lost my elk call this fall (old style Carlton), I have already bought a primos to replace it but don't like it at all. Anyone have any suggestions to one that is close its style, sound, sound variation. I think the berry calls look good, but of course cant try at the locale shop. any suggestions or does anyone have an old or partly broken carlton style bugle around(all I need is outer mouth piece)they want to depart with.
I know it is a matter of personal choice, but I would give the primos another look. I personally don't like them :-) but I have two buddies that do and I have been around enough of their calling to say they work on elk, regardless of what I think.
I also am not a big fan of the carlton. I think it makes a great sound, but not loud enough. That is one of the reasons I think the primos works so good, it pushes the call out there.
Real elk bugling is loud...Compared to calls, it isn't even a close second, thus I think volume matters more than we may think.
I personally use a diaphragm call and a tube. Your old carlton tube would work, so you could try that for the heck of it first.
Good luck...
I'm hesitant to post cause this is really a personal preference thing. I've tried a lot of them for a lot of years. My favorite is an Abe and Sons dominator. You learn to play with the latex to get it where you like it. All of them will work if the elk are willing. ;)
I do use my mouth reed and tube, but liked the Carlton for distance plus your not carrying more parts (it all in one this way, you just take it apart). I have tried the primos and just can't get proficient, I think I would do a good job on elephants with this call but not elk.
I am a real newbie at the elk calling game and on top of that I just can't get past the gagging reflex with a mouth reed. I have been using the Rocky Mountain calls by Rocky Jackobson. The bugle has an external bite down reed that I have been able to get pretty good with. Called in two hunters this past season and they said I sounded pretty convincing. Got many responses from elk too, but have yet to seal the deal. I also have their cow call and have gotten fairly good with it as well.
I just use my Carlton reed (red) and corrugated tube. I have 2 tubes. One small which I believe was a Carlton. Makes an incredible sound. And the bigger one was the "power bugle" which I hated because those thin little bands would either come off or break. Too much to fiddle with. I just took the mouth piece off. And use my reed BIG BIG sound.
the one they sell at elk101 is a good easy to use call, if you cant do the diaghram thing. if you can, they are the only way to go.
and check out the elknut videos, they have a ton of great info.
Ive never used the carlton one you had, so have no idea how it sounds, but my thoughts on those primos blue reed babies, are that hunters can usually tell its a person with one of those, but it doesn't seem like the elk always know. there are better ones for sure, but those aren't the worst ive seen.
Why not buy a new Carlton? The green one I assume? I use that one on occasion as well.