What calls do I want to order?

[BMF11]

I'm going to order some diaphragms and a bugle and I'm asking for your help. I've found that the dome style or tone top fit me the best. I want to order the All-Star and one other, any suggestions? I already have a bunch of diaphragms but want to try a couple of these. Any others that might give me something a bit different or more versatile than the All-Star? Also, I'm going to order either the Chuckler or the Mini Chuckler. I really like the size of the Mini. Do both have the same size mouth opening? What do you find as differences between the two as far as sound goes? I also have a couple bugles already, but wanting to try one of these. Thanks again. Brady

[Lefty]

I have been using Primos calls,.. many of the other bigger name flat diaphrams I am not very good with
.
I have gotten quite good with most bugles and a diapham but have found the Primos call with the blue reed very easy to blow, and carry in my pack even if my mouth is dry. I own lots of different call

[bnsafe]

my favorite calls so far are the carlton pro series diaphragms and the sceery cow calls. i was making great bugles on the blue double reed but lost it in the mountains.

[Huntography]

I like the Mellow Yellow Momma.

Rudy

[8seconds]

You gotta try several to find the one(s) that sound natural. AND that may change from year to year. Primos, Yellow Momma, and a turkey call i use are multiple calls I practice with and carry into the woods. When driving to my destination (10 hrs) I use ElkNuts disc and practice with the various calls to see which ones I'm hitting the notes on.
Hope this helps.

[BMF11]

How about your bugle tubes? Does it seem advantageous to use tubes with a belled or bigger end? The bugles I have are straight tubes that are the same diameter from one end to the other? I'm wondering if one type or shape tends to give maybe a deeper or more resonating sound? Thanks for the input so far.

[JohnFitzgerald]

My favorite reeds are the Mellow Yellow and the Full Rutt. The Chuckler is my choice of tube.

Also, I will be rock'n a new external call this year. Troy from Glacier Country Elk Calls sent me the High Heel Hottie. Great tone and easy to work!

http://stores.elknut.com/Detail.bok?no=254

IMOA.....one of the best external calls.

[Fullabull]

You really have to try multiple brands of reed calls to find the one that works best for your mouth shape. Some you can tune and some you can't.
As far as the bugle goes I have a few different types I take with me and will change as sometimes one might get a better response then the others depending on the mood of the elk.

[JJ Overkill]

i havent played with the all star but my two favs are the raging bull and the herd bull. im with you, i call better with a domed call

[>>>---WW---->]

+2 on the Raging Bull and the Herd Master. Those are my go to calls. I really like the Lil Chuckler grunt tube as well.

[msd1228]

The All Star is likely THE most versatile elk diaphragm on the market - it has no trouble making the softest calf sounds to the biggest bull screams. That being said, Raging Bull and Mellow Yellow are awesome as well.

[Glacier Country]

Not really sure if I should " blow my own horn" so to speak, but we at Glacier Country Hunting Calls make some of the best diaphragms on the market!
If you are looking for versatility the Orange Enrager and the Watermelon have proven to be very hard to beat. If you like to make cow calls the Sweet Temptation and the Sweet Seduction are the ticket. I have a Blue Blaster that makes older cow sounds and great bugles, and I use both the Blue Blaster and Red Ripper for Location bugles. I also make a call that is used for Screaming at bulls to make them charge me called Troy's Secret Weapon. It makes a high pitched cow calf calls and the best Bull Scream ever! I also make the High Heel Hottie bite call that you should never leave home without. My Diaphragms are based off of a Turkey call frame so some of you turkey hunters are going to be very good with them in short order. They are a little wider frame than Some of Rockies calls with the pallet plate. They are the same frame size as his full rut for instance just with no dome.
I have been asked the Question "Which Elk Call?" Countless times, both before I made any calls and now I know a lot more since I have started making them. If any of you would want me to, I could even post up some sounds using them so you will know what they sound like. When using a call without a pallet plate,I have found that it is really best to start with very little growl on the beginning and let the call break to the next pitch on its own and then really put your tongue into it. Actually if you learn to do this it will make any call easier to blow. Hope this helps in your search for The Best Elk Call.
It takes work to become very good with a mouth call and you should all be buying your calls and practicing with them like crazy right now! Gotta go for now. Troy

[Swede]

I would call Elknut and get his advise. I talked to him and he was helpful to the max. It makes a difference what you are trying to call and where. I explained that huge bull are rare where I hunt. I hunt highly pressured bulls who have heard every plastic flute under the son. Paul recommended the Lil Chuckler at the time, and now I have a mini. I could not be more satisfied. Paul can also steer you onto the best diaphragm for your application. Do yourself a favor call Paul.

[Glacier Country]

I have a couple calls that will fit the bill, first of all my calls do not have the dome that the Allstar does. Rockie Jacobsen designed that and it is a very good design.I consider Rockie a friend and mentor. I used his calls before I started making my own and myself and my family won a lot of contests with his calls. I actually liked his calls with the metal pallet plate like the Raging Bull the best. He is an innovative guy and does make very good calls. What I have found is that some people like the dome or pallet plate and some do not.

