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How to Use a Double-Reed Duck Call

Attracting ducks to your location, whether for hunting or photography, can be approached from several directions. Having decoys at your location will help ducks flying by to gain a sense of security. But sometimes you need more to catch their attention. Use a double-reed duck call to mimic the sounds of ducks and call them to your location. Although traditional duck callers use a single-reed duck call, the double-reed duck call can better mimic the raspy sound of mallard ducks.

Things You'll Need

Duck decoys

Instructions

- 1
  Practice making duck calls with your double-reed duck call at home before trying it out in the field. Press your lips firmly against the mouthpiece and forcefully try saying "kuk" and "dugga" and "tuck-ak" until these sound like ducks you've heard in the field. Remember to change the pressure with which you're saying the words to maximize the raspy quality of the double reeds.
- 2
  Find a location in the field where ducks visit or fly by. If there is water nearby, populate the water with duck decoys to provide passing ducks with the sense that it is a safe location.
- 3
  Wait until flying ducks pass your location so as not to give it away, and then blow into the double-reed mouthpiece, saying the words that you practiced at home to mimic duck sounds. Keep calling until the ducks are too far away to hear your duck call.
- 4
  Vary the pitch and strength of your words if you don't meet with success right away. The sound of a double-reed duck call is different than a single-reed duck call, so you might have to slightly vary your blowing techniques to get the call that will attract the attention of ducks. Attracting ducks to your location is often a game of patience and persistence.
- 5
  Keep your calls short. The raspy double-reed duck call works best when you create distinct notes that mimic those that ducks make.

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