The Best Duck Calls for 2025

Waterfowlers may disagree on many things; like decoy placement, which puffy coat is the warmest, which boat rides the smoothest, and don’t even start on waders—the argument will go on for hours. One thing, however, we all can agree on is one of the best feelings in the world is hammering on a duck or goose call, and watching as a flock of birds breaks down from the sky and circles into the spread.

From the backwater swamps of Louisiana to the grassy pastures in Washington, I have yet to meet a hunter who hates blowing a call. Part of the allure of hunting waterfowl is the ability to trick birds using their own language. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best calls for you to hang on your lanyard this coming season. That way, when the birds are getting wary and decoy-shy, you’ll have the right calls around your neck to hit the notes and cadences needed to set yourself apart from the competition.

Last Flight Calls The Imposter

This call is downright ducky. A versatile double reed, and the latest addition to Last Flight’s arsenal of calls, this .410 bore call is nasally and designed to hunt those tight pockets of water. It excels in the low-end raspy quacks that those heavily pressured birds love to hear. But don’t think that this call can’t get up in tone. You can ring this call out if you need to. While Last Flight describes this call as a “mid-low” range call, I would argue this call has just as much capability to be a “every range you need” call if you really lean on it.

$140 | lastflightgear.com

C&S Custom Calls The Rise

Mike Stelzner has created a full line-up of smooth-running, realistic calls at C&S. From their goose calls to their teal whistles, you could pick anything from their catalogue and be impressed by the sound and ease of use. The call that I really enjoyed this past season was The Rise. A single reed that feels like it has an entire flock of hen mallards built into the tone board. From easy feeding chatter to those loud high balls, this call hit everything I needed without missing a beat. The bouncy low end gives you the ability to shape all the notes that the others can’t; and with a laser-cut tuning hole in the exhaust, making the call sound like multiple ducks is as easy as ever!

$140 | store-cscustomcalls.com

Rich-N-Tone Calls Short Barrel Duck Call

The Short Barrel has been around for a while, but it hasn’t gotten the love it deserves. When people think of RNT their minds go to the iconic Original, the Daisy Cutter, the Mondo line of cutdowns, or the Timber NV they released last year which we featured in the 2024 gear issue. While any of those calls are going to be a solid choice wrapped in the paracord of your lanyard, the Short Barrel is a call that has a nasty side. It hits all those sticky, bouncy, nasally quacks old hens make, and it doesn’t require years of practice to do so. It’s a softer call, made to reassure the ducks overhead that they have nothing to worry about as they descend on your decoy spread.

$175 | rntcalls.com

 737 Duck Calls Tomahawk SB Cutdown

“It’s a damn good duck call,” is what I was told on a hunt this past season where one of my blind mates rattled off on his Tomahawk SB Cutdown from 737. He wasn’t lying. It sounded good, and when I asked if I could take it for a test run it was easy to blow and easy to apply back pressure to add some unique flare to some of the notes. The newest addition to the 737 line up, the Tomahawk SB (short barrel) comes in a wide array of colors to sexy up your lanyard, and the shorter barrel makes it easier to run without sacrificing any of the range and versatility of the original Tomahawk. Cutdowns are lethal in any duck hunting scenario, and if you find yourself in need of a new call to really bark the birds down to the gun barrel, this should be a contender for your next purchase.

$170 | 737duckcalls.com

Big Lake Outdoor Products T-Rex

This call from Big Lake is one that truly sets itself apart from the competition. A double reed call with one metal reed and one mylar reed gives it the ability to sing out, or whisper quietly when working birds that are picking everything apart. It also works great as a diver call, giving you the ability to make those short grunts as they scream by low across the water. This call comes in both acrylic and wood, with multiple color options. Whether you need a call to break down high-flyers, a call to finish birds in tight pockets of water, or anything in-between, the T-Rex can be used for whatever hunting scenario you find yourself in!

$50-$140 | biglakeoutdoorproducts.com

Jargon Game Calls Live Duck

This duck call is appropriately named. It’s 100% pure live duck! A great call for both beginner and experienced hunters, the Live Duck can easily reach a wide range of notes from soft feed chatter to loud, ringing hens. It has the perfect amount of built-in back pressure to hit those trick notes needed to stand out from the rest, and an exhaust bore opened wide enough to really let it sing when you need to. This call is a perfect option for flooded timber, open water, small sloughs and anywhere else you need to sweet talk ducks as they try to pick apart your trap. I’ve had the chance to use this call on multiple occasions when I’ve swiped it from a friend, and I can tell you without any hesitation—this call is next level awesome!

$145 | jargongamecalls.com

Legendary Gear Raspy Hen

Making another appearance with their new-for-2025 duck call is Legendary Gear and their Raspy Hen. The name says it all! A call that hits all the notes of an old, nasally hen demanding some company in the marsh. This call has the same rasp of a cutdown, with the added versatility of a J-frame. Lynch believes this call fits the needs of every caller, regardless of calling style. It can hit the fast, feeding chatter in stride, or shatter the sky with those loud, bark-like quacks that are known from cutdowns. If you’re looking to have one single duck call on your lanyard this season, this is it! Available in both Delrin and acrylic.

$90-$150 | legendarygearusa.com

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