Elk calls....tell me about them (lesson #2)

[bald9eagle]

I am an amateur turkey call maker. All the calls in my vest are customs. I say that to say that I know that there are a lot of calls on the market that are more window dressing than substance. I know turkey calls.

What I don't know are elk calls. I see plenty of reed calls but then I see lots of tubes. I can use a mouth call for turkey so I am assuming I will be able to do the same for elk. Do you use one reed call that you can do both Bull/cow calls on? What calls on the market are total ripoffs and which ones are legit?

If any of you guys turkey hunt a lot you might remember the Screaming Peacock call from Primos, if I remember right. There were many a rookie turkey hunter that bought the Screaming Peacock thinking it would just set the birds off. I don't want to be "That Guy", the one that other guys point and laugh at cause he is carrying a goofball call.

[under H2O hunter]

Most of your diaphragm calls will produce decent sound but some will blow out quicker then others. That being said here is a list of calls I personally use:

Wapiti River has some pretty good calls. They are a sponsor on this sight but more importantly they have helped several guys on here by donating calls to classes and offering up some sound calling advice.

Primos palate plate series I feel is pretty solid I mostly blow their double but I also use their triple reed at times.

Carlton Calls double yellow

Rocky Mountain game calls is got some reeds but some guys say they blow out quickly. That being said Corey Jacobsen has won 8 World championships using them so that speaks pretty highly. I use several of their cow calls. Like the Who's yrr daddy cow call and the Trophy wife. These are bite a blow style cow calls.

I also like the double hyper reed cow call and the hot lips by primos.

Calls I think that you should stay away from are the push button type calls like Hoochie Mama. But some guys say they work. I have never had much luck with them but I do have a couple that I carry just incase nothing else is working.

Remember when you're out elk hunting carry a couple different calls. Sometimes elk want to hear a certain tone or pitch and having a few different types of calls can be useful.

When it comes to tubes I suggest an old vacuums hose. I have always felt that these corrugated tubes produce excellent sound. But I also use the Bully Bull Grunt tube by Rocky Jacobsen. It's gaining popularity in the past couple of years in the competitive scene when the plastic baseball bats were banned but this type of tube is hard to pack around and is bulky. The Primos terminator tube is pretty good but I don't care for the blue plastic diaphragm on the front and it is pretty bulky as well.

Calls are like cars. Everyone has their favorite. They all do just about the same thing, it really boils down to what fits best with you and your style.

[WapitiTalk1]

You're already on the right track by considering diaphram calls and a grunt tube. That is the purest form (best sounding) method of making elk sounds. Already being able to use a turkey call, you obviously don't have a gag reflex which is an issue with some folks trying to use a mouth reed. Hmm, which brand. Well, Wapit River Outdoors, Glacier Country Hunting Calls, and Phelp's Game Calls are all sponsors here and all three company owners are top level callers so you may wish to give one of them a whirl. I have tried all their calls and really like some of what each of them have to offer. You also won't find three better guys to deal with. And yep, Bugling Bull calls are really liked/used by a lot of hunters (sold here in the Elknut store). Tubes? Yes, you'll need one of those I use Elknut's Chuckler EL which I love and am on the waiting list for the new Elknut tube that's coming out in FEB. I've tried the tube that Wapiti River carries (exceptional tube) and have heard great things about the tube Phelp's Game Calls carries.

Single diaphram reeds seem easier to use and can produce a wide array of elk sounds, including both cow/bull noises but "generally" tend to wear out quicker. Yes, you can get the same results with double reeds but depending upon the manufactuer, they're a bit more difficult to get all the sounds out of but I think they last longer. I personally use a double reed for bull sounds and switch to either a reed made specifically for cow sounds, and/or, mix up my cow sounds with what folks call a bite and blow call (although the Carlton Bull Hooker cow call I use is not really a bite and blow, more of a squeeze and blow). Lots of options buddy.

What I would highly recommend is that you start practicing now and learn to make elk noises that are believable. You do not have to be a competition level caller to be effective at calling elk. Which elk sounds should you work on? The ones that will serve you well when you step foot into the elkwoods, obviously (lol). Check out Elknut's "4 basic elk sounds" in his Tips and Clips section above and consider ordering some of his instructional DVDs/CDs in the store. The info contained in any one of his products is worth ten times the cost!

Best of luck on whatever you decide for your calls. Keep us posted how your sounds are coming along.

