External Elk calls
 

Here is a little tip, an external elk call will stop working from spit. The instructions say use your teeth for pressure against the reed. Too much spit, instead I use my lip. The reed stays dry and works without hanging up as much. Of course it is hard not to salivate when that big bull is coming in! If you have it hang up, lift the reed a little and blow under it. This will clear the reed and you are back in the game. This works on all of them that I have used. Sceery, Primos, Carlton The thing you have to learn to handle is the vibration of the reed on your lip, it will get you!
Gselkhunter

RE: External Elk calls
 

gselkhunter, I have had awsome luck with the carlton estrouse whine call. This one seems the least likely to clog with spit and I use it come crunch time. I know what you are talking about with the clogging thing. I have made some of the most horendous sounds when this happens. Of course Copenhagen doesn't agree with mouth calls( euwwww gross)

RE: External Elk calls
 

Elkcrazy8, Copenhagen eh, will that work on Rudolph? That is a very good call, major improvement over the old call. I use the old one mostly and the Primos calls. My most used calls are my mouth calls. I realy like my hands free and I am much better with my mouth call than the externals any way. I can do any of the calls Elknut1 talks about with a mouth call. Practice, practice, practice!
Gselkhunter

RE: External Elk calls
 

That's weird, I've never had a cow call spit up on me!!! :D

Actually I rarely use reeded mouth calls, gselkhunter is referrering to Vol-1-2. In vol-4 I use mostly mouth calls for the same sounds I was making in the first 2 videos. I was showing that the sounds to imitate could be made with both styles. --- Then there's the "Hoochie Daddy" all great elk hunters need one of those!!! ElkNut1

RE: External Elk calls
 

Hoochie daddy I thought it was the hoochie mamma by primos but I could of course be wrong. Haven't pick one up yet but plan on it.

RE: External Elk calls
 

Elknewbie---I was just yarning!! There's no such thing as Hoochie Daddy, it's really the Hochie Mama by Primos. Didn't mean to confuse anyone!! Carry-On!! ElkNut1

RE: External Elk calls
 

The hoochie mama is a pretty good call. I like to use the reeds also and can produce all of the sounds with it but it is hard to chew at the same time as using the reed. In my ealier days of using the reed(5 yrs old) I used to imitate roosters, pea-cocks crows etc. Calling elk came easy as I was accustomed to making all possible sounds with it. The reed is the most versitile of them all as you can switch back and forth from cow to bull without hesitation. With the reed it is also easier to "throw" your voice from one direction to another by directing your hand. I prefer the reed in competition also as you can make yourself sound like several elk in different directions. Mix it at the same time with a hoochie mama in your hand and through in a few blow style calls and it sounds like a whole herd of elk wound up.

RE: External Elk calls
 

The best trick is to have the mouth call in your mouth at all times, and still be able to use the external. You can switch back and forth between external and mouth and make a whole herd. I will go so far as to use 2 mouth calls and 3 external calls on a bull, it gets to be a pretty good juggling act. Elknewbie the more you play with these toys at home and get comfortable with them, the more you will be able to do in the field. Can you go to far, sure in the field, at home NEVER, OK maybe when I wake the baby and get kicked out. Elkcrazy8, have we ever called against each other in competition? As far as Majors, I have been in Salt Lake, Portland, Las Vegas, Denver[RMEF] I am rated Senior[pro] Division. Best finish was Salt Lake #7, normal in RMEF 8-12. In Colo. 1-3. I have a couple of things I do most don't or can't and the RMEF judges don't care for, Colo. judges love. The best part is the elk love it. Elknewbie learn to use both external and mouth call to the best of your ability, and buy Elknut1's tapes in what ever form. I did! And again Practice, practice, practice, you can never practice enough, or be good enough, reason, there is always more to learn.
Gselkhunter
Elknewbie Hoochie Daddy is Elknut1

RE: External Elk calls
 

gselkhunter did you compeat in Salt Lake last spring I? I compeated last spring in Salt Lake at the ISE show, and will be their againg this next spring. Are you sponsored by a call manufacture? Hope to see you around and compeat against ya its sounds like your one heck of a caller.

