Duck Commander Late Season High-Impact Duck Calls

I get it. You saw Duck Dynasty, you got an Uncle Si t-shirt, and now you want a duck call. But real duck calls are expensive, so you bought the cheapest one sold. Now you have a plastic whistle. You didn’t bother to read the back, or watch a Youtube video where they show how to make the 6 bird sounds, from quail to dove to widgeon. You aren’t even really sure what a widgeon is, and you’ve certainly never heard one, so it is a bit hard to tell if this thing works, right? It doesn’t “quack”. That’s ok, you aren’t going to buy a duck stamp or get up at 3 AM in the January cold to actually duck hunt anyway, but you’ve got your Si tea glass and “Happy Happy Happy” shirt and that’s close enough.

But seriously… this, the Haydel MP-90 or the Buck Gardner one are all pretty much the same; this one happened to be cheaper and in stock with Prime shipping on the day I ordered. I’m a bad caller and generally STFU in the blind and let the other guys who know what they’re doing call, but I try to practice a lot. The dove & quail calls from this are a great “bonus” and as I also hunt both it will come in handy outside of duck season. Make no mistake, it is a cheap plastic made in China whistle, not a $150 hand crafted acrylic duck call, and it is priced correctly for what it is. You will not take it out of the package and become the Duck Commander, nor will it make your beard grow overnight, but if you duck hunt you need something like this.

This is easy to play. I was able to have a conversation with a wood duck hen using the social call after only a few hours of practice. The flutter and the whine take a bit more practice.

Being an outdoorsman and longtime fan of the Duck Commander products, people, and TV shows (including “Duck Dynasty”) I was surprised when I saw several one-star reviews for this wonderful call here on Amazon. However, after reading these derisive reviews, it became obvious that the authors/customers did not have any idea WHAT they were, in fact, purchasing. As such, there are a few things that should be made clear for anyone considering buying this product:

1.) This is a “Wood Duck” call…not a WOOD “duck call.” In other words, this product is meant to emulate the call of the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa.) It is made of high-impact plastic – as is mentioned in the amazon.com product description – and is NOT a WOODEN call.

2.) A reviewer mentioned that “it sounds nothing like a duck…” To the contrary, it sounds REMARKABLY like the call of the Wood Duck, its intended mimic. While most persons unfamiliar with waterfowl hunting assume that all ducks “quack,” the calls of the various species of wild duck found in North America range from quacks to squeals, bleats, whistles, and grunts. Most DOMESTICATED ducks do indeed quack, as they were largely bred from Mallards – who also “quack.” As such, this sound is what comes to mind for most people when they hear the word “duck.”

3.) Although the barrels/call bodies are made from plastic, and are not individually produced in the Duck Commander factory in Louisiana; the reeds, diaphragms, and soundboards are individualaly hand cut, pressed, and set by the guys at DC. Also, each call is individually tuned and blown prior to leacing the Duck Commander warehouse. So, in that regard, these calls are definitely “individually hand crafted,” albeit not “hand made” – at least not in their entirety.

4.) With the popularity of “Duck Dynasty,” a huge number of people are seeking to buy DC calls and other products simply as memorabillia from the show (Duck Commander’s annual volume of call sales went from around 60-75000 in 2011 to over half a million in 2012!) If this is what you’re looking for, and you want a simple, plastic, easy-to-blow call that makes a “quack” sound, I’d suggest the “Uncle Si,” “Miss Priss,” or “Max-4 Camo” models.

5.) If you’re looking to purchase an entirely hand-made WOODEN Duck Commander call with a “quack” sound, I’d recommend the “Classic Commander.” For those looking to purchase a gift of a handmade wooden DC call for the SERIOUS waterfowl hunter and/or call collector, check out the company’s “Classic 1972” and “Dymondwood” lines.

6.) Videos of Jase, Phil, and John demonstrating the various models of calls in the Duck Commander product line can be found on YouTube.

Now, with all that being said, this product produces an EXCELLENT representation of the call of the Wood Duck. It’s easy to blow, and – with practice – will bring these beautiful and tasty birds right onto your blind or duck hole. The pastic body resists cracking, scratching, and cleans easily. The call itself is very lightweight and fits easily onto a call lanyard or into the pocket of a good pair of waders. It sounds easily regardless of the weather conditions (hot, cold, rainy, humid, etc) and the sound projects well. Overall, I’d say you’d be hard-pressed to find a better Wood Duck call that’s so readily available on the market – particularly at this price range. A solid buy for hunters living in the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways, and for all those who know what to expect from this product.

A unique product. Fast delivery. I am happy with my purchase.

My nephew absolutely loved his gift, another duck call to add to his collection. It’s pretty easy to use and you can get results with just a little bit of practice. I can’t wait for duck season to open; I think I should buy one for myself so I can practice with him. I’ve heard that practicing with a duck call can really improve your hunting success, so I’m excited to see how it helps me this season.

Bonne qualité