CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

When pursuing that elusive bull elk or even a cow, what calls do you rely upon?

I know there are many calls on the market these days, and so many that when I go to a sporting goods store I want to sample some of them, but just do not want to put out the bucks, to maybe find that I don't like the tone, pitch, or call itself.

I have packed my favorite cow call over the years--Hyper Hot by Woodwise, I also carry a Carlton Estrus Whine cow call, so as to mix it up a bit when calling.

For bugling, my favorite has been the blue reed by Primos.

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

Man you sure got my attention with that topic!!! I use all sorts of calls myself, probably have more than 60 at the house right now, called in bulls with most of them, so I know they all work!

I really like for cow calls the hyper lip single & cow talk, along with a single reed mouth diaphragm. The sentry plate in single latex and the ivory plate single both give unbeatable cow & calf mews and everything else. I also have many other cow calls as you mentioned but prefer the others. Heh, they all work!!

For bugling, I like a double reed best, the double reed hyper plate is one of my favorites and has real good control, there's others I like but these are the ones I bring & count on the most! Of course you can't forget the grunt tube!!

If I had to choose between calls, I'd pick bugling everytime over cow calls!---Elknut1

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

I use a mouth diaphram about 90% of the time. I like the Palate Plates the best- they seem more consistent than others (most brands I seem to find about half of the diaphrams will make good sounds and the rest are either poor or total junk). One little call can do it all. I usually bugle without a tube- at close range it doesn't seem to make much difference and I hate having the tube in the woods.

I also pack either the origial Sceery cow call or a hyper lip single. I keepa Hoochie-mama around just for variety but don't really use it too much while hunting.

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

I have external calls from Carlton and Primos, but not my bread & butter. For cow calls a High Plains double or triple and for bugling a H.S. Elk 3.5 and a grunt tube. Be loud, be bold, no chicken elk required!
Gselkhunter

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

I use a Abe & Son's grunt tube, and Sceery cow calls. Good luck.

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

I too have a lot of elk calls and have used them all. I agree with the others above and like all the diaphrams the best, I think I have most of them. I also like the hiper lip/fighting cow calls and combine this wiht the push me calls Primos Hoochie MaMa, and Carltons Squeeze Me you can sound like a lot of elk at once.

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

Idahoelkinstructor, that reminds me when I was at the state bow shoot in Stanley a couple years ago, there was this guy in the elk calling contest and he had a diaphram call in his mouth, and two squeeze me cow calls in both hands, and he was walking around like doing some type of chicken dance moving his arms about, me and elkcrazy8 was trying to decide if he had some of the squeeze me cow calls under his arms, I mean it sounded like a whole herd of elk coming from this one guy-- he was good and he ended up winning the competition, I would not want to run into this guy on the mountain, because he would definitely fool you!!!
RobinHood36>>>--------------------->;)

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

Chicken dance, Huh? Might just have to give that one a try come September. Think I'll go one step further and tie a branch to my head so I can rake at the same time!

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

I like using the cedar box calls and ambush them when they come off the roost in the mornings.;) I'm sorry, your talking elk, I never have gotten too many elk using that cedar call but I do like to mix my calling using a seris of different elk calls also, just like I really need, something esle to carry. I also use Abe/Sons and Rockie Blairs calls along with Primos Hyper-hot cow, some of the names on mine are kinda worn so Not really too sure of what name brand they are. Just like Nut said, they all work, you just got to know how to work them and know what to say and when. Bobby ;)

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

Bobby, good to hear from you, hope you are keeping your head above the snow up there on the mountain.
Sometimes I do wonder if these Elk are up in the trees on roost!!!

I also have calls which have plenty of mileage as to say, over the years the writing wears off, but-- "as long as they toot, they won't get the boot"!!!

My favorite is the "Hyper Hot", have had real good success with this call...
RobinHood36>>>-------------------->;)

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

Robinhood, its kinda like hunting a ghost, how in the f@#% does something with 300 inches of mass go through the bush/thickets when little ole 5'-7", 135 #s of me struggle, and I am in good shape but sometimes I just have to back out.[:@]
I haven't left the mountain here in about a week, snows not too bad as it was 20-30 below f last week and now all the snow we had is starting to melt and the ice is bad. As you can tell I am kinda hibernating with the animals, I guess thats why I been on here more than usual. Thanks for asking, Bobby;)

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

i cant seem to use the mouth diaphrams, so i stick with a primos hyper hot single, and a wood wise hyper hot, between the two i sure can get them bulls riled up, and maybe one of these days i'll learn to use a darn bugle. lol

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

Bobby, I have often wondered the same thing, How in the (HE--) can a 800-1000lbs. of meat, muscle, and horns go thru trees and brush and in a few seconds just plain dissappear!!!
-20-30 below huh, If I were in your shoes I think I would be nestled up right by the fire with a nice bottle of brandy!!!:D

I just received elknuts videos, and I am going to try to get better at using the diaghram calls for making cow\calf sounds. I depended on the conventional calls so much that I just hav'nt put much effort in getting the right sounds to come out when using the diaghram calls, right now I sound like a dying bird or something, but i figure by fall, i will be ready. I have always used the diaghram calls just to bugle, but its nice to have the diaghram call ready to use, cause you never know when you may need to call to stop a bull elk, one advantage is that you are hands free and can be at full draw and can still call if needed.

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

Robinhood36, you made the comment if they toot they don't get the boot. I know that you mean it because you still let me ride in your pickup after I have been eating beans. Thanks.

RE: CALLING ALL ELK!!!
 

Personally, I think the choice of calls, and call quality is way overrated. Find a call/calls you're comfortable using and get confident with them. All that counts is confidence. You can sound like a rogue vacuum cleaner out there if you carry it off like you belong. You make elk suspicious with a call by being a) tentative and halting, and b) by sounding too perfect (i.e. like you're fresh from a calling contest).