Elk cow calls

bassin · 10-16-2007, 02:52 PM

What type is used by the in the know guys? I was up hunting lsat week and heard a guy stop a small herd with just a couple calls.
Never tried it, but might.
Thanks

ehunter · 10-16-2007, 03:07 PM

Honestly for a new comer the Hoochie mama is the easiest call in the world the reed is the best...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassin

What type is used by the in the know guys? I was up hunting lsat week and heard a guy stop a small herd with just a couple calls.
Never tried it, but might.
Thanks

Oregonhunter · 10-16-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehunter

Honestly for a new comer the Hoochie mama is the easiest call in the world the reed is the best...

I agree if you are looking to use a cow call this season and dont have a lot of time to learn I would use the Hoochie Mama call as well...with that said I prefer the mouth calls that Primos makes but this will take a little time to learn, but when you figure it out you can make almost any elk sound with it and still have both hands free when you are looking to shoot.

I would not go elk hunting without some sort of cow call...they have saved me more times than not both during rifle and achery seasons.

Take care and good luck!

oh

The Overfishin Condition · 10-16-2007, 04:33 PM

Ditto what these guys said, basically. If I were hunting in an area that gets a lot of pressure I would steer away from the hoochie.

Everything you need to know about the call is sort of in its name- pretty hot when it first came out, now a little overused and worn out.

Tons of guys have them, and tons of guys use them. Have I had it work, yes. But I've also had it spook herds more times than any other call I've used, and heard of that happening for others as well. Also, I can pick it out in the woods as a call pretty easily. However, you can't beat the consistency. I'd say 95% of the time it comes out nice and sweet sounding. If the elk in the area haven't overheard it, it will do the trick.

I really prefer the mouth calls. I think if you have a week, and don't mind using it while you're driving to work or something, a short period of time is enough to get a basic enough feel for it to produce some winning calls, just practice more often than you would over a month period. Primos diaphram calls now are made to really position themselves correctly in your mouth. They make a variety of calls that will cover every elk sound imaginable. Most of their bugle reeds are meant to double as cow mews, and you can get a pretty respectable cow sound out of any of them. If you're just starting, I would have to recommend a single reed instead of a double.

You can also make a good cow sound with the terminator bugle reed if you snap the reed holder off of the main bugle. In my experience, it's hard to make a real estrues sounding call, but it makes a sweet sounding cow talk.

My text purchase will probably be the hyperlip single reed call. I just want something that's not a mouth reed that's a little easier to hang from my neck and quickly accessable. For this I've tried the sceery cow call and would definitely not recommend it. I decided it was sceery because you never know what sound might come from it.

Lastly, if you do go with a mouth reed from primos, I would buy a couple of the same reed as soon as you find one you like. Inevitably, they break down after a while, and I've got caught in the field with a call that went bad at just the wrong moment, and wouldn't make a squawk. They take a little breaking in, but a brand new one will work better than one that is just too worn out.

TOC.

WSU · 10-16-2007, 04:40 PM

I have used the bugle like was suggested above with success, it makes some good sounding cow calls.

Amahnee · 10-16-2007, 07:55 PM

The Hootchie mama sounds like an alarm bark to me. Everybody has one and they are over used. They are great if you want to run elk off. I like a single reed diaphragm because you can make all sorts of elk sounds with it. Soft cow and calf sounds and light bugles. Diaphragms aren't for everyone though.

If I was a newbie I'd go with a Hyper-hot. They are a great call.

twobullz · 10-16-2007, 08:20 PM

I have the problem that I gag on the mouth calls, so I prefer the cowgirl by primos, with the occasional hoochie mama thrown in.

wille · 10-16-2007, 09:41 PM

Have you guys ever heard of the Sleazy cow call?A guy ar Haden Meadows Joes told me that he swore by these calls.Of course i had to have one.And it helped when i saw that they were half price.I got mine for 4:99. I like the sound.They are a reed call and not a diaphram call,but i think they sound good.You can do a cow or calf call with them.

10-16-2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassin

What type is used by the in the know guys? I was up hunting lsat week and heard a guy stop a small herd with just a couple calls.
Never tried it, but might.
Thanks

I am a archary hunter and am not a big fan of the hoochie mama but the primos hyper lip single has worked great for me, and is not that hard to use.
good luck

riverswild · 10-17-2007, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Have you guys ever heard of the Sleazy cow call?

SSSHHHHHH!

bassin · 10-17-2007, 05:54 AM

Thank you guy for all the in put. I will go out today and check them out,

traks44 · 10-17-2007, 06:49 AM

Late season elk are way way different than during the rut. You cant just call to a heard or call in the woods and get the same results. The only time over here on the east side I use a call is to stop a fleeing bull, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. I have hunted with alot of guys who use reed calls and thats great but stopping a bull within bow range is all I have ever known them to be good for. Everybody has different tastes and I personally prefer the hyper lip single. Great call, easy to use, can be loud soft can sound like more than one elk in a series and lots of other things. The other call I use is a sceery open Reed. it has most of the same benifits as the primos but it isnt quite as easy to blow. I also have a sceery closed reed but it is very difficult to work sometimes and takes lots of practice, deff not a begginer call.

