whats your favorite elk bugle?

[bloodhound]

im looking to buy a new bugle and was wondering what ones everyone else likes and thinks is the best?

[vanhornhunter]

Heres the one I use.. Its pretty bad ass!!

https://buglingbull.com/gamecalls/126-bully-bull-grunt-tube/

[RadSav]

Might have more people yelling and calling name about this than a post on rifles and bows.

My favorite is the one that brings that bull closest.

Before you call me a "Smart Ass" let me explain.  I carry about 20 different calls with me when guiding.  On year I had a client from overseas that had never even seen a live elk before.  First thing in the morning I called in an unusual 8X5 using a LDJ Persuader which the client missed at 40 yards.  That afternoon I called in the same bull using a Carlton double reed and the client missed him at 35 yards.  That evening I called in the same bull to 10 yards using my voice. FINALLY! Elk dead.

After being shot at that bull would not respond to that call again.  But, with a dramatic change in tone and cadence he would light up just as fierce as the first time.  So you may be working a bull with a call for the first time but someone else may have worked him with the same call.  So one may not be any better than the other just different and that could be the difference.

I no longer guide, but I still carry a wide variety of calls with me for that reason.  I do lean towards the less popular calls first.  Wife drew a Toutle Bull tag this year!  So I guess I'll be seeing if I can still get 'em close.  Should be fun.

[Dan-o]

I really like my Berry Thunder bugle becasue it's super easy to get good sound from, and I've ad good luck getting bulls to respond to it.

Then again, it's the only bugle I've ever mastered.... but it works for me.

[Crunchy]

I carry about 10 cow calls and 3 bugles.  Haven't found the bugle I truly love.

[Instinct]

I used that wayne carlton when i first started, didnt sound natural or laud enough for my likeing. Now i purchased a terminator by primos n sounds more realistic. Havnt used it on the elk yet but see how it goes later n the year.

[carpsniperg2]

berry for me. Don't use a bugle to much in this neck of the woods. One bugle and the bulls grab there cows and take off for the rez  

[jechicdr]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Hunting-Game-Calls/Big-Game-Calls|/pc/104791680/c/104725980/sc/104212980/Hunters-Specialties-Mega-Mac-Daddy174-Elk-Call/944767.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fhunting-hunting-game-calls-big-game-calls%2F_%2FN-1100094%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104212980%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104791680%253Bcat104725980

I like this one...would gag if I ever tried to use a mouth diaphragm.  This one has a diaphragm in the mouthpiece and you control the pitch with your hand.  You can also remove the mouthpiece and make cow calls.  I also have the smaller grunt tube but like the deeper tone with this one.

[bloodhound]

ty all for the info. so far ive never carried more then one bugle, and one cow call, and my dad who i hunt with only carries one bugle.so theres 2 bugles and a cow call between us. how do you guys deal with the bulk of calls on you while putting yourself in a shooting position, and not getting tangled up? """Rad""" do you just leave all but like 2 at camp? im assuming you dont carry all 20 bugles on you at one time.

[Crunchy]

Most diaphrams in pockets, spare bugle in the pack and two closed reed cow calls around my neck with the other bugle.

[bucklucky]

I love my Custom Reeds and Custom bugle 

[carpsniperg2]

ty all for the info. so far ive never carried more then one bugle, and one cow call, and my dad who i hunt with only carries one bugle.so theres 2 bugles and a cow call between us. how do you guys deal with the bulk of calls on you while putting yourself in a shooting position, and not getting tangled up? """Rad""" do you just leave all but like 2 at camp? im assuming you dont carry all 20 bugles on you at one time.

I carry 3-5 cow calls they are light weight and sometimes one will be a sweet note to a certain bull. I carry my bugle slung at a 45 under my right arm pit so when I draw its not in the way. I have a pack on my back so it doesnt work to throw it over my back.

[Instinct]

I got a diaphram n my mouth at all times, a hand call n my pocket, and a hoochie mama hooked to my belt on my right side when i go out in the woods.

[foambeetle]

Do you plan to use a mouth reed? or an external reed?  or have the option of both? . . . and is 'packability' an issue? (Sometimes a large tube can become bothersome in the woods, but some guys seem to like toting around the wiffle-ball bat type tubes - you can belt out some nice sounding (loud and "big") bugles with them, no doubt).

Bugling, though not exclusively, has a lot to do with the "bugler" more than the bugle itself - this is not an earth altering statement, I know.  I've been using a Terminator (Primos) tube for a lot of years with a mouth reed and called in plenty of elk (and other hunters).  I do have a "tube tamer" (Bugling Bull) on the end that I think helps make the sounds more 'organic.'  You can also, for the most part, tone down any troublesome 'plastic' sounding tubes with hand pressure, but I like having the "tube tamer" (or something along those lines) on the tube.  A mouth reed and varying hand pressure (and/or cupping) can really alter the sound of the call coming out of any given tube.

I also have a Primos Bull Horn (very packable), which I like to use when 'packability' is desirable - again, using a mouth reed w/it mostly.  The Primos external reeds get a bad wrap to some degree (for reasons similar to the Hoochie Mama) because it is easy for most anybody to get a bugle out of it (though, for novices, not necessarily a very good one).  So guys run around the woods "playing the same note" (often badly, and too often) so to speak, and it is identifiable when you hear it.  However, I've heard guys like Chris Roe (Primos Prostaff - www.roehuntingresources.com) use the external reeds that Primos makes to make some great calls - so the "snap on" reeds aren't inherently bad.
 

Only 76 days to the archery opener!!  Best of luck getting geared up and ready to go!

[RadSav]

I have one tube and two exposed reed cow calls around my neck.  The others I have in the pack.  Carry at least three diaphrams in my pocket.  I try to make adapters so all bugle heads will work on one or two tubes. Lots and lots of moleskin to keep them all from rattling together.  I also carry a small spool of 30# clear fishing line - about 20 yards.  Like calling crows it is sometimes a good idea to let them see movement in the brush if they get held up.  I want that movement a long way from me so I use the fish line.

That bull in the story I could not see when the client shot it.  He held up at 80 yards.  When he turned to walk away I jumped into a thick patch of alders and started shaking them loudly.  I'd stop, bugle, wait and do it again.  Client said once he saw the movement he came at full speed.  That bull was five yards from me and I could not see it.  Luckly the hunter was out front and had a clear shot.  AND!  With the way he was shooting I was glad he didn't shoot me.

I'd carry the kitchen sink if I thought it would give me an edge.