Duck calling technique

Rule #1: Put down your duck call

Rule #2: The key to duck calling is to know WHEN to call at them.

Some ducks just aren't coming to your spread no matter how awesome your 18 note hail call sounds. If you want to hit them with a short hail call and they break flight pattern, keep goin. Once they're circling checking you out, a quack every now and then mixed with a feed call is the ticket. The best duck call ever made was a whistle, use it.

^This guy gets it.

I hunt primarily public land, and this is what I do. Too aggressive, and they aren't coming in. All I do is quacks and short hail calls. Throw in a soft feeding call every now and then when birds are close, and that's it.

I do like to mix up my calling and keep it realistic by mixing in other species. Whatever is in the spread. Gray ducks, teal, pintail, widgeon. If your spread has more than just mallards, the birds better hear more than just mallards. I've never seen a mixed flock where only one species is doing all the talking.

I like feeding calls and whistles. I'm not great at calling. But since I'm primarily in the marsh, the only time I quack at them is to try and change their mind.

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Don't be afraid to shoot them on the first pass if they're in range.

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This is one of the hardest decisions to make in my opinion. 35yd passing shot on the first pass or wait for something a bit better?

If they're heading my way, don't say a word. If they make a pass and keep going, a couple quacks - maybe a 3 note call. If they really start to bail, that's when I'll get load and aggressive.

If I'm isolated and can't watch the horizon for birds, I'll occasionally blind call in case there are some passer-bys that are in the are and I can't see them.

Best calling technique for me had been a excited single quack done repeatedly. I call a 5 or so note greeting call when they are further out, then single, short note quacks all the way in.

The best thing to do is listen to ducks in your area feeding and resting. They will give you a ton of info on calling.

Also, hunting different types of environments dictates your calling. I.e. Rice fields, flooded timber, WMAs, etc.

I hunt rice fields mostly, so that's why I call the way I do. If I hunted a WMA I would call a little more aggressive and more variances in tone and techniques.

But, if you aren't invisible or have some movement in your spread most techniques will not work as well or at all.

Just my opinion of order of importance
1) camo or invisibility
2) spread
3) calling

Of course this is just what has worked for me.

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The best thing to do is listen to ducks in your area feeding and resting. They will give you a ton of info on calling.

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This. You hardly ever hear a Mallard hen on the water do more than a 5 note call. Sometimes they may repeat that 5 note call but I have never heard a hen hit a 20 note hail call, ever. You hardly ever hear hens feeding chuckle on the water unless it's breeding season and they are being pursued by a bunch of drakes during courting. In the air, yes but on the water, not much.

One hot deep cycle battery, wiring harness and a switch panel, 6 mojo mallards, sit back and shoot.