Elk Calling Practice Thread, Summer/Fall 2014, Phase I

by **WapitiTalk1** » 07 30, 2014 • [Post 1]

Allrighty then, here we go. Just to reiterate the drill here, this will be done in three phases (listed below). This is a practice thread, designed to make all of us Elknuts dust off our reeds and practice a bit and perhaps, have a better chance at success during Phase III. There will no rhyme or reason to some of these sounds (sometimes no nametag to the kind of sound it is) but more so, just a sound that will force us to work on tongue pressure, air flow, and as Troy's thread discussed "tone, intensity, and pitch (a bit farther down the road) ".......

1. Phase I - I'll post up an elk sound (man made) and fellow elknuts try to mimic it and post up their sound. Comments are encouraged from anybody, including the top notch callers, but it's more about the practice than anything else. This will be a time to give our reeds a workout and try to get various sounds out of them. We'll run this for a while, perhaps throwing up a new sound every few days for a a week or so.

2. Phase II - I'll post up some real elk noise clips and we'll do our best to try and mimic them and post those recordings up. We can run a few of these right up till wapiti season.

3. Phase III - We all call in elk this fall, using what we've practiced and became better at :lol:

I know we all can't attend one of Troys, Pauls, or Greggs calling seminars so I thought perhaps this is a good way to practice, and, perhaps get those guys to provide some constructive recommendations on how to improve our calling.

Here is the first practice sound. This sound is just a few bull notes and makes us concentrate on air flow and tongue pressure.

[ Play Quicktime file ] Elknut Practice Thread 2014 Sound #1.m4a [ 138.42 KiB | Viewed 20263 times ]

Here's a soundcloud link for the same sound for those who can't open/hear the other file.

https://soundcloud.com/sstribute68-1/el ... ctice-2014

by **WapitiTalk1** » 07 31, 2014 • [Post 2]

I know a few of you cats are pestering your family dog with your elk noises this evening 8-)

. Who's gonna post a response to my first practice sound? Winner gets a bag of cheetos.

by **ctdad** » 07 31, 2014 • [Post 3]

I can't listen to those sounds on my phone. They probably sound better than sound cloud but I'm out

by **ctdad** » 08 02, 2014 • [Post 4]

https://soundcloud.com/ctdad/practice-1

I don't have the control phantom does so I'll have to keep practicing.

by **ElkNut1** » 08 02, 2014 • [Post 5]

ctdad, you had very good control over your sounds, I could see you doing very well in your sound selection that may be needed in a location atmosphere or an actual encounter where creative calling may be needed!

ElkNut1

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 02, 2014 • [Post 6]

Come on folks. Is it just going to be ctdad and I wailing back and forth at each other

Will put another practice sound up soon but was waiting for a few more to crank this first one out.

by **Lefty** » 08 03, 2014 • [Post 7]

Phantom16 wrote:Come on folks. Is it just going to be ctdad and I wailing back and forth at each other ,,,,,,,.

I just put my calls in my hunting box, that and Im totally clueless how to load sound files,...my excuses

by **ctdad** » 08 03, 2014 • [Post 8]

I have a hunting partner I depend on to do the calling for me. He's reading this. Where you at? Let's hear it

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 04, 2014 • [Post 9]

I guess nobody wants to practice with me. Too bad, I think we could have had some fun and perhaps, improved our sounds thru a bit of practice and feedback. Maybe next year.

by **flystrait** » 08 04, 2014 • [Post 10]

I'm very surprised that not as people have taken advantage of this great opportunity to improve their calling. It's not a competition as much as guys just helping each other. Hmm is calling a dying art or do most people have it figured out? I know I practice as much as possible.

by **elk.addict** » 08 05, 2014 • [Post 11]

I would love to partake, but I can't make these new reeds work for me, at all. I have others ordered and will back in the game soon

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 05, 2014 • [Post 12]

Just got back from being gone for 5 days. I will be posting my sounds up tonight and plan on doing so until the season. Just wanted to give this thread a bump.

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 05, 2014 • [Post 13]

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/phase-1

by **TheBuzz** » 08 06, 2014 • [Post 14]

Ok, this is while I was driving yesterday, no tube, One week with Pauls Starter kit, The Challenge Elk Call" Blue Diaphram.

