Duck Calling | What, When, and How Much to Call | Reading Ducks

On this video Joel shares his philosophy of duck calling and discussing reading ducks. He gives practical steps of what to call, when to call, and how much to call. Timing is everything, and Joel show you what works for him.Whether you are a beginner duck caller, or if you've been calling for years, you'll pick ups some tips to make you a better caller.
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Joel Strickland (@mrproducersir) is a lifelong waterfowler, duck hunting guide and producer/director in the film and television industry.
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Surviving Duck Season is a first of its kind waterfowling KZbin Channel. Our team is comprised of individuals from across the country who hunt every day of duck season. The waterfowler's lifestyle is more than just duck hunting, and on our channel we have lots of different types of content: Duck and goose hunting videos, cooking, DIY projects, reviews and suggestions on products and gear, and of course lots of tips and tactics. Every week of the year we drop at least one piece of content, so you will always have great waterfowling content to watch, at any time of the year!
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#DuckCalling #DuckHunting #SurvivingDuckSeason

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks for watching! Let me know what you think.

[@briansmith8281]

Group calling.

[@randalunderhill831]

You make some great videos, waterfowl hunters can learn a lot by paying attention to the details you point out. Thanks

[@mikeries8549]

You skipped "lonesome hen" or I missed it. Thats probably the best one to use imo. When I was a kid my dad hired this guide who was alcoholic. We had to wait for him to sober up and... That guy could sweet talk ducks. His lonesome hen call was epic. RIP Sammy

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

If I had included every call for every scenario it would have been an hour long. I just went with the most common scenarios and my everyday calling practices. I do use a lonesome hen call on occasion, and it does work sometimes. There are just other calls that work better for me on regular basis.

[@philguderley8012]

Early teal September first. Then big ducks October 3rd

[@karlwendell6177]

I start getting ready for hunting season the day after all the seasons end

[@tysonvolks]

Sept.23rd all duck open here in my part of ontario , have a young 9 month duck lab , and we’re super fired up! love your videos and call videos , learned to call from your videos , keep it up in subscribing

[@aaronsnatic2446]

Teal Season Mid- September and Duck Season in East Zone of Louisiana similar to Arkansas, but only one split mid - December. Learning to read the birds and time your calling is the true art of calling ducks...it don't all work all the time, but when it does it leads up to a wonderful show!

[@jimkeithley7910]

Thanks again for the awesome content. I would love a group calling video.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Jim Keithley coming soon 👍🏻

[@SuperBoomer95]

Same. I never know if I should be calling with my friends, and what calls to make.

[@DaddyDuck365]

Great job Joel

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

thanks Matt Daddy!!

[@DaddyDuck365]

Surviving Duck Season lol

[@mikeries8549]

I hunt with a guy occasionally that will call at every single duck that goes by and he's good at it. We hunt right on a refuge boundary. Don't be shy you have to be loud. He uses a mondo.

[@Chappinsworth]

Definitely would love a group calling video!!!

[@markgardner5997]

Teal and Dove September 1st ,I'll be chasing dove working with a pup. I like what you're saying I'd Hazard coming over head I stay quiet unless it's just one of those special days and you can call them right to the water

[@markgardner5997]

OMG spell checking as they AR coming over head I stay quiet

[@tylerolsen4417]

Watching your videos has made me a better hunter. Used a lot of your tips and got exponentially better at calling as a rather new hunter. I can single handedly say your videos sealed the deal on 5 ducks yesterday, 2 from a first time hunter. Oddly, ringnecks responded great to a mallard call and your chop chop kept em up looking

[@robertwebb2721]

Every video you put out is a masterclass that all KZbin content providers should strive to emulate. I can hardly wait for each new video. What I’d like to see is a video covering group calling. Particularly, what those of us can do that aren’t in your league. It’s great to be part of the action and do more than just shoot. For example, can the novice caller support you by using a Duck Commander 6 in 1? I’ve got the mallard sound down pat.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Robert, I really appreciate that. That’s very kind! I’ll be putting that video together and I’ll be taking suggestions from you and others.

[@stephenswanzy5248]

That was awesome, very informative! Thanks for the tips Joel! 👊🏻

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed! 👍🏻💪🏻👊🏻

[@totsoftate]

I would love a group calling video!

