Best Mallard Duck Call for Beginners with Double/Single Reed Options
Pretty much all duck calls make a sound that seems realistic to us. But, only the ones that seem realistic to ducks get you a great hunting experience. Whether it’s your first time buying any of these, or you want a better one, the list got you covered.
It took a few days to do in-depth research to find the best mallard duck call. Several quality calls got my attention by checking all the aspects to be an ideal duck call.
The list includes 5 duck calls in different price points so that you can pick one according to your hunting skills and requirements.
5 Best Mallard Duck Call Reviews
Contents
Among all the duck calls, these five seem excellent with their versatile features. So choose your desired one while considering quality, performance, and price.
1. Haydel’s DR-85 Mallard Duck Call
The classic mallard sound of this style of duck caller attracts black ducks or mallards and allows you to lock them up quite easily. Even tuning is not necessary for this sturdy mallard call.
So, what makes it the best duck call in the market?
First of all, this game call is straightforward to blow and flexible enough to try in different scenarios and seasons. In the right duck season, this style of double reed green call models can travel a lot of air area and attract the birds without any hassle.
Duck calling becomes fun with this weather-friendly double-reed green instrument as it even works after soaking and doesn’t freeze in any extreme conditions.
It stands out to be the best duck call for mallards for beginners on the list for its price and features. If you are a beginner or want this for a junior hunter, the deal is worth considering.
Features
- Double Mylar reed
- Flexible floating wedge
- Fully Covers with chromatic scale
- This green call comes with personal tuning
- Haydel’s game calls is extremely lightweight
Pros
- Beginner-friendly because it’s easy to blow
- Performs well even after soaking
- Doesn’t freeze due to ice-cold weather
- Tuning is possible for easy customization
- Double reed calls produce real duck sound
Cons
- Flimsy due to its slim construction
2. DUCK COMMANDER Mallard Hen Duck Call
This double reed mallard call comes with a louder and crisper realistic sound like ducks. The fantastic sound of this call makes it easier to hit a feeder call or to hunt waterfowl.
Making quality sound with this double reed is pretty easy, especially for beginners, as it’s a little more leeway.
Blowing becomes more interesting with this easy-to-use wild duck call, even if you have no idea of muscle memory or uses of the tongue.
To make it durable, the manufacturer used Polycarbonate, which is a hard plastic material. This helps to produce a sound that’s irresistible to ducks.
Features
- Multi-carbonate structure
- Double reed friction-fit structure
- High and low endnotes
- Sounds like a mallard hen
Pros
- Much louder and crisper sound cadences attract ducks easily
- Plastic and molded Polycarbonate makes it stronger
- Blowing becomes easy with this double-reed call
- Friction –fit feature makes the tone more amazing
- Beginner-friendly as it’s easy to use
Cons
- Less versatility
- Doesn’t work better for real close ducks
3. Duck Commander Triple Threat Duck Call
If you want to attract the mallards by replicating the quack, feed call, or hail calls, this top-rated mallard duck call can be the right pick for such needs.
Duck Commander calls are considered one of the most versatile game calls in the market in terms of sound and easy to use for the hunter.
Super easy blowing and manipulation comes with this three-reed mallard hen call that makes it perfect for beginners and intermediate callers.
This excellent wild duck call brings in more ducks and waterfowls with its loud and smooth cadences.
Plastic and molded Polycarbonate makes it super durable that helps you to use it after years.
Tuning is not a big deal with it. Proper tuning will offer a range of effortless high to low notes for the tight ends.
Features
- Three threat structure
- Duck Commander comes with unique notes
- Polycarbonate construction
- Produce versatile calls
Pros
- Triple reed makes the sound accurate and clear
- Tuning becomes super easy to make quality sounds
- Polycarbonate ensures its sturdiness
- Using becomes easy with a little practice
- Easy cleanup and works as before after cleaning
- Great call for the price point
Cons
- Back end of the reeds isn’t lined up properly
4. Buck Gardner “The Finisher Duck Call Combo Pack
A duck call is excellent, but what about getting a 6-in-1 whistle along with a mallard call in one convenient kit? This whistle is pretty easy to use, and this duck call is undoubtedly an excellent choice for beginners and amateurs alike.
One of the best duck calls is the construction quality and performance for veteran duck hunters. These game calls are straightforward to blow, and the loud sounds help pretty well in duck hunting. Also, the range is pretty impressive, considering the size of this call.
The Double reed makes the duck call user-friendly. And it’s easy to hit the high and low notes. This magic also delivers rolling chatter, buzzing drake calls, midrange hail calls, etc.