I'll get more sounds maybe this afternoon while I am shooting my bow, and with the tube...

Tear it up! LOL

by **LongShot** » 08 06, 2014 • [Post 15]

Cow calls - first practice
https://soundcloud.com/longshot-2/cowcalls-practice-080614

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 06, 2014 • [Post 16]

Thanks for practicing elk sounds with me guys. Brent, very nice control sir. Buzz, anxious to hear your notes thru a tube but not too shabby for just starting out with reeds. Longshot gets a yellow flag for not posting the correct sound

. Just teasing buddy. Your cow noises are pretty dang good. ID recommend working on dropping you tongue/jaw slightly at the end of your cow sounds; that'll help lower the tone at the end of the sound and get a bit more of the cowey rasp.

I'll get another sound up soon. Maybe a bit of voice added in to a bull sound?

by **TheBuzz** » 08 06, 2014 • [Post 17]

I got rained out tonight...at the Archery Range....and if I try in the apartment, I think the Neighbors might dial 911... :lol:

But I will get another shot tomorrow with the tube...and record and post again.

by **LongShot** » 08 06, 2014 • [Post 18]

Phantom16 wrote: Longshot gets a yellow flag for not posting the correct sound .

I'll do better next posting. :oops:

by **LongShot** » 08 06, 2014 • [Post 19]

And thanks for the tip, RJ.

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 06, 2014 • [Post 20]

LongShot wrote:And thanks for the tip, RJ.

No worries brother. Sending you something via PM; let me know if you like it. RJ

by **Trophyhill** » 08 06, 2014 • [Post 21]

Hi note

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 07, 2014 • [Post 22]

I agree with adding the voice in. I would also like practicing the mid tones and practicing the intensity when its needed. I would like to hear from some of the better callers on nailing this down(critiquing our calls).
Thanks for doing this thread, RJ.

by **TheBuzz** » 08 07, 2014 • [Post 23]

[ Play Quicktime file ] Buzz 08_07_14.m4a [ 67.76 KiB | Viewed 19823 times ]

OK, here's my practice try again, with the tube, in my work van, traveling down highway 71...

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 07, 2014 • [Post 24]

Buzz, I sure like the voice you threw in to this first sound (enhanced by using the tube... Elknut chuckler?) . Anxious to see how you do on the next sound.

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 07, 2014 • [Post 25]

OK, stepping it up just a bit but not in the too hard to do range. Brent, you wanted a bit of voice... you got it buddy. Here's some voice added in to our bull sounds. I start with just the voice with my tongue dropped, then, put my tongue up so you can hear the diaphram vibrating, then do a few notes thru the Chuckler. We've gotta have some voice in our sounds to be realistic with a lot of our advanced sounds. Listen to what I'm doing and try to reproduce it. Here's our next sound folks.. Let's hear em. RJ

[ Play Quicktime file ] Voice with bull sounds.m4a [ 353.64 KiB | Viewed 19803 times ]

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 07, 2014 • [Post 26]

Phantom16 wrote:OK, stepping it up just a bit but not in the too hard to do range. Brent, you wanted a bit of voice... you got it buddy. Here's some voice added in to our bull sounds. I start with just the voice with my tongue dropped, then, put my tongue up so you can hear the diaphram vibrating, then do a few notes thru the Chuckler. We've gotta have some voice in our sounds to be realistic with a lot of our advanced sounds. Listen to what I'm doing and try to reproduce it. Here's our next sound folks.. Let's hear em. RJ

Voice with bull sounds.m4a

Response:
http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle-2

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 07, 2014 • [Post 27]

Trophyhill wrote:Hi note

Response:
http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/single-note

by **TheBuzz** » 08 07, 2014 • [Post 28]

Phantom16 wrote:Buzz, I sure like the voice you threw in to this first sound (enhanced by using the tube... Elknut chuckler?) . Anxious to see how you do on the next sound.

Yes, I have the Elknut Chuckler, using the " Blue" Rocky's Mountain , The Challenge...

Will Have more calling tomorrow, Up loaded.

Like the "Voice Over" with your calling Instruction....

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 07, 2014 • [Post 29]

TheBuzz wrote: Like the "Voice Over" with your calling Instruction....

