10 Best Duck Calls for Beginners in 2021
Photo: realtree.com
Whether you are new to duck hunting or a seasoned pro, a duck call is one of those indispensable tools you need when hunting ducks. The issue, however, is that some are easier to use and this makes them better suited for beginners.
Duck calls come in different shapes and sizes. They're also made from a variety of materials, giving rise to high-quality calls for experts, and other options for beginners and intermediaries.
This duck calls for beginners review presents you with a list of the top beginner calls in the market and shows you how to make the right choice.
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10 Best Duck Calls for Beginners – Review
- 1. Duck Commander DCCALL600 – Best Overall
- 2. Duck Commander DCCALLPW – Best Budget
- 3. Haydel's DR85 – Best Adjustable
- 4. Duck Commander DCCALL2006 – Best Camouflage
- 5. Primos Hunting 866 – Best Premium
- 6. Buck Gardener DNP-CG – Most Stylish
- 7. Faulk's Game Calls WA-33 – Best Wooden
- 8. Duck Commander DCCALL2011 – Triple-reed Duck Call
- 9. Duck Commander DCCALL2013 – Single-reed
- 10. Buck Gardener DN-WD – Double Pack of Mallard & Wood Duck Calls
- How to Buy the Best Duck Call for Beginners
- Conclusion
10 Best Duck Calls for Beginners – Review
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1. Duck Commander DCCALL600 (Best Overall) |
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2. Duck Commander DCCALLPW (Best Budget) |
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3. Haydel's DR85 (Best Adjustable) |
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4. Duck Commander DCCALL2006 (Best Camouflage) |
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5. Primos Hunting 866 (Best Premium Goose Call) |
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6. Buck Gardener DNP-CG (Most Stylish Mallard Call) |
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7. Faulk's Game Calls WA-33 (Best Wooden Design) |
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8. Duck Commander DCCALL2011 (Triple-reed Design) |
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9. Duck Commander DCCALL2013 (Single-reed Design) |
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10. Buck Gardener DN-WD (Double Pack of Mallard & Wood Calls) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Duck Commander DCCALL600 (Best Overall) |
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2. Duck Commander DCCALLPW (Best Budget) |
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3. Haydel's DR85 (Best Adjustable) |
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4. Duck Commander DCCALL2006 (Best Camouflage) |
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5. Primos Hunting 866 (Best Premium Goose Call) |
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6. Buck Gardener DNP-CG (Most Stylish Mallard Call) |
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7. Faulk's Game Calls WA-33 (Best Wooden Call) |
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8. Duck Commander DCCALL2011 (Triple-reed Design) |
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9. Duck Commander DCCALL2013 (Single-reed Design) |
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10. Buck Gardener DN-WD (Double Pack of Mallard & Wood Calls) |
1. Duck Commander DCCALL600 – Best Overall
Photo: Duck Commander
- Reeds: Two
- Materials: Plastic
This Duck Commander call is also called the Ole Raspy. It's built with the original style and sound that Duck Commander sold over thirty years ago, and which made the company and its founder Phil Robertson famous for duck hunting.
This duck call makes a low and raspy sound. It's made of high-impact plastic and virtually indestructible. Duck Commander makes it with a double-reed design and it's so easy to use for beginners. Then, it also fakes the mallard hen's call so beautifully that it's one of the best duck calls for beginners and our overall best on this list.
For cons, it makes just one call and that is the mallard hen's call. For a beginner though, this is sufficient, as mastering this single call can improve your odds. Plus, it's very easy to blow.
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2. Duck Commander DCCALLPW – Best Budget
Photo: Duck Commander
- Reeds: 0
- Materials: Plastic
If you are considering the best duck calls for the money, then there's no better offer to check out than this 6-in-1 Duck Commander call. It's a tough and durable acrylic call, with a 6-in-1 call design.
You can use it to make mallard drake, teal drake, dove, pintail drake, and wigeon drake calls. It's simple, easy to blow, and a very forgiving duck call, making it perfect for beginners.
For downsides, its calls are not as realistic as many other calls. They are great for youngsters who want to help out though and you can also use it as a whistle for your retriever.
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3. Haydel's DR85 – Best Adjustable
Photo: Haydel's Game calls Inc.
