elk calls (updated with season over)

[emac]

So my dad drew a quality bull tag for archery this year and i will probably be his last time drawing.  I have never hunted elk in the rut.  So I told him I would start practicing on calling and will be able to help him out that way.  I was just looking for advice on what calls I should look into getting.  I am on a budget so i don't wanna spend to much.  I think it will be a fun experience if I can call him in a bull.  And I might pay him back for all the bs i have put him through growing up. 

[10thmountainarcher]

Jason phelps seems to have the heat when it comes to calls. I dont personally own any yet, ive got primos bugles with the blue snap on caps.  You have to really practice other wise imo they sound like crud.. I use a lot of throat if im using those.. im just now starting with a diaphragm and grunt tube. Hands down the sound is better and u can make cow calls with it also.. its a little harder... a hoochie mama is a really easy call and I used it to call my 2007 bull in.

[hntrspud]

  Second that on JPhelps calls. His calls are very reasonable for all of us who dont have much money. Outstanding person to deal with, AND will answer questions about the call you just got from him. Cant find that kind of service many other places IMO.

[huntnnw]

 Phelps calls is hands down the best call I own

[emac]

So I just looked at phelps calls and which would you guys recommended.  I am hesitant on reed calls.  I use them turkey hunting hunting but i feel most the times i am not consistent enough with them.  I would say I got a month to practice but in reality I got like two weeks.  I am not ecpecting anything great for myself

[Elkpiss]

So I just looked at phelps calls and which would you guys recommended.  I am hesitant on reed calls.  I use them turkey hunting hunting but i feel most the times i am not consistent enough with them.  I would say I got a month to practice but in reality I got like two weeks.  I am not ecpecting anything great for myself

If you got a month to sound like an elk, i would recommend a Phelps External call which is the one made out of wood with the single reed attached to it, that is awesome for your cow calls ect...  With that being said if you are green green calling and have never practiced I would use the easiest calls you can find and The hoochie Momma is about the easiest most realistic sounding cow call you can find, i dont personally own one but know they are easy and sound like an elk... And for bugling if your not comfortable with a reed,  again I would find the easiest thing you can find and RockyMountain calls have a bugle tube with a mouth piece you can attach to it and it is pretty easy and you can probably get a decent sounding bugle out of it in a months time... Or again I think Primos is the most user friendly stuff out there, not the best sounding IMO but easy...  I think Phelps calls sound far better, but you have to really practice with a reed to get the tones you want you just cant put a reed in your mouth or any call for that matter and sound like an elk....  The once i named above are the easiest IMO...  with a months time, practice everyday,  Drive around in your car blowing your calls thats the best practice time.... And another little tip, watch lots of elk hunting movies, and pretend your calling in the bull, do what they do and act like your hunting and calling right from your couch, thats how i how i got pretty good...  Good luck and practice practice practice...... 

[Elkpiss]

So I just looked at phelps calls and which would you guys recommended.  I am hesitant on reed calls.  I use them turkey hunting hunting but i feel most the times i am not consistent enough with them.  I would say I got a month to practice but in reality I got like two weeks.  I am not ecpecting anything great for myself

And just remember if your in a good area with bulls that are hot, you can pretty much fart and call in a bull if your find them red hot... Example my brother has never practiced or i dont think has ever used a elk call, he brought his buddy to elk camp and took him out hunting for the day and called 5 bulls in one day with a primos pack call... I told him to demonstrate his calling when he got back to camp and he just blew on it as hard as he could and it sounded like a goose getting raped by a duck, but his buddy was freaking out how many bulls they called in...  Just get out there and give it hell and you might get lucky!... 

[MtnMuley]

So I just looked at phelps calls and which would you guys recommended.  I am hesitant on reed calls.  I use them turkey hunting hunting but i feel most the times i am not consistent enough with them.  I would say I got a month to practice but in reality I got like two weeks.  I am not ecpecting anything great for myself

If you got a month to sound like an elk, i would recommend a Phelps External call which is the one made out of wood with the single reed attached to it, that is awesome for your cow calls ect...  With that being said if you are green green calling and have never practiced I would use the easiest calls you can find and The hoochie Momma is about the easiest most realistic sounding cow call you can find, i dont personally own one but know they are easy and sound like an elk... And for bugling if your not comfortable with a reed,  again I would find the easiest thing you can find and RockyMountain calls have a bugle tube with a mouth piece you can attach to it and it is pretty easy and you can probably get a decent sounding bugle out of it in a months time... Or again I think Primos is the most user friendly stuff out there, not the best sounding IMO but easy...  I think Phelps calls sound far better, but you have to really practice with a reed to get the tones you want you just cant put a reed in your mouth or any call for that matter and sound like an elk....  The once i named above are the easiest IMO...  with a months time, practice everyday,  Drive around in your car blowing your calls thats the best practice time.... And another little tip, watch lots of elk hunting movies, and pretend your calling in the bull, do what they do and act like your hunting and calling right from your couch, thats how i how i got pretty good...  Good luck and practice practice practice......