That's my job here.. It's what I do

Thanks for jumping in on our practice thread buzz.

by **Screaming_btf** » 08 07, 2014 • [Post 30]

I'll join the fun here is a few attempts

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 08, 2014 • [Post 31]

Screaming_btf wrote:I'll join the fun here is a few attempts

Sounds pretty dang good to me. Nice work.

by **flystrait** » 08 08, 2014 • [Post 32]

BrentLaBere wrote:
Phantom16 wrote:OK, stepping it up just a bit but not in the too hard to do range. Brent, you wanted a bit of voice... you got it buddy. Here's some voice added in to our bull sounds. I start with just the voice with my tongue dropped, then, put my tongue up so you can hear the diaphram vibrating, then do a few notes thru the Chuckler. We've gotta have some voice in our sounds to be realistic with a lot of our advanced sounds. Listen to what I'm doing and try to reproduce it. Here's our next sound folks.. Let's hear em. RJ

Voice with bull sounds.m4a

Response:
http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle-2

Nice work Brent, In the beginning with that growl tighten up those stomach muscles. That will force you to get more guttural sound "deeper" or what I like to call high definition HD. It will be deeper than just coming from your chest

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 08, 2014 • [Post 33]

flystrait wrote:
BrentLaBere wrote:
Phantom16 wrote:OK, stepping it up just a bit but not in the too hard to do range. Brent, you wanted a bit of voice... you got it buddy. Here's some voice added in to our bull sounds. I start with just the voice with my tongue dropped, then, put my tongue up so you can hear the diaphram vibrating, then do a few notes thru the Chuckler. We've gotta have some voice in our sounds to be realistic with a lot of our advanced sounds. Listen to what I'm doing and try to reproduce it. Here's our next sound folks.. Let's hear em. RJ

Voice with bull sounds.m4a

Response:
http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle-2

Nice work Brent, In the beginning with that growl tighten up those stomach muscles. That will force you to get more guttural sound "deeper" or what I like to call high definition HD. It will be deeper than just coming from your chest

Thanks for the tip. Makes perfect sense. Ill give it some practice and re-post my sounds.

by **flystrait** » 08 08, 2014 • [Post 34]

One fundamental mistake I used to make all the time was using more tongue pressure on my reeds to get them to break or go from low to higher pitches. I was calling with Rocky Jacobsen several years ago and his advice for me was to use more of my air pressure rather than my tongue to change notes or "let the reed break" for me this was great advice and took my calling to another level. I would recommend everyone to keep this in mind as you practice. Don't get me wrong it still requires tongue pressure as well, but probably not as much as you think.

by **TheBuzz** » 08 08, 2014 • [Post 35]

[ Play Quicktime file ] New Recording 8.m4a [ 93.64 KiB | Viewed 19727 times ]

Today's attempt....

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 08, 2014 • [Post 36]

flystrait wrote:
BrentLaBere wrote:
Phantom16 wrote:OK, stepping it up just a bit but not in the too hard to do range. Brent, you wanted a bit of voice... you got it buddy. Here's some voice added in to our bull sounds. I start with just the voice with my tongue dropped, then, put my tongue up so you can hear the diaphram vibrating, then do a few notes thru the Chuckler. We've gotta have some voice in our sounds to be realistic with a lot of our advanced sounds. Listen to what I'm doing and try to reproduce it. Here's our next sound folks.. Let's hear em. RJ

Voice with bull sounds.m4a

Response:
http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle-2

Nice work Brent, In the beginning with that growl tighten up those stomach muscles. That will force you to get more guttural sound "deeper" or what I like to call high definition HD. It will be deeper than just coming from your chest

#3
http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-practice-3

by **flystrait** » 08 08, 2014 • [Post 37]

TheBuzz wrote:
New Recording 8.m4a

Today's attempt....

