diver duck calls..............

U

uncle mike pierce

Active member
In a previous post, I asked for input regarding duck calls, meaning mallard calls.

In the replies, several duckboat members referred to their mallard calls and separately to their "diver calls" in a way that implied they had acquired specifically made and tuned calls for diver calling.

I have always used mallard calls to call the divers. I will admit that I often do use a separate mallard call to do the diver calling just to keep the extra saliva off the reed of my mallard call. The only diver calling/sounds I am aware of are done with a mallard duck call using a series of Brrrs to try to imitate bluebill calls and croaks. Something like this:
Brrrrrrrrrrt! Brrrrrrrrrrrrt! Brrrrrrrr, prrrr.
I have heard redheads make cat like sounds and heard various grunts and growls and squeaks from other divers, but I have never heard hunters trying to imitate anything other than the Brrrs of bluebills.

Years ago I did find an old "bluebill call", made by a Mississipp riverman. It was a piece of sheet metal, sandwiched between a couple of hollowed out pieces of walnut. The sheet metal stuck out about 3/4" from one end of the walnut soundbox and had a slight dish cut out of the end of the sheet metal (as opposed to being just squared off. This dished portion of the sheet metal was rubbed over a threaded steel rod while the caller held the soundbox in his hand, producing a kind of brrring sound. I never could get very loud sounds out of it, but it did intrigue me, and I wished I could have talked to the maker. I always regretted selling it.......

My questions are:
1. Are there "calls" or sounds (other than Brrrrrrrr) used or produced by a call when calling divers?
2. Are there specific calls made or tuned for diver calling?
3. Are there specific call makers who specialize in making and tuning diver calls?

Thanks in advance for the advice and input.
 
Most people around here just make a purring sound with their mouth for bluebills but I do have a diver call somewhere ,I think it may have been called a Old Bay Duck Call,,its basicly what you described ,I think it just had a piece of metal that vibrated when you blew on it
 
Olt made a diver call and it is still being made by the guy that took over the Olt line. Around $60 as I recall. It is ajustable for how deep the Brrrrr is with the BB being the highest and the can the deepest.
 
I have one of those calls. I haven't been diver hunting yet, (still working on building up a apread) so it sits basically unused. But it is cool.
 
Lohman at one time made a diver duck call and I have one that I purchased in the 70's. The only diver duck call made commercially now, I believe, is made by DJ Illinois River Valley Calls. I believe DJ (Dave Jackson) at one time worked for P.S. Olt, who made calls for many years. Hope this helps. John
 
I have one of the Olt calls as well, deeper in tone, works very nice. better than a mallard call.

Interesting tidbit, my bro in law has one of the first ones they made, (numbered box back then) anyhow, sounds WAY better than mine does, I wish I had one like his, but as we all know, calls may or may not work depending on the day, the caller, the mood, the sun...hehehe..

old guy who goes by the name SCREENER on several duck pages claims to make this same call or better and has been doing it for years..
 
I have a very old Diving duck call. Black painted with green painted mouth piece. Metal band around the barrel holds it together with one screw. CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME REMEMBER THE NAME.
Bought it at the ODCCA show, in the late 1980's. Decoy Magazine did a piece on them, last made in 1930's I do believe. Anyway It Works GREAT! See if you can find one at the decoy shows.
If it works, you will not be sorry you spent the $$.
 
I bought mine about 10 years ago, it has no markings, might be a lohman???
 
Mike; very interesting in diver calls, I'm looking for old squaw diver duck call I believe Jeff Coats used one in a dvd he made I tried contacting him with no luck .Maybe you'll hear something in your post. This might help you out "Flextone Calls make a diver call for blue bills one end of the call is rigiid acrilic and the other end soft rubbery so as to change the sound, hope this might help you some what
 
............is that I don't have to mess with calls. Calling or not doesn't seem to make any difference to most divers. I've tried both and now don't call at all and am just as successful. The two exceptions I can think of are Mergansers and Old Squaw. Mergs not so much but OS seem to respond at least a little bit to my inadequate mouth calls. In any event, even 'trying' to call OS is fun.
 
Check Knutson's or Mack's Prairie Wings. I got one from Mack's several years ago. Have a 2011 catalog that shows one from a company called DJ Calls of Pekin Il. Haven't used that specific call. You're not going to call in the divers but just grab their attention to take a look like you would with a flag.
 
Vince I have that same call your describing. Inherited from my grandfather, dont know who made it but know it is from the 30's. If you ever find out who made these calls let me know.
 
I have one made by Lohman.

I use it periodically, but cannot honestly say wether it works or not. Sometimes the birds come in, sometimes they don't. But then again, sometimes they come in when I DON'T call too. I do know one thing, Divers answer back when I am using it...

Now a BRANT call, that's something I would like to have.

Jon
 
To all who have helped and responded to my original post, THANKS!

I today ordered a DJ (Olt) diver call, but keep the suggestions coming. I may buy others..........
 
A final upate on the diver duck call quest. Thanks to great information from Duckboats members, I tracked down a source for the Olt (now DJ's Calls) adjustable diver call. It arrived in the mail Saturday, and it is great.

As advertised, it can be easily and quickly adjusted in tone by sliding the tone chamber. The sound quality of the Brrrrrrrrrr is really nice, a lot like real divers, so I am excited to try it this fall. The range available by adjustment, from high to low, and squawky to guttural is wide. If you hunt a lot of divers, and are looking for call dedicated exclusively to making diver sounds, I think this one is worth the cost (even at $65). I know I wish I had had it years ago on the Mississippi River. My experience has been that calling can influence divers, improving the number of birds decoyed and the closeness of the ones decoyed. And even if I am deluding myself, calling divers keeps me from fidgeting and getting twitchy as they swing and commit........

If it were not for the networking that duckboats.net furnished, I'd still not know of this call. Thanks!
 
Mike

The name of that call is on the tip of my tongue, but for the Life of me I can't recall it . I gotta go thru my Decoy Magazines to find it. One thing for sure, I's the Best diver Call I ever heard.
If yours still works, enjoy it but don't put it on a lanyard. Keep it in a secure warm pocket, and don't let it outta Your Sight!!!!!!!!!!
 
Mike

Eureka!!!!!!!! Jan.Feb. 1994 Decoy Magazine article by Richard L. Nelson. "The Broadbill Duck Call A Call That Calls" Manufactured by N. C. Hansen Co. Zimmerman, Minn.
Made from 1914 - 1965. Price new - $1.50. See if Joe Engers has a copy of that issue, it's well worth the read. I thrive on Waterfowling in North America HISTORY.
Prowl the old decoy shows............you will find the Broadbill Duck Call. It's worth the price, slightly higher now than $1.50...
 
I used to use a Mick Lacy diver call. Like others said, it is more for getting their attention.
I don't know if they are still making them but, last time I searched for them online, there were a few places that still listed them for sale.
 
Jon,
I have a Brandt call, think the name is reedy creek made by Haydel's. some guide in NJ designed it, Brandt hunting is his specialty. Sounds awesome and sometimes it pulls them in, other times not so much. Very realistic sounding call, a bit over priced if I remember correctly. Had a few diver calls and same result, sometimes it pulls them in others not so much. The diver call does make them look though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top