There is an ongoing debate between duck hunters over which duck call is better. Some say acrylic calls are the best. Others say wooden calls sound more natural.
I truly believe the best type of duck call is one that a hunter has confidence in. However, if you are new to duck calls, you should probably look at some of the pros and cons of each before making a purchase.
Acrylic duck calls
Acrylic calls are extremely durable calls. Acrylic is a hard material that can hold up to just about any kind of punishment a duck hunter can through at it. Acrylic calls often, are much louder than your average wooden duck calls due to the density and hardness of the acrylic tone board. Hunters, in certain situations, like using acrylic calls because of their ability to be louder then average wooden calls. Also, acrylic calls typically are very popular among competition callers because of their loud sounds.
Acrylic ducks also have a couple drawback. In my personal experience duck hunting, acrylic calls lack the true natural sound ducks make. One of the biggest downsides of acrylic calls are the fact, they are too loud and unnatural sounding to late season ducks. Seasoned duck hunters know soft calling is critical for hunting late in the season. Ducks that have been called at all season quickly realize loud aggressive calling and tend to shy away from such sounds late in the season. Acrylic calls are more difficult to blow softly when compared to wooden calls.
| Pros | Extremely durable Great for competition callers due to the loud clear sound produced from the acrylic tone board |
| Cons | Can be sound too loud for call-shy ducks |
Wooden duck calls
Wooden duck calls are excellent for duck hunting. A fine tuned wooden call in an experienced caller’s hands can be a deadly combination for ducks.
There are several types of wood commonly used for duck calls. However, most of the common types of wood used in duck calls have unique sounds. This is due to the density of the wood the tone board is made of. My personal favorite is the cocobolo wood. I also love my Bois D’arc calls. Both wooden calls I just mentioned, are durable and sound great when properly used.
However, there are a couple drawbacks to wooden duck calls. They are not as durable as acrylic calls. Some of the wooden calls made of softer wood such as cedar will split after years of use. However, if you attempt to take some care for your wooden calls, they can easily last for years and years. Wooden calls also, lack the ability to be as loud as acrylic calls.
| Pros | Natural sounding Capable of producing soft quacks for late season ducks |
| Cons | Not as durable as acrylic calls Sound will not carry as far as acrylics calls |
Which call is the best?
There is no right or wrong answer in my opinion. I have hunted with both types of calls and enjoyed success with each. Personally, I carry one of each on my lanyard. However, find myself using my wooden calls more often then my acrylics when hunting. The ducks seem to react better to my wooden calls.
If you are focused on hunting ducks I recommend you lean towards using a wooden call. Loud calls can actually cause ducks to flare off your setup, especially later in the season. A soft natural sounding call will often be more effective for hunting ducks.
If you are looking for a durable call that will carry sound, an acrylic call is a great option. Also, if you are interested in competing in popular duck calling contests, you will be at a disadvantage without an acrylic call in most cases.
Summary
Both acrylic and wooden calls are effective when used properly. You should purchase the type that is best suited for your situation. There will always be a debate on which is better. However, you can use both for hunting as well as, competition calling.
It is worth mentioning, there are many other duck calls made out of a wide variety of material. If you are learning how to blow a call, the common plastic injection molded calls are a for beginners. They are not very expensive and will do just find for learning the basics of duck calling. If you need some info on choosing a duck call check out our other post “How to choose your first duck call“. I cover all the basics for beginners in need of some help when choosing their first duck call.
I hope this post provides useful information for you guys. If you would like to see more information and tips for duck hunting and much more go to Americanhuntingsafari.com.
Thanks for reading!