WHAT IS A “CUT-DOWN” DUCK CALL?
WHAT IS A “CUT-DOWN” DUCK CALL?
A CUT-DOWN duck call is a duck call that has been modified and the tone board cut or reshaped from its original design. This provides more realism and variety to your calling. It provides a very effective sound and gives you an edge over the hunters around you. The CUT-DOWN has evolved dramatically and become the call to hunt with. The CUT-DOWN is the most effective duck call on the market.
And from a public land duck hunter’s standpoint, the CUT-DOWN is the only call to use because it has a significant proven track record of bringing mallards to the decoys consistently. I’ve hunted with a CUT-DOWN most of my life and don’t duck hunt with any other type call; I have to be confident with my call, I can honestly say I’ve never used another call more effective than a CUT-DOWN.
When I started developing these calls back in 2011, I had already spent 15 years thinking about it. I looked at every call that’s ever been made that was a worthy call for the woods, and I studied each one of them and found the flaws in all of them. So, my goal became to build a duck call that doesn’t have any of those flaws. When you buy, it will be the only call you need. So, if I take it to the woods and it doesn’t perform the way I think it should, it doesn’t go into production and I don’t sell it. ALL the calls I sell here pass that test.
More About Cut-down Duck Calls
More About Cut-down Duck Calls
The modification typically involves altering the tone board and/or the reed of the call to change its acoustic properties.
Here are some key points about cutdown duck calls:
Tone Board Modification
Tone Board Modification
The tone board of the duck call is often shaved down or reshaped to create a steeper angle. This changes the way the air flows through the duck call, resulting in a more aggressive and louder sound.
The modification of J-frame tone boards is a crucial aspect of creating a cutdown duck call. This process transforms a standard duck call into a cutdown call, giving it the distinctive sound and performance characteristics that are highly valued by hunters.
These changes create a louder, raspier, and more aggressive call that excels in specific hunting environments, particularly those found in Arkansas. This process highlights the ingenuity and skill of hunters and call makers who continually refine their tools to enhance their effectiveness in the field.
Reed Adjustment
Reed Adjustment
The reed, which vibrates to create the sound, may also be trimmed or adjusted. This fine-tuning helps achieve the desired pitch and tone in the duck call.
Trimming the Reed:
Length: Cutting the reed to a shorter length can make the duck call produce a higher-pitched sound. It can also make the duck call more responsive, requiring less air pressure to produce sound.
Thinning the Reed:
Sanding: Sanding the reed to make it thinner can increase its flexibility, resulting in a raspier, more variable sound. However, thinning too much can make the reed too weak to function properly.
Positioning the Reed:
Placement: The reed must be precisely aligned with the tone board. Small adjustments in its position can significantly alter the sound of the duck call. Moving the reed forward (closer to the user’s mouth) can make the duck call louder and raspier.
Historical Context
Historical Context
Cutdown calls originated from older Olt D-2 duck calls, which hunters modified to improve their effectiveness. These customizations became popular and eventually led to the development of commercially available cutdown duck calls.
Before the rise of cutdown calls, hunters primarily used commercially produced duck calls. One of the most notable brands was the Olt call, specifically the Olt Model D-2. These calls were mass-produced and widely available.
The Birth of the Cutdown Duck Call
Modifications for Better Performance: Hunters in Arkansas, particularly in the dense timber and flooded woods of places like the Cache River and Bayou Meto, began modifying their Olt duck calls to suit their specific needs. The original Olt D-2 duck calls were often too quiet and did not have the right tonal quality for these environments.
Local Innovations: These modifications included cutting down the tone board and reshaping it, which made the duck calls louder and raspier. These altered duck calls could better mimic the sound of a mallard hen and were more effective at drawing in ducks from a distance.
Sound Characteristics of Cut-Down Duck Calls
Sound Characteristics of Cut-Down Duck Calls
The sound produced by a cutdown call is typically more raspy, loud, and can cut through wind and cover noise better than traditional duck calls. This makes them particularly useful in dense timber or heavily hunted areas where ducks may be more wary.
Hunters often use cutdown duck calls in specific scenarios where a louder and more commanding call is needed to attract ducks. They are not always the best choice for every hunting situation, but they can be highly effective when used appropriately.
These duck calls were developed and refined in the dense timber and flooded forests of Bayou Meto and the Wabbaseka Scatters in Arkansas, areas known for their challenging hunting conditions and high hunting pressure. Duck hunters needed a duck call that could cut through thick vegetation and reach distant ducks, leading to the modification of standard calls, particularly the Olt Model D-2, to create the cutdown duck call.
