Bugle Tubes
Contributors to this thread:General Topic
From: longspeak74
21-Jan-19
Been researching which bugle tube to take to Colorado this Fall and am getting lost in all the options. I even tried to make my own this weekend, did not sound great. Currently practicing with a Wapiti River diaphragm call and making progress. Any insight/recommendations from others?
From: Mule Power
21-Jan-19
I’ve tried them all. I really like Elknut’s Chuckler tubes. So do the bulls.
From: wyobullshooter
21-Jan-19
I prefer a small, flexible tube. For me, dealing with something that resembles a wiffle ball bat is a complete PITA!
From: COHOYTHUNTER
21-Jan-19
I cut the end off of one and put it on another. It's a good size and very manageable and best of all sounds great.
From: longspeak74
21-Jan-19
Funny you mention that Rob. I used a wiffle ball bat to try and make my own. That thing was huge and I couldn't imagine lugging it around the mountains for a week.
From: HUNT MAN
21-Jan-19
I love the sound of the larger tubes . But they are a pain in the ass to hunt with. I have one of each and find my self useing my 20 year old tube that I made out of 3 different bugle tubes. Best of luck . Hunt
From: PECO
21-Jan-19
This. Or a Primos pack bugle.
From: WV Mountaineer
21-Jan-19
I use the Phelps. Not an elk hunting guru by any means. But, I sound good enough to call in three hunters last year. :^)
Truthfully, I call well. I just haven’t elk hunted that much. So, I don’t have a preference much only to say my collapsible tube doesn’t resonate as well and absorbs the high notes. That why I use what I do.
From: longspeak74
21-Jan-19
Is the Primos a bite and blow tube or diaphragm?
From: TravisScott
21-Jan-19
I use the Rocky Mountain tube. I’m comfortable with it but like everyone has mentioned it can be a PITA. If your pack has the water bottle pouches on the side then it straps to the side of your pack pretty well. Otherwise while you’re calling and moving the lanyard can be figured out so you can transition it from your back to in front of you pretty well. Whatever you come up with good luck!
From: Ucsdryder
21-Jan-19
Bully bugle
From: Ucsdryder
21-Jan-19
From: cnelk
21-Jan-19
Yep. Bully Bugle
From: Amoebus
21-Jan-19
Been meaning to make a birch bark call like they use for moose. I don't try to be the biggest elk on the mountain so I don't need the coffee can sized tube that most offer. I thought that would look pretty cool if done right.
From: Boreal
21-Jan-19
Berrys' Thunder Bugle.
From: LUNG$HOT
21-Jan-19
If your not great with a mouth reed go with berry thunder bugle! Great sound for a fixed mouth piece tube. I’ve gone to a Phelps tube for the last couple years with the BRO (Phelps) mouth reeds. I’ve tried tons of different reeds and these are truly the best I’ve used. Everyone is different in pallet shape, size and tolerance so find one that fits YOU well. I do love the tube from Phelps. It’s large but fits perfect in the scabbard part of my eberlestock pack when not in use. To each his own.
From: Kodiak
21-Jan-19
Why not?
From: elkstabber
21-Jan-19
I use a wiffle ball bat that I cut down and covered in camo duct tape. The duct tape deepened the sound. Its big and cumbersome but it seems like it amplifies the volume.
longspeak74: if your first homemade attempt failed you might try covering it in duct tape to see if it sounds better.
From: Buglmin
21-Jan-19
Elk Nuts Checkler tube. It doesn't have that plastic sound most tubes have. I used Abe Meline's call for the longest time before replacing it with Paul's.
From: longspeak74
21-Jan-19
Curt - what is the diameter of the bat you used? The one I tried this weekend was about 5". My daughter has a much smaller one (2-2.5") that I thought about trying as well.
From: elkstabber
21-Jan-19
Bryan: It's a wiffle ball bat about 5" diameter. It crunches down if I carry it in the pack for too long, but it's no big deal because it reshapes easily. The important part is that you cut the tapering handle part so that you can sort of fit your lips inside of it. Check your PMs.
From: WapitiBob
21-Jan-19
Wiffle bat and a bugle tube holder on the pack or belt.
From: cubdrvr
21-Jan-19
I’m going to try the duct tape on my diy. It’s a NEW lol toilet plunger from wally world 4.97$. Threw the handle away. Actually sounds better calling into the small end which might defeat the purpose.
From: Franklin
21-Jan-19
Don`t laugh....but I use a section of the good retractable vacuum cleaner hose. When retracted it`s about 8" long....you can extend it to over 2' and bend it any direction you want.
From: Surfbow
22-Jan-19
I used to used a 12" piece of flexible hot tub hose, it was ok. I picked up a Phelps tube last summer and it wipes the floor with my old Home Depot model...
From: elkstabber
22-Jan-19
Surfbow: what do you mean? Is the Phelps tube good or not? I missed something...
From: BullBuster
22-Jan-19
That is definitely a toilet bowl plunger. Haha
From: longspeak74
22-Jan-19
I made some modifications to the homemade tube last night and finished it up. Elkstabber suggested making the end opening bigger for added volume. Worked like a charm!
From: longspeak74
22-Jan-19
View of front opening
From: elkstabber
22-Jan-19
Cool! Glad it worked out for you.
From: Kodiak
22-Jan-19
Bring a ball for some fun time in camp.
From: Mule Power
22-Jan-19
Size matters. Bigger might be more work to carry but they sound so much more real. I mean.... if you’ve had bulls up close screaming you know those little tubes will never compare.
From: longspeak74
22-Jan-19
Planning to club some grouse during my downtime.
From: Surfbow
22-Jan-19
elkstabber, the Phelps tube is great!
