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A duck call lanyard tells a story, sometimes several stories about its owner. There's no right or wrong answer as to how many calls you should have or what you should have on your lanyard. I like seeing old lanyards at hunting camps or stores.

Cox Cypress wrote:A duck call lanyard tells a story, sometimes several stories about its owner.

The unseemly way mine clanks these days says I'm a greedy bastard who wants to toll 'em all.

Was a time, though, when I made do with as few calls as possible, with each on its own hank of decoy line, largely as a "dress for the job you want," "old pro" fashion statement. I got pretty good at squeezing multiple birds out of a single duck or speck call, learned to get a passable Canada and wood duck out of the speck call and could do what little peeping I was inclined to on the dog's whistle. So those were the three strings around my neck.

Then greed set in, and my hunger to toll more birds led to the knowledge that some responded better to tones beyond the range of any single call of their genre, and pretty soon there was a pouch full of strings with high pitched calls, low pitched calls, loud calls, quiet calls, and special purpose call. Those, and an experimental call or two still under consideration for this capability or that which none of my proven calls could match. On the easy days, a single duck and/or speck whistle might be all that joined the omnipresent dog whistle around my neck. But on the tough days, it could be a challenge to single out the desired call from the wad at the bottom of the bird's nest of decoy cord around my neck.

I finally threw in the towel and purchased the well designed six loop lanyard I've used ever since. On it there are loops for two duck calls different enough to cover the spectrum of what I've found the most useful tone and volume ranges as readily as any I've found (to date...), yet share the same handling characteristics in terms of air presentation, and two speck calls offering those same advantages as well as any I've found (to date...). Then there's a whistle loop loaded up with the best 6-in-1 bird whistle I've found (to date...), the best blackbelly and fulvous whistling duck whistle I've found (to date), and the best dog whistle I've found (to date...). Though the last loop very often just carries a relatively seldom used Canada/blue call, it may be the most important of all, because it's also where new calls I think show special promise of outperforming one of my others get that chance.

Anyway, it's a lanyard so loaded I'm quite literally embarrassed to wear it. But the tools of my trade are always at hand and organized for use at a moment's notice.

Rick wrote:

Cox Cypress wrote:A duck call lanyard tells a story, sometimes several stories about its owner.

The unseemly way mine clanks these days says I'm a greedy bastard who wants to toll 'em all.

Was a time, though, when I made do with as few calls as possible, with each on its own hank of decoy line, largely as a "dress for the job you want," "old pro" fashion statement. I got pretty good at squeezing multiple birds out of a single duck or speck call, learned to get a passable Canada and wood duck out of the speck call and could do what little peeping I was inclined to on the dog's whistle. So those were the three strings around my neck.

Then greed set in, and my hunger to toll more birds led to the knowledge that some responded better to tones beyond the range of any single call of their genre, and pretty soon there was a pouch full of strings with high pitched calls, low pitched calls, loud calls, quiet calls, and special purpose call. Those, and an experimental call or two still under consideration for this capability or that which none of my proven calls could match. On the easy days, a single duck and/or speck whistle might be all that joined the omnipresent dog whistle around my neck. But on the tough days, it could be a challenge to single out the desired call from the wad at the bottom of the bird's nest of decoy cord around my neck.

I finally threw in the towel and purchased the well designed six loop lanyard I've used ever since. On it there are loops for two duck calls different enough to cover the spectrum of what I've found the most useful tone and volume ranges as readily as any I've found (to date...), yet share the same handling characteristics in terms of air presentation, and two speck calls offering those same advantages as well as any I've found (to date...). Then there's a whistle loop loaded up with the best 6-in-1 bird whistle I've found (to date...), the best blackbelly and fulvous whistling duck whistle I've found (to date), and the best dog whistle I've found (to date...). Though the last loop very often just carries a relatively seldom used Canada/blue call, it may be the most important of all, because it's also where new calls I think show special promise of outperforming one of my others get that chance.

Anyway, it's a lanyard so loaded I'm quite literally embarrassed to wear it. But the tools of my trade are always at hand and organized for use at a moment's notice.

Might as well load that thing up with all those bands you give away and make an official statement. "I'm better than all of you"

Lol

The Duck Hammer wrote:

Rick wrote:

Cox Cypress wrote:A duck call lanyard tells a story, sometimes several stories about its owner.

The unseemly way mine clanks these days says I'm a greedy bastard who wants to toll 'em all.

Was a time, though, when I made do with as few calls as possible, with each on its own hank of decoy line, largely as a "dress for the job you want," "old pro" fashion statement. I got pretty good at squeezing multiple birds out of a single duck or speck call, learned to get a passable Canada and wood duck out of the speck call and could do what little peeping I was inclined to on the dog's whistle. So those were the three strings around my neck.

