Experiment to find the calling style that yields the best results. When calling conditions are poor, I'll usually start out not calling and watch the ducks' response. If the birds won't work on their own, I'll ratchet up the calling—a little, then a little more, maybe even a lot. I'll blow a menu of calling styles and let the ducks place their order.

Many times when I don't call, I rely on decoy motion to coax birds in. A jerk string, mechanical decoy or some other means of providing decoy and water movement can be deadly on calm, quiet days.

Taking the quiet route is a viable option when hunting conditions are tough. Sometimes ducks just don't want to be battered by insistent calling. At these times, silence can indeed be golden, and less calling can mean more birds in the bag.