From what I am hearing which recorded sounds are not the best, it sounds like you are putting too much tongue pressure on the reed soften up a bit and use the more air pressure for control. You are well on your way. Just my 2 cents

by **flystrait** » 08 08, 2014 • [Post 38]

BrentLaBere wrote:
flystrait wrote:
BrentLaBere wrote:
Phantom16 wrote:OK, stepping it up just a bit but not in the too hard to do range. Brent, you wanted a bit of voice... you got it buddy. Here's some voice added in to our bull sounds. I start with just the voice with my tongue dropped, then, put my tongue up so you can hear the diaphram vibrating, then do a few notes thru the Chuckler. We've gotta have some voice in our sounds to be realistic with a lot of our advanced sounds. Listen to what I'm doing and try to reproduce it. Here's our next sound folks.. Let's hear em. RJ

Voice with bull sounds.m4a

Response:
http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-with-bugle-2

Nice work Brent, In the beginning with that growl tighten up those stomach muscles. That will force you to get more guttural sound "deeper" or what I like to call high definition HD. It will be deeper than just coming from your chest

#3
http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/voice-practice-3

Brent, again its a little distorted on the audio, but it is much deeper. If you follow Phantoms lead we can break it down a little more and hear the little things that when put all together can be fantastic.

by **TheBuzz** » 08 09, 2014 • [Post 39]

flystrait wrote:
TheBuzz wrote:
New Recording 8.m4a

Today's attempt....

From what I am hearing which recorded sounds are not the best, it sounds like you are putting too much tongue pressure on the reed soften up a bit and use the more air pressure for control. You are well on your way. Just my 2 cents

Thank you very much, the raised roof of the diaphragm does make it easier to control. I am sure I am using too much tongue pressure, and will work on that. Trying to soften it. My diaphragm position seems to work the best for me right before my pallet flattens out prior to the backside of my teeth.
I will try and get some sounds in the open woods, not my service vehicle

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 10, 2014 • [Post 40]

Are you guys ready for another practice noise?

by **TheBuzz** » 08 11, 2014 • [Post 41]

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 11, 2014 • [Post 42]

Im ready. I also need to practice the last one a little more.
Anyone else on this forum need some calling practice?

by **Screaming_btf** » 08 11, 2014 • [Post 43]

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 11, 2014 • [Post 44]

Sorry so slow guys. Craig (flystrait) slapped me back into my duties so here's the next sound for our practice thread. Nothing fancy here, just a few note location bugle. No voice here, just a crisp location bugle with an opposite side of the draw banging high note. Let's hear them gentlemen

[ Play Quicktime file ] Elknut Practice Thread 2014 Sound #3.m4a [ 54.53 KiB | Viewed 19609 times ]

For you cats that can't open this, let me know and I'll load it into Soundcloud.

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 11, 2014 • [Post 45]

Wow, 666 views on this thread already. Aside from it being a creepy number, it may be close to the combined age (if you total all of our years on the earth) of Elknut, GSElkhunter, and myself

. I sure hope some more cats take advantage of this opportunity to practice some elk sounds with us. It'll only make us harder to beat in the elkwoods this fall. RJ

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 12, 2014 • [Post 46]

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/location-bugle

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/single-note

Location bugle 1 and 2 note

by **nrocchio** » 08 14, 2014 • [Post 47]

Phantom16 wrote:OK, stepping it up just a bit but not in the too hard to do range. Brent, you wanted a bit of voice... you got it buddy. Here's some voice added in to our bull sounds. I start with just the voice with my tongue dropped, then, put my tongue up so you can hear the diaphram vibrating, then do a few notes thru the Chuckler. We've gotta have some voice in our sounds to be realistic with a lot of our advanced sounds. Listen to what I'm doing and try to reproduce it. Here's our next sound folks.. Let's hear em. RJ

Hey guys,
I have been busy and not checked the forum for at least a month. I'd like to practice with you guys though. Thanks for another good calling practice thread Phantom

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 14, 2014 • [Post 48]

Hey Nick, thanks for joining our practice session! Your elk bugle sounded pretty dang good bud. If you can swing it, catch up with the crowd and give us an offering on the other sounds I posted up

... Best of luck this fall. RJ

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 14, 2014 • [Post 49]

OK, as I'm heading out at zero dark thirty tomorrow morning to spend a few days in the WA backcountry, I thought I'd throw up another practice sound for those that have chosen to practice with old RJ

. Working on some lip bawl sounds on this one. No need to get crazy, or, be intimidated by this noise... it's actually pretty easy to make. And, it is (IMO), an essential part of realism when you're out and about trying to bring elk home for dinner

Have fun.....more on the way after I return from spending some quality WA Roosevelt Elk bonding time.