I am sure roosies are different than rockyies, but that is my experience, if you are careful and only use it to stop a bull you should be ok. I have been with people who were rifle hunting and they were calling way to much and way to soon so when the opportunity came to stop that bull in the open that bull already knew that sound and soemthing wasnt right so he wouldnt stop. Use calls sparingly to maybe locate and stop, but over here there is no substitute for sneakyness and good shooting during rifle season.

Good luck!

bassin · 10-17-2007, 06:53 AM

"is no substitute for sneakyness and good shooting during rifle season."

You are SO right.
And thanks for the feed back

gully_20 · 10-17-2007, 08:27 AM

I'm hearing that most of I-hunters recommend a little better than the hoochie mama. I'm heading out to Montana this year for the first time as well as the first time Elk hunting. Any good videos out there to start learning otherwise I suppose I'll be using a hoochie mama....

whatugetemon · 10-17-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amahnee

The Hootchie mama sounds like an alarm bark to me. Everybody has one and they are over used.

I can't imagine mistaking a hootchie mama for an elk, and with much better ears, I doubt an elk would either.

I prefer Larry Jones reeds. I have called several elk into archery range with these and have even used them to stop elk after missed shots. I know others who have done the same. If I were just starting out, I would buy several different brands of reeds and stick with the one that sounds best after a little experimenting. Then practice as much as you can.

Little Fish · 10-17-2007, 09:57 AM

I have a number of calls, but have found the mouth diaphram calls to be the most versatile. Now granted I'm not an expert caller, but in the short time I've used these calls I've fooled a number of elk. I use the brand shown below rather than Primos...I think they are little more forgiving and its easier to controls the sounds you make.

For instructional videos I bought and like the ones put out by elknut with his first DVD being the most useful (in my opinion).

ommedia · 10-17-2007, 10:20 AM

There are so many advantages to becoming proficient (enough) with a diaphram call. Most importantly for me, it keeps my hands free to be on the weapon.

During archery season I do put a push call (primos or carlton) in my thigh pocket, and they are tone adjustable. I also carry and use in setups a Scery (spelling) mouth reed call, but that requires you to use a hand and move around. But it's nice to have/use a variety when in a calling situation. During the rifle season, I've stopped many bulls with a simple cow all.

Once you go latex, it's like a whole new game...unless of coarse you are a gagger like "NateDawg"...

Firedog · 10-17-2007, 10:33 AM

I also use the Bugling Bull game calls. He also has some great instructional videos. I have at leasst one each of his reeds. Some are much easier to use than others. But very good calls. He sells a cow/calf call that is good but a little more dificult to use.

I agree with Traks that calls should be used sparingly, use them to stop a bull or to cover a loud snap you have made but don't just walk through the woods blowing them.

wille · 10-17-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firedog

I also use the Bugling Bull game calls. He also has some great instructional videos. I have at laest one of his reeds. Some are much easier to use than others. But very good calls. He sells a cow/calf call that is good but a little more dificult to use.

I agree with Traks that calls should be used sparingly, use them to stop a bull or to cover a loud snap you have made but don't just walk through the woods blowing them.

wille · 10-17-2007, 11:21 AM

I agree with Traks and Firedog.I think the Hoochie Mama should only be used when locating a herd during rut.Or covering up your noise when you break a twig or something.Or to stop a elk to get a shot.But then again what do I know?I have a friend that says he has called in Bulls with his.Why would anyone need any elk call during rifle season?unless it was just to stop them,for a shot?

Tightlip · 10-17-2007, 11:28 AM

elk calls can be efficient all year round elk comminicate to each other all the time if you can mimmick the sounds they are comfortable hearing with any call than you've made it that much easier
practice practice practice

Killertraylor · 10-17-2007, 11:39 AM

I've heard of guys trying to stop a running bull during rifle season with a cow call. I carry one, but I prefer bullets.

elkmagnet · 10-17-2007, 05:15 PM

I second the brown colored bugling bull diaphram game call as being the most versitle call on the market. I've tried nearly every diaphram call on the market and this is my current favorite. I also like the Primos hyper lip single, very easy to use and make a variety cow/calf sounds.

HawkeyeBilt · 10-17-2007, 07:14 PM

I'm a big fan of the Glen Berry mouth reeds and the "legends"..... Larry Jones reeds. When are they going to put Larry Jones in the bowhunter hall of fame????

Big TULE · 10-17-2007, 07:48 PM

Bought a bearmanrick made elk call, and i can tell you it was sweet. Great call and good looking, much better than the hootchie mama

gerberman · 10-17-2007, 08:53 PM

Have you seen the new call from Jones calls, called "The Last Call"? It is an open reed call that is easy to learn, it is on their web sit at www.jonescalls.com can be used for a cow call or predator call. Gerberman

beretta686 · 10-18-2007, 07:17 PM

I am a big fan of the primos hyperlip call and primos diaphram calls with the sonic dome. They are super easy to use and very effective and pretty cheap at $6 or so for the mouth calls. After I shot my bull this year I stopped him from a dead run with the hyperlip call. Ahhhhhhhh the power of the female species.