thinking about calls

[Maverick351]

What calls are the best and why? Been looking and there are so many to choose from and so many styles. What do you use and why? Help a newbie to calls.

[capoeirajosh]

I am curious about this too!! I have been watching loads of videos and I think I am gonna go with either some steve chappell's calls, or the all star with a tube. I have heard great things about the primos hoochie mama as well though. I guess the question is, do you want to go with a mouth diaphragm or not?

[AverageJoe]

/> I have heard great things about the primos hoochie mama as well though.

Hahahahahaha!!! Thanks for the laugh. Best call there is to send every bull running....aaway from you that is.

[capoeirajosh]

/>

/> I have heard great things about the primos hoochie mama as well though.

Hahahahahaha!!! Thanks for the laugh. Best call there is to send every bull running....aaway from you that is.

Hahaha, noted!!

[Willyhunts2]

Ya those elk learned what the hoochie mama was years ago. Would have better luck hollering asking the bull politely to walk within range for a shot.

[elpepe25]

If I run a call, its a diaphragm. No 2 people run them the same. If and when I do run a call it's very sparingly. The last 2 bulls I shot I did not call to. I let them make noise to locate them and snuck in quietly.

 

Primos Hootchie Mama is the single worst thing to happen to elk hunting.

[Coach]

The best elk callers I know use diaphragms. The easy, push-button calls are too predictable. With diaphragm calls the person using it makes it unique and more realistic. I have a hard time with them, seems I'm always spitting saliva or gagging, but I would definitely steer clear of the hoochie mama, or other "pressure" cow calls. As others have said, the elk have caught on and run the other way. If you are like me and have trouble with the diaphragm, there are some good reed calls that can still allow you to tailor the sound. I've got a couple, my favorite is from a start-up shop, I think they're in Montana - don't remember the name right now. My second favorite is made by Primos called "I Maka Da Bull Crazy". It's flexible and gives you full control of the sound, but IMO it has a tendency to "squeak" at the wrong moment when trying to get that high-pitched sound.

[PatrickJr]

if you hunt in good enough areas that not many people go into, the hoochie mama works, it is easy to use and works for me, diaphragm calls make me gag and I cant even make them work, so the hoochie mama is my only option.

[johnnie blaze]

Nothing beats hands-free

[HUNTnTAT2]

yea those push style calls suck. my first archery bull hunt, my uncle and I ran into a herd opening day. Big 6 100yrds. i went to crouch to get low. push call in my pant pocket. it lets out a slow dying mew(unintentionally). haha. my uncle just starts laughing his butt off. "told you not to bring that thing"

 

i use the carlton single and the 2-1/2 reeds. nothing like hands free. i firmly believe the caller has ALOT more to do with your setup being succesful than the actual call itself at least when it comes to diaphrams and reed. heck, i can even get good cow mews off my predator call and ill prolly use it this year along with my diaphrams. i like mixing stlye of calls to a setup. this past september my good friend had a bull tag. he was running a hand held reed style cow call and i was rockin the carltons. we were in the conversation for sure. even called smaller bulls with just the good ol whistle

 

another hunt i got the pleasure to help on last year. we had bulls vocal early. snuck in silent. bumped his cows that he was pushing twoards us, back twoards him. thought we were busted. i immediately threw a bugle out. he came into a downgraded 47yrds of my buddy. he missed right over his back.

[izquik72]

My second favorite is made by Primos called "I Maka Da Bull Crazy". It's flexible and gives you full control of the sound, but IMO it has a tendency to "squeak" at the wrong moment when trying to get that high-pitched sound.

I have had the same thing happen to me. It is way loud. I cant do any soft mews with it

[metau]

The best call is the one you can use the best and have the most confidence in. For me, it was the aforementioned hoochie mama when I was starting, until I learned it was an elk alarm instead of an elk call. Now, I have several dozen calls. My go to calls are diaphragm calls, specifically the single reed cow/calf calls. Those are the ones I have the most confidence and consistency with.

 

My best advice would be to get several single reed diaphragm calls, a calling CD, and put your drive time to/from work to good use. It may take a while, but keep at it and soon enough, it will just happen. Once you make it into the field, keep in mind that if you are close enough to knock an arrow, you better have the call in your mouth.

[Elkaddict]

Diaphragms and cow calls like Carlton fightin cow. And practice.

[Antmo23]

I have the Carlton and the Mossback Widow maker reed calls around my neck and a Carlton cow/calf diaphragm in my mouth when out chasing bulls. i practice with the diaphragm calls until everyone in my family threatens my life, then i practice in my truck, lol.

[capoeirajosh]

/>I have the Carlton and the Mossback Widow maker reed calls around my neck and a Carlton cow/calf diaphragm in my mouth when out chasing bulls. i practice with the diaphragm calls until everyone in my family threatens my life, then i practice in my truck, lol.

Hahahha!! Good thing my fiance is now addicted to elk calling, sine we just recently purchased some. Our dogs are not to fond of them, but that is ok. We ended up going with some mouth diaphraghm calls from Bugling Bull. Ordered a grunt tube as well. Can't wait to wake up my neighborhood with sounds of bugling, hahahaha.