[ Play Quicktime file ] Elknut Practice Thread 2014 Sound #4.m4a [ 276.46 KiB | Viewed 19519 times ]

by **mandrroofing** » 08 15, 2014 • [Post 50]

by **nrocchio** » 08 15, 2014 • [Post 51]

Lip Bawl practice

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 18, 2014 • [Post 52]

nrocchio wrote:Lip Bawl practice

Nicely done Nick.

by **nrocchio** » 08 19, 2014 • [Post 53]

Phantom16 wrote:
nrocchio wrote:Lip Bawl practice

Nicely done Nick.

Thank you RJ. I hope you enjoyed your trip. I noticed I missed one of the sounds. It was your location bugle. I can't do it haha. I try to hit a high note like yours and it starts to sound raspy and I have to back off the tongue pressure which ends up with a lower the tone than I was hoping to make. I attached my attempt. I did a bunch of recordings and they all sound pretty much like this. Any tips on how to hit that high note or what I am doing wrong that is making that raspy sound?

by **nrocchio** » 08 21, 2014 • [Post 54]

I got a new diaphragm the other day. I had been practicing with the other one all summer, and I think that had a lot to do with the raspy sound. Still can't get it to sound anywhere close to as good as the clip from RJ, but I think it is a lot better than the first attempt. (sorry about the road noise on the first one)

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 21, 2014 • [Post 55]

Nick, ya, the reeds tend to wear out and die after a lot of practice with them. If you get to a point where you're not getting the high notes anymore, it's time to trade it out for a new one

I thought your locators on the new reed sounded pretty good buddy. Just my recommendation but try to hold the high note just a bit longer. I bet you can do that first sound we were practicing (the one where we go up, down one note, and up again). It forces you to work on tongue and air pressure. Give it a shot

by **Olydog09** » 08 25, 2014 • [Post 56]

Phantom16 wrote:I know a few of you cats are pestering your family dog with your elk noises this evening . Who's gonna post a response to my first practice sound? Winner gets a bag of cheetos.

I am a little late to the party but I will be going through all the elk sound threads and posting up my sounds in hopes of getting some constructive criticism. The only way I know to make this work is to upload to soundcloud and post the link in here.

It sounds like the recording is over after I say "boom" but there are some follow up calls after about 10 seconds of silence.

https://soundcloud.com/olydog09/phase-1

by **Gselkhunter** » 08 26, 2014 • [Post 57]

Will this do Rory?
https://soundcloud.com/gselkhunter/elk-2

by **WapitiTalk1** » 08 26, 2014 • [Post 58]

Keep practicing Gregg, you'll get it some day, lol. Holy catfish, that's an amazing recording of premium elk sounds.

Those practicing with me on this thread, pick a sound on GSElkhunter's recording and try to duplicate it. Please remember to tell us which sound it is at and where you found it (i.e., 1:03 to 1:18).

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 26, 2014 • [Post 59]

After adding my lip bawl practice I will jump right in and try the whole clip out. Thanks for adding to the thread, Gregg!

by **Gselkhunter** » 08 26, 2014 • [Post 60]

BrentLaBere wrote:After adding my lip bawl practice I will jump right in and try the whole clip out. Thanks for adding to the thread, Gregg!

Your welcome Brent. In the old days you did cow sound, then bull sounds, then herd. That was part of a set I did on stage.
Since Travis got me hooked up with some new calls I am practicing again. Hope the elk are scared.

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 27, 2014 • [Post 61]

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/g1

http://soundcloud.com/brentlabere-1/g2

I added my lip bawl towards the end to include it in these two posts. Quick shot at mimicking Gregg's sounds.

by **flystrait** » 08 27, 2014 • [Post 62]

Brent, awesome job! Those elk in Montana are in big trouble.

by **Gselkhunter** » 08 27, 2014 • [Post 63]

I would let you call for me Brent. My tag starts Saturday.

by **BrentLaBere** » 08 27, 2014 • [Post 64]

Wow guys, thanks for the kind words.
Short window for everyone to fine tune their sounds before heading out.
Really good elk calls out there with some very good callers giving advice.