Due to injury and pallete shape I am unable to use a diaphragm call of any type. Going on my first real backpacking elk hunt in September. Need a bugle and a cow call.
What does the brain trust recommend?
Designed by Rockie Jacobsen, this Elk101.com signature series cow call was used by the winners of the Professional, Men’s and Women’s Division at the 2011 RMEF Elk Calling Championships.
I coupled the mouthpiece from an E.l.k. power bugle to a bugling bull tube from rocky mountain calls. Works really well. Rocky mountain also has a mouthpiece but I didn't care for that one. Also I prefer the grey power bands from e.l.k.
I have tried lots, and whats funny is I have called in more elk with a the old simple hoochie mama, than any other. I am not in high pressure hunting situations and they hear very little artificial calls.
I have a power bugle from ELK, pretty easy to use. Though I can't figure out how to chuckle with it.
Cow calls I have a few:
- ELK cow talk, this is a bite/blow model
- Primos hyper lip. This is a blow on the reed, but use your lips/mouth to vary it. Wife couldn't use this due to the vibrations on your lips bothering her
- Hoochie Mama, about as easy as it gets, but that also means limited in the variable sounds
One thing to try, I have a VERY narrow and high pallet. If I use a full sized diaphragm that dang thing wraps across my pallet and down my teeth, I can actually bit on it between my teeth while it's nestled up in the pallet! I've had good luck with youth calls.
Just got a reply from Jason over at Phelps. Apparently there is a new product dropping in July for just this situation.
Thanks for the replies folks.
*tips hat*
Carlton makes some good bite calls. Reeds & bite calls.
Primos has several ,with stupid names of course.
Chappel makes some good reeds.
I have 2 custom made reeds.
I can scare bulls away with my bugling.
But can call most elk that are callable with a cow call.
Elk Inc. Is what I use to bugle. Also use their Power howler for coyote hunting so it's an easy change over. I mostly use diaphragm for cow sounds but I do occasionally use The Bull Hooker from Hunters Specialties it's easy to use and just gives me a different sound when I want to mix up the sounds.