[Gselkhunter]

The frame and latex may be the same but it ends there. The turkey call stretch is not as tight, mostly because control is more important than high pitch. Elk calling needs a higher pitch for the top end of a bugle. By the tighter stretch[front to back and side to side] you can roll through pitches quicker and with more volume. As you know a tree call needs volume[ha ha]. Purchase a double turkey and a double elk call and you will find you can elk call easier on the turkey call than the other way around. Prove it to yourself with a fly down cackle or a good set of cutts.
As far as learning elk calling, it will be quicker going from turkey to elk than the reverse. The biggest change is the addition of voice in elk calling.
Talk to Travis at Wapiti River Outdoors, you guys can share info.

[Huntrgathr]

I'm no expert on calls but I can relate my experience. I can use diaphragm elk calls fairly easily but I struggle with turkey diaphragms. I can make elk sounds with them but not very good turkey sounds....

I used the primos calls for the first few years but then got turned on to the Bugling Bull brand calls. My advice is to start with a single like the Mellow Yellow - super easy to learn on. Then when you get the hang of that one try the Orange one ( Estrus cow), then 'The Challenge" (blue) and maybe the All-Star (green). I carry all of those with me now for use in different situations. I'm sure that calls from just about any maker will work well. Keep in mind they wear out relatively quickly and stock way BEFORE elk season because they can be sold out for the entire month of September in stores...

[twinkieman]

Everyone else has already said the calls you need, and how much better mouth calls are....I've been calling turkeys for decades, the biggest difference for me, is the turkey call sets further back in my mouth, the elk reeds up against the back of my teeth, and slightly tilted up. I struggled until I learned to move it forward, and it was very frustrating, I could do anything with a turkey call, and couldn't get what I wanted out of the elk reed. I don't call to turkeys, I talk to turkeys, and understand their language extremely well, the same is true for elk. Paul Brunner( Screaming Eagle Bows )wrote in a magazine article years ago, "Elk aren't call shy, they are wrong call shy", this is so true, he then went on to explain that the BEST place to learn the elk language was at Elknut.com. I've regretted not listening to him when I read the article.

What I would highly recommend is that you start practicing now and learn to make elk noises that are believable. You do not have to be a competition level caller to be effective at calling elk. Which elk sounds should you work on? The ones that will serve you well when you step foot into the elkwoods, obviously (lol). Check out Elknut's "4 basic elk sounds" in his Tips and Clips section above and consider ordering some of his instructional DVDs/CDs in the store. The info contained in any one of his products is worth ten times the cost!

This is the best advice I could give you, I have no desire to competition call for elk, my competition is in the elk woods, the DVD's will shave YEARS off your learning curve. That's my opininion, ,I hope you heed the advice Phantom16 wrote.

[Wapiti]

Well thanks everyone. That is a lot of great information.

The very first and most important part of picking a elk reed is to get the correct frame size for you mouth. I'm talking the width of the frame itself and not the tape.

Rocky mountain hunting calls have only narrow frame calls, then Jason who owns Phelps game calls has developed a fantastic midsized frame and what we call the regular frame. We here at Wapiti River Outdoors carry a junior ( similar in size to Rocky calls ) and a regular size frame. Wapiti reeds also have cuts in the tape that makes the reed mould properly to your pallet and are the only reed manufacturer that does this. We all make single, Double and Triple reeds. As you add reeds to elk calls the volume and higher pitch come into play but also keep in mid the reeds with multiple layers take more air and tongue pressure to operate. You can still make all the cow sounds and bugles with any of the reeds but they do take practice as you well know with your Turkey calls.

As for your question on calls that are more window dressing then function. That is not the case with elk calls as they all look very similar. It all depends on whether or not you want a single, Double or Triple reed. We only use the elk calls for elk sounds and not for crow or any other type sounds. The location bugle is what most use to find elk.

I personally like the single reeds as they are the easiest to use and can make any elk sounds from elk chirps and whines to cow mews and estrus type cow sounds as well as young bull sounds all the way up to the lip bawl challenge type of aggressive bugles.

The best way would be to pick up some calls and go from there. You alone will be the only one that can say which reed is the one for you. One thing I can tell you is I use a single reed for all my hunting and use it for all my sounds. I do this so I do not have to carry multiple reeds in the field. I do however carry 3-4 of that reed as you will lose them or wear them out. Keep in mind the reeds are latex and do not last forever. I generally can use the same reed for my whole elk season as long as I do not lose it. Once the reed starts sounding weak and gets harder to hit the top notes easily it will be time to open a new reed.

Well I hope this helps. You can reach any of the sponsors by clicking on there banner at the top as they scroll past !!

Thanks again and enjoy !!

Travis

[bald9eagle]

Solid, solid info. Thanks everyone.

Dang now I'm gettting giddy!