Hunt Pike Illinois Business Directory

Hunt Pike Illinois

Waterfowler’s Notebook: Choosing a Duck Call
By Wade Bourne

Here’s how to find the right call to match your style of hunting

Over the years, I’ve made a practice of naming my duck calls. The two I use most frequently are Dominator and Convincer. To me, they
are more than inanimate instruments made of acrylic and wood. Instead, they have life and personality. They embody my hopes and
help me (sometimes) fulfill my hunting dreams.

Other hunters probably don’t go to such lengths in “bonding” with their calls, but I’d venture that most have favorites they value
greatly, which is why picking out a new duck call is such an important exercise.

So what goes into the decision? How does a hunter sift through the myriad combinations of brands, materials, and styles to select the
one call that’s best for him or her? Many hunters subscribe to the “sounds good” method. They blow a new call at an outdoor store or
sport show, and if it sounds good, they buy it on the spot. Others may like the way a friend’s call sounds, so they order one like it.

Certainly, personal preference is important when buying a new call, but ultimately, hunters should make a selection based on what
they need as well as what strikes their fancy.

“Hunters should select a duck call according to where and how they intend to use it,” explains Rick Dunn of Echo Calls in Beebe,
Arkansas. “Options that can affect a call’s tone, range, and sharpness include high or low volume; ringing or mellow tone; single or
double reed; and acrylic, wood, or polycarbonate construction.”

Hunters who call over long distances, such as open lakes and big rivers, should select a call that is louder and higher in pitch so the
notes will carry farther. Conversely, hunters who call mostly to close ducks in environments like flooded timber, potholes, and beaver
ponds should pick a call that is softer in volume and pitch. In these environments, “reach” is less important, and sounding “ducky” is
more important.

“Choosing between a single-reed and a double-reed call is a matter of personal preference,” Dunn says. “Single-reed calls have more
range and are more versatile than double-reed calls, but they are also a little more difficult to master.

Double-reed calls take more air to blow and don’t have as much range as single-reed models. But most double-reed calls have a
‘sweet spot’ that sounds very realistic to passing ducks.”

Most duck calls sold today are made of acrylic, wood, or polycarbonate. Acrylic is very dense, and Dunn says acrylic calls are typically
sharper and louder than those made of wood or polycarbonate. Many open-water calls are acrylic.

Wooden calls are usually softer and mellower than acrylic calls, and they are a good choice for close-up calling situations.
Polycarbonate (molded plastic) calls fall between acrylic and wood for sharpness and loudness.

Dunn adds that acrylic calls don’t require as much care as wooden calls. “Wooden calls are porous, and they tend to absorb moisture
and swell,” he explains. “They should be taken apart after each hunt and allowed to air-dry. But because of the high density of acrylic
calls, they won’t swell, and they produce very consistent sounds.”

And finally, what’s the difference between a $140 custom call and a $30 mass-produced call? “You can call ducks with both,” Dunn
says. “But custom calls can be finessed more. They are capable of making soft whines and other subtle sounds that mass-produced
calls can’t make. A custom call can also be tuned specifically to a hunter’s calling style.”

So when choosing a new duck call, consider these variables: distance, volume, type of material, and cost. After working through these
options, apply the “sounds good” test to make the final selection. Then, if you are like me, all that remains is coming up with a good
name.

Call Tuning Simplified
Any hunter who has ever taken apart a duck call knows that putting all the internal components back together in the right position can
be more difficult than you might think. That’s why it’s a good idea to mark the original placement of the reeds, tone board, and wedge
with a magic marker before disassembling them.

AGC Construction 217-242-1088

Alton Sportsmans Club 217-734-2894

Area Supply 217-734-2321

Bank of Kampsville 217-734-2315

B&H Trucking 217-734-2762

Big Horn Outfitters 217-734-2651

Bob's Red Fox 217-734-2812

Campbell Publishing 217-734-2345

Capps Real Estate 217-734-2327

Central State Bank 217-734-2365

Champion Tool 217-734-9217

Country Insurance 217-734-2334

Cox Home Improvement 217-734-2201

Craig's Heavy Duty Truck Svc. 217-734-2705

DNG Technology 217-734-2767

E-Clarity LLC 314-558-7535

First Baptist Church 217-734-2145

Foiles Migrators 217-734-1434

Geiger Promotional Products 217-734-9446

Git-R-Done Construction 217-440-4521

Guthrie's Plumbing 217-734-2063

H & H Home Comfort 217-734-2700

Hannel's Service 217-734-9013

Heartland Lodge 217-734-2526

Jenny's Salon 217-734-2229

Jiffi Stop Shell 217-734-2424

Jones Truck Repair 217-734-9375

J.R.'s Hauling 217-440-5949

K.C.'s Hardware 217-734-2116

Lippincott Photography 217-734-9418

Martin Equipment 217-734-2397

McKee Real Estate 217-734-9014

McKinnon Saw Mill 217-734-9342

Muddy Rivers Lodge 217-734-2511

NewWay Signs 217-437-5971

Pam's Cafe 217-734-9403

Panhandle Eastern Pipeline 217-734-2319

Pat's Extra Touch 217-734-9314

Perry Wells Corp. 217-734-2086

Pike County Fair 217-734-9033

Pioneer Outfitters 217-437-2903

Pleasant Hill Campground 217-734-9006

Pleasant Hill Christian Church 217-734-2128

Pleasant Hill Methodist Church 217-734-2919

Pleasant Hill Grade School 217-734-2311

Pleasant Hill Flower Station 217-734-9000

Pleasant Hill Senior Center 217-734-2912

Pleasant Hill Harmon Museum 217-734-2686

PH Fast Stop 217-734-2100

P-Hill Business Center 217-734-2767

P-Hill City Hall 217-734-2113

P-Hill Fire Dept. 217-734-2000

P-Hill Medical Center 217-734-2545

Rodhouse Rut-N-Strut 217-734-2205

Royal Spa 217-734-2600

Scranton Trucking 217-734-2628

Shampain Ranch 217-734-2283

Squire Insurance 217-734-9241

Sny Island Drainage Pump 3A 217-734-2870

Sonny's Tire & Lube 217-734-2578

The Frame Game 217-734-9295

The Masters Touch 217-242-4000

Thomas Barber Shop 217-734-9022

T.J.'s Construction 217-734-2856

Two Rivers FS 217-734-2393

U.S. Post Office 217-734-2913

United Agri Products 217-734-2395

Valler, Michael DDS 217-734-2922

Ward-Lummis Funeral Home 217-734-2514

Western IL Feed 217-734-2363

WhiteTails Unlimited 217-734-2651

Winchell's Gun Supply 217-734-2297