Just say YES to the Hoochie MaMa! I'm sorry ultimag, butI have personally found the hoochie to be a very effective elk call, especially for a first time elk hunter. It is about the easiest cow talk to use if you are a beginner.

As you get advanced, and actually hear cow elk talk, then go out and try some of the reed or diapram mouth calls and pick the one you sound the best at.

To cow talk I still use the hoochie, but use a mouth diaphram fairly effectively.I never could get a reed call to sound right, so I don't use them.

One call I like is the Primos "blue diaphram" pack bugle. It is compact, and can be used (with practice) as a cow talk, small spike bugle, and larger bull bugle all in one. It also doesn't "screem" like a big bull bugle. Those big bugles can oftentimes turn elk away from you. If you sound like a huge bull looking to fight, the other bulls, especially a herd bull, will round up the cows and head away from you to avoid a fight.

Good Luck with your hunt!!