Calls for a beginer

[ndbwhunter]

What is the difference between the standard bugling bull diaphragms and the palate plate diaphragms?

 

[charvey9]

I'm no expert by any means, but found the video's at Roe Hunting Resources very helpful. The great thing is you can view them on your phone, pc, etc and don't need to be tied to a TV and DVD player in the living room. Although I'm still learning to call, they helped me learn alot about how elk "speak".

 

[elkbowkevin]

Palate plate reeds have a plastic insert in them that goes against the roof of the mouth to keep the call at or near the correct angle, I find these calls are the least used in my call arsenal. the plate just does not fit my mouth right, I have a narrow mellon, low palate and dont need that style of call.
I bought a set of primos calls that all had that style and never use them. I use the case though.

My fav call last 3 years is the Phelps mello yellow, Its tripple x style reed that takes very little pressure and you can really make light sounds as well as BIG SICK-GNARLY gravely bugles with. I can produce every sound an elk can make with that call. I love it! It just takes some practice and learning what the sound is like when an actual elk makes it.
Next one I use most is a white Big Bull from Bugling Bull out of Montana I think.

The main thing is getting the call to fit the roof of your mouth properly, some have a really wide taped part, and others dont, you may have to trim it a tiny bit to get the best fit. i trimmed mine about 2mm narrower each side and it fits perfectly now.

A great resource is of course Paul's DVD's and CD's, Great stuff. as well as Cory's stuff from ELK101.

I also have a great APP on my android from ROE Hunting Resources. It is an app that is FULL of all the elk sounds, explanation of what the elk is saying, when to say it, why they are saying it and it has alot of other helpful insight on what to do when, according to the time of year and what the elk are doing. Basically a mobile elk talking scenario app. with sound, video, and instruction. Well worth the few bucks I spent on it.

Best education on elk calling and sounds I ever had was sitting in a blind on property that had over 300 resident elk. I got to video them doing ALL the rutting things for 5 days. Every sound I could ever dream of was being made, some I had never even heard. One in particular was a huff-huff-hissssss that this one MONSTER 7x7 was doing. Kind of like a whitetail, "snort wheeze" Barely audible from 100 yards in an open field, but man he sure knew how to control his harem and He was THE Master Bull! I got to see him and my bull fight. It was an awesome sight.

 

[sumnerhorses]

Phelps easy estrus calls are great beginner calls. He makes a full line of call that you can use as you progress to diaphragms as well.

 

[ElkNut1]

Is there a noticeable difference in sound quality between Palate plate calls & non Palate plate calls, the answer is no. You can do great things & bad things with either one! (grin) The key is using the best reed for YOU for the job at hand. You must know if you have a wide or narrow palate & then choose one accordingly, the better the fit per individual the more comfortable you'll be in using one effectively.

Newer callers should stay with a single reed with a light tension to the latex, these are very user friendly reeds, choose the call maker you desire & let them know your needs & whether you need a wide or narrow frame. Getting a call that fits & is user friendly is key here to avoid much frustration which can lead to easily giving up thinking reeds just aren't for you!

As you get better & wish to entertain larger bull sounds & lip bawls you may want to use a double reed & some like triple reeds for selective bull sounds, it's not necessary to hunt & call elk effectively but some just like the variety! (grin)

ElkNut1

 

[307]

Elknut has some starter kits and some other package deals that come with the calls and DVD's that I'd highly recommend. I was a rookie last year, learned a lot on the fly, and had some success in calling. And you can absorb elk hunting excitement through the DVD's... It's obvious that Paul really wants his customers to succeed and works hard in his materials to give us as many tools as he can.

Steve Chappelle has some videos on Youtube that I found very helpful also.

You will irritate the hell out of your wife, kids, dogs, and any neighbors within hearing distance though so be prepared to sit in an empty vehicle and practice. lol...

 

[kad11]

Elknut,

Which of your videos would you recommend for someone that can use a diaphragm call to make basic cow sounds, but not much else? I don't have any knowledge or confidence in calling (when, how, etc...). I have been hunting for three years and have found success rifle hunting, but I would like to become a proficient bowhunter as well. My only archery tactics are spot and stalk and trying to sneak in on bulls that are bugling all on their own... I'm just looking to learn how to be more proactive in Sept and early Oct. I can probably afford $50-$60 worth of videos.