[@ventureofalifetime8282]

Going my first time tomorrow In Alaska and I’m excited!

[@Nathan_MacDonald]

Great video, can't wait for the group calling video to come out.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks!! Coming soon!

[@amandaporter3633]

New to waterfowl hunting up here in the Yukon Territory Canada. Where the northern and Central territory opens Aug 1st. And southern yukon (where we are, traveling to the other areas is easy too) opens Sept 1st. Your videos are helpful! Have loads to learn and am enjoying the ride so far!

[@duckslimited4581]

Yes please do a video for the group calling. Thanks Joel!

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

You got it!

[@damonzallar3256]

Very instructive, thanks, Joel! Great calling!

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks glad you liked it!

[@coltenboyer9414]

Did you ever make a group calling video? I would like to see that. This video was very helpful

[@cfoutdoors243]

Great tips for working ducks into the dekes. I've been caught in the never ending circle , lol, did get them to finish finally but was sure out of breath. Its amazing how the ducks let ya know what they want just by paying attention and looking for reactions from the birds. Our waterfowl season starts first weekend of October and ends mid January. Awesome vid as always 👍 👍 👍

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks I appreciate it. Ahhhh the never ending circle!!! So frustrating lol sometimes you quit calling and they leave and come back 5 minutes later and do it all again!!

[@ScottHillOutdoors]

September 1st here in Michigan for early teal and goose.... October 3rd for our duck opener in mid Michigan

[@duckslimited4581]

Yessir!! Same here. Good luck this year!!

[@drewrowell]

Teal open up September 12th here in Alabama and big ducks open up thanksgiving weekend. These videos help get me through the off season blues. Really appreciate them👍🏼

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Great to hear! Thanks!

[@mylesboggs7723]

Thank you for doing this video

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

You’re welcome!

[@Follower_of_The_Word]

Thanks for breaking this down Joel. I’ve been hunting ducks mostly alone for a long time. I rely on instinct that is based on past experience. It works much of the time, I can often bring in ducks from afar, but they often won’t finish and that is so frustrating.

[@leeblackman194]

Love a video on group calling!

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Lee Blackman can do 💪🏻

[@chriswhitaker739]

Would love to see a group calling video.

[@jeremybreeden77]

Thanks for another great video Joel! Can't wait for teal to start either. It starts September 5th statewide in Illinois.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Right on... you can just shew 'em south when you get done!

[@jasonlenihan9854]

First rule of thumb if you’re not good at calling don’t practice when you’re out hunting around other people practice in your car. Second rule know when not to call an pay attention to what the ducks are doing and how they’re responding. It blows my mind that so many people don’t pay attention especially late season when the ducks are call shy and even decoy shy in a lot of cases. There are several times after reading what the ducks are doing I’ll pick up all the decoys , and have a heck of a great hunt. I think your best advice in most cases is for people to just stop calling.

[@Wartracgaming]

Great video I am eat up with duck hunting but never got to be where a bunch of ducks are so I haven’t been able to study them very much so this video helps me a lot

[@mikeries8549]

Arkansas can both build up and destroy your confidence. It is true that you have to have lots of ducks to learn on or u get some wrong ideas about what works or not.

[@gooseflatwaterfowlers]

Great video. Reading ducks is something that takes time in the field from working ducks and seeing how they respond to different calls and setups. I’ve noticed that in some areas ducks like little calling and in others you have to get aggressive and hammer down on them. However every hunt is different what works today might not work tomorrow. With that being said I think certain situations in reading ducks is key. Like a single mallard drake in late season when pairing begins they like a soft reassurance call of a hen I’ve killed many lonely drakes doing this. On the flip side you get a group of drakes and maybe one or two hens I like giving a greeting with a little feed and chop in there but a good call to mix in is the mallard drake call during the same time when pairing off begins. A trick I learned about 20+ years ago when one circles and circles and tries to land out of range is to hit him hard with fast chops pick that cadence up and about 95% of the time he’ll pick up and you can walk him over in range and smoke him. One thing I like to do is use some other species of calls mixed in with the mallard calls to make it sound more realistic with your decoy spread if you use multiple species. Another good strategy to do is call when their butts are to you so they won’t pinpoint where you are exactly and you won’t get busted in the blind. What I try to do is have a lead caller who works the ducks while I call as well and the spotter/reader of what they are doing and where they are at. When I start calling at them I crouch down low so I’m in the shadows of the blind and where I can look up to read and spot them. One thing I think hunters often over look is that all calls sound different and especially in the spot you are hunting. I carry 3-4 different mallard calls and I’ve got my go to call but sometimes they don’t like it and I’ll swap to a all wood or acrylic call. When it comes to calls in different spots timber I’m always using a cutdown small ponds a real soft single reed or double reed. A place where I’m seeing a lot of traffic ducks I want a loud call to get there attention and I might switch while working them to a soft call to finish them out. I’ve noticed this when you are reading ducks if they are calling back at you you need to be answering them back in the same cadence and get a little more aggressive and bring it down soft to finish them. A good tip I learned from an old timer a long time ago is to listen to live ducks when you scout and try to mimic how the sound on the water soft series of 4-5 quacks with that muffled quacks you’ll hear them make when they are content is what you are going for. Anybody starting out needs to watch their wings when they start the back flap or the vertical drop with the back flap get you gun ready. Watch the duck calling video in my channel to see some of the things I discussed in the comment in a real hunting situation.

