Elk calls

[GoldenMn]

What is the best beginner elk call to try . Looks at diaphragm calls.

 

[bsnedeker]

I like phelps first, then rocky mountain diaphragms. If you are just getting them now for this elk season you'd better get on it man... they take a lot of practice to get good at bugling. You should be able to cow call pretty quickly.

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[longspeak74]

Take a look at Wapiti River calls.

 

[Deadfall]

Start with a hoochie mama and a couple primos cow calls.

The mouth reeds will take some time. Time you are out of for just getting started.

Also alot to be said for soft cow calls and raking a tree in the evening.

There are several different styles of mouth reeds. Buy one of each. If you have a high roofed mouth trim the back flange off the Reed, just alitle bit of it not the whole thing. The dome top mouth reeds seem to work well for beginners.

Be patient with practicing.
While practicing record yourself. You will sound different in reality from how you sound in your head.

 

[Deadfall]

p.s. don't use same calls every day. Switch it up.

 

[Deadfall]

bugle your brains out if you want to...be aware most of the season its not that productive. Watch the fancy videos. Those guys get em to answer, but sealing tge deal is most often best with cow calling or raking a tree.

Good luck to ya

 

[Scoot]

My experience is exactly the opposite of Deadfalls. I've cow called and raked in bulls, but I've bugled in more. If you know how, and when, bugling works. 60% of the time, it works every time.

 

[Deadfall]

My experience is exactly the opposite of Deadfalls. I've cow called and raked in bulls, but I've bugled in more. If you know how, and when, bugling works. 60% of the time, it works every time.

Agreed...if you know how and when....

 

[Scoot]

Agreed. But... if you don't know how and when to cow call or rake I'd say it's equally ineffective. Works great for getting a response and/or having bulls hang up out of range.

 

[Deadfall]

Seems easier learning how to rake a tree and blow a primos cow call then learning all the variances to a mouth reed. Idk

 

[Deadfall]

I been guiding hunters a long time. Seems we get more and more new elk hunters. Its usually tge same thing. They show up plimb full of Newberg and jacobsen information. How it usually goes is like this.

For 3 days I'm just an escort as we roam around while they bugle their brains out. Once they get frustrated and always say there's no elk here. Then we can try a different tactic. First we stay out all day. Litlle light bugle early early morning as we climb.
Afternoon nap with alot of glassing.
Some random cow chirps with tree raking and somewhere around 2-5 a bull or 2 will come walking in. Quiet lots of times.

I always make the same loop as we did during the bugle fest days. Just to show them there is more then one way to skin a cat.

Thats my experience hunting with new hunters. Which is primarily what I do tge last several years

 

[Deadfall]

P.s. not knocking newberg or jacobsen. They give out good information for new hunters

 

[Scoot]

If that works for you that more power to you! In my experience bugling can screw up a situation every bit as well as cow calling though. If you don't match your calling to what's happening you are bound to have a very unharmed elk in the end. If you think that cow calling and raking is the answer for all situations I would argue that you are just as wrong as the people who think bugling is the answer for all situations. But if that approach works for you and you are happy with your results then I would suggest you don't change a thing. I'm a firm believer in the fact that there is more then just one way to skin a cat. If your way is getting the job done then good for you that's awesome!

 

[RLam]

I been guiding hunters a long time. Seems we get more and more new elk hunters. Its usually tge same thing. They show up plimb full of Newberg and jacobsen information. How it usually goes is like this.

For 3 days I'm just an escort as we roam around while they bugle their brains out. Once they get frustrated and always say there's no elk here. Then we can try a different tactic. First we stay out all day. Litlle light bugle early early morning as we climb.
Afternoon nap with alot of glassing.
Some random cow chirps with tree raking and somewhere around 2-5 a bull or 2 will come walking in. Quiet lots of times.

I always make the same loop as we did during the bugle fest days. Just to show them there is more then one way to skin a cat.

Thats my experience hunting with new hunters. Which is primarily what I do tge last several years

Sounds like some great points there!