I was thinking Bugling Bulls 1 and 2 as well as Mastering Mouth Reeds, but I don't really know and would appreciate any input. Thanks.

 

[ElkNut1]

Sorry bud, just noticed this post! For your needs definitely go with Vol-4 Worse Than Wolves DVD & the New DVD - ElkNut 5. Those two together will help you out in the areas you've mentioned, lots of info on them. The Mastering The Mouth Reed DVD is solely about mouth reed use & how to make specific sounds & tones with them, there are no methods & techniques on the video. Let me know if you have further questions, you can also contact me at [email protected]

Thanks!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[bigeasygator]

I'm not much of a caller (experience wise) and don't do diaphragm calls. For cow calls I like the Flextone Bootie cow call and the Carlton Fight'n cow and long ranger. For a bugle I prefer the E.L.K. Inc power bugle. I've had good luck getting elk to talk and respond to these calls. May have to order some Elknut videos to learn just what the hell I'm doing!

 

[kad11]

Paul,

Thank you for getting back to me! I should clarify that while I can cow call with a diaphragm, I can't seem to learn how to bugle with one (or do any other rutting bull-type sounds). What resources would you recommend for learning how to use a diaphragm call for bugling? Thanks.

 

[ridgefire]

Mello yellow and a raging bull diaphram, a hyper lip single or similar, a hoochie momma and a bully bull grunt tube and you should be set. I have tried a ton of different diaphrams and the bugling bulls are the easiest for me. Like others have said, the hoochie momma works. My go to call mid to late sept is the bugle though.

 

[ElkNut1]

You will need Mastering The Mouth Reed for learning the various Cow & Bull sounds. With that one added to the other two it still should come within your budget.

As ridgefire mentions the Mellow Yellow & Raging Bull calls are very good, both are single reeds & is what you should be considering. For a bugle use what you have until you get decent with your sounds, you may want to upgrade later. If so consider the New Chuckler we have coming out this Spring, it should be pretty sweet! Thanks!

ElkNut1

 

[kad11]

Sounds great! Thanks for all your help and quick responses.

 

[husky390]

Paul's videos and youtube videos of elk sounds have helped me but I am by no means an expert. For reeds I use Wapiti River Outdoors since I don't have to trim them and they don't make me want to puke. Good luck

 

[kcm2]

For those of us that can't use a diaphragm, what are some solid options? I used to be able to work a reed, but can no longer do so. Any good suggestions will be much appreciated.

 

[Rizzy]

One of the easiest calls I learned to make this past season was "Raking". It works great and is easy to do

I have the Elknut 5 DVD and it's great, I would get that first along with a Raging Bull reed. The mouth reeds are easy to use after a few hours of practice, don't be intimidated by them. You can make or buy a bugle tube.

If you employ some of Elknuts strategy you will end up in range of a Bull so make sure you know the Nervous Grunt and it's always fresh in your head. You can manipulate and control Elk with that call when they are close, I can tell you that from first hand experience

 

[Bearhunter]

Check out Phelps Game Calls, top notch materials and very easy to blow. Love the Dragon Slayer, his Reed calls sound as good as they are pretty as well. Elknut's CD's and Video series are the way to go to learning what the elk want to here and when to call, cant say enough good things about both these company's!

 

[bigeasygator]

For those of us that can't use a diaphragm, what are some solid options? I used to be able to work a reed, but can no longer do so. Any good suggestions will be much appreciated.

I can't do diaphragm calls. I've had good success with these: For cow calls I like the Flextone Bootie cow call and the Carlton Fight'n cow and long ranger. For a bugle I prefer the E.L.K. Inc power bugle.

 

[ridgefire]

With a little practice and some confidence diaphrams are pretty easy to learn. A hyper lip single by primos or a whos yrr daddy by rocky jacobson are easy to learn and very effective at times. A hoochie momma is about as easy as it gets.