I too have a hard time with mouth diaphrams. I haven't tried one for elk but always have a couple when I turkey hunt. When the bird is close I use one so I am not moving my hands. That said I have to say I have had great luck with the hoochie mama cow elk call. It is a squeeze bulb call with a couple of different settings. 2 years ago I got busted by a cow and calf and knew the main herd was just over the ridge. I figured what the heck and let out a couple of cow calls and to my amasement the cow that had me spotted just started to feed her way down the canyon followed by all the rest and the bull. I put him on the ground and the same thing happened again this year. I had a bunch of cows charge down the ridge and either spotted or scented me. They took off and I started to wail on the hoochie and all of a sudden a couple of cows came running right back down the ridge followed by their bull. He too is in my freezer. I keep it in the left pocket of my vest and can operate it one handed right in the pocket. I was with a buddy this year after I got my elk and we jumped a bull and a few cows out of beds. They took off running and I made a couple of quick calls and the bull and cows stopped and looked back. My buddy quickly filled his cow tag. Try it I think it will work for you too.