Elk Bugles

[Serengeti Charters]

Addicted to elk hunting now. Curious as to what bugle tubes (not mouth reeds) guys use for elk. Is there a consensus go to one or ? Goal is to get half decent at it by next September and wanna start soon

Thanks guys.

[bezzola]

I use the phelpes ez bugal cause i can’t ise mouth reeds🤮

[Brodhead]

Are you willing to try open reed calls? They are easier to use than mouth reeds but give you more control and variability than closed reed bugle tubes. I use an old bugle tube from berry game calls. Not sure if they still make them but replacement reeds are still available

Sent from my SM-G981W using Tapatalk

[obsessed1]

I use the black and gold rocky mountain diaphragm mostly but there are lots others that I like/ use too. A phelps bugle tube or a Gatorade bottle with a hole cut in the bottom. Lol

[Stinky Buffalo]

Proficiency with mouth reeds can vary, depending on how much you practice, but also what your teeth/palate are like.

I have a bunch of different ones, mainly because I like to try them out, but when I'm feeling rusty and just want to make a decent bugle, I grab one of the Carlton Herd Bull reeds and my old corrugated bugle tube (I find that a bit of backpressure helps with pitch control) and it is reasonably forgiving. Once I'm back in the swing of it I'll use the others.

Now, just to be completely above board, there's no grip 'n grin pictures of me with a giant bull elk here on AO, so... Take whatever I saw with a grain of salt.

[HELL]

Slayer enchantress is great call

[Fwee6]

Practice, practice, practice.

Buy a handful of different mouth reeds, put them in your truck, and when alone work on getting better. I made a point a few years ago to get a lot better at elk calling and it has had a significant impact on my hunting experiences, and that of my hunting partner.

I learned that I have a small, high pallet. So smaller mouth reeds are what I use -- Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls I've found the best for me, with their bugle tube.
- I've probably thrown out 6-8 reeds that just didn't suit me right.

Off season Youtube reviews of guys like Corey Jacobsen, Steve Chappell, Beau Brooks.

[wallz]

I had the same scenario a few years back, wanting to finally learn to hunt elk.

I gagged on the first few mouth reeds I bought, and then thought I would try a smaller one meant for "youth". That one fit nice, and the sound was good.

I ended up cutting all the other reeds I had, down little by little with a nice sharp pair of scissors, until I was not gagging on them anymore. They ended up slightly larger than the youth one.

This is easy enough to do, as its just a fiber around the main reed, and is all for sealing in your mouth.

I then purchased a $3 plastic baseball bat/ball combo from the dollar store. Cut out the two ends, and glued some scrap cammo fabric I had from an old shirt.

1st year out, I had numerous elk in the area, and managed to call a 5x5 out to 25 yrds. I'm in a 6x6 zone, so some great video of this.

This year I finally shot my first elk, and he came into 30 ft before we locked eyes. 1st shot at him he was at 35 yrds. Once he saw me he turned and ran, and then stopped to my bark. Both hands free, and mouth reed at the ready saved my bacon, and let me get my shot into him. No way I could have done that with any other type call. As he was walking in, I had a few seconds to free my hands, and ready my rifle, and even then he turned quickly and ran.

I also had a chance to hear a $400 ish dollar buggle tube, one of the wooden ones from another hunter in his camp. Did it sound better than mine, heck ye, but in the end did it really matter? I got my elk this year, and he unfortunately did not. He did have a nice 6x7 last year though.

Moral of the story, its not the $$ amount of your gear, but the sound you make with it in the end that matters.

Get out there and learn to call, and more importantly why they make the calls they do, and when to use what call. This I did not know on my first year, and was able to practice up for the second, and it paid off.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Fwee6

Practice, practice, practice.

Buy a handful of different mouth reeds, put them in your truck, and when alone work on getting better. I made a point a few years ago to get a lot better at elk calling and it has had a significant impact on my hunting experiences, and that of my hunting partner.

I learned that I have a small, high pallet. So smaller mouth reeds are what I use -- Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls I've found the best for me, with their bugle tube.
- I've probably thrown out 6-8 reeds that just didn't suit me right.

Off season Youtube reviews of guys like Corey Jacobsen, Steve Chappell, Beau Brooks.

100%

Just one thing about bugling while driving - just don't do so much practicing behind the wheel that you get light-headed from taking those deep breaths over and over. It can happen. And that can be dangerous.

Not to mention if you are prone to gagging... Just be careful.

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by Fwee6

Buy a handful of different mouth reeds, put them in your truck.

I actually LOVE this idea!!

[starvin]

Berry thunder bugle. You’ll have it down in a few days, good enough in a few hours.
Most that use diaphragms don’t spend enough time to get good at it.

[TBark]

If you don’t, or can’t use reeds, then Slayer for sure.
Disconnect from the tube and it is a great cow call as well.

See them at the sportsman show every year.

TBark

[Serengeti Charters]

Anyone used the power bugle? Heard good things but hoping for more first hand experience. Thanks boys

[Greatwest]

I use the power bugle. Called in 3 different bills with it this fall when we were hunting. It does take a fair bit of wind out of a guy for this bugle. I was actually think of buying something different for that reason. I also changed from the black rubber bands to the grey ones this year. Seems to have changed the pitch to a deeper one. I’ve used the power bugle for years but time to step out of the box and try something new.

[Mike_W]

To be honest most sound like crap I know there is always a lot of success stories with these fluty sounding calls. Mouth reeds are my go to and what I have called in several with but if that isn't an option the best sounding bugle is a Carlton calls mac daddy.

Whatever you choose I feel these calls are limited and you should stick to mainly location bugles don't even try and chuckle.

Ill be up this summer send me a message and remind me to bring my calls and ill give you a tutorial.

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by Serengeti Charters

Anyone used the power bugle? Heard good things but hoping for more first hand experience. Thanks boys

We use the power bugle, works for us.

[Serengeti Charters]

Originally Posted by Mike_W

To be honest most sound like crap I know there is always a lot of success stories with these fluty sounding calls. Mouth reeds are my go to and what I have called in several with but if that isn't an option the best sounding bugle is a Carlton calls mac daddy.

Whatever you choose I feel these calls are limited and you should stick to mainly location bugles don't even try and chuckle.

Ill be up this summer send me a message and remind me to bring my calls and ill give you a tutorial.

Roger that bud. Sounds good I'll be around!!!

Ordered the power bugle, not expensive either so seemed like a low risk order.

[jcrayford]

Originally Posted by Serengeti Charters

Addicted to elk hunting now. Curious as to what bugle tubes (not mouth reeds) guys use for elk. Is there a consensus go to one or ? Goal is to get half decent at it by next September and wanna start soon

Thanks guys.

Primos mouth reed. Dual diaphragm, Cow sounds and bugle all with the same reed. I find their design with the hood over the diaphragm fits my mouth better than a reed without a hood. Add a tube for a deeper bugle, but really it's personal preference. I sometimes take a tube, but the bugles I make (and practice with in the vehicle while driving downtown - you can always tell the hunters as they spin their heads looking) are good enough in a pinch. I have the accompanying Primos CD loaded in the vehicle to practice to. Listen to their calls then attempt to mimic my own calls to that.

Plus, hands are free to handle bow / rifle if needed.

However, like Stinky stated there's no grip 'n grin pictures of me holding a bull by its horns either - but it does make me grin to call during a red light in downtown with the windows open

J.