Elk Call

I am new to elk hunting and was successful in the draw (bull tag). I am looking at buying a good elk call.

What do you guys recommend?

Much appreciated.

Congrats. When is your hunt?
Do you like reeds? I like Rocky Mountain Calls. Bulls, cow calf, their turkey calls are good too.
A squeaker is great (cow/ calf). Primos makes a great squeaker.
Lots of people use the bugle tubes.

I recommend you buy one and use it sparingly, very sparingly.

X2
Hunter, practice like crazy leading up to your hunt.
A bugle is most effective during the rut but a cow or call really shines all year.

Only call I ever used was Hoochy Mama. It worked to call a group of cows.

Only call I ever used was Hoochy Mama. It worked to call a group of cows.

Primos hyper lip for a cow call. Philips for a bugle

I recommend the Cow Talk call, I believe manufactured by E.L.K. Inc. - buy two or extra rubber bands, I believe it will came with extra bands.

Too late to buy a bugle call and learn how to use it.

Buy a diaphragm cow call. They’re pretty easy to get good at. The elk hunters I know only use cow calls. I think you need to understand Elk and Bulls especially to start bugling one in.

If you're elk have wolves preying on them all the elk bugle will do is call in wolves which can be both a good and bad thing , friends of mine let loose on a elk call to see what would happen next from a distance , the next thing they seen was the herd took off over the ridge they then heard a wolf pack howling in the distance .

X2 on the cow talk or Hoochy mamma are both good calls , remember less calling is best a suspicion remover if you would .

I have an Elk Inc power bugle, a few Elk Inc cow calls, some open reeds and mouth reeds. All have different applications. The bugle is the most effective if you want to bring a bull in in my experience (having actually guided and hunting hard a lot during bow season). Wolf country is harder but they dont all run away. Usually they do that when pressure is high and they learned the lesson of some random guy bugle calling coming into the scene and yelling his arse off. Not realistic and they know it.

If you are hunting after rut with a rifle i wouldnt bother with any calls

If you are hunting during rut, bugling is a good way mixed with a few cow calls. This isnt calling ducks. You have to set the scene. Sometimes its a fight, but unfortunately everyone bugles this way and isnt as effective. If you do this it is similar to decoying antelope. You want to get as close as possible. Under 100 yds is great. Make a call and surprise them. If you bugle your way in from a 1/4 mile away they hear you coming and when you get to close they walk off. A lot of hunters do this and it does more harm than good. If you get to 100 undetected and let one rip, they are surprised and don’t like the intruder so close and come running to beat you up. Good for herd bulls

The best “scene” for satellites and herd bulls with cows not in is to make it seem like you are a bull courting a cow. This requires very soft, unexcited bugles coupled with some glunts and huffs. Think of a big ol bull about to get his mister wet. He isnt letting everyone know. He is focused on her and excited to court. The huffs and glunts go real far. Only a few estrusy cow calls here and there finish the scene. Bulls will come in silently a lot.

In my experience

Season and weapon are the biggest questions as to what call you want to use. If you have a rut hunt and can time it correctly both cow calls and bugles work great as long as the elk aren't harassed by other hunters calling nonstop. As mentioned wolves and other predators can shut elk up fast.

I carry a rocky mountain elk inc cow call even during late rifle season or cow season, not to try to call elk in but to stop one for just a second if needed, works even after firing a shot to stop them most of the time. They don't stop for long tho.

Archery or rifle ?

I'd go with a couple of bite and blow cow calls. Very easy to use and get a couple of different ones. I have a Sceery, Primos and Carlton. They all sound a little different.
Primos Cow Girl
Carlton Calls Lonesome Cow
Wapiti Wailer Bite and blow elk call.
Sceery Ace-1 Special elk call

For a bugle I use an ELK Power Bugle.

Thanks for all the good advices guys!

I am hitting the stores tonight and will be doing some scouting early next week.

Riffle hunt.