- Reeds: 2
- Materials: Plastic
This Haydel DR85 is also called the 'deceiver' and with good reason. Haydel makes it with a double-reed design and then lets you tune it to your personal preference. This makes it an outstanding duck call for beginners and the company's best seller.
It's also easy to blow and its 2-reed structure makes sure of that. Tuning it is also easy, as Haydel includes a floating wedge that's easy to adjust. It's made from plastic, measures eight inches in length, and weighs just 2.4 ounces.
For cons, it presents a little learning curve for the absolute beginner, because one needs to learn and understanding what tuning is and how to make the best of it. On the brighter side, it can take a good beginner through the learning process much quicker.
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4. Duck Commander DCCALL2006 – Best Camouflage
Photo: Duck Commander
- Reeds: Two
- Materials: Plastic
Beginners who like camo gear will find this one very attractive. This Duck Commander features a Realtree camouflage pattern and is made of durable high-impact plastic, guaranteeing a long life for your investment.
Duck Commander designed it with a mid to low-range tone that makes it a great option for close-in finishing calls. It offers a mallard sound, but how loud you blow is up to you. Tuning is also possible, but it's just a little.
Downsides include that it works best with other louder calls. But this ultimately depends on your hunting style, because it produces a quack that's very authentic and always brings in the birds, making it one of the best duck-commander calls for beginners.
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5. Primos Hunting 866 – Best Premium
Photo: Primos Hunting
- Reeds: Two
- Materials: Plastic
From Primos Hunting comes this Goose call that features lots of patented technologies, as well as a beautifully designed and finished exterior to give it a top-quality look.
There's the patented reed system that makes it possible to disassemble the call, clean it thoroughly, and assemble everything perfectly together again. Another nice feature is the patented ditches that prevent its reeds from sticking. All these features combine to make it one of the best offers in the market.
Where you can find issues with this goose call is its price, because it's relatively costly. But when you take a closer look, you agree that it's worth it. And this includes its lovely design and patented features.
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6. Buck Gardener DNP-CG – Most Stylish
Photo: Buck Gardener
- Reeds: Two
- Materials: Acrylic, aluminum
Hunters that place lots of value on looks will appreciate this duck call from Buck Gardener. It's a stylishly made call from Acrylic and it's available in the loveliest combination of colors.
Another nice feature is its spit-tech tone-board design, which makes sure it blows at all times, even when it's fully wet. This sets this call apart from lots of popular calls with reeds that tend to stick.
For issues, it's designed to just make mallard duck calls and nothing else. But it does its job very well and additionally looks great doing so, and this makes it one of the best duck calls for beginners out there.
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7. Faulk's Game Calls WA-33 – Best Wooden
Photo: Faulk's Game Calls
- Reeds: One
- Materials: Wood
Faulk's is another impressive manufacturer that has been making game calls for over half of a century. This Faulk's Game Calls WA-33 is made from wood and shows Faulk's dedication to hunting tradition.
It produces a smooth and natural mallard duck tone, easy to blow, and guaranteed to always attract the birds. Faulk's experts tune each call at the factory to make sure of this. It's made using walnut and beautifully decorated, including a grove for lanyards.
The only issue is that it's a wooden duck call for beginners, and this means it can absorb water and change its tune. Else, it's a great classic, and one of the easiest duck calls for beginners.
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8. Duck Commander DCCALL2011 – Triple-reed Duck Call
Photo: Duck Commander
- Reeds: Three
- Materials: Polycarbonate
You've probably heard of single- and double-reed duck calls for beginners, but there are also triple-reed calls, such as this Duck Commander mallard hen call.
It features a polycarbonate construction, which is guaranteed tough and durable. It's also easy to blow, which is a plus for its triple-reed design. You can use it to replicate the mallard hen's hail, feed, and quack calls, making this triple threat duck call for beginners also useful for seasoned experts.
Issues include price since it's one of the costlier calls. Asides from that, it's a Duck Commander duck call, and this means it's approved by Phil Robertson.
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9. Duck Commander DCCALL2013 – Single-reed
Photo: Duck Commander
- Reeds: One
- Materials: Polycarbonate
This Duck Commander DCCALL2013 is designed by Si Robertson, also known as Uncle Si and a brother to the duck hunting legend Phil Robertson.
