Diver Duck Calls

T

Tom Roberts

Well-known member
Anybody know if diver duck calls work or does a regular mallard hen call work as well? If they do work, does anybody have a recommendation as to which one is the best?....Thanks.
 

I'm a huge believer in using a call for divers. These three matched calls are a set of 3 adjustable custom diver calls I had made for my two sons and myself. I, of course, got the Can. ;) Jack Wilson made these for me and his card is attached.

You can also do very well using a mallard call and growling/trilling into it. I prefer the Olt Double Reed call for that purpose. It's magic and diver will suck right into a rig.
Lou



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Well you might get a bunch of opinions on this one. Yep, I have turned a flock of Bills or cans into my dekes with a call but I always wondered if they just wanted to be there anyway. IMO calling for divers is not nearly as predictable as puddle duck calling. One of the reasons I really enjoy hunting divers is I don't have to mess with calls. Personal opinion is that you will be much better off with a flag than a call. If you listen to divers you will on occasion hear a gutteral Brrrruppp or something like that but it's real quiet and you won't hear it often.

Have fun and try a minimalist approach once in a while, you might be surprised.
 
I appreciate the response. A couple of my hunting haunts are on lakes where any species of duck is possible. Most of my expertise is in the puddler area. What kind of a flag do you use?
 
All I have ever done is to use a regular mallard c all but instead of making the "quack" just blow through it gently and let your tounge vibrate against the roof of your mouth to make the bruup mentioned earlier. About all you have to do is just make sure they see you but yes, it works as often as not.
 
[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Thanks for the info. What does Jack charge for his calls?
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That depends upon what you want & prices vary widely. Those 3 custom calls were $300 each but well worth it in my book...and, my boys love 'em and use them.
I've attached pics of 4 other of his call that I have also but I don't recall what those cost me. I believe one is walnut, one is African Blackwood and I can't recall the others. 3 of those are checkered like a gun stock. Makes holding them easier but.............not totally necessary ..........but....I like 'em. ;)
Lou

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Lou

Neat calls. Now that I'm turning them I love seeing the work of others. The woods I believe are (L-R) Cocobolo, Walnut, African Blackwood, Bois D' Arc. Checkering adds to the looks and value. Hope to learn how to do that someday.
 
Lou

Neat calls. Now that I'm turning them I love seeing the work of others. The woods I believe are (L-R) Cocobolo, Walnut, African Blackwood, Bois D' Arc. Checkering adds to the looks and value. Hope to learn how to do that someday.
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Cocobolo..........that's right, I remember now. I was thinking it might be that but wasn't sure. The other Bois one ..........brain dead, Sweet looking wood though. Ya know, I've got some blackwood laying around from a company that made clarinets and such. Let me see if I can locate the box and send you some to play with.
You're right, it's always nice to have a gander at others handiwork. Inspiring.
The checkering is not too hard. I've done some of it on guns myself. You'll need to pick up checkering tools and just play around with them for a while. Very cool stuff and something that not many folks get a chance to do.
Later,
Lou
 
A square of black cloth or half black/ half white stapled to a dowel. Wave at them until they turn toward the rig then stop. If they veer off wave again until they turn around.
 
Here the tradition is to flag them, been that way since market days, any black flag on a stick will do.
We'll also "try" to call stubborn ones, you make a "machine gun" sound by mouth, "brrrrp".
Does it work? ...I dunno,... sorta, maybe, sometimes, Heck, it don't hurt to try. lol.
 
I have a diver call but also use my puddle duck call to make the burrrr sound.
Both seem to work at times, but then like others have said, maybe they just wanted to come over to see my dekes anyway????
I have also took my hat off and waved it at passing 'bills and had them turn back. Have been meaning to make a flag, just havent gotten around to it.
 
What brand of diver call do you use? Is it any easier to make the sound everyone is describing than improvising a mallard call? Do you know what the specifications are on a flag?......Thanks.
 
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I am not sure what brand my diver call is, it was cheap, about ~20.00 8 years ago. It is a little easier to make the diver burrr on it.
I noticed that diver calls are harder to find these days.

Not sure about flag specificiation other than make a triangle with a black top/white bottom, put it on a poll and wave it.
 
Tom,

Do you hunt geese? If so I'd buy and use a goose flag, kill two birds with one flag so to speak.
 
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Lou; do you know anybody that makes an old squow diver call? I heard one used on a vidio {pit Boss] tape but can't find one or a maker.thanks Cas
 
Tom - My favorite diver call is the legendary PS Olt diver call the K-11. It adjusts 3 ways for bluebills, cans and redheads. It's an excellent call and reasonably priced at around $50.00. Contact DJ Calls here in the Illinois River Valley. David Jackson made calls for PS Olt for over 25 years, is a master call maker and still makes the K-11.

http://www.djcalls.com/jzcart/showitem.php?id=3957
 
Dave....I don't specifically hunt geese. We've got plenty of them around. One of my future objectives is to learn to call Canada Geese. Been many a time I wish I knew the fine art of goose calling while watching passing geese go by. I'll check on the goose flag......Thanks.
 
Lou; do you know anybody that makes an old squow diver call? I heard one used on a vidio {pit Boss] tape but can't find one or a maker.thanks Cas
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Cas,
I'd give Jeff (PitBoss) a holler and see where he got the call.
Lou
 
Don't obsess over the flag, pretty much any size you can wave around will work, including your hat, or just waving at them, all your trying to do is catch their attention while they still have time for a course correction.
 
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