The unique sound, achieved through precise alterations to the tone board and reed, proved highly effective in attracting wary ducks, making the cutdown call a staple for hunters in these iconic Arkansas hunting grounds.
Hear the Calls
Outlaw Keyhole Cut-down Duck Call
The Outlaw Cut-Down Keyhole Duck Call is expertly designed, precision-cut, and finely tuned to deliver unparalleled quality and performance. Constructed with a robust Delrin barrel and a durable polycarbonate insert, this call is built to endure the toughest hunting conditions. Its loud, responsive sound and smooth chatter make it a highly effective tool for duck hunting. Engineered to withstand rigorous use, the Outlaw Cut-Down Keyhole Duck Call guarantees reliability and effectiveness in the field, ensuring you are always ready for action.
Outlaw Keyhole Cut-down Duck Call
KMC CUT-DOWN Keyhole Duck Call
The wider tone board produces a smooth, loud sound that stands out, making it user-friendly and easy to blow.
KMC CUT-DOWN Keyhole Duck Call
With a shorter barrel, and a wider tone board, this duck call delivers a smooth, loud sound that stands out. User-friendly and requiring less air, it is crafted in the USA from durable hard acrylic, ensuring reliability and longevity in the field.
New Basic Cut-down Duck Call
Our New Basic Cut-Down Duck Calls – easy to blow, making them perfect for hunters of all ages and skill levels. Featuring a 10 Mil reed, these calls produce realistic sounds with minimal effort. Expertly crafted by Kirk McCullough, they ensure maximum performance in the field for both beginners and seasoned hunters.
New Basic Cut-down Duck Call
Perfect for both beginners and seasoned hunters. Designed for all ages, these calls are easy to blow and a versatile addition to your hunting gear.
Wabbaseka Scatters Keyhole Cut-Down Duck Call
This Cut-down duck call has superior sound quality, powerful resonance, smooth functionality, and user-friendly design. Perfect for hunters of any skill level.
Wabbaseka Scatters Keyhole Cut-Down Duck Call
Experience the Wabbaseka Scatters Edition Threaded Keyhole Cut-Down Duck Call, from the heart of Bayou Meto, Arkansas. This duck call has superior sound quality, powerful resonance, smooth functionality, and user-friendly design. Making it perfect for hunters of any skill level.
Hear the Calls
Hear the KM-BR BLOODRUNNER cut-down duck call.
Hear the X-Maker rough finish cut down duck call.
Hear the X-Maker cut down duck call in flooded timber.
Hear the X-Maker XLT and what makes it special.
Hear the WABBASEKA SCATTERS Edition duck call.
Hear the WHITE RIVER RED-LABEL Edition duck call.
Hear the Basic Keyhole Cut-Down duck call
Hear the Ebonite KM Custom Cut duck call
Bloodrunner duck call water test and call
Hear the KM OUTLAW Cut-Down duck call with the MC-50 Insert.
My Floating Lanyards
Kirk McCullough Cut-Down Duck Call product review for 2020
About Kirk McCullough and Cut-Down Duck Calls
More about Kirk McCullough
Kirk McCullough and Lester Capps Duck calling together in green timber.
Kirk McCullough, what would you do for $1,000?
Why Kirk loves Public Land Duck Hunting.
How to Blow a Cut-Down call and Duck Hunting tips
How to Blow a Cut-Down Duck Call. You Don’t Have to be the Loudest Duck Call Out There.
Public Land Boat Hiding tips
Public Land – First Come, First Serve.
Customer provided duck calls that Kirk McCullough has Cut-Down
Keyhole Olt that Kirk originally modified and came in for a tuneup.
Andrew Price’s Keyhole Olt. It’s a call that will do some damage.
Kirk McCullough MONDO Sound File with “RIM-CUT”
A sound file of four DC Mondos that has been Cut-Down and hand-tuned by Kirk McCullough
Swarms of Ducks from Kirk McCullough’s videos
Huge Mallard Swarm
Green Timber Duck Hunting
We have seen the keyhole trend, but I don’t specialize in only keyhole calls. My KM OUTLAW fits a selection of my inserts, four of which are versions of the keyhole and one, my MC-50 cut down duck call insert, which is a multi-channel hole and has a thunderous, raspy sound with excellent quality. If it didn’t work, I wouldn’t sell it.