Moreover, the indestructible structure of Polycarbonate ensures its longevity, and it’s pretty rare to crack when dropped.
Features
- Solid polycarbonate construction
- Double reed duck call guts
- 6-in-1 whistle
- Mouthpiece along with enhanced grip
- Weather friendly
Pros
- Value-added combo with a versatile whistle
- Tough and durable Polycarbonate made
- Double reed ensures realistic hen vocalization
- Fun to learn and blow
- Fairly good price for a combo
Cons
- · Vocalization of the call is not good
5. Higdon Outdoors Power Calls: Mallard duck call
With this easy-to-operate high-volume mallard call, you can easily attract mallards or ducks when they pass through a crosswind at a distance. This is one of the best duck calls for outdoor hunters looking for a single reed high volume all-season whistle for hunting with decoys.
What amazes me most is the soft sound signature and easy-to-handle features of these models. Birds will find it almost real and get close, making it into the shot zone. Making it more interesting, it comes with a tuned facility for better hunting.
Pretty high performance comes with this single reed duck call to break the highest ducks. Additionally, it provides sweet-talking low end at the range of 15 yards.
Acrylic body, which is made of dense material, makes sure its durability as well as longevity. The versatile yelper of this power call is a high-volume call that is ideal for all kinds of scenarios.
Features
- Acrylic body
- Single reed
- Medium rasp with front end yelps
- Hand tuned
Pros
- Plastic-type acrylic structure ensures sturdiness
- Single reed makes it versatile
- Easy to learn high volume calls
- Provides Self-aligned tone board
- Medium rasp ensures the clean front end
Cons
- Not much beginner-friendly due to single reed
- A little expensive than others on the list
Buying Guide for Choosing the Best Duck Calls
One particular duck call can’t meet everyone’s needs in terms of the hunting place, prey, and hunters preferences.
Number of Reeds
Reed or thread is a small component that helps to make various tones by vibrating when air blows across it. Even expert ones can simulate different bird’s game calls by changing the notes’ length, pitch, and volume.
Single Reed
Duck calls containing single-reed are much more versatile and can produce various types of duck calls and sharp and loud tones. Usually, single-reed calls cover a wide range of yards with a smooth close-end call.
Though mastering single-reed calls is a little bit tough for beginners, the classic loud sound makes it excellent for all kinds of hunters.
Double Reed Duck Calls
User-friendliness and easy to learn feature makes double reed duck calls popular among the duck call lovers. Additionally, it produces accurate duck vocalizations with more forgiveness in terms of air control and mechanics.
Though the range of a double reed call is comparatively less, it sounds much more genuine that helps the duck getting in.
Material
Each material has its features, and you have to select an option wisely to experience good hunting.
· Polycarbonate
It’s a bullet-proof hard plastic that ensures the durability of the duck call—moreover, polycarbonate material help to make irresistible sounds that easily attract the goose or ducks. These kinds of sounds help the hunter for different seasons duck hunting of different ranges.
· Acrylic
This dense material comes with a sharp, loud, and scratchy sound that highly attracts the mallards. It’s the most expensive duck call, but the quality of the acrylic is worth it.
However, it can be the best option for the die-hard duck hunter who cherishes the best. If it is a bit tuned, then you will find the best luck in the world for hunting.
· Wood
Duck calls made of wood are much reliable, especially in close encounter situations, as the soft and smooth tone attracts the mallards when they’re close. The sound of the wood call mainly depends on the type of wood used in it for duck hunting. Maple or walnut makes less soft sounds than the softwoods like rosewater.
Woody calls are the best beginner duck calls, but they have some downsides too. Because of its material, it quickly gets locked with moisture or water or any complex situations.
Weather-Friendliness
All duck calls can’t perform well in all places and ranges. The weather becomes an issue when you select a duck call, as some of the game calls lock up if the weather is a little rainy or cold.
What Is the Best Duck Call for Beginners?
If you’re a beginner, you can try something less pricy with a bunch of good features. Double-reed calls are pretty easy to learn and blow, so you should surely try them.
On the other side, single reeds are for pro hunters who somewhat know the use of tongue or muscle memory. So, pick the suitable one according to your choice and priority. Wooden or carbonate calls are also beginner-friendly and quite fun to learn.
So if you’re a newbie, you can try DR-85 or Duck Commander or any other suitable one you would like.
What Type of Duck Call Should I Buy?
Firstly, you need to know what kind of hunter you are, like a beginner, pro, expert, and experienced.