[@wm8822]

Great video joel

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thank you!

[@jamesdavies231]

Always needed to know how to do this

[@Goosemaster1810]

Very informative Joel.Your a true professional.Keep them coming, early goose season starts Sept. 1st. God Bless.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

It’s all just around the corner. Thanks for your encouragement- always.

[@Drblood6721]

Joel. Absolute banger of a video, this was an awesome play by play. So much knowledge, just love it. I would love to see a group call video. I usually hunt in pairs and I think this would take our game to the next level. Also goose starts 9/1 and ducks start 10/10 up here in VT

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks I appreciate that! I’m glad you enjoyed. Group calling video, coming soon!

[@josesluevano6526]

Love your instructional videos simple, well explained.. I share them with my fellow hunters. Our situation here in far west Texas our public land is limited plus we don’t have the type of bodies of water Arkansas, East Texas has would the same techniques apply hunting on a river levee or by the edge of the river with limited source of water,the Rio is the Rio Grande, your feed back would be greatly appreciated… thank you

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

Excellent! Can you do a similar video on using a whistle type call for teal and widgeon? THANKS!

[@B8NAMMO]

Very interested in a group calling video!

[@kraigkaatz6858]

Great information... God Bless

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks, you too!

[@yvesaudette2132]

nice vid, good content. yes, please make a team/group calling vid

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks! Coming soon!

[@MI_TurkeySlayer]

Hey Joel, I mostly hunt large refuge/management areas. So there can be a large number of ducks at times, but you're competing with the large number of real ducks in the actual refuge as well as the many different parties all around you in the different zones with their setups and most of the time, very aggressive calling. I've never been quite sure if I should call aggressive to compete, call more moderate, or shut up altogether to set myself apart from the others. I've tried all 3 tactics and none seem to work well for me. Seems others find great success out there but I rarely do. Gonna concentrate on sitting further back in the corn rows this year to try to hide better and I've also got some better looking decoys swapped out for all of my older ones. Just never been sure on the right approach to calling these high number but highly pressured birds.

[@brandoncorley1514]

LOVE All the Vids!!! Wish there was an annual fan raffle hunt to hunt eirh u! Id LOVE to hunt with u and might have to book a hunt to be able to hunt with u and pick your brain on ducks and duck hunting!!

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks! Yeah, may have to look at doing something like that! Thanks for the suggestion. But sure, book a hunt if you would like, we still have a few openings right now.

[@robertmatteson4451]

Missouri teal starts September 7 and duck season is November 7

[@theduckboy3521]

Va September 1 geese

[@ChasingGreen]

Weather has me feeling the same way, just need some rain

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Roger that!

[@steelshot3.577]

Do a group calling video please!!

[@theosolomon9948]

My blue wing season starts in September and regular starts in October here in Iowa.

[@dakotamiller1543]

September first here in Wisconsin for early goose and teal

[@jaredz01]

We need a group calling video

[@maxhawkins1801]

Opening day for duck is October 3rd in Colorado.

[@ozarkmountainwanderer3472]

Sept.12 for Teal, Oct.3-11 early goose, Nov.7-13, Nov.19-Jan 10 for Missouri middle zone.