I bet you sure have called in a few ole cows from the couch!

[Elkpiss]

So I just looked at phelps calls and which would you guys recommended.  I am hesitant on reed calls.  I use them turkey hunting hunting but i feel most the times i am not consistent enough with them.  I would say I got a month to practice but in reality I got like two weeks.  I am not ecpecting anything great for myself

If you got a month to sound like an elk, i would recommend a Phelps External call which is the one made out of wood with the single reed attached to it, that is awesome for your cow calls ect...  With that being said if you are green green calling and have never practiced I would use the easiest calls you can find and The hoochie Momma is about the easiest most realistic sounding cow call you can find, i dont personally own one but know they are easy and sound like an elk... And for bugling if your not comfortable with a reed,  again I would find the easiest thing you can find and RockyMountain calls have a bugle tube with a mouth piece you can attach to it and it is pretty easy and you can probably get a decent sounding bugle out of it in a months time... Or again I think Primos is the most user friendly stuff out there, not the best sounding IMO but easy...  I think Phelps calls sound far better, but you have to really practice with a reed to get the tones you want you just cant put a reed in your mouth or any call for that matter and sound like an elk....  The once i named above are the easiest IMO...  with a months time, practice everyday,  Drive around in your car blowing your calls thats the best practice time.... And another little tip, watch lots of elk hunting movies, and pretend your calling in the bull, do what they do and act like your hunting and calling right from your couch, thats how i how i got pretty good...  Good luck and practice practice practice......

I bet you sure have called in a few ole cows from the couch!

   I dont even have a good come back to that one..... I am in Full Rut right now,  I well be callin for cows at the Gorge tomorrow.... Im guessing it well be pretty good huntin!... I well send you some pics of the groupies "cows"... 

[MtnMuley]

   I'll be looking fwd to them!

[Bowflinger]

pm sent, good luck to you and your dad!

[bowhunterty]

Also check out Bugling Bull game calls. Mellow yellow and the challenge are good diaphram calls. The temptress and whos you daddy external reed calls atealso good. Throwing in Phelps calls this tear to try.

[jackelope]

Jason has a bugle tube and a mouthpiece that installs in the tube that he says sounds really good too. My gut says, and maybe the experts can chime in on this....if you're not totally confident bugling, don't bugle.

The open reed cow calls Jason makes are easy to learn. I've got one and it works awesome. It will get a workout this September I hope.

[rosscrazyelk]

Also elknut on here has a play book that could help with what  to do when to do it.

[JPhelps]

Thanks Guys.

Externals: My custom and director, Bugling bull whos yrr daddy and temptress and Carlton's fightn' cow are all good options.

Diaphragms: My advice is always buy a couple different brands/styles.  Some guys like a palate plate, some without, some with a sonic dome, some with a smaller frame and some with a larger frame.  You are doing yourself a disservice not trying a couple different styles.
The "Elk Commander" is the call I recommend for all new callers.

[bowtechforelk]

What unit? I know some guys who like to go call for people and do a good job.

[westside bull]

Just ordered Phelp's  green hornet cow call my buddy has one and it sounds great...

[r7]

I haven't tried the Phelps calls yet, but would like to do so.  I have used many varieties of several brands of diaphragm calls and my favorite by far are by John Sarkisian, High Plains calls.  I think now they are called ElkMasters.  He also makes a very well explained "how-to" tape. 

[swwaoutdoorsman]

If the diaphragm calls don't work out try the Power Bugle by e.l.k. Just bought one for my dad and had to try it out. The easiest external i have ever used. Glad I didn't find it 7 yrs ago I would've given up on diaphragms.

[emac]

So I ended up getting the primos terminator and the hoochie mama's.   Time to start practicing.  A few guys told me these were easy to use so hopefully i will get half way decent.  Thanks again for the info

[Sliverslinger]

I strongly recommend Phelps calls, and Bugling Bull game calls and also Elknut's playbook and elk sounds cd.  This combination is the best favor you will do yourself when it comes to calling elk... Well, along with trial and error.

[Elkpiss]

So I ended up getting the primos terminator and the hoochie mama's.   Time to start practicing.  A few guys told me these were easy to use so hopefully i will get half way decent.  Thanks again for the info

That well work...  Those are about as easy to use as you can get...  Good luck tootin your calls!...  Watch alot of elk huntin movies and practice..

[emac]

So my dads hunt ended yesterday and he ate his quality tag.  He hunted 19 days hard just never had the oppurtunity.  I was with him for almost the last week.  Never got to really use the calls I got because the elk were quiet.  Not one peep in the 19 days out of the heard.  He hunted a monster the whole season and we could never get him to leave his women.  I feel bad for my dad since he worked his tail off.

[Elkbow33]

I'm sure when he looks back on it that it was a great hunt.  Got to chase a bull and spend quality time with his son.