I do make some of the best non pallet plate calls that you can get. If you are trying to get calls that are very versatile then my Orange Enrager and Watermelon calls are both Excellent Choices. With my calls you can bend the frame slightly and or cut the tape to help fit it to your pallet. You asked about the plastic dome. Well Everyone's pallet is shaped a little different. To be honest if you look at the different calls on the market that have the dome some are wider and some are taller than others. Some people have a hard time if the dome is too wide or too tall. Some people feel that they help hold the call in place. With the different domes or plates you will have to try them to know. With my calls it is the same you really will have to try them to know if they fit.I will say this, my son drove me crazy when he was 5 years old I tried so many different calls trying to find calls that fit him. None really did.He finally just figured out how to put his tongue on the diaphragm to hold it where he wanted it. So he could get a good air seal. He won a Pee Wee World Championship a few months later on a call without a dome. I have a lot of experience helping new callers. With calls without a dome especially, you really are better off learning how to call by starting without much of a growl. Start with more of a mid tone, ( think a goose sound,)with just enough pressure to make the call break to the next tone on its own then put more air and tongue pressure to the calls. You also want to start out with your jaw slightly lower and put a little more camber in your tongue than most of you use. Picture a Bucking horse with his front end down and his hind end bucking up in the air. This is about what your tongue should be doing IMO. You will get a lot more out of any call you blow dome or not.

Specific sounds. Well I have found there are 3 basic views on elk diaphragm callers 1.Guys who use mostly Cow and calf sounds 2. Guys who mostly only bugle and use bull sounds 3. Then there are guys who can and do make both Bull and Cow/calf sounds. So,I make diaphragms for every one of these types of elk callers. My cow calf diaphragms are made to specifically make cow and calf sounds.They are made with lite latex for very realistic. cow and calf sounds. My Bull Diaphragms are made to locate and Challenge Bull elk. I make a few diaphragms that are very versatile. They make very good Cow and calf sounds but are Slightly geared more for Bull sounds ( out of the package) . I want to be able to belt out an awesome bugle with these calls and as the latex stretches it will make better cow /calf calls. Whew I got a little windy But I covered alot of ground with this post and I hope this helps. I personally locate bulls using a Blue Blaster or Red Ripper then as I get closer I switch to a call that more closely fits the situation or the Story or the picture that I am trying to paint in the elks mind. That may be a cow/calf call like the Sweet Temptation or Sweet Seduction or a versatile call like the Orange Enrager or Watermelon. I might pull out Troys Secret weapon and scream at the herd bull to make him try to run me off. Different calls for different situations.
Do you only take one lure when you go fishing? Not me. The one call you should never leave home without is a bite call called the High Heel Hottie.

[Glacier Country]

Troy using an Orange Enrager on this herd bull.

[Glacier Country]

Sweet Temptation.

[Glacier Country]

My 10 year old son using a Blue Blaster.

[Glacier Country]

My son using Blue Blaster to locate and gets a bull to do a Lazy Bugle back.

[Glacier Country]

Versatile Watermelon

[Glacier Country]

Bull Scream with Troy's Secret Weapon. First I play real bull elk making this sound then I try to duplicate the sound on Troy's Secret Weapon.

[Glacier Country]

quarbles, Troys Secret Weapon will also do fantastic bugles of all types. Here is an assortment of different Bugles that it can do.Hope this Helps --->Troy

[PHELPS GAME CALLS]

Unfortunately, there is only one way to find out what diaphragms are going to work for you. You need to buy some and practice and test for yourself. Some people want/need a palate plate, sonic dome, crowned diaphragm. Some like a single, while others like triples. Also the last issue is every one applies tongue pressure differently.

I have many customers that don't like a palate plate or a dome and I also have many customers who feel they need it. Pallete size is important in selecting the right size of frame. I can make my calls on a youth frame or an adult small (not very small). I'm also in the process of having my own custom sized frame built that should work for 95% of callers while providing an easier to use all around call.

The majority of my calls are built as single reeds. The pitch is easier to control and the call is predictable. With that said I do offer a few double reeds and a 2.5 reed with a ghost cut (dragon slayer). I also build cow only, bull only, all around and locator specific diaphragms.

I also hand build my external cow calls one at a time by hand. I have two different styles; my custom turned wood calls and my all plastic designed "director". Here are some memorial elk calls I just finished up as well as some bulls that were tricked by Phelps Game Calls (ill have to fix the attachments later they were bigger than 800). With that said It doesn't matter what elk call you use as long as you are confident in it, it sounds like an elk and you get results.

[Arapahoe]

Just like what has been said, buy a few and try em and keep looking for the next favorite.
I have boxes of everything from ducks to predators.
My personal favs are the Hyper lip Double and Raging bull. Got 3 Raging bulls for back up and the one I liked best is up in Colorado Wilderness somewhere

[RockChucker30]

I like the raging bull, and the blue one....can't remember it's name offhand.

Really it's about finding what style fits your mouth best. The Herd Master size doesn't work for me.

[Glacier Country]

Here are a couple of pics that show how effective my calls are.Brian called in this bull for his wife Tammy.

[Glacier Country]

I called in this Bull for Cody.He turned like a cutting horse and came charging in!