A good duck call is a crucial element to a fun and successful hunt; let WILDFOWL help you pick out which duck call you'll take out into the marsh with you to sweet talk those ducks to their demise. (Photo credit: Mike Clingan.)
November 11, 2024
By Ryan Barnes
Duck calls are an integral part of waterfowling. Every waterfowler I know has a lanyard with at least a couple of calls dangling from the paracord loops. Even though most hunters won't ever lift that trophy on stage in Stuttgart, Arkansas, there's nothing quite like working ducks out of the stratosphere and into the decoys.
From shiny acrylic, to wood and even polycarbonate calls, duck hunters everywhere spend hours trying to master the art of calling ducks. Whether they use single reeds, double reeds, or even the odd-ball triple reeds that are found now and again—those calls play a huge part of every hunter's time in the marsh.
If you're looking for a new call, or maybe just another one to add to the collection, here are WILDFOWL Magazine's top calls of 2024!
RNT Calls Timber NV duck call. RNT – Timber NV RNT has been the duck call industry darling for decades now. From that first saw-cut tone board that Butch designed, Rich-N-Tone seems to make call after call that has hunters across the country buying them as fast as they can be put together. RNT’s latest offering, the Timber NV, goes back to what made them famous in the first place. The ground shaking timber style duck call designed to break birds down from above the canopy of the flooded timber. Previously, these calls had been designed for volume, but the RNT crew designed a new tone board and a new bore to give hunters all the range and sounds they might need for any occasion. Whether you’re hunting flooded timber, or small pothole marshes, the Timber NV will be sure to get the job done!
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737 "Dos" Pure Hunter duck call. 737 Duck Calls – DOS “Pure Hunter” On a hunting trip with some friends last year, a buddy of mine was proud to show off his new DOS duck call from 737 Duck Calls. We all gave him some ribbing and the usual, “It’s the indian not the arrow” type of jabs to remind him that even the best of calls couldn’t help his sorry attempts to sound like a duck. But when that first flock traded past, he sounded like a hen mallard! I decided I needed a turn with the call and was thoroughly impressed. It was a crisp, responsive call that was easy to operate. I decided I was going to have to pony up the money and get one of my own. The DOS double reed is a sharp-looking call that’s a treat to run. From sharp cutting quacks to long pleading hail notes, it does it all—and does it well. This call can hit whatever note you’re going for, top to bottom, side to side, and everything in-between.
Jargon Game Calls Chit Chat duck call. Jargon Game Calls – Chit Chat Chad Belding is no stranger to building calls. He’s been in the industry a long time and clearly knows when he’s made a winner; such is the case with the Chit Chat. A crisp little single reed you could give to your eight-year-old or your seasoned hunting partner and either one would sound like a champion caller. The Chit Chat is a timber style J-frame designed for close quarters calling when the ducks need some extra coaxing to make that final swing before it’s time to shoot.
Big Lake Outdoor Products T-Rex Big Lake Outdoor Products – T-Rex Double Reed Big Lake Outdoor Products offers a wood/polycarbonate double reed call at a modest $50. But don’t let the price tag or the material deter you. This call sports a “metal T reed” which gives the call an ungodly amount of range for any caller to use to their advantage. Whether you need to scream at the ducks in the stratosphere, or give a few confidence quacks to keep those birds committed, Big Lake’s T-Rex gives you the range to do either.
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Last Flight Calls The Terror. Last Flight Calls – The Terror Last Flight makes some mean calls. You can’t go wrong with anything in their lineup. My attention was drawn particularly to The Terror due to a sound file I heard from the head honcho of the operation, Matthew Hicks. Any time a $30 polycarbonate call sounds like a $150 acrylic it piques my interest, and that’s exactly what this call did. With a fantastic low-end, and a ringing high ball, The Terror sang all the duck notes a waterfowl enthusiast could want in the marsh.
Maker's Call Company Monarch duck call. Maker’s Call Company Maker’s Monarch Colton Thompson and Travis Ward are creating something special with Maker’s Call Company. While I’ve used several of their calls, I was particularly impressed with the Monarch, a single reed call that you can put through its paces. You can sing out to birds the next county over, or simply give a few feeding chuckles to keep the birds’ confidence. A beautiful call, coming in an array of polished acrylic colors, it’s sure to impress your buddies when you show up to the blind. But that’s not why you buy a call now is it? More importantly, this call will help get those high-flyers in close.
RM Custom Calls ColdWeatherFan. RM Custom Calls ColdWeatherFan The ColdWeatherFan, or CWF as it’s more commonly called, has become a call that’s getting harder to buy. This isn’t because Ronald Laun, or “Stump” as the waterfowl world knows him, isn’t building them as fast as he can. It’s because they’re selling faster than cold beer in Hell. When my first CWF arrived, I took it the next day on a hunt for late-season mallards. The nasally quacks came easy. The bouncing hens flowed out of the call, and the three-man limit of drake mallards piled up quick. Every note was silky smooth, and the call operated like a dream. I’m a believer in the ColdWeatherFan, along with a growing army of duck hunters adding it to their lanyards every day. With a giant array of gorgeous colors and limited release materials, the CWF is a call that every duck nut should have in their arsenal.
The Closer by Cadence Game Calls. Cadence Duck Calls The Closer A few years ago, I won a duck calling contest that landed me some new gear. One such item of said gear was a new call. The box read “Cadence.” I had no idea what it was or who made it. So, I took it outside, gave it a few rips and boy did it sing! I decided to get a little more playful on it, throwing in some squeals and a couple bouncing notes—it kept the pace perfectly. I inspected the box and read “The Closer” inside. This little call can do it all. From high-balls to soft chatter, The Closer is appropriately named—it works to close the game and get those birds right into the decoys.
The C&S Archangel duck call. C&S Custom Calls The Archangel Mike Stelzner makes great calls. That’s not an opinion, that’s a fact. There’s a reason that other call-makers turn to him to mold their guts for goose calls. The guy knows what he’s doing. He especially knew what he was doing when he created The Archangel. Tyler Heaton, who I’m convinced is half-man, half-duck, used this call to win last year’s World Live Duck Calling contest. When I first used one, I rang out a few cadences, then got mad because my friend wouldn’t let me buy it from him. This call is magnificent! Stelzner offers The Archangel in a few different materials that make it affordable for everyone; not to mention, they look cooler than a 1980s rock concert with all the different color options. This is one bad call!
Wingert's Woodworks drake whistle. Wingert’s Woodworks Drake Whistle Drake whistles are a lethal tool for every duck hunter. Wingert’s Woodworks gives you the ability to have a sharp-looking drake whistle made from acrylic, wood, micarta, and even a few other materials that flow in and out of the shop. These calls sport a fashionable design, with two holes on the top which allow you to achieve the sound that you’re trying to mimic. If you need one trick up the sleeve, this is the one to have.
Final Flight Calls D3 Final Flight Calls D3. Final Flight Calls has quite the offering with their D3 duck call. From acrylic, hedge, rosewood and even micarta, you can find something that fits your style of calling. Whether you want a louder call and decide to go with acrylic, or something a bit more mellow and go with one of their wood calls, the D3 has a material to fit. An easy to blow double reed with the ability to finesse notes with the best of them, Final Flight has done an excellent job of making a call that sounds like pure duck! Not to mention they look good too.
