Really wanting to learn to call. Any suggestions of where to start?

Buy a call and a cd

The best teacher is mother nature. Listen to the real thing while u are hunting. Try to mimic what the real birds do not what you see on tv.

start with a single reed, youtube videos will tell you a lot

I saw a training DVD at cabelas. That you have a mouth piece that you blow and it will do a computer sound analysis and make corrections

I would not spend a lot of money initially on a higher end call. Get you a double nasty II or haydell dr85. Both are cheap calls and are realtively simple to blow. Then figure out the quack. Everythng with blowing a duck call evolves from the quack. Once you figure out how to quack, you can watch dvds or youtube videos to learn this, then go to a park or somewhere and listen to the ducks on the water and learn to do what they do.

Now talkin about calls in general. I would not jump out there and buy a higher end call just because someone says oh this call is the best. Go and blow a couple different calls after you figure out how to call and decide which one you sound the best with. If you ask ten different people what the best call is you will get 10 different answers so try as many as you can. There is no need to spend 100+ bucks on a call to learn how to call though. So get a cheapo learn with it then upgrade.

A double reed is going to be easier to blow than a single reed. It isn't going to require as much air and IMO is just easier to blow. Both of the calls I previously mentioned are double reed and like i said easy to blow.

A lot of learning to call ducks is experimenting. Knowing wha to say and when to say it. Thats why I said go listen to live birds. Good luck bud and I hope you get it all figured out.

thanks for all of the advice!

Google Yentzen or sure shot calls. Best sounding easiest for a beginner to use.

GET A SINGLE REED! If you start with a double, you will develop bad habits that are covered by the double's ease. The best thing you can do is find a good mentor. If you develop bad habits early, they are very hard to break down the road. Carry a call in the truck and blow it instead of the radio.

I disagree. Dont get a single reed to begin with. Learn how to blow a call before you get a single reed. You may get a single reed and never figure it out. You need to get a double reed so you can get the basics down then upgrade. Like I said earlier you can ask 10 ppl and fet ten different answers. A good mentor would be a very good idea.

Now I'm getting confused, which is easy.

Bingo.

Get a decent double reed call and Keith Allen's instructional CD. Double reed calls are more forgiving and can boost your confidence as a beginner. Single reeds take a little more finesse to learn but if you start with double reeds, the transition is easier. First and foermost, learn and master the basic "quack." Get it down and really get to where you can string together consistent clean sounding quacks. Every other call you learn is built on the quack.

Don't get anxious and start moving into the feeding chuckle too soon. Yeah, it sound cool to make those fast runs with the feed call but get that quack perfected before you jump into that.

Calling adds a whole new element to the hunt but like I've had to tell a few folks during the hunt, the blind isn't the place to practice. Practice in the truck, call in the blind. Seek out an experienced caller and be receptive to the advice. I was fortunate that I have 2 different state calling champions to bounce my sound off of. Their advice is invaluable.

I do use single reeds now. I blow Echo but that's just me. I have an acrylic, wood, and a cheap poly call on my lanyard. I also have a little teal/pintail whistle too. Don't invest in a high dollar call until you sound good and are confident with the lower price brand. My two high dollar calls run about $140 each but they sound awesome with regular cork and reed replacement.

A duck call is like a musical instrument and has to be tuned. You'll know it when it rings right but that takes practice too. When you really get into it, have an experienced caller help you tune your call. Trimming the reed and replacing the cork is a must for a good sounding call.

But, to wind it up here, get that CD I mentioned. I wore mine out and practiced for hours and hours. I even got my nerve up to call in a few competitions. I never won but did manage to finish 5th in the state one year.

I love it and if you practice and get your confidence, you might find yourself being the most popular hunter in the blind!

Good luck!

Dr. B

Good post Dr.B. Some sound advice here. Get yourself a cheap double reed you will thank us later. Plus while listening to the cd like previously mentioned go listen to ducks on the water. Dont practice in the blind. I left my call in the truck for weeks practicing until I got it figured out. Once you get a double reed figured out you will be able to blow a single reed with not much problem.

I disagree. Yes a double is easier. It's great to learn with. But it masks a lot of mistakes. It keeps you from learning from those mistakes and allows bad habits. I'll put it this way. I'm sure we all know people that can make some decent sounds on a double, but are awful if they pick up a single. You don't want to be one of those people. The mentor thing is important. I really wish I had someone growing up who was a good caller. I developed a lot of bad habits, and won't ever win a competition because of them. The key to a mentor, is find someone who is actually good on a call. 9/10 duck hunters in bama are not.