Top 10 Duck Calls Every Hunter Should Know: A Field Guide to Success

Justin Hunold

last Friday at 5:46 PM

Share

Ask any seasoned waterfowl hunter, and they’ll tell you—duck calling is as much an art as it is a skill. Sure, having the right decoys, a well-hidden blind, and a prime location matters, but if you can’t talk to the birds in a way that makes them feel comfortable, you might as well be waving them off instead of calling them in.

Duck calls are tools, and like any tool, they have specific purposes. Some are meant for long-distance work, grabbing the attention of distant flocks, while others are subtle, designed to finesse wary ducks into committing. A good hunter knows which calls to use and when to use them, showcasing their knowledge and skill. Mastering these calls takes time and practice, but learning the fundamentals is the first step toward improving your success in the field.

Top 10 Duck Calls and When to Use Them

1. The Basic Quack

The single most important call in a duck hunter’s repertoire is the simple quack. It’s easy to overlook in favor of more advanced calls, but if you don’t have the basic quack dialed in, you’re already at a disadvantage. Ducks use the quack as a general means of communication—contentment, curiosity, and mild urgency are all conveyed through a well-timed quack. Mastering this call will empower you and significantly improve your hunting success.

To get it right, say “qua qua qua” into your call with short, crisp bursts of air. It should sound natural and unhurried, like a lone hen relaxing in the water. Many hunters mistakenly rush their quacks, making them sound too mechanical. Slow it down, listen to real ducks, and aim for authenticity. This connection to the natural world will enhance your hunting experience.

2. The Feeding Chuckle

Nothing sells a setup better than the sound of feeding ducks. The feeding chuckle, a soft, rapid series of notes that mimics the chatter of ducks contentedly grubbing for food, is a key tool in a hunter's arsenal. When done right, it reassures incoming birds that the spot is safe and full of food.

The classic way to produce a feeding chuckle is to say “ticka ticka ticka” or “tuk tuk tuk” into the call. You’re not blowing hard—this is a soft, rhythmic call that works best as background noise rather than a primary attention-grabber.

3. The Greeting Call

When ducks are in the distance but flying in your general direction, the greeting call can help pull them in closer. It’s a series of 5 to 7 descending notes, spaced out evenly: quack quack quack quack quack. This mimics a hen signaling to other ducks that they’re welcome to land.

Rod Haydel, a respected duck call maker, often emphasizes that pacing and volume matter more than the number of notes. It's too fast, and it sounds unnatural. Too slow, and it loses effectiveness. Listen to real ducks and match their rhythm. Check out handcrafted greeting calls at Colorado Custom Game Calls.

4. The Hail Call (or Highball)

The hail call is your long-distance option—a loud, drawn-out series of notes designed to reach high-flying or distant ducks. It’s the equivalent of waving a big flag and saying, “Over here!”

The hail call, your long-distance option, is best used sparingly. If ducks are already coming your way, there’s no need for a hail call. Overuse can spook birds or make them wary. Instead, save it for when you need to grab a flock’s attention from a distance, and once they turn your way, switch to softer, more inviting calls.

5. The Comeback Call

Sometimes ducks circle but don’t quite commit. Maybe they’re interested, but something isn’t sitting right with them. That’s when you hit them with the comeback call—a sharp, urgent string of notes meant to sound like a duck pleading with its buddies to turn around and land.

A good comeback call is firm but not frantic. If it’s too aggressive, you risk scaring the birds off wholly. Time it right, and you’ll convince those hesitant ducks to give your spread a second look. Get a top-tier comeback call here.

6. The Lonesome Hen Call

A single, drawn-out quack spaced several seconds apart. That’s the lonesome hen call, and it can be deadly effective when you’re dealing with skittish or single ducks looking for company.

This is not a rapid-fire call. You’re playing the long game, sounding like a relaxed, lone hen looking for others to join her. It works particularly well in the late season when ducks have seen it all and are suspicious of over-aggressive calling.