It's the perfect offer for those on the search for the best single reed duck call for beginners because it's easy to blow, it's tough and durable, and has a high raspy tone that brings the ducks straight to you.
Uncle Si designed and approved this duck call but it needs a little training in the hands of beginners. But those who try will get their rewards.
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10. Buck Gardener DN-WD – Double Pack of Mallard & Wood Duck Calls
Photo: Buck Gardener
- Reeds: Two
- Materials: Polycarbonate
Also named the Double Nasty, Buck Gardener's DN-WD is a double-reed duck call for beginners that offers an extra raspy tone with a very loud volume. This offer is for two calls: one is a mallard call and the other is a wood duck call.
It features a polycarbonate construction with an aluminum band, and Buck Gardener's staff hand-tunes and tests each piece before it leaves the factory. An extra feature is the Spit-Tech tone-board technology that lets it make calls even when it's wet with spit, water, or other moisture.
Although there are two calls in this package, you also have to realize that it means two different calls to master. But if you succeed in mastering these two calls, then that means lots of mallard and wood ducks.
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How to Buy the Best Duck Call for Beginners
1. Distance
The type of duck you intent to hunt makes a lot of difference because it determines how far away they'll be from you. For instance, mallards will stick around water while wood ducks will perch in trees. By understanding this difference in distances, you can get a better-suited duck call.
So, for close-range hunting, a softer call is all you need, while a louder call will be ideal for longer-distance calls.
2. Call Variety
A duck call is more like a musical instrument. This means that you can use it to make a variety of sounds. On the other hand, different models offer different levels of flexibility, in using them to make sounds.
You'll find duck calls that can make three sound varieties, while others can go as high up as six. Keep in mind, however, that the most versatile duck calls are also the most difficult to learn, and therefore, often not the best choice for beginners. As a beginner, you want something simple, easy to learn, and quick to master.
3. Reeds
Reeds are the part of duck calls that make the sounds. Reeds can produce different pitches and sound timbres based on their size and other physical characteristics. You'll most often find single-reed and double-reed duck calls.
Single reed calls are louder and have a wider variety of sound production. On the downside, they are more difficult to master and thereby, often not recommended for beginners.
Double-reed calls are better-suited for beginners because they tend to make more realistic duck calls, even in the hands of a first-timer. Their downside is that they have a shorter range and often need more air to produce their sounds.
4. Loudness & Authenticity
As stated above, double-reed calls generally sound more authentic than single-reed calls, while single-reed calls are louder. In the hands of an experienced hunter though, single-reed duck calls can do wonders.
5. Construction Materials
Duck calls come in a variety of materials, with wood being the most traditional of them all. Another popular material is acrylic. Here's a closer look at both materials.
Wooden Duck Calls.
These are made from wood and can come in many different styles and designs. Their most important feature is that they produce low and mellow sounds that also work best for short to medium-distance calling. Their major downside is humidity, as soaking up water or moisture from the atmosphere can alter their sounds. A good example is
Faulk's WA-33
duck call.
Acrylic Duck Calls. As the newer of the two materials, acrylic offers certain advantages over wood. For instance, acrylic calls don't soak up moisture and change their sounds as wooden types do. This makes them produce more consistent sounds and they are overall easier to maintain. A good example is Buck Gardener's DNP-CG duck call.
6. Craftsmanship
As with different materials, duck calls also come in different styles, colors, and unique features. So, there are no standards here. Just pick what you like and can enjoy, then move on.
7. Mastery & Effectiveness
It's totally up to you to find what works for you and what you're comfortable with. You may need to go through a few duck calls over time and pick out your favorites. But remember that it's best to start with just one good beginner-call and then add others later. Else, you risk getting confused and not mastery any duck call.
Conclusion
We've reached the end of this duck calls for beginners review and you've seen all these great offers out there, including the single-reed and double-reed versions.
For an uncomplicated pick, we recommended the best overall Duck Commander DCCALL600 , with its authentic sound, easy-to-blow design, and 30-year popularity.
But, if you would love a budget offer, then recommended the Duck Commander DCCALLPW , with its 6-in-1 call design and attractive low price.
Else, you could also go for the wooden Faulk's WA-33 with its classic style, single-reed design, and attractive price.