Elk call tape triming and sizing

[bowhunter15]

On the bottom are the three elk calls I bought last year, a double, 2.5, and triple reed. On top are two custom turkey calls I bought this spring and learned to use fairly well. They came in that size, unaltered. I trimmed two of the elk calls' tape so that when I bit down the tape wasn't touching my molars. That's the way I've read they're supposed to be, and the turkey calls seemed to work that size.

I practiced and got OK. Throughout the course of my elk hunt, my calling seemed to get better and worse. The cow calling tones got better, but occasionally they'd cut off or didn't sound quite right. I could bugle at the beginning of the trip, but by the end I gave up since it went downhill. On the last day I discovered that the latex in the double reed, my main call, had started to split where it met the frame. I'm sure that didn't help.

HOWEVER, once I got back home, for kicks and giggles I threw in the unaltered 2.5 reed call. And I was able to make cow and bull sounds almost effortlessly compared to the two I'd brought on the trip. The tape is large enough that when I bite down, I'm biting on tape in each side of my mouth. The only thing I can think of is that I must have been having trouble getting a full seal with the trimmed calls, but that wasn't an issue with the un-trimmed call. Do you think that's the case? How do you normally have the tape sized to your mouth?

[ElkNut1]

You should not have to trim a reed like you've done. Get the right size call. You need a call with a 1/2" opening not a 5/8" opening. Too, you do not bite on the tag around the call with rear teeth or any teeth. The tag will sit near molars or a bit above them but do not try to bite or clamp down on the call at any time when in use. Set call/reed on your tongue & lift into place, that's it, it is help by suction or by pressing tongue against the latex. Saliva will help with the moist suction part.

ElkNut1

[Dr_flash]

So Paul, quick question about that. Although i dont bite the reed, if i were to bite down, the tape is in my teeth. Does that mean that its too big and i should move down in size rather than cut the tape or should i just trim the edges just a bit? Or does it matter? I've always wondered about that and i've been thinking of just trimming a bit off the edges so that its not in my molars.

[Rangerz]

My buddy has problems with the wider reeds as well.

These work well for him: http://buglingbull.com/product-category ... st-series/

The little Primos reeds might be an option as well.

[ElkNut1]

Most likely you are using too wide of a reed. With reed in proper place you should still not be able to bite down with molars & pinch the tape, the tape should be between molars on either side, this applies to guys like myself who have very narrow palates. Try the Mellow Yellow or Mistress or both, these are narrow plate plate reeds, I have a very narrow palate & I use these two mostly. You can see them here. http://stores.elknut.com/elk-calls/ Thanks!

ElkNut/Paul

[Wapiti]

What you need to check is how the frame it's self fit between your upper molars. To do this place the reed in your mouth and standing in front of a mirror tilt your head up and have a close look at how much space you have from the side edges of the frame to the inside of your molar teeth.

Do this with a narrow frame and also a regular sized frame. What you are looking for is a frame that fits between your molars with a small gap on each side of the reed and your molars. Do not worry about the tape as it folds out of the way. If you have to you can trim the tape but just slightly as you will lose the fit and sealing power of the tape if you get to small.

Hopefully this will help you out. You can check out our website at http://www.wapitiriveroutdoors.com. We have regular and narrow sized reeds that I'm sure will fit your needs. For the narrow frames on our site we have The Pink Lady, Ridge Runner, Bull Buster and The Phantom which is a dome reed. If you are curious on any of the calls and require more help feel free to give me a phone call and I can help you out over the phone.

Thank again
Travis

[Dr_flash]

Thanks for the good information guys (sorry for the semi-hijack of the thread). Paul, i have the mellow yellow and i just barely, maybe 1/8th of a inch, can bite the tape. I'm going to try some of the other calls from wapiti and bugling bull. I'm determined to make this work and use my new elknut tube next year.

[bowhunter15]

I'll probably give Travis a call at some point and maybe try out a few different sizes.