Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting First time elk hunter

First time going out during the rut this year and want to pick up a few calls.......what are the best and easiest to use calls for a beginner. I dont want a whole lanyard full.....but a cow call or 2 and a bugle.

Looking for some advice so I don't wast money or time on junk. lol

Sceery and Primos make good cow calls, bite and blow ones that are easy for beginners. They sound great and work well.
I have a Power Bugle that sounds very good as well.

Second wytex. Calls do more harm than good by us. Use them with caution.

University of Elk 101, cut the learning curve down dramatically. Not to late for a cram session.

Get 2 cow calls for sure, you can vary the sounds and the bite and blow will get spit stuck if you leave it in your mouth while working an elk. A second call is needed.
And yes call sparingly, you want to locate not educate.
A calf call works too for getting cows in close so the bull will follow.

Don' buy one of the narrow tube bugles, they sound like one of those whistles we used to get a carnivals.

Thanks for the suggestions.....I dont plan to call much at all as we are going with a local to help guide us, but id like to be somewhat prepared in case he says "grab your call and cow call when I tell you to" and then sound like a dying chicken being choked! lol

Be aware. If used wrong they will run more elk off than in...Traditional ways worked in the past & still work now. Elk hunting is tough . There are no easy short cut's. If possible try & team up with an experienced old elk hand. Experience is some thing that comes with time in the field. I wish you the very best. That first elk taken can be a great experience.

I hear ya.....thats what I keep getting told. Im super excited about this bow hunt I can hardly stand it. I have killed one with a rifle......but I know this is gonna be WAAYYY more exciting.

Royal bugle tube. First time I used one i called in a 6 point (didn't kill it of course).

I'd also suggest sitting on water hole, especially this year as its been dry across most of the west.

Another vote for Ed Sceery calls.

Though I knew how to bugle, I never did on a bow hunt. Cow and calf calls work great and the above advice is sound. Too many wingnuts with bugles out there sometimes have made elk smarter, imho, but ymmv. Especially in heavily hunted public lands.

I called in a hunter one time. I don't know about the elk but HE thought I sounded real.

Was he frothing at the mouth and raking trees!?!?

I had an elk call me in onetime that I thought was my brother!

I don’t know who was more surprised, me or the rag head bull!
Ben