[@rickgraham7340]

In Iowa October 2

[@danielfuller6679]

September 12th for teal, mid November for big ducks

[@pier-lucblais489]

If you can see and hear the ducks that are on the ground or on the water at maybe 150 or 200 yards, is there anything you can do to make them fly from where they are to your decoy spread?

[@bmead4262]

Funny stuff I stared out with Loman and Folks calls and move up you float any spinning wing decoy that use aa batteries on 5/11 with carb Bouy pvc and a counterweight I do in 18in to 30ft water

[@logancoutdoors8179]

September 5 is teal season and October 16 is our actual duck opener

[@mikeries8549]

Group calling is something the southern Illinois guys take to extremes and it works for them. Back before magnum decoys they'd paint goose decoys like greenheads and gang call them sum biches. Crazy loud calls where you're going "is this really happening?". Yup.

[@Mike-vk6mo]

Would like to hear some group calling tips. What types of calls are the backup callers making and when? When is group calling most effective? Where in the ducks circle is each caller doing what?

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll try to work that stuff in 👍🏻💪🏻👊🏻

[@SuperBoomer95]

Do you mostly stick to the hen mallard call? This past Sunday, I went out and mostly used a hen mallard call with not much luck. but at the end, had a single drake fly over (100ish yards up) and I tried a loud drake call, and he turned on a dime and came right back for my decoys. Never seen a drake call work until now tbh.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I use a hen mallard call 90% of the time. Occasionally I use a gadwall call. I use pintail and teal whistles when I see them. I have better luck with a mallard drake call when it's fairly still or when we hunt in timber. It's a very quiet call and hard to hear. I have had success with the mallard drake call, but nothing like the hen call. I think it's good to have it when nothing else works, or to use when you have other good callers with you.

[@coldfridayduckcamp2457]

Great video! I struggle with gadwall circling me 20 times and never commit. Seems like they give me the most problems.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Do you use a gadwall call?

[@coldfridayduckcamp2457]

Surviving Duck Season Yes I incorporate it in with the hen call. Seems like if they don’t commit quickly and come on in, they start circling and if they do it more than about 3 times you can forget it - they’re not coming. We don’t get too many mallards, but the ones we do get seem to work well. We get far more gadwall but they really seem to have my number.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Cold Friday yeah I understand! Grey ducks can be so finicky. Certainly unpredictable.

[@christophermahoney7115]

Sept. 5th here

[@darylbickford1913]

I think it would be awesome if Joel teamed up with Randy Newberg. Creating a second channel with Joel actually hunting different locations ect.

[@joshkepp756]

Been hunting Mississippi river in mn for 20 years and can count on one hand days ducks respond to a call

[@joshkepp756]

Rain and fog

[@briansmith8281]

Group calling video would be very helpful.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

will do!

[@briansmith8281]

Surviving Duck Season a timber vs field would be perfect for me.

[@espinosaespinosa4565]

👍

[@mikeries8549]

I get about 2 to 4 weeks of completely stupid ducks. Couple quacks at the right instant and they're mine. Usually its two weeks but some years we hold ducks. Where? We don't talk about locations. There is some water involved

[@richardgraiff9995]

our season starts next week end oct 17 2020

[@huntfish4life372]

Regular season here starts on October 15

[@jeffadams3904]

How do you like the life time mallard duck decoys cause I don't have much money so I was trying to paint my old ones and took a long time and still didn't get it right my girl got mad it was taken me to long so she ordered some of those a 6 pack thinking that would be enough anyway I took them out 1 or 2 times and the paint was coming off and the heads didn't have the felt stuff on the heads

[@camosam03]

Lifetime decoys move super easy with a light wind. I like ‘em.

[@jameslawson3851]

Can you do a video about goose calling

[@codytucker4907]

What call are you using at 1:51? Thanks!

[@jaacksun4674]

RNT mondo

[@adamspalding9921]

Southeast Iowa teal season September 1st

[@Laughinghawg]

Group Calling Vid?

[@dalewells9491]

Quack!

[@wm8822]

September goose and teal nc

[@vincentforte12]

Group calling

[@sawyerwilliams6507]

October 7th

[@joshuaeck2712]

Duck season here in ny 17 October

[@lucaspriesendorf251]

I have a friend who says teal almost always land on the outside of the spred. What are your thoughts on this?

