Can we assume you’ve tried a bunch of different types/sizes and tried trimming the edges if you can’t get a good seal?
I’m a relatively new caller and found the lighter/thinner latex diaphragms were a lot easier to get a sound out of. There are a ton of resources and YouTube videos out there, but I bet you’ve been down that rabbit hole too.
Not sure how to help you but I do think it’s totally normal to spend a lot of time trying before you get the hang of it. I have a few calls in my truck that I practice with during my commute... made the learning curve go by relatively quickly (kept the wife and dog sane too). Helps keep my calling sharp and my head confident knowing I can pick it up cold and make a good first sound, whether it be a cow call or bugle, chuckle, whatever.
That said, it took me HOURS of actual attempts to get anything that sounded like an elk, but it gets easier once you get those first good nasally cow calls. Stay positive.
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