Elk: Latex Call Lifespan?
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
So last year, myself and my hunting partner decided to take up elk hunting , for real instead of just having a tag in our pockets. He hit the calling practice hard and got good at elk sounds but our strategy was off. But we had some close up and intense action!
It took me awhile to find a reed that I could comfortably use with predictable results. (having a partial dental complicated things; just take it out) I have two that I rotate for practice and two new ones and I can’t just pop down to the store and buy a couple. Should I stock up?
Ps: If anyone finds a gut pile and some dentures nearby, I’ll trade you a tenderloin for them :)
I wish the random tech problem with adding pics to a post would get fixed.
I have same problem as you and I have yet to find one that works well, I had a partial for pry 12 years and finally got a bridge but I think it still messed with the shape of my palate. I just ordered 4 different ones to try, it gets expensive especially when you cant get them to work.
It's a good idea to have several New backups in camp. I'd have a good one I plan on using & a 2nd one with a little broke in time on it on my person; just in case!
P.S. I had a retainer a couple years back & I have a very narrow palate to boot, with persistence it took me aprox 15 minutes to get my favorite palate plate reeds to start sounding OK. By next day I had it down pretty darned good. I do remember having to slightly re-position the reeds but it all worked out just dandy! -- The reeds you picture are from Chris, I've heard him call with them & they sounded great! Good Luck!
ElkNut
I am with Elknut. I keep 2 of each of the main ones that we use every year. Mine last a max of 2 years, no matter what brand. Just get too stretched out and even manipulating the diaphragm only extends the life a little, not a full season. As for the mouