Your Favorite Elk Calls and Why?

I'd like to buy some Elk calls and see if I can become proficient at calling. I'd appreciate it if those of you with some experience would mind listing your must have calls and why you like each call.

Thanks in advance for any of your responses.
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a set of mouth reeds, brands don't usually matter, and bugle tube. I like Sceery Cow elk calls, they have always done well. Most important is practice and listening to elk and seeing how they really sound. Almost all calls blown to make the "standard" sounds don't sound anything like elk. I think that personal touch is a must if you want to call elk well.
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ABert
I just carry a cow/calf call. It has helped put meat on the table over the years. Just a simple rubber band model, forget what it is called.
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Pretty much any reed call and tube.. And the Hoochie Mama cow elk call it's easy to use and very affective.
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amp713
if you can handle not gaging get a mouth call, you can do lots of different things with practice. my favorite so far is an infinity latex double reed....
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The Ox
i like primos sonic dome mouth calls. can cow call,and bugle easier than any other mouth calls. just fits my mouth perfect
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Hoochie mama all the way :thumb very good and effective call
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sneekeepete
I would find a good diaphram call that fits your mouth well and a tube. That is all you really need if you get practiced up well. Focus on your cow and calf calling. You get good at that and you will be effective.
I use primos calls and love them because they fit my mouth the best.
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BIG R
I like the hyper plate and ivory plate by Primos :thumb
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I"m a big fan of open reed calls, as well as diaphragms. I particularly like the Woods Wise hyper hot call, have called in some great bulls with that call using it for mews as well as more excited type calling. Also the Primos open reed calls sound very good. I always have a diaphragm in my mouth when drawing my bow, and begin cow calling as soon as I send an arrow through a bull. We've had a number of bulls stop after only 10-50 yards to look for the cow that is calling, and fall dead within sight, or just out of sight.

I seldom use a bugle, though it does have a time and place.
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DeadI
I don't really have a favorite call. I personaly feel that it is more a matter of knowing how and when to use the calls that you have. If you buy an "Elk" call then it will more than likely call in an elk in the right situations. I have had calls that did not work for a particular bull, but as soon as I put it down and pick up a different call I would get a response.

In my opionion you can not have to many calls. In fact I carry about 5 calls every time I am out hunting. Never know when one will work and another doesn't. I like paking the hyper hot by primos, the sceery calls, open reeds, the cowgirl and the i makadabulls crazy call.
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NotEnufTags
Thanks for all the advice guys.

So far, I've got a set of primos sonic domes with the instructional DVD on its way from ebay. I've got a screery cow call. I'm still looking at the hoochie mama verses some of the open reed mouth calls. Haven't decided on a grunt tube yet.

Thanks again for your opinions thus far.
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Tonoonyi
During the Rut the Hyper lip single or double by primos is...... well primo, the hyperhot is great also. They don't work very well at all the rest of the year, the Sceery ace1 has been my steady eddy for a long time.

Just my two cents.
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I bugle with the primos blue reed bugles, and the mouth reeds for cow calls when the elk get hung up. When the rut is going full bore, nothing works better than a sleezy cow call. Last season call in severl bull with a slow rut using this method.
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The Ox
i personally do not like hoochie mamas. seems like every elk hunter has them and i can tell them when i hear them. Nt saying im a pro elk hunter but i just seem to be able to pick them out.ive had several times bugled been cow called back with one or just heard someon cow callin with one and almost new instantly it was a hoochie. i usually still check to make sure but ive had it happen 3 times that i was pretty sure it was a hoochie only to sneak in and see another hunter tootin a hoochie mama.
so i dont have any interest in using them. to me the diaphrams sound more real and different from each person.
this is just my opinion . im sure many people have had success with them but i just dont like them. and maybe thats why i never kill elk lol.
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NONYA
I carry a runt calf with me on a pack frame and twist its ear,you wouldnt believe the results! lol
Here is a pic of m GF with the call i just got her,we call it the screechin toddler..
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OcpNenFXVlE/Stu6T4X6nOI/AAAAAAAAA9A/SN0b-MVv7Vo/elk%20calf%5B7%5D.jpg
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NotEnufTags
"NONYA" wrote:I carry a runt calf with me on a pack frame and twist its ear,you wouldnt believe the results! lol
Here is a pic of m GF with the call i just got her,we call it the screechin toddler..
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OcpNenFXVlE/Stu6T4X6nOI/AAAAAAAAA9A/SN0b-MVv7Vo/elk%20calf%5B7%5D.jpg
 lol lol
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killerbee
i use diaphams, i dont care for the hoochie momma, i use a primos tube w/ a diapham or the E.L.K. power bugle head. besides mostly a diaphram, i do pack a hyperlip call for a totally different sound.

the only thing about a hoochie mama is EVERYONE IN THE WOODS USES THEM AND THEY ALL SOUND EXACTLY THE SAME.

but like was stated, its more important when/how to use them vs. what name brand :thumb
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Hiker
I also like diaphrams the best. I usually carry a couple different ones.
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They also have a hoochie baby now that is supposed to work real well when you mix the two.... Yes alot of people have the hoochie mama and yes they all sound the same but at the same time they work... I bet most hunters that have them and know how to use will agree
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NotEnufTags
Thanks for all the advice. I'm having dificulty with the diaphram calls. Apparently the roof of my mouth is too narrow. I did pick up some mini sonic domes but I'm not very comfortable with the calls yet.

I picked up a primos I maka da bull crazy call and it's great. You can pinch the end for different sounds/volumes and can make cow/calf chirps, mews, and estrus calls.

It seems the best advice so far is have several calls to choose from and use them sparingly unless something is clearly working.

Thanks again for the advice. It sure is being fun learning/anticipating for a an elk hunt.
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I have a small mouth and I could not use a normal diaphragm but I have found the mini sonic domes to work well for me. To get used to it just put it in your mouth on the ride to work and practice. They sound so much better, at least for bugles. I use a red Primos and an Elknut Lil-Chuckler tube. The Primos Cow Girl is my favorite cow call, but I carry a few different ones. Is it September yet ?
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