No it wasn't last year Idahoelkinstructor, I think it was 98 RMEF elk camp. I have never called at the ISE show. When and where? I worked for Hunter's Specialties for 10 years. I can call a little and I would like to come. Can you get me some details? My last win was in 2000, Colo. State Champ. Jim Collins was #2 and John Sarkisian was #3. Beat Jim by 1point, John by 2points. I had a good day, but then any time you beat John and Jim you had a good day. Do you know these guys? I am Gregg Stevens. I love calling in contests, I like the pressure it makes me work harder. They didn't have a state calling comp in 04 here. In 03 I missed sign in for elk, big wreck on I-25. Did however take 3rd in turkey, I can do that a little too. My wifes family is in Salt Lake, good excuse for a trip don't you think. I'll start getting warmed up! You didn't say how you did.
Gselkhunter

Elkcrazy8, If this is a RMEF shindig you can have no more than 4" bell on your grunt tube and no more than 30" in length. It is broken down in to two calling sets 1 min. for cow/calf and 1 min for bulls. I would take at least two external cow calls and a squeeze call. For bulls Volume is important. Can you buzz bugle? It is a must. Panting & glunks important. Any elk sound you can make. The bigger and bader the better. The judges aren't looking so much for reed control, multi pitch stuff, that is what I am really good at, but it doesn't score well with a lot of the judges.
Go To www.rmef.org/convention/2005/images/rules_05.pdf This will give you rules. Ask any question you can think of, pick my brain, I will help you any way I can. No I can be there[:@].
Gselkhunter

gselkhunter, Buzz is the word. I have developed a technique that is loud and deep. Thats one of the things I do to make the spectators smile( I used to be a trumpet player). I do alot of huffing before leading into the big bugles. I use an orange wiffle ball bat that is not covered with anything(to sound bigger). I like the bat to vibrate. For hunting I use the medium size black wiffle bat and cover it with an ace bandage and camo tape(to sound smaller). Do the judges specify sounds that they want to hear, or do you just let the cow sounds rip??? I was wondering in the first minute do they ask for certain sounds or do they just want to hear a minute of cow and a minute of bull sounds. I was planning on giving them some locator calls, estrous calls, breeding calls, fighting cow calls and lost calf sounds for the cow. For the bull I was going to go into huffing, standard bugles, glunking, gutteral bugles(buzz is the word), chuckles and finish it with a big warning bark. Does this sound like an ok plan? By the way, it is the RMEF championships in Portland. I can fit it in before my 3-D tournament trail starts. Gonna be a busy year for me.............I just brought out my calls that I am considering.....Cow-Hyper Hot,carlton cow calf external,2 hoochie mamas, primos hotlips dual reed, carlton estrous whine(my favorite call), Bull-Primos palate plate- I have the blue, white red and black. I prefer the red as I can seem to get the volume,clarity and sound of a monster bull. Thanks for the info.

Elkcrazy8, It isn't like turkey calling where you are asked for certain calls. You just do your best cow for a minute, then your best bull for a minute. For cow I just mixed it up, start soft then build and I finish with barks. When I took 7th in Salt Lake in went like this, soft grunts to a spike squeal, panting to a 3pitch bugle into a buzz then grunts, pants to a 5pitch bugle to a buzz back to top pitch to grunts and glunks, to finish it a buzz start to a 5 pitch bugle back to a buzz to grunts to a bark. This program covers about every thing. Now when I am talking pitches that is notes on the reed, not growls leading in. And I hit the top pitch then drop one pitch before I drop into the buzz. What division are you shooting for Adult or Pro. I don't have a choice, I have to go Pro because I worked for a company. I wouldn't drop back anyway, I have called against all the big dogs already. I have beaten them all at one time or another, just not all in one comp. You will have a great time. You get to play with the best at this game, it's fun. Again anything I can do to help let me know.
Gselkhunter

Man you guys, you're getting me all fired up here!!! One of these days I'm going to have to give this calling stuff a shot or two, it sure sounds like fun!! Corey Jacobsen, last years winner in Reno was supposed to spend a few days in hunting camp this past elk season but something came up and he couldn't make it. I sure was looking forward to hearing him share a few winning sounds!! Maybe another year??

ElkCrazy8---That's a huge plus being a trumpet player!! It would really help out with the Buzz Bugle. You guys ever try the Carlton double or triple tone trough mouth reeds. That seems to be one of the best in giving good buzz bugles. Good Luck to all you!!! ElkNut1

Easy now elknut, don't start peeing on yourelf.lol. I do the buzz call with a double palet plate by primos. It is all in the lips. Beleive it or not it is about 12:00 at night and I am at work. I brought in my bugle and am echoing calls down the hallwy. I hope I don't get the cops called on me. It drives the bosnian house keepers crazy trying to figure out what all the racket is about.

gselkhunter, I will probably be hitting you up for more information before Portland.

elknut, you should hook up with me for a trip to Portland. All the dudes in our world should be there for the contest.

Elknut1 you have the reed, 3.5 for bugles! Elkcrazy8 My bat is red! Tip if you can find out who the judges will be, YOU CAN NOT TALK TO THEM! And where they come from, if AZ, NM, UT, watch the high pitch stuff. The elk down south are more guteral, not so singsongy and the judges score it that way. I had the program for 2000 in Denver, worked on it for a year! When I walk off that stage, all the guys gave me congrats, you just made the finals, wrong, came in 12th, judges are a weird bunch. Only 5 go to day two. Guys to watch for, Corey is always a player, John Sarkisian and his son John Jr.[ high plains calls, buy one!],Dieter K&H [Knight&Hale], Chad Shearer K&H, Dean Cooper Carlton, J.R. Keller Carlton[ say hi to J.R. for me], Glen Berry, Jim Collins. I don't know if Shawn is going or not, Shawn Conquest is one of my shootin buddies, is by far one of the best elk callers I have ever met. And he calls in adult, has never worked for any company. Elkcrazy8, Elknut1 knows how to get in touch with me, feel free to do so.
Gselkhunter

Quick bit of history, the 4" tube rule was made in Portland when I was there. Before then the size rule was anything goes. A deep rock water bottle was used for the megaphone on a tube. GREAT SOUND!
Gselkhunter

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It is an outside diameter on the tube. They have a box you lay your tube in, if it is too long it won't fit and if it is too wide it won't fit and if it doesn't fit you can't use it. If you aren't sure take a back up tube that is a little smaller. I get used to a tube and that is the one I want to use also, so practice with both. I would take it, it will probably fit. I say BS, Corey has a fairly unique calling style. He is good! So you have seen one of the best in action, can you keep up with him? I have beaten Corey, but he has won over me more, but it didn't mean anything, I wasn't in the final 5 anyway. And yes I shot a few 3Ds in my time.
Gselkhunter