[@Matt-P1]

Most the time when I’m hunting they either come super close or far out

[@Matt-P1]

But we have our decoys on the outside of the spread

[@CamronHenthorn608]

For me they have always tried to land on the decoys an robo duck.

[@inpaler76]

Teal and early goose start September 5th here in ohio

[@isaaccrumpton8686]

When you are hunting with clients do you let them call too?

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Great question! Most usually don't, and I don't normally ask them not to call. If they do call and it messing things up I usually suggest that they let me call, and explain why. The problem is that if you don't know how to call with other people, it can mess the hunt up. Like I've said before, you need to see ducks to call ducks. The problem I get with clients calling is they either are not watching but just calling, or they are moving around too much and spooking the birds. Honestly it's only an issue about 5 or 6 times a season so I don't really worry about it so much.

[@matthewhouseworth8806]

Teal Season in Missouri begins September 12th!

[@KryptiicKarnage]

Group calling video?

[@sasquatch3800]

The duck call you using a cut down call, Single or double reed?

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Single reed

[@vaughnprecision]

Mid October in Washington state.!

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Sweet!

[@whitebuffalo3425]

Early goose starts sept 5 in washington...

[@vaughnprecision]

White Buffalo I wish I had a place to goose hunt.! I’m in the Olympia area, not very many places near me, at least not that I know of.

[@whitebuffalo3425]

Wdfw lands are open for early goose just not the refuges. Depending on how far your willing to drive their is a couple spots not far from you. I live in longview and will drive 2 hrs to hunt the coast if I need to. Wdfw lands you should look into Skookumchuck Lincoln Creek Kosmas Chehalis river They are all public hunting lands and 2 hrs or less away. Ive only been to chehalis river...

[@vaughnprecision]

White Buffalo want a hunting buddy.? I’d be willing to do a little homework and scouting.

[@bmead4262]

Don’t know if you did this maybe a show on duck calls under $30 like the dr85 or the Primos wrench to help kids and newbies find a decent call to learn with The shaker call you were talking about is made by Scott’s I have the duck and goose

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I talked about them in my video about how to choose a duck call. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3iroqmBZZySa68

[@mikekowal4051]

Echo Poly, I would recommend a single reed. Decent video but the best callers are WELL HID.

[@danielfuller6679]

First, ha

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

right on! Thanks bro!

[@jeffgriffin1497]

What call are you useing

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

DC Mondo made by RNT

[@pearlfectiondentistryfrede1908]

0k

[@brandoncorley1514]

NETX Early teal- Sept 12th Big Duck- Nov 14th Cant get here Fast enough!!! Shooting dove Sept 1st to scratch the itch and to practice shooting

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

So ready!! I just checked and our dove is Sept 5th. Ugh, I was thinking it was before that!

[@brandoncorley1514]

@@SurvivingDuckSeason dang thats stinks!! Thought dove opened on the 1st nationwide no matter what. Idk. Its pretty much a holiday in TX lol

[@brandoncorley1514]

@@SurvivingDuckSeason not ever even worried if i kill any doves, just good to be out there, shootin and smellin burnt gun powder. Symbolizing, ITS HUNTING SEASON BABY!!!

[@lindhardt123]

the party starts tomorrow 1 sept i Denmark

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Right on! Shoot 'em up!

[@braxtonbeckey8029]

You still planning on doing a video on group calling?

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

yes!

[@steelshot3.577]

Sept 1 in Michigan for teal and geese

[@bmead4262]

hunting ducks for 40 years like your show but the weight Episode you didn’t cover some of the major Flaws in some of those weights for longevity

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Yep. There's lots of other things I could have shown as well. Most of the topics on my videos have an endless supply of stuff to show and talk about. It's a challenge to decide the most important things to show to the viewers. People have short attention spans. I normally leave out tons of things in most videos because otherwise they would each be an hour long!

[@Kq750.]

Come on sept 15 goose opening then ducks sept 26

[@Hollaware]

Not sure what video you mentioned this in but you mentioned R&N Waffles that raffled off stuff sometimes but I can’t find anything on Facebook about it

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I have no idea what that is. Sorry wasn’t me.

[@Chappinsworth]

@@SurvivingDuckSeason this made me laugh so hard for some reason.

[@MrM-wk9yf]

You didn’t this year 😉