Calling practice suggestions???

[Toby]

Does anyone have a calling practice routine that they would like to share.? I'm looking for tips on using internal mouth diaphragms. Are there certain words you try to say to get a certain elk sound? I'm an "ok" caller, but would like to improve. Good info. for inexperienced callers as well.

[BrentLaBere]

Not sure when the vets will bring it up again but last year we could post our sounds and others would critique it. Very helpful in hearing yourself recorded. Paul mentions this in his dvds as well but I didn't do it until other started posting their sounds online. Soundcloud is one way others have recorded sounds and posted them. Not sure of all the others.

[JohnFitzgerald]

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=2315

[Toby]

John, that is a great starting point, thanks for sharing.

Now, if we can get a description on how to make each sound, that would really help.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Paul has a DVD that you could look into. Also, he shares a lot on the ElkNut Tips and Clips.

jf

[JGH]

One thing that helped me was practicing in the car with a diaphragm call on the way to work.

The "practice" part of it was to pick a particular call -- a lost cow mew, or a chirp, or a nervous grunt, really, it could be anything, even something that would normally "require" a bugle tube -- and try to make ONLY that call on the first attempt, then repeat it over and over.

The key is "on the first attempt". Calling is like shooting ... you can't call a call back any more than you can call a bullet back. You may get more than one shot, but mess up on the first one, and your odds go way down. Way, way down.

[ctdad]

I'd second using the sound cloud app or website. I learned a lot about calling when I heard what I actually sounded like. Also a great way to get feedback from others

[Willie makit]

Not to hijack this thread but I have a 30 min drive to work and usually practice each way listening to the elk sounds cd. It's a great way to compare and try to match sounds. I do need to record myself to compare but any practice is better than none.

My question is about how long do mouth calls last, mine sound really good for about 2-3 days then I lose my high pitch and fine control over the tones.
Am I trying to get too much volume and destroying them or is this normal. The estrus buzz and glunking are still eluding me but I'm working on them.

I usually get a season out of a turkey call but they too barely make it a full season. Just wondering how long you guys last with a mouth call.

[jmez]

What ctdad said. He and I spend the better part of July and August sending sounds back and forth on Sound Cloud on our phones.

It is pretty slick. If you add someone as a friend then every time they post a sound you phone will notify you. I listen to his sounds and then call him on my way to work as he's listened to mine. Kind of like the Bud Light commercials, It's only weird if it doesn't work!!

It really does help to hear your sounds and then compare them to others. I also have several sounds from Troy at Glacier Country calls saved on my phone and can listen to those as well.

[WapitiTalk1]

Glad to see the 'elk sounds' bug is hitting folks early in 2014 . Only a bit over 7 months until many of us throw out our first sweet sounds in the elk woods. I'll get the 'post em up' threads going later this year. Hopefully well get a lot of folks throwing out the sounds they're practicing, broken down into a few categories, for some constructive comments.

[ElkNut1]

Put in the practice now in becoming familiar with the various sounds during the off season & your confidence will soar with high expectations by the opener! This is something we all need every year no matter our level of calling experience! Before you know it you will be accomplishing some very respectable sounds, then master those sounds, this means being able to bring a sound up on demand, you then will not be intimidated by close in your face encounters where a needed sound may be what seals the deal, this is more noticeable with bull sounds! Sounds to master are #-1 Cow/Calf mews & chirps! #-2 Location Bugle #-3 Challenge Bugle #-4 Nervous/Popping Grunt! These sounds are very doable for a 1st time elk hunter! For best results use a single reed mouth diaphragm!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For extra sounds once these others are mastered consider Voice groans & squeals & cow sounds with your voice! The number 1 sound you can master with ones voice is the Nervous/Popping Grunt, in time this one sound will be the reason you kill way more elk than your buddies! (grin) Practice these things & you will be able to adapt to any encounter thrown your way! No need to overload yourself in learning the rest of the above sounds mentioned at this time, it's far more important to understand the elk language as a whole than to be able to make all those sounds, just work on the 4 & you can introduce new ones as you feel the need & time allows!

ElkNut1

[itsnlkthing]

I spend a lot of my time commuting on airplanes. I wonder how the other passengers would react if I practice a few location bugles?

[Lark Bunting]

My son and I listen to these sounds as well as random youtube videos of actual elk in the field and try to emulate them:

http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/elk-recordings.html

Then we take turns critiquing each other.

We always try to do one sound or sound sequence, then take a break. Like JGH said, try to get the correct sound on the first try.

[msd1228]

Not to hijack this thread but I have a 30 min drive to work and usually practice each way listening to the elk sounds cd. It's a great way to compare and try to match sounds. I do need to record myself to compare but any practice is better than none.

My question is about how long do mouth calls last, mine sound really good for about 2-3 days then I lose my high pitch and fine control over the tones.
Am I trying to get too much volume and destroying them or is this normal. The estrus buzz and glunking are still eluding me but I'm working on them.