Then greed set in, and my hunger to toll more birds led to the knowledge that some responded better to tones beyond the range of any single call of their genre, and pretty soon there was a pouch full of strings with high pitched calls, low pitched calls, loud calls, quiet calls, and special purpose call. Those, and an experimental call or two still under consideration for this capability or that which none of my proven calls could match. On the easy days, a single duck and/or speck whistle might be all that joined the omnipresent dog whistle around my neck. But on the tough days, it could be a challenge to single out the desired call from the wad at the bottom of the bird's nest of decoy cord around my neck.

I finally threw in the towel and purchased the well designed six loop lanyard I've used ever since. On it there are loops for two duck calls different enough to cover the spectrum of what I've found the most useful tone and volume ranges as readily as any I've found (to date...), yet share the same handling characteristics in terms of air presentation, and two speck calls offering those same advantages as well as any I've found (to date...). Then there's a whistle loop loaded up with the best 6-in-1 bird whistle I've found (to date...), the best blackbelly and fulvous whistling duck whistle I've found (to date), and the best dog whistle I've found (to date...). Though the last loop very often just carries a relatively seldom used Canada/blue call, it may be the most important of all, because it's also where new calls I think show special promise of outperforming one of my others get that chance.

Anyway, it's a lanyard so loaded I'm quite literally embarrassed to wear it. But the tools of my trade are always at hand and organized for use at a moment's notice.

Might as well load that thing up with all those bands you give away and make an official statement. "I'm better than all of you"

Lol

I don't need bands on my lanyard to know I am better than everyone else. I know this because my mommy told me so.

That's odd cause my mom said the same thing.

Are we brothers.

Are we destined to form a company called Prestige WorldWide

Boats & hoes.

The Duck Hammer wrote:Boats & hoes.

Precisely

The Duck Hammer wrote:Might as well load that thing up with all those bands you give away and make an official statement. "I'm better than all of you"

Lol

Better, I think, to manage expectations and keep the surprises good ones. No one expects a guy with a bunch of calls and no bands to know pecans about calling, so if we don't kill, they'll blame Doug for sending them out with a wanna-be.

Rick wrote:

The Duck Hammer wrote:Might as well load that thing up with all those bands you give away and make an official statement. "I'm better than all of you"

Lol

Better, I think, to manage expectations and keep the surprises good ones. No one expects a guy with a bunch of calls and no bands to know pecans about calling, so if we don't kill, they'll blame Doug for sending them out with a wanna-be.

Shit like that is why I love reading your posts.

Rick wrote:

The Duck Hammer wrote:Might as well load that thing up with all those bands you give away and make an official statement. "I'm better than all of you"

Lol

Better, I think, to manage expectations and keep the surprises good ones. No one expects a guy with a bunch of calls and no bands to know pecans about calling, so if we don't kill, they'll blame Doug for sending them out with a wanna-be.

Lol

Not a dammmmm thing! Working on it tho!

lurejunkee wrote:Not a dammmmm thing! Working on it tho!

What are you looking at to fill it?

Goldfish wrote:

lurejunkee wrote:Not a dammmmm thing! Working on it tho!

What are you looking at to fill it?

I'm not quite sure yet. I'm not sure of the species in going to be targeting.

Probably redheads, canvasback, gadwall from what I can gather. Oh yea and pintails too.

Find a mallard call you can quack on and a whistle that you can trill and practice practice practice

Goldfish wrote:Find a mallard call you can quack on and a whistle that you can trill and practice practice practice

Thanks GF!

lurejunkee wrote:

Goldfish wrote:Find a mallard call you can quack on and a whistle that you can trill and practice practice practice

Thanks GF!

There are a bunch of good instructional videos on YouTube. When you're looking at calls a double reed will be easier for you to run at first but a single is better of in the long run do to it's versatility.

If you're hunting the Texas coastal waters, you'll probably not see a lot of quacking ducks. The pins and wigeon whistle, which is easily done on most any whistle, and the divers brrr, which is also easy with most any mallard type call.

What you'd likely benefit most from, particularly without a large decoy spread, is a spinning wing decoy or two.

Thanks guys!

I've got one call on my lanyard and only one thing gets me to change it. Sub-freezing weather will get me to swap from the acrylic to the wooden one. Same call.
No need to even say which one because everyone already knows. "One call does it all".

RNT MVP, DR-85, a Wingert's whistle, an 8 in one......and some old call that is no longer made.......but I like it.........
I have no idea if the ducks like them..........sometimes I take credit for them coming in......but most times it's just luck

TyrelPalmer wrote:Goose Calls: Gander Valley CC PCS (Population Control Specialist) and Gander Valley CC Hybrid

I'm looking to pick up a Basin Calls duck and goose call as well and Gander Valley CC XXX goose call.

I've zero PCS or Hybrid experience for comparison, but can vouch for the XXX. Quick and easy.

My lanyard has

1. Buck Gardner Mallard Hammer Acrylic

2. Rainman Calls White Lightning

3. Hayes Calls Lil' Bad Ass

4. Sean Man White Out Speck Call