Single reed, Acrylic mallard calls amazingly work for a little experienced as well as pros.
On the other hand, Polycarbonate or wooden calls are preferable for the newbies. Moreover, Double reed duck calls are easy to maintain, which makes them beginner-friendly.
Apart from this, you have to pick the best duck call 2021 that one will have much control and volume.
What Is the Best Zink Duck Call?
One of the best quality and consistent duck calls is the Zink PH-2 mallard call, which is an excellent replacement for any call lanyard. However, this call provides high volume along with much more control over the tones.
Especially Zink call is for those who love the single reed but is almost tired of its over-blow squeak. Moreover, this one provides a genuine, loud, and clear duck sound. This best collard call may also help you calling shy ducks and work better for close calling.
How to Use Duck Calls Effectively for Perfect Calling
When my waterfowling mentor first taught me to call ducks, I had a hard time understanding that you really don’t blow into the call. It took hours of instruction for me to produce the first realistic quack. Getting the hang of the hail call, the comeback call, and all the rest was just as challenging. A duck call is really like a musical instrument.
Practice Hard
The call is played, not blown. Good calling technique comes with lots of practice. I used to eat my lunch at a small county park with a pond full of domestic ducks. First, I’d listen to the birds.
Then, attempt to replicate what I’d heard. Before too long, I had duck calling down pat. And after I called my first flight of birds into the decoys, confidence pushed me over the top.
Take the Easiest Game Call
If you’ve never tried to use a duck call, here’s a suggestion. Select a call that’s easy to blow. You may have to try several before you find one that’s just right. That’s fine, keep the others and use them as you get more proficient.
An excellent instructional audiotape is well worth the money you’ll pay for it because it becomes your sounding board. Listen to it and mimic it.
Develop Your Calling Skill
Once you’ve mastered an easy-to-use call, try your skill with other types that may be more difficult to blow. In short order, you’ll know all the different sounds you can make. Then it becomes a matter of putting them to use in the marsh. Don’t worry. You don’t have to win contests to call ducks into your decoy spread.
Make the Sound They Want to Hear
The secret to effectual waterfowl calling is to reproduce the sounds that the birds want to hear. Most of those new to calling are afraid to sound off.
Don’t be shy. You will never sound exactly like a duck, but then again, ducks make all different kinds of sounds, and each duck has a unique call. One thing is for sure; you’ll never call any birds by remaining silent.
THE SECRET TO EFFECTIVE WATERFOWL CALLING IS TO REPRODUCE THE SOUNDS THAT THE BIRDS WANT TO HEAR.
Slow Down When Necessary
The only thing you have to do is catch the attention of passing ducks. Once the birds hear you and turn in your direction, slow things down a bit and watch what the birds are doing, duck’s body language can tell you a lot.
If the birds start to change wing beat patterns or alter their flight path, then you’ll know that a connection has been made. When the ducks show interest, they will drift past your set and look things over.
Use the Call with Caution
Use caution when looking skyward since a bright face can look like a searchlight or hunting headlamps to a duck. Once the birds see a little face glare, the game is over. Use a camo facemask, or cover your face with a gloved hand. Some ducks will come right in, but most will use more caution than that.
It may take a couple of passes and some serious conversation to convince the birds that they’ve made the right choice.
Do not Overdo
When the ducks make their final decision, they’ll fly downwind, drop altitude, turn and start in toward the decoys. If the ducks begin to veer off, you should call with genuine enthusiasm. Give the ducks what they want, but don’t overdo it.
The first couple of flocks will show you what the birds want as far as calling goes. If they need a lot of calls, give them to them. If too much calling drives them away, take it easy.
The call is simply a mechanism to make a good case for your spread of decoys. When the birds are on their final approach, you may only need a quiet quack or two to keep them on course. About the time wings start to flare and feet drop-down, it’s all over but the shooting.
Help Other Hunters
If you’re the only one in the party who can call ducks, don’t just let your hunting companions set on the sidelines. Anybody can learn to make a feeding call. Pass out a couple of extra calls and have your buddies pucker their lips and short-pant with quick, shallow expulsions of air repeatedly into the ring.
If they simply say “duga-duga-duga” into the call, they’ll get it right. Once everybody gets the hang of it, the other feeding chatter will add realism to your set.
Final Words
The more you play, the better thing you’ll get. So, get a durable and magical toned call to break more ducks.
One more thing to concern about is getting the best call for mallard duck which will meet your need in all aspects. You can use two or three calls at once to make realistic sounds to attract the waterfowls.
