Best beginner mallard call?

[natehunter]

A looking to get a buddy of mine a call for his birthday. I need some opinions on beginner calls. Looking to spend 50-70$. Also where should I look, I live in Toronto (ashamed). Bass pro has a good selection but would rather go to gagnons or Al's. Kinda left it last minute so ordering online might not be the best option for me. Thanks, Nate

[tom gobble]

Haydel's DR-85 sounds great and easy to use.

[diverduck]

Primos wench. $20 for the plastic one, and probably the best begginer call you can get. The Haydels is a ducky sounding call, but collects even more spit, and sticks a bit more than a wench will ( and a wench will collect spit and stick). If you want to get fancy, the sell a cast acrylic/polycarb mix wench for about $50. I've run a few mallard calls over the years, but I bought an all acrylic wench 8 or 10 years ago (no longer made) and thats what I run 90 percent of the time, unless I'm out on big water and want to be a bit louder, then I run an RNT original.

[Fenelon]

These two guys are right on the ball with their advice. You can get both calls for that price. I have both, and tend to favour the wench. It's a little more versatile with the pitch hole on it. Both are really easy to call with. Good advice on the spit with the dr85. It's a great call, but you need to keep it dry to sound best. I've got some fancy $200 calls, and I end up going back to these two.

[skeeter1]

I agree with above and stick with a double reed, they are a little easier to make sound like a duck for a beginner.

[natehunter]

Appreciate the advice guys.

[CocoZoo]

I'd rather someone get a single reed and learn how to run a call properly (which isn't easy no matter how you slice it) then put them on a double reed and have them develope bad habits. Yes, you still have to run a double reed properly, but think of it as a bike with training wheels. You think you're riding a bike, but you're not really.

I'm not knocking the calls mentioned. I've heard some guys run a dr85 like stink, but these guys can run any call.

It takes a long time to really get it. I got bad habits from using double reeds and it took a long time to reverse.

Best quote I've heard was this.

"I think a lot of guys think they're calling ducks in, when all they're really doing is not running them off."

I can suggest all sorts of calls out of your range but I won't. PM me if you would like.

[toddy]

I second the primos original wench. It was the first call I purchased about 18 years ago and I still use it. One of the best duck sounds I have found.

Whatever you do, dont take calling tips from Mike Miller - angler and hunter. I swear every blow he makes it is squeezing the life out of a duck lol.

[taketheshot]

Buck Gardner Double Nasty is a nice cheap call. One morning one of my rather expensive calls seized up and I finished calling them in on my $20 double nasty.

[natehunter]

I appreciate all the advice but I have one more question. I would think that being out in the field and learning from an experienced caller would be the best ways to learn to call but was wondering if anyone recommends any online tools or instructional DVDs that would teach the basics and give a head start? Thanks Nate