Mouth reeds vs bite & blow style calls

[BGbowhunters]

Before hunting I was going to buy a call. I've never called before, never used a reed. Never used a bite and blow call. I'm a new caller, and I wanted to buy a cow talk or a reed so I could call in some cows. The cow talk call says its easy to use, but is it hard to sound like a real elk. And I have no experence with mouth reeds and I don't know if there hard to use. So what call is better for a beginner caller? And what is more effective? Thank you for any help.

[WapitiTalk1]

Brendan, the reeds/diaphrams sound better and more realistic (which I believe, is what we're all after)..... period "if", you make/take the time to practice and learn how to use them. Let's say you play pool, and a new guy to the game comes to your basement where you have your pool table set up and you give him a long, pretty straight, dry willow stick from your back yard for his cue stick. You can teach him how to hold it, how to shoot the cue ball at the target ball in line with one of the six holes on the table, and he'll get the basics. To really teach him about english and how the target ball reacts when you hit the cue ball on the lower left, lower right, center, or top left, top right...... he'll need a real cue stick. It's kind of the same with using a bite and blow call vs a diaphram/reed. You can't make all the proper cow cows (or bull sounds for that matter) with anything besides a quality reed. Just my thoughts buddy.

[Wapiti]

Brendan,

PM me your address and I'll send you a couple from our line up !! When you get them give me a call and I can help you over the phone one on one !!

Once you learn to use a reed you will NEVER look back to any external calls again !!

Travis

[zpd307]

my problem is, I can sound real good at sea level. but, on the mtn I am always just enough out of breath/excited and my mouth is always dry so that I flub the call, especially when I am actually calling to an elk. the open reed call is more forgiving with trade off of being not quite as realistic... travis I have practicing quite a bit on your calls that you sent me, thanks again!

[Wapiti]

my problem is, I can sound real good at sea level. but, on the mtn I am always just enough out of breath/excited and my mouth is always dry so that I flub the call, especially when I am actually calling to an elk. the open reed call is more forgiving with trade off of being not quite as realistic... travis I have practicing quite a bit on your calls that you sent me, thanks again!

Gary,

One trick I use for cow sounds. I actually designed the Pink Lady for just that reason you just described !! Great minds think alike !! So the trick is to just barely have your tongue against the latex and start your air flow and keep hissing air until the reed automatically makes sound. Now just increase your tongue pressure and finish the call by dropping your lower jaw away in a very controlled fashion.

Let the reed do the work for you and you'll never flub another call with this technique.

Hope that helps some as one cow sound good or bad can make or break the deal !!

Good luck

Trav

[Gselkhunter]

Take Trav up on ths offer Brendan. He will get you fixed up and you will be very happy with the results down the road.

[BGbowhunters]

Already did, thank you . I already pm you my address.

[Fridaythe13th]

Defiantly take trav up on his offer, I just put a order in for some more calls. Last year I used www.sceeryoutdoors.com They work very well if you would like a blow call also. The only problem I had was after you use them off and on they get moisture in it and you have to take the call apart and dry off, I used my bino harness and it work well. It's not that big of a deal. The call work very well in my opinion.

[Gselkhunter]

Already did, thank you . I already pm you my address.

Thats great, now you can teach me how to call.

[ElkNut1]

I too am a mouth reed user for all types of elk calling. With that said there are some pretty good external reed cow calls on the market with the Cow Talk being one of them. One of the new DVDs I put together this year goes into external/bite & blow calls including the cow Talk & 9 others I show how to use & their expected tones. It also goes into mouth reed use & grunt tube bugles & external reed bugles for the newer hunters out there that have the same questions BGbowhunter has, it should be great info for folks like him & any that want to learn how to use the various calls on the market without having to but them all first!

ElkNut1

[Drawnandpinned]

I would like to start using some reeds down the road have tried them I just can't get good sound outta them.my bow hunting instructioruse one with a wiffle ball bat sounded awesome.

[ElkNut1]

Guys, remember learning to use a mouth reed & get respectable sounds can take weeks of everyday practice, mouth reeds are not something you pick up & play with for a few minutes & you're good to go! Have patience & put in the time, once you start getting some decent tones you then start working on polishing them up! You will get out of them what you put into them. As beginners start with light tensioned single reeds, they are generally user friendly!

ElkNut1

[Wapiti]

Yes there is no way around it. To get better with mouth reeds you have got to practice. External calls do have there place.

Guys with the help of all Paul's hard work and effort he has put into all the DVD's and the clips he has posted on every elk sound and subject known to mankind. There is no reason not to try reeds and get good with them. Each person will have there own learning curve and positions in there mouths that makes the reeds work. You just have to put the time in and find your way !!

With the help of Paul's DVD's and our line of light tensioned elk reeds you guys have the best of both worlds at your finger tips !! Do not worry about sounding perfect as the sounds will come as you get better !!

We are all here to help. If you guys are struggling ask some questions on here as there many people that can help. This is the best place to learn !!

Good luck guys and gals !!

Trav

[husky390]

Just my very humble newb's opinion, but I bring both. The bite & blow I have is a cow call and is attached to a cord which hangs around my neck.