RE: External Elk calls
 

gselkhunter, I have only called in contests here locally, I am heading to Portland at the end of February. I have called against guys who have placed in the Portland and Las Vegas contests and beat them here locally. I am wondering how the format works in Portland, not knowing the format could be my biggest downfall. I started using reeds for turkies when I was knee high to a grasshopper hunting back in PA and New York. I started getting serious about elk when I moved out west in 89 and was able to mimick any sound that I have heard an elk make. I figured that I would enter the mens division to get my feet wet and go from there. I know for sure that I will at least walk away from there having had a good time with people who share a common interest. I feel pretty confident in my calling abilities and have a couple of things that I do that drives the crowd nuts,(hopefully the juges). It worked the last 3 years in row up in Stanley anyway, and I paid for my gas to get to the State Championship archery tournament with the winnings from the contest. If you are heading to Portland let me know and maybe we can meet for a beer or something. Catch ya later..Elkcrazy8

P.S. I will take my chew out for this one LOL

RE: External Elk calls
 

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

RE: External Elk calls
 

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

RE: External Elk calls
 

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.

RE: External Elk calls
 

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

RE: External Elk calls
 

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

RE: External Elk calls
 

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.

RE: External Elk calls
 

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

RE: External Elk calls
 

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

RE: External Elk calls
 

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RE: External Elk calls
 

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

RE: External Elk calls
 

I live in the Salt Lake area and go to the Spring show every year. To this point I've only been a spectator but I've thought about competing. At any rate if you guys come to Salt Lake let me know, I'd like to put a face to the handles.

RE: External Elk calls
 

Rather_be_huntin, I spoke with the wife last night and she is game if we can work out the details with her family. I need some info, when March, Apr.? Is the comp 1 day or 2 days. What is the comp format and rules. What are the costs for comp if any. Any help with hooking me up with this info would be most appreciated. Idahoelkinstructor is planning on being there. Who knows maybe we can con Elkcrazy8 and Elknut1 into coming to play.
Gselkhunter

RE: External Elk calls
 

RatherBe----I've never even been a spectator at a calling event, but would like to at least change that!! I'll bet you'd do good at calling, I can remember past posts of yours and you've got a good knowledge in what makes an elk tick. You only aquire that by knowing their sounds & habits. I think this goes hand in hand with good calling skills!

Gselkhunter---I think you're just trying to get me in front of a big crowd and then embaress me!!!!:D Actually it sounds like a great idea, especially like Elkcrazy8 says you're hanging around folks who are a bunch of ELKNUTS.
Not sure about the April thing though as I have an Elk Seminar to give on Elk Vocalization & Techniques in MT on the 8th thru the 10th. But I'd like to make something work with you guys, you know I'm the old man of the bunch don't you?? So take it easy on me!!!! <grin> ElkNut1

RE: External Elk calls
 

Elknut1 don't be so sure, 1956 can you beat that? I am not sure about you being embarrassed, from what I have heard on your tape I think you can handle it just fine. The question is do you have a bat? On the time frame I have no clue when the show is. I was hoping Idahoelkinstructor or Rather_be_huntin was going to give some feed back on that tonight. I think it would be a blast to get together, we could sure make some noise. Maybe scare the UT elk over into CO. One thing I learned about these shows is everybody comes away with new info they didn't have before. And new friends.
Gselkhunter

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Gselkhunter---Afraid so, I've got you beat by a full year, dang it!!! 1955, I'll be 50 in a couple months, come April. Heck I'll be walking around with a cane before you know it!!!!

No I don't own a baseball bat that you described in an earlier post. I'd better start saving up for one!!! <grin> I'm defenitely interested in the next event you are all trying to get togrther at. Someone please give me a time frame and I promise I'll do my best to meet up with you all, no matter the State. Man I'm getting excited!! ElkNut1

RE: External Elk calls
 

Elknut, the RMEF world championships is at the end of Feb. There is a link that gselkhunter gave earlier in this thread. That is the one that I will be attending. I wish the other guys could be there too. I don't know how many of the other contests will fit into my schedule. I have the NW triple crown to concentrate on and a new bow begging to hit the 3-D range. But I will try to get to some others.

Elknut, where in Montana will you be? I would like to pass that info on to one of the guys that I know over that way. I think that a meeting could be potentially benificial to both of you.

gselkhunter, I found another of my bats, it is 3 3/4 inches in diameter. The length will be ok as it is only the bat with no tube. I can get some killer gutterals with just the bat and no tube.

Gosh darn guys, I am ready to go get an elk right now with all this talk. Just a side note, I was negative 21 in 1950. I wasn't even a scratch on the butt in the morning. But I do have a daughter going into highschool next year.......Yuk.

