When to Use Different Duck Calls

Using a duck call is arguably one of the most exciting things about the entire sport. Calling can get super complicated if you want it to, but it can also be super simple. There are many calling competitions out there and some hunters sound more like a duck than actual ducks, but if you are just getting started, a few basic calls will work just fine. Here, we are going to go over the most common calls and when to use them.

The Basic Quack

When I first started duck hunting, I was terrible at calling. I could not make many of the calls on this list, but I could always make the basic quack. Anyone can make a quack, and even though it is incredibly simple, it is also incredibly effective.

As a more advanced hunter, I typically use the basic quack call to fill the void after my sequences. I will do a bit of calling and then be silent for a moment. Before I start another sequence, I let out a couple of quacks and wait another moment. Then start the next sequence.

This works wonders if you are hunting a small pond or swamp, where you would only be imitating a dozen or so ducks. If you even let some ducks land and watch them, a dozen ducks will make some noise but it is far from being constant.

Greeting Call

I will give you a second to guess when you should use a greeting call… during the greeting! This is a sequence of 5 to 7  quacks on a steady rhythm that you let out when you see some ducks approaching or nearby. It is just to get their attention and make them turn; then it’s time to break out your other sequences.

The greeting call is going to set up all of your other calls. It is also something that ducks would expect to hear if you have a decoy spread out. Ducks are very social creatures, so if a real duck on the water sees another duck in the air, you can bet they will let out a greeting.

Hail Call

A hail call is what you use when you see ducks a good ways away. You are not sure if they are coming to your pond or not and you want to get their attention. Most of the time this call is over used, and it can even scare ducks away. So use it sparingly.

If you see a group of ducks a hundred or more yards away, try out the hail call. It starts with a long, strong, Aaaaaaink, Aaaaaink, aaaink, aaainkaink and tapers off as it goes. Once you get their attention, lay off and watch their behavior. If you do not get their attention, try it again and again. The worst thing that could happen is that they keep flying away from you like they already were.

Feeding/Feeder Call

The feeding call is a fun one to make. Although you will not see the pros use it nearly as often as you will amateur hunters. There is nothing wrong with the feeding call, but it should not be your main call. Instead, this is a call used as more of a filler to hold the attention of ducks.

To make this call you try to say “tik-a tik-a tik-a tik-a” or “dig-a dig-a dig-a dig-a”. It can be a hard call to learn, but it is very exciting to use. The feeder call is probably the most satisfying call to master and it will mark whether or not you are a serious duck hunter.

A feeding call works great for ducks that are coming in close and giving your decoys a look. This call tells ducks in the air that there is good food in the area and that they should land to check it out. This call works well when ducks get a little closer to you. Do not try it while they can see you, but if they are overhead and your decoys are close by, the feeder call works great.

If you know that there are plenty of other hunters in the area, then the feeder call may lose some of its magic when the late season rolls around. By then they have heard it a time or two and know what is going on. If you want to make your feeder call sound more natural and a little different from the rest, try doing a feeder chuckle call.

Comeback Call

If you get a group of ducks that do not respond to your greeting call or other calls, you can let out a comeback call to let them know that you really want them to come land in your pond. This call will get the attention of ducks even after a few shots.

Now you will definitely be educating the ducks in the area, but I have used a comeback call many times to bring back in the 2 or 3 ducks that escaped when we opened fire on an originally bigger group. Of course, it does not always work, but it has led to more ducks in my hanger many times.

This is an urgent and fast call that sounds a little like “Kanckanc, Kanc, Kanc, Kanc". You make about 5 to 7 notes and then wait a while. This is a simple but effective call that is really just a sequence of basic quacks.

All in all, most of these calls are not very hard to make. Once you understand how they work and when to use them, you will become a much better hunter after a little practice.

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