Elk Calls, What's in Your Tool Kit?

[WapitiTalk1]

For those who use elk calls as a part of your elk tool kit, what do you use for gear (tube, diaphragms, internal reed bugle, bite and blow call, etc.)? Do you feel you make pretty realistic elk noises with them, and, know that you can throw out at least four or so of what is normally the time honored/accepted sounds on demand (as the situation dictates) to maximize your success in the elk woods? IMO, I feel an elk hunter should be able to make good cow/calf sounds, be able to bang a good location bugle off the adjacent hillside or deep in to a pre-morning draw, make a good/strong challenge bugle, and of course have the ability to perform a realistic nervous/popping grunt to stop an elk for a shot in addition to knowing how to use non verbal elk noises (raking brush, foot stomping)! Yes, there are more but these basic sounds will stand with you in elk battle if you have practiced them and know when to deploy them.

What say you? What's in your wallet

[saddlesore]

I carry one of Paul's Lil Chuckler, a Skeery cow call an another I forget the brand . Must work as I call quite few elk in and kill them. We had four of Pauls' DVDs. but they got burned in a big fire here two years ago. I can't use diaphram calls.

[Ridge Ghost]

Grunt tube: The new Elknut Chuckler is my go-to tube. I also have a Bugling Bull Bully Bull, which is another great tube.
Diaphragm: This year I used Bugling Bull's Mistress almost exclusively. Great for both cow calls and bugles, so it was nice not to have to switch between reeds. I also carry a Mellow Yellow and Raging Bull with me if I feel like mixing things up.
Other: Bugling Bull Temptress and Primos Hyper Lip Single for louder, open reed cow sounds.

[under H2O hunter]

I have called lots of elk in with a diaphragm reed. I prefered the brown palette plate reed from Bugling Bull but they don't last long. I was introduced to the best open reed cow call which is Phelps ez estrus. If you have never heard one, I urge you to cause it's the easiest most relistic sounding cow call. I have been using Bugling Bulls bugle tube which is a baseball bat style but will be looking at a couple different ones for this season. Phelps calls has one but it's a little big and could be cumbersome to carry. I am interested in Elk Nuts new tube as well. I have also been know to use some Primos calls from time to time depending on the situation.

The biggest tool one needs is a brain though. Knowing how to read the situation is most critical to success. All the calls in the world doesn't do a thing if you are giving them the wrong sound at the wrong time.

[Swede]

I have Wapiti's grunt tube and some diaphragms. I also have some of Paul's grunt tubes. Those are the ones I prefer for my own use. I also have some vacuum cleaner hose that I have cut off. I used to have some others I would loan out, but that is all I have that is available now. The loaner grunt tubes have a nice cloth camo cover.

[Wapiti]

My go to calls are The Reaper which I use for everything from bugles to cow/calf sounds !!

The only other time I use any other reed is after I've snuck into 40-80 yards of a display bugling bull down in a canyon. In this scenario my reed of choice is The Pink Lady !! This simple very soft cow reed makes the softest of mews. Grab your bow as after two mews that bull is one his way to find this sweet sounding lady !!

As for bugle tubes I use a bat style as well as they have the best sounds !! As a matter of fact I will be bringing out a new bat style bugle tube this spring that will blow all other tubes out of the market period !! I used the bat style prototype bugle tube at Worlds this year and won my first world title !! It truly rocks. Plus I used the bat style prototype all September and called in more bulls than I could count !! I had 5 bulls coming in all at once one morning !! I was literally surrounded ! It was AWESOME.

The new tube has big sound and is very guttural sounding for super realistic sounds. There will also be a few extra's on my new tube that have never been done before and it will be a game changer !! You guys will learn more as we go !! I can't give away all my secrets yet !! LOL

Trav

[Swede]

It is ok Trav if you keep your secrets. No one really cares. BTW, I have a good riata. I will loan it to you if you will tie one up for me? You can keep your secrets then.

[ElkNut1]

At present I use the Mellow Yellow for all cow calling, the Mistress as an All Purpose reed but more for bull chatter & location bugles. I use the Chuckler Bugle. This arrangement has served us well.

ElkNut1

[Indian Summer]

My tube is an Elknut Chuckler which I love. I use a Primos Imperial Palate Plate for a diaphragm. I bugle and cow call with it. For long distance cow calling I use a Sceery.

[Trophyhill]

New Chuckler, Fightin Cow, Long Ranger, Temptress, assorted Phelps mouth reeds. Ashamed to say I don't carry my hoochie mama anymore

[Heartwood]

Pauls new bugle tube or BB Bully Bull, Bugling Bull calls, mellow yellow and raging bull among others, Carlton LongRanger and other open reed calls by Carlton. I am able to produce realistic elk sounds with this lineup of calling equipment.

[Lefty]

I hunt with Primos calls: the small pack bugle and raised pallet diaphragm calls.
I keep a few other calls back at camp.
I also have a number of other calls , bite and blow, open reed, I think My Hoochie Momma must be ready to collect Social security

[Russel Reed]

I use a lil chuckler tube. Wasn't worth a darn until I customized it to suit my needs. Raging Bull diaphragm is good for just about any sound an elk can make.

What gets to me is all these call makers, clothing manufacturers, and what have you, claim they have the best in the world of everything. But if it is already the best, why try to improve it. Answer: SALES slow down so they need a different angle and think we are all stupid enough to buy it. Sadly, a lot of us are!