RE: External Elk calls
 

Hi Guys, It was closer than you thaught Elknut1! But I have you beat on joint age, I have enough knee surgerys for both of us. Too much hockey and ice & rock climbing. If you wonder why I am a little off, there you go. As for Salt Lake March 17-20. It is a local RMEF chapter doing the contest, I sent an E-mail for regs, but am guessing it will be same format as Portland. The plan is to go that way the wife can see her family and I can go be a blowhard.
http://www.sportsexpos.com/index.cfm...cationnumber=7
ISE web page for Salt Lake. As for kids 20,19,15,11,10,9, 18months, I have a couple, you should see the Christmas bill.
Gselkhunter

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gselkhunter, Christmas bill?, I would hate to see your grocery bill. Looks like you don't have to worry about packing any elk meat out. You have plenty of hands there. LOL

RE: External Elk calls
 

Sorry I didn't get the info for you sooner gselkhunter I was just about to post it but it looks like you already got it linked. For those who didn't see the link the show in Salt Lake is March 17-20. But they didn't have the cost (if any) or when exactly the competition was but it says to be registered by noon on Sunday so I'm assuming the contest is Sunday at 1:00 or 2:00. Looks like I'm the young one of the bunch, 1977. I guess I might as well enter then if I make a fool of myself because now I got a good excuse. ;)

RE: External Elk calls
 

Elkcrazy8, My kids won't touch it until it is cooked and on the table. My wife is the brave one, she helps me butcher the beasts. The kids yell OOOOOOOOOOH and run for cover.
Gselkhunter

RE: External Elk calls
 

Rather_be_huntin, Normally they run on Sat for prelim and Sun for the finals under RMEF rules, I have an email to them, see what I get back. They also didn't list a senior division, just adult, that is different too. That would lump us all together;), oh fun!
Gselkhunter

RE: External Elk calls
 

On the web page it says must be registered 3 days prior to event, when ever that is. I will just register now and wait for the packet to come in the mail. They could give us a little more info. Winner buys?
Gselkhunter

RE: External Elk calls
 

My youngest daughter (12) is the eeeeuuuwww!!!! one. My oldest was walking with me back in NY barefoot through the pasture and stepped in a cow pie with bare feet. She looked down, flipped the excess from her foot and kept right on going. She can handle about anything that comes at her. I had her in the woods on my back hunting squirrels back east. She would get mad if I didn't let her carry the animals. I had to watch if we got too many, she would start dropping them. lol I would give up every elk on the planet to have back those beginning years with my girls.

RE: External Elk calls
 

Winner buys what? Lunch? Whatever it is I'm in cause I'm sure out of you boys I won't end up top dog.

RE: External Elk calls
 

I know what you mean, but I have Benjamin yet. Rather_be_huntin The beer! And I got back an email it will be sunday afternoon. Tune up guys, I am.
Gselkhunter

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Boy you guys are getting it together!! That's great!! Betting and all. Experience is tough to beat. My money is with Gregg!! <grin>

I sure hope it all works out for everyone. I'd like to be there as well, as a spectator of course, just to get my feet wet!

Elkcrazy8---The seminar is in Kalispell MT at The MT Bowhunters Convention. For now the seminar is at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, and possibly another as things are subject to change. Hopefully I'll know more later! ElkNut1

RE: External Elk calls
 

gselkhunter I will see you there in SLC. Sorry I haven't posted in awhile my grandpa died a week ago today and my family (Dad and Uncle) are fighting over my grandma and what to do with here. Its a big mess and I haven't been myself latey, to be honest I have been on the board and posted a few times but my mind has been eleswhere. Anyway I am sorry I didn't respond sooner and I hope to see you, and elkcrazy8 and maybe elknut1 and anyone else from this board there at the show in SLC. Good luck to everyone!

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Idahoelkinstructor---Sorry to hear about your grandfather. ElkNut1

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Gselkhunter----You've got 7 kids!!!! Holy cow!!! You need to get a TV.<grin>

I've never had an operation so you've got me there!! But I do have you by a year. Thanks for all your comments and encouraging words. See you at one of the competitions!! Glad to see you rekindling that fire!!!! ElkNut1--Paul

RE: External Elk calls
 

gselkhunter just reread through the posts again and totaly missed your question to me on how well I did! Stupid me!! This is has how my week has been because I have been such a space cadet. Anywho I placed in 6th place last year. I got stage fright and totaly screwed up. A woman don't remember her name beat out Dan Whitmus, and Al Moris, who placed second and third. All three are sponsored by H-S Strut. This next year they will have two divisions A Pro Division and A Non-Pro Division. and the rules are as you mentioned before.
Elknut thanks for your support it means a lot!
Thanks Jason