single reed duck calls and short reed Canada goose calls can require more time to learn, but they have the ability to naturally create the sounds of multiple ducks or geese. A single reed duck call and a short reed Canada goose call can produce every sound on a scale from 1 to 10, while a multiple reed call duck call or conventional and flute Canada goose calls produces sounds on a limited scale from 3 to 7.

The Calls Ability To Consistently Reproduce Realistic Sounds Time After Time

Your fourth step is to choose a call that can produce the right sounds time after time, day after day. A call with consistency will allow you the ability to vary the sounds that come out of the call easily and naturally. Your call should allow you the ability to sound exactly like a duck or goose, not a person blowing a call.

Many of today's lower priced calls are made of plastic or cheap wood. These calls are not constructed as well as calls made of quality wood or acrylic and are more apt to change sound or tone after only using them a few times. This is especially true if you use them in wet conditions.

The call materials that consistently reproduce the most realistic sounds time after time are; high quality wood such as cocobola, bois d' arc and walnut, and acrylic. Calls made with these materials will allow you to consistently get the right sound over and over again.

If you choose a call using the system described above, you will truly have the "Best" call for you!

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