What do you like for a low/no maintanence duck call?

NickR

NickR

Well-known member
I didn't want to hijack the other duck call thread, but I've been pondering for quite a while -

My primary quacker is an Echo Open Water. Had it for years, love it. Bought a poly carb echo open water on clearance, its ok, well adapted for windy cornfields. Also have some Glynn Scobey calls that I used to love and am sort of luke warm on now. I don't own an RNT Original, but I've blown a few and liked em.

My gripe is that all the good calls I'm familiar with use cork to hold the reed. It's great and all, but I don't like screwing around with sending the calls off to get new cork every year. Are there good duck calls that sound like Echo or RNT that don't need annual maintanence?

It doesn't seem like the retailers are excited about taking returns on calls - "sanitary reasons"

Thanks!

NR
 
In my opinion the most bomb proof ducky sounding call out there is the Haydel's DR-85. I usually carry at least 2 with me...one on the lanyard and another one in the bag with a slightly different pitch. Sometimes I'll hold one in each hand tuned differently and alternate. I know there are a ton of great calls out there and I'm not saying the rest are junk but I will blow these forever. And they're cheap.

Typically I'll have an RNT and maybe one or two other calls hanging from the lanyard and inevitably I end up reaching for the Haydel's.
 
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I use rubber (Santoprene) for the wedge to avoid changing the cork so often. I have 3/16" and will be happy to send you a bit to try. At least on my toneboards, I have to shorten the reed using Santoprene instead of cork because it tends to hold it tighter. Your results with other calls may vary.
 
I never have to screw with it. It hardly ever freezes up and when it does it's the last one on the lanyard that did. As Jay said - It's bomb proof.
 
Pureduck?

I can't call for beans, so I usually don't bother unless I've done a lot of practicing beforehand. The pureduck is better call than I am a caller. It makes some amazingly ducky sounds even coming from me. 'spensive though. Bought it when I was hunting a lot. I probably wouldn't do it now.

The cheap-o primos wench and duck commanders from mega-china-mart were what I had before. They were more in line with my skill level and budget.
 
I've had the same elcheapo Faulks call since 1998. I cant blow a duck call worth a dang and this is the only one I've found that I can make a decent sound with. If I ever lose it, I guess I'm screwed if they dont make it anymore.
The main puddler we get are gadwalls. The hens make a funny sounding soft quack-quack that is easy to make on the Faulks.
If you can accurately make a drake gadwall sound on a call, you are a genius, cause me & my partner have both bought drake gadwall calls and they dont sound much like a drake gadwall.
So, in the end, I usually dont call much and/or just let my partner call.
I have a cheap diver call that works on divers when they feel like being called at (or they just might have seen the spread and been coming anyway, who knows?).
In the end, the most important part in the end is find a call you can blow well and learn when to use it & when to just leave it hanging around your neck.
 
The cheap black plastic PS Olts were great. I'll have to take care of mine now that bthe company is out of business.
 
Haydels VTM-90 isn't bad but my favorite is the Primos Wench. The originals can sometimes not be as tough as I would like them to be. The Fusion, or if you can find one of the wood editions, are tougher and sound nice. Other then a quick wash every now and then there is no real maintenance.

Tim
 
I have 5 custom calls and I seem to do is fiddle around with them. The 2 calls I use regularly are el cheapo Original Wench and original Duck Commander. They don't stick and I like the sound. I blow the wench when they are far out and the duck commender when they are in close cause I can blow it real soft. I'll rinse them out with warm water every once in awhile and thats it.
 
You can have any call and use either cork or the santoprene wedge. I only use cork in my comp. calls for the fact of a tighter reed fit for when you tune them. All my hunting calls i use the so called rubber wedge, much easier to work with if the call is frozen or needs adjusted. I personally use all Foiles calls so naturally I would advise on them but if you want to stick with a call that is an Echo or R-N-T then the echo timber or prime meat. In the RNT I would recomend The timbre duck or the micro hen made of wood. That being said, I have killed the same amount of ducks with a cheaper poly foiles legend as with the more expensive calls i have.
 
Hey guys,
Thanks for all the responses. I guess I should have added that I've never liked double reeds, so that botches a bunch of your reccommendations, but I still appreciate the discussion.

I consider myself a pretty decent caller and I'm not afraid to pay the money for the higher end production calls. Like I said, I just get tired of fooling w/ the corks every year.

I'll hafta look into getting more cork and adding to the call arsenal.

Thanks again,
NR
 
I like the Duck Commander calls. Seem to make pretty good sounds for me with no maintenance. The Original Duck Commander, Brown Sugar, and Ole Raspy. All three have a different sound. My favorite is Brown Sugar, it is a softer call.
 
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