Down-n-Dirty’s Chaos Duck Call
Dr. David Vaught 09.11.12
Down-n-Dirty (DND) game calls have been around Lewisburg, Kentucky since 2007, after Mark Coin and Jason Kidd, two champion owl hooters, put their skills and knowledge of game calls into production. Both were well schooled in hunting, but recognized the need to be competitive and unique in their calling when accessing public lands. Between 2008 and 2010, their stock began to rise as they expanded their lineup of box, and diaphragm turkey calls, crow and owl calls. More calls, a TV show and the expansion of their dealer network, dealt right into the hand of Mark an already accomplished 2004 Kentucky State Duck Calling Champion. His knowledge and lots of hard design work lead to the 2011 introduction of DND’s waterfowl calls along with their HawgHead Buck Grunt call.
I got my hands on the Chaos, one of four duck calls offered by DND, because I wanted a single reed call that was easy to use and sounded like a duck. Pretty common request I think on my part. The Chaos is a CNC-machined high-grade acrylic, hand-cut single reed that comes in four color combinations: grey, clear/blue, clear/black and black. It has an aggressive small bore, but is easy to blow with plenty of mid-range. For DND staff, it is their go-to call and one designed with a raspy, squeally sound creating chaos over the decoys. As Mark Coin describes it, “pure nasty” that will separate you from the crowd and make those ducks want to come into your spread.
So, now the question is, what do I think of the Chaos call? Let me preface this discussion with the fact I have been calling for probably 50 years, and learned old school from my father. Over the past few years I have become more and more aware of new call styles and methods, as well as longing for a single reed call other than my old style wooden calls. As we all tell our kids, practice makes perfect with just about anything they want to do. I embrace that ideal and quickly fell in love with the Chaos the more I practiced.
The call feels good in your hand and is solid. The reed has a clean vibration against the tone board and while I experienced a few reed lock-ups early, that soon departed as the call and I got to know each other. In other words, you learn to play the Chaos call like any instrument. The range indeed produces deep low notes that express a hen very well, to wide-open balling hail calls. But for me, where the Chaos shines is the quiet crispness of the feed call, blended with some nasty true to life squealing. The reed is quick and follows the tongue and throat’s lead through single, multiple and combination tick-a-tick-a-quacks. The bore holds well and will put that nasty squeal into the call notes when you want them there. Again, this is something you learn and the Chaos is a great teacher. No need to over-blow the call as the volume is rich and you can easily reach out and touch birds over the trees, across the marsh and away from your competitors. On a calm, still day, the Chaos is in its element, but you will likely find the call as your go-to call in all conditions. All Down-n-Dirty duck calls come with a protective pouch, extra reeds and a spare impregnated cork wedge.
I would be remiss in not adding that the blue and clear Chaos I used here is beautiful. The workmanship is obvious and the laser-cut Down-n-Dirty waterfowl logo is pure eye candy. This is a call well worth the $112.99 MSRP. Check out their website, get a Chaos and get ready for some exciting decoy action in 2012.
