Duck Call Terminology
Allen Style A type of duck call that has an insert comprised of a retaining tube into which is placed a flat-surfaced tone board, a metal reed, and a wedge. These components are inserted as an assembly into the barrel.
This is an example of an Allen style call.
Arkansas Style A type of duck call that has an insert comprised of a combination stopper and tone board into which a slit has been cut to hold both a reed and a wedge of wood or cork. This insert is then inserted as an assembly into the barrel. Band A metal strip used to encircle a call barrel or stopper, originally used to keep wood from splitting, now chiefly used as an adornment.
Bits The two mouth pieces that are extensions of the tone boards in a crow call. Also called “lips.� Checkering A decorative cross-hatch pattern consisting of a series of parallel intersecting lines or shallow grouches carved on the barrel or stopper of a call. The more common pattern used on duck calls is comprised of three or four triangular-shaped checkered panels. Double-Reed Call A duck call that employs two reeds, one on top of the other, which vibrate simultaneously in order to produce a raspier sound than a single vibrating reed. Some double reeds have a brass rivet in either the top or bottom reed that separates them. It is usually towards the end of the top reed. Glodo’d A call barrel whose bore is first drilled the entire length of the barrel and then the inner sections of the bore are enlarged using a boring bar with a hook to create a larger diameter chamber in the center of the bore, acting as a tone chamber, and helps resonating the quality of the call. Glodo Style A type of duck call that has a flat tone board stopper, a curved metal reed, and a wedge block. One form of this style is referred to by some collectors as Reelfoot style.
This example of a Banded call was made by Howard Amaden.
Barrel A tube or cylinder of wood, metal, hard rubber, plastic or similar material into which a stopper is placed to make a modern duck call. -xi-
Duck Call Terminology
The following is a list of terms we diehard collectors and hunters use day to day, when referring to duck calls. We know it is a little out of the ordinary to have a glossary of terms at the beginning of a book. In doing this, we hope it improves your reading experience.