I usually get a season out of a turkey call but they too barely make it a full season. Just wondering how long you guys last with a mouth call.

Are you putting any pressure on the actual aluminum frame of the call with your teeth or anything? Sounds like you are losing tension in the latex, but I can't imagine how you could be doing that so soon without manipulating the frame unknowingly. I use so much pressure on my calls that there's only certain brands that I can use without overpressuring (resulting in no sound coming out, not a damaged call), and it still takes at least a few days to break them in to the point where they start sounding exactly the way I want them to. A call should be lasting you a pretty good length of time before the quality starts to diminish noticeably (months, really), even then, I find that the result of an overworked call is more noticeable in terms of volume reduction than controlability. The more the latex gets worked the more fine control you should gain over pitch breaks, etc., not the opposite. I know you are doing lots of calling on your commutes, but the call should still be taking the abuse - I'm in much the same boat as you in that I call at least half hour to an hour every day, even more so lately now that competition season is here.

How are you storing your calls? Are keeping them in a well ventilated pouch? If they are in a sealed container perhaps the latex is degrading quickly from the bacteria on the call. You also need to keep a very close eye for mold if you keep your calls in a sealed container (Not saying you do, just tossing thoughts out there). If all else fails, try switching brands and see if that helps - go with something with a higher tension latex. Something like an All-Star that has a very high dome and tight latex may be something that helps out - the dome on that call is so high that even with reduced tension you should still be hitting high notes with no problems. I know I need to actually bend the frames in on All-Stars ever so slightly to reduce the tension a tad in order to get the soft cow sounds I look for. Again, just throwing ideas out there.

[Lark Bunting]

Further thread derailment:

How are you storing your calls? Are keeping them in a well ventilated pouch? If they are in a sealed container perhaps the latex is degrading quickly from the bacteria on the call. You also need to keep a very close eye for mold if you keep your calls in a sealed container (Not saying you do, just tossing thoughts out there).

Ugh, I seriously think I caught some nasty stomach virus just before Christmas from a diaphragm call I had in my truck. I left it in there and never washed it off. The day after using it I was really sick!

I actually meant to ask here what people do in the field with their calls to wash them...

[Willie makit]

The aluminum fits perfectly in roof if my mouth between my teeth so there is no bending of the frame.

What is the best way to store the calls? I usually rinse with water and put back in bag and don't seal it. Most of my turkey calls come with plastic cases that will dry out fairly quickly, but these elk calls only with a tiny plastic zip bag. Would it be best to rinse them off and let the dry out completely b4 putting them in bag?

[WapitiTalk1]

Guys, you need to try to keep them as clean and dry as possible. Moisture, Copenhagen specks and bits of jerky are not a good thing to leave on the latex during storage :0. While in the field, rinse them off whenever you can using your water bladder or dipping in a stream. I use an old federal .22 container with a handful of round cut paper towels inserted into the container. The paper towels absorb moisture, including obviously saliva, and keep em dry. The modern day chewing tobacco containers (many made of plastic) will work just fine. The key here is the paper towels to absorb moisture. I place my top two diaphragms on the top of the paper towels (in my case, one for bugling and one for cow calling) ensuring there are more than enough paper towels to push them against the lid (keeps it quiet), then, I place a few backup calls between the paper towels down lower in the container. I have used diaphragms that are over two years old and believe me, I use them during the September elk season RJ

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[msd1228]

The aluminum fits perfectly in roof if my mouth between my teeth so there is no bending of the frame.

What is the best way to store the calls? I usually rinse with water and put back in bag and don't seal it. Most of my turkey calls come with plastic cases that will dry out fairly quickly, but these elk calls only with a tiny plastic zip bag. Would it be best to rinse them off and let the dry out completely b4 putting them in bag?

It really is essential that you let those puppies air dry before storing them. The easiest way to do that, at least in my opinion, is to use either the Primos or Bugling Bull call pouch. Its like a coin purse with a bunch of holes punched through it to allow complete air flow. Using a ziplock, even if left open, may not allow for proper drying if the plastic in the middle of the bag sticks to itself and your calls arent exposed to proper airflow. Nothing will cause your calls to break down faster, in my opinion...well, unless your arent air drying AND you leave them in the extreme heat, I guess that will do them in even faster. Also, and believe me cause I know from experience, the last thing you want to do is grab a call that hasnt properly dried, go to pop it in your mouth, and notice that it has blue and white fuzz all over it from mold forming bacteria. Yack. (Mind you this takes a few days, it wont happen overnight).

[BrentLaBere]

Glacier Country sells small pouches too. I plan on getting one or two next time I order some calls. I agree with the drying out part the most and noticed it will affect the latex and can grow mold (had this when I first started and placed them in the small bag right after calling),I've only noticed that on one of my calls so far. Blowing too hard can ware out the call quicker than intended or so I've heard. I have also been working on tongue placement and pressure a lot more this off season and I think it will help with the different notes as well as the life of the call.