Calls for a beginer

[goldenarrow]

What are some good elk calls that would be simple to use for somebody planning their first elk hunt? I have never even heard an elk in real life. I have a red Primos diaphragm call that I have been playing with I can make sounds with it and occasionally they sound like a cow elk, I think, but I worry if I were to use it in the woods at this point I would scare off every elk for three miles.

What about a bugle? The two I am looking at are Bugling Bull Bully Bull and Primos Terminator. The terminator seams easier to use but I think the bully bull seams like it offers more range once you learn how to master it.

At this point I think simple and easy to use is better even if I give up some range of sounds. I don't want to end up with a closet full of calls.

 

[muledhunter]

Good news is you have 7 months to practice. If I were you I would buy elknut DVDs and become efficient with a mouth reed. Although I feel I am a good sounding elk caller I feel what you are saying is way more important than how it sounds.

 

[dsclowers]

I second what muledhunter said. Check out the Elknut DVDs. I am just learning calling and I got the DVDs for Christmas. Awesome stuff and he teaches when each call should be used instead of just how to do it.

 

[Ross]

I would recommend trying a variety of manufacturers calls see what works for you. If you can become proficient with an diaphragm call you will have a leg up on most. That being said calling is not required to harvest an elk but it will give you another option to try. As noted checkout Elknuts dvds and other cds that have elk sounds, cows, calves, bulls everything to give you an idea on the vast array of sounds elk will and do make. For ease of calling with a diaphragm it is tough to beat the calls made by bugling bull calls. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Bonedalien]

the all time easiest call is the primos hoochie momma,squeeze call. for that reason it seems like every hunter has one and lots of seasoned guys can tell one in the woods as soon as they hear it. BUT a whole lot of elk have been taken with one. the next step up are the bite and blow calls. these are realy easy to learn and sound good too. Carlton and Primos both make several kinds. i would get a couple of these while you are working on your diaphragm calling.taking up elk hunting ,i really dont think you can,or should, avoid acquiring a closet full of calls.
also there are some free elk call apps you can get for your phone to help practicing with your diaphrams in the car ,ect.

 

[danarnold]

Cow Talk from ELK in Gardiner Mt
I like their bugle also

 

[Bonedalien]

Cow Talk from ELK in Gardiner Mt
I like their bugle also

cow talk is a great,simple bite and blow. and Dan, I have used their Royal bugle for 7 seasons,cant see changing .

 

[Jon Boy]

You will find elk don't sound 'sound' perfect all the time. I was fortunate to be able to guide on a private ranch this year that had an abundance of elk. I heard the most god awful cow calls and bugles from elk. It really was interesting to learn elk talk this way on a day to day basis. Like said previously, it's more about knowing what to say, than how you say it. If that makes sense.
Try a bunch out and see what fits you best and learn as much as you can about elk talk.
Disclaimer: I'm far from an elk slayer just my 2 cents.

 

[Bonedalien]

great point from jon boy. my old elk mentor always told me never to stop during a screwed up bugle,the elk dont. just finish it as best you can.stopping midway is the worst thing you can do. in my opinion,learning to sound exactly like textbook elk will help you as a base line.the more you are around elk ,your calling will evolve.just knowing you can do anything will only help your confidence. im sure Jon and Ross can rip a beautiful 5-6 note bugle,but thats not what they throw hunting.that comes with time .but any elk call is in their range,and that is what you want,and something im still working on too.and always will be.

 

[AMann]

If I was starting from square one and was looking for an easy to master cow call I would get the high heel hottie from glacier country. 20 minutes with this call and you can produce proficient sounds. As far as easiest the hoochie mamma has my vote. People bash this call constantly because everyone has one and takes zero skill to master. Though I don’t personally use/own one I’ve been fooled more than once by a young cow or calf cruising through the woods sounding exactly like a Texan squeezing the hoochie. When you do hear that first elk sound off do your best impression of what you just heard. There’s a lot to learn about calling in elk but learn from your mistakes and just like everything else you’ll figure it out. My favorite setup right now is a Phelps tube and mellow yellow for all purpose bugling.

 

[LostArra]

Cow Girl

I leave bugling to the experts.

 

[Brendan]

Personally - I'd recommend finding a mouth reed that works for you, then learning to use it with a bugle tube. My first season was last year, and I got pretty comfortable with the bugle tube, called in several bulls, including the 5x5 that I got on the last day - he came looking for me from a half mile away. My cow calling needs work, I had trouble with the lower volume, lower airflow sounds and have to work on that part this year. It does require substantial practice and time - check out the Elknut forums for a lot of calling info.

If anyone wants a Primos Terminator, unused and new in the packaging with spare external reeds - PM me (This is not a mouth reed call). Still have it sitting around and will send it your way for less than cost elsewhere.

 

[Finch]

Glad you asked this question as I'm in the same boat. Subscribed!

 

[sodaksooner]

The Temptress is an easy call to use for sure....sounds good too.

 

[goldenarrow]

Thanks for the replys so far. I have ordered the elk101 DVDs and I will look into the elknut videos as well. I have also been watching as many YouTube videos as I can find.

On another note I just found out that I might not be able to go this September but I may be able to go second or third rifle season instead.

 

[bz_711]

I still use my beginner calls with good luck. I did also have a Hoochie Mamma but it's a little bulky, although it's great for the first time user.

Cow call: Primos Imaka Da BullCrazy call...really like this and so do the bulls
Bugle: Primos Bull Horn compact bugle...sounds great and easily change blue reed each year.

I also second what others have said (and same thing I always say about turkey calls)...even real life elk (and turkeys) sound terrible at times. The first bull I chased down last year (and sure it was one I bagged 2 days later)...was bugling from a distance. I closed distance and wanting to locate him again I blew a cow call, this bull let off the most awful squeely broken up bugle I had ever heard...I was immediately deflated just knowing I came all that way to another hunter. Moments later he bugled again and stepped out in the open...I couldn't believe it.

