What Calls?

[Bluemoon]

Back in the day 20 some years ago I was a very die hard Duck & Goose hunter, I'd kick a Rooster in the head to move him to shoot a Coot just about.  This upcoming season due to demand our Upland Guide service is going to be offering Waterfowl hunting and I'm the one who will be doing the work.   In my day I could call with the best of them but this was before all the acrylic calls.  My go to calls were the Yentzen Sureshot for ducks and the Big River Long Honker Flute for Geese.  With so many new calls out there,  what is it that you use and would recommend?  I would consider myself still above average on a call.
Thanks for your imput..

[wildweeds]

Kazilllion calls out there now Richard,I also haven't really chased ducks for 20 years also,this december I took my cousins kids out to their blind,they'd been having trouble with the calling,I showed em a thing or two on my antique call,it worked just as good now as it did back then,turned the same drake around and back for look passes 4 times.Olt P66, best call ever made IMO.

[full choke]

Take your pick on duck calls- there really are a billion choices. I would probably stick to a double reed if I were you. They are my preference- I just feel like I can get more out of them. Some will disagree. I like a wood call to over acrylic's. Where I hunt I am not really trying to out call others- I am more finesse calling to closer, more workable birds.

As far as goose calls go? I am the opposite. Get an acrylic short reed and learn how to blow it. SOOOO much faster and easier to use than a flute. I also like higher pitched calls- they just seem to draw geese in better for me. Even the big honkers respond better to a higher pitched call. Look into a Bill Saunders Traffic in Acrylic- just about the perfect call.

[fast60eddie]

 You can't go wrong with a set of these
http://www.jjlares.com/
 

[REHJWA]

IMHO. Use whatever works best for you. Calls are like shotguns, they have to fit the person using them. I have so many calls in the den its a borderline obsession. I still have my first duck calls...still break them out and drive the kids crazy now and again.

[h2ofowlr]

Get out and test a few and see which one you like or sounds good for you.  Best way to go about it and keeps you from buying new ones frequently.

[BiggLuke]

Any reputable sporting goods store that sells calls, will have some you can test.
Cabelas is great for this. Don't open the box and start calling right there in the store... you may end up buying what you "Broke".
But, if you ask, they have boxes full of test calls you can use. They even supply alcohol wipes.

I say, go try some out. You may love some and hate others.

Honestly they all sound good. The only real difference in price is how long it's good for. Your cheap Primos call will run around $20, and work great... until the reeds split or freeze up.
Your $500 acrylic calls, cost that much, because they are basically worth the time of that many $20 calls. But, then again, price isn't eveything. I have tons of perfectly good cheap calls that I still use after years of use.
True, I'm not the best caller, and don't put much wear on mine... but most guys only have a "Favorite" because of their opinion.... or bias towards some video/tv star and how that's what they use. lol.

I like Duck commander calls because they are cheap, but better than most cheap calls. They range in the middle some where for durabillity, and are actually all hand made with warranties, The Duck Picker is my go to..... plus these guys were call makers LONG before they were TV *censored*s.

[JJD]

I still use a Big River flute for geese, especially later in the season.  Everybody and their pet Minor Bird is blowin short reeds and many geese have heard nothing but them when being shot at.  Given'em something different often brings'em in.
I still use a Haydels DR85 duck call, still brings'em in.  Or it ya like the more modern look, the timber cutter is the same call in a different housing.