DuckSouth.com

I've never owned one and I am thinking about getting one for this year. What are some calls that won't break my wallet but are still good quality that sounds good? Thanks in advance for any help

I've heard nothing but good things about the rolling thunder BSOD. I think they have a couple of options for like 50 bucks.

check em out.

I just bought a Haydel BC-10 Big Barreled Cutdown. I don't have anything to compare it to as another cutdown . It does seem to be raspier and deeper with more range of sound than my DR-85

Yeah, that's not really a cutdown call. Just another Haydel's double reed.

Any Rolling Thunder call would be a good starting point for a cutdown style call on a budget. Better acrylics will be the RNT Mondo or Echo Ace in the Hole.

Cut downs are a myth anyway. I'd suggest just get to whittling the tone board on a regular call like an Echo poly to achieve the same results without breaking the bank.

I don't know your price range but the new mondo lt (lite) is the real deal. I have a bsod easy bark I would sell you for 30 dollars if you are just wanting something to try. I am not a cut down guy and have never owned one until about 3 weeks ago. They blow totally different than any other j frame call. Just different air presentation so to speak. Do I think if you blow a cutdown ducks just pull in from the heavens? Absolutely not but I do believe they are loud as hell and all duck when they are loud.

Cutdowns a myth? Hardly!

There are a ton of cutdown calls out there. The easiest to blow in my opinion is the RTGC Colt 45. It is not as easy as a j frame, but is not as difficult as a cut OLT. all of them have their pro's except the echo. I haven't found the first thing I like about it.

Calls Spencer with RTGC. Tell him your blowing style and what you're looking for. I bet he will be glad to help.

BlackOps

Ive heard a lot about the black ops. Seems like a lot of people like it. Where can i buy one if i decide to do that? Ive found theyre not making calls right now.

I have a top 5 outdoors items that i would be hard pressed to get rid of, in no particular order: garmin alpha e collar, lone wolf hand climber, my canoe, filson field jacket.

Last and certainly not least is my 1st Gen Black Ops DFB.

I've owned several cutdowns and blown several cut olts. I modified my DFB just a bit, and it is the hardest cutdown to run that I've ever personally blown into (not that I am the be-all-end-all of cutdown experts, if I ever was one).

Even though it's the hardest to run- requiring immense air PRESSURE- it barks like no other I've ever run or heard in the internet.

Other than cloudy, calm days, when I have to tone it down by necessity, my DFB is a difference maker. Even on those days, unless the birds are extremely skiddish requiring a call like my Timbre, I still use the cutdown.

It just sounds real. Very real. I love my Black Ops. Highly recommend, if you can get one.

They are making some here and there

Blackops dfb all sounded flat to me. Spencer's calls are as close to the Bakelite olts as anyone.

Spence makes good calls too

I don't find anything sounds like a cut Olt except a cut Olt. Whether you think the cut Olt is really a magic flute is a different thread. There are a few "cutdown style" calls that are close, like an "in person" Mondo tuned by Jimbo. I got curious several years ago and have Olts cut by a few of the "famous dudes" and a couple fine cuts from some "not so famous" dudes. There are many "styles" of cuts for an Olt. My suggestion for the OP, if you really want to play with a cut down and not a "kinda sorta" is to find a hard rubber keyhole D2 on ebay. Send it to Spencer Halford to have him cut it for you. He cuts a mean Olt, that most folks can learn to blow. Then tape the insert in place, do not otherwise mess with it, and learn to blow it. Then, you can decide for yourself.

Any of them are going to be as good as the caller. I'm amazed at the amount of people that can't go quack with a double reed...and have a cutdown on their lanyard.