7. The Mallard Drake Whistle

Most duck calls mimic hens, but the Drake mallard also makes sounds that can pull birds in. A mallard drake whistle is a simple, versatile tool that produces soft, nasal “dweeb dweeb” sounds. The beauty of this call is that it’s nearly impossible to overuse.

Beyond mallards, this whistle can imitate pintails, wigeon, and teal, making it a great multi-species call to keep on your lanyard.

8. The Pintail Whistle

A high-pitched whistle is used to replicate the vocalizations of Drake pintails. This call is especially effective in flooded fields and marshes where pintails tend to gather. Unlike traditional duck calls, the pintail whistle is subtle and works best when combined with mallard whistles or light quacks. Use it when targeting pintails specifically or when hunting mixed flocks.

9. The Teal Whistle

Designed for calling in fast-flying teal, this high-pitched whistle is best used during early-season hunts when teal is abundant. Since teal respond well to quick, sharp calls, short bursts of peeping sounds can be highly effective in flooded fields, rice paddies, or along riverbanks. This call works best when teal are actively moving through an area and need just a little extra encouragement to land.

10. The Diver Duck Call

Diver ducks, such as canvasbacks, redheads, and bluebills, don’t respond to traditional quacks the way puddle ducks do. Instead, they react better to deep, raspy grunts. This call is most effective when hunting big open water where divers tend to congregate in large rafts. Since diver ducks rely more on visual cues than sound, pairing this call with large, realistic decoy spreads is the best way to pull them in.

5 Tips for Beginner Duck Hunters

1. Start with the Basic Quack – Before diving into complex calls, master the basic quack. Ducks use this as a primary form of communication, and it will help build your confidence.
2. Use a Double-Reed Call—Single-Reed calls are more versatile but harder to control. A double-reed call is easier for beginners to use and produces realistic sounds with less effort.
3. Practice Before the Hunt – Calling in the field without practice can spook ducks. Spend time learning the right cadence and tone by listening to real ducks or experienced hunters.
4. Limit Your Calling – One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is overcalling. Ducks are wary of unnatural sounds, so start with soft, subtle calls.
5. Watch How Ducks Respond – Pay attention to how ducks react to your calls. If they turn away, adjust your technique or volume. Observing their behavior will help you improve.

5 Tips for Novice Duck Hunters

1. Learn When to Call – Timing is everything. Calling at the wrong time can scare ducks away. Use calls strategically when ducks are in range but not yet fully committed.
2. Experiment with Different Calls – By this stage, you should have the basic quack down. Start incorporating the greeting call, feeding chuckle, and comeback call to sound more natural.
3. Adjust Your Volume Based on Conditions—On windy days, louder calls are required to cut through the noise, while calm days demand softer, more subtle calls.
4. Mix Up Your Calling Sequence—Ducks quickly recognize repetitive calling patterns. Keep your call fresh by changing the cadence and pitch.
5. Work on Your Concealment. Even the best calling will not help if you’re not properly hidden. Blend into your surroundings and avoid unnecessary movement.

5 Tips for Advanced Duck Hunters

1. Master Specialty Calls – Advanced hunters should perfect specialty calls like the pintail whistle, teal whistle, and diver duck call to expand their versatility in different hunting environments.
2. Call Less, Observe More – Many veteran hunters use minimal calling and instead rely on observing duck behavior to adjust their approach.
3. Use Call Echoes to Your Advantage—In flooded timber or close cover; natural echoes can make your calls sound more lifelike and spread further.
4. Fine-Tune Your Air Control – Learning to control your breath and airflow can make your calls sound more realistic. Advanced callers use subtle air pressure adjustments to vary tones.
5. Develop Your Calling Style – Every hunter has a unique rhythm. Experiment with different techniques and develop a calling sequence that works best for you and the areas you hunt.

Final Thoughts

Good calling can turn an average hunt into a great one, but lousy calling can send ducks flaring before they even think about landing. The key is realism—listen to real ducks, practice in the offseason, and use restraint in the field. With the right calls and the right timing, you’ll have ducks finishing into your decoys more often than not. Gear up with custom duck calls from Colorado Custom Game Calls and take your hunting success to the next level.