Good Luck!

 

[Finch]

I still use my beginner calls with good luck. I did also have a Hoochie Mamma but it's a little bulky, although it's great for the first time user.

Cow call: Primos Imaka Da BullCrazy call...really like this and so do the bulls
Bugle: Primos Bull Horn compact bugle...sounds great and easily change blue reed each year.

I also second what others have said (and same thing I always say about turkey calls)...even real life elk (and turkeys) sound terrible at times. The first bull I chased down last year (and sure it was one I bagged 2 days later)...was bugling from a distance. I closed distance and wanting to locate him again I blew a cow call, this bull let off the most awful squeely broken up bugle I had ever heard...I was immediately deflated just knowing I came all that way to another hunter. Moments later he bugled again and stepped out in the open...I couldn't believe it.

Good Luck!

Did you consider the Primos Terminator over the Bull Horn? I like the compactness of the Bull Horn but I'm just curious if you've tried the other.

 

[bz_711]

Did you consider the Primos Terminator over the Bull Horn? I like the compactness of the Bull Horn but I'm just curious if you've tried the other.

I have not tried any others. When I ordered it a few years back I was looking for compact (because I didn't think I'd actually use it much)...and low price. Bull Horn was both. It definitely didn't get much use the first couple seasons, but I keep using it more and more as I get more confident in it. The bull horn also works good for short chuckle noises, which sometimes I prefer to full out bugle if I think I'm close. That is what finally pulled that same bull I mentioned above in to about 8 yards that night as nothing else would get him to come my way...but he was face on with no shot.

I'm sure there are far better calls - I bought these because cheap and easy to use...and so far still happy with them. Both can be easily accessible with one hand if bow is in other. The bull horn will actually fit in my leg pocket on pants and very easy to grab when trying to keep movement to a minimum. I'm sure not going to win any calling contests with either though

 

[ElkNut1]

Guys, thanks for the recommendation!

It's fairly inevitable that you will end up using a variety of calls as the years go by & your elk hunting ventures grow, we just can't help it! (grin)

For starters though stay with the basics so you are not frustrated or overwhelmed but yet not under gunned either. Since you are able to use a mouth reed this is a very good thing! If you like the Primos red one (imperial plate) then stay with it & perfect your sounds with it. If you are unhappy with it I'd suggest the Mellow Yellow & Raging Bull mouth reeds as they are very user friendly & will fit a narrow or wider palate, this is very important! Mouth reed use is a great way to consider as they can imitate any cow or bull sound with practice! For a Bugle either of the ones you mentioned will work as grunt tube bugles that you can use a mouth reed with. To use the Terminator bugle as a grunt tube just remove the blue snap on reed & you would be good to go! The Bully Bull tube is already a grunt tube so no worries there. As a beginner nearly any grunt tube will work for magnifying ones elk sounds, as you become more proficient in using elk calls you will find the need & want to up your game with more realistic elk sounds from your bugle, the larger diameter barreled bugles will produce more realistic resonance than 1-1/2" type vacuum hose bugles, the choice is yours.

If you are considering external reed calls in your cow calls & bugles then you can go that route as well. The one thing to consider with this style is it's tough to be hands free during crunch time with calls in your hand & your bow in another. (grin) It can be done but not easily if you are both caller & shooter, mouth reeds have trhe advantage here.--- As far as brands it really doesn't matter here, they all will perform just fine for their intended use this is why you see various ones here recommended a variety & not just one call. Pick one or two & master them well, you can do fine with them. Same with a Bugle, if you use an external reed bugle then master it as best you can, it will not be as good as a grunt tube & mouth reeds but they can get you by if you do your part, being believable to the elk with any sound you choose is key here!

Learning & hearing elk sounds is one thing & understanding them is another, this is where instruction can come in very handy & cut years off the learning & trial & error curve! I'd suggest learning 5 Elk Sounds. These 5 sounds can put you on the road to success quickly & can be learned in a very short time with any calls you choose to learn & master. The key to these sounds is understanding what you're saying when using them! This is how you can locate elk, once located you can now communicate to the level of only using the sounds they expect to hear under selective encounters. -- For instance, if you use a location bugle in trying to find elk & a bull responds 1/4 mile away are you now going to head his direction using this same sound all the way to him? If you do you will push way more bulls away than you will ever call in. Thing is you now need to change the intensity & cadence of your bugle depending on if you're working a herd bull or satellite bull. Well, the list goes on as far as sounds go but we won't go there now. Here are the 5 must have sounds that all hunters no matter their level of experience should know & know when to use them!

1- Location Bugle -- 2- Advertising Bugle -- 3- Nervous Grunt -- 4- Social & excited Cow Talk -- 5- Estrus Buzz. -- These 5 sounds are what elk use more than any other sound come Aug-Sept-Oct. -- Of course elk make more sounds than this but they are not necessary in the beginning stages of your elk hunting career. Check out the DVD The ElkNut 5 -- It discusses these sounds & defines them so you know when & where they are used in any encounter. It will be worth your while!

ElkNut1

 

[Tony Trietch]

^^^^^And that is why I bought Elknuts products when I started out.^^^

Paul was very helpful and is there if you need help. How many other call companies can you say that about? Trust me, I was in your boat. I am a midwesterner that grew up hunting, but not out west and not elk.

I would recommend Paul's (Elknut) videos online. He has a tremendous amount of info available on his videos.
The cds are great too, If you drive out west and have a long trip. I listen every time I drive out now.
I went with a mouth reed. It is in my mouth at all times if I am hunting elk. I used it to stop two bulls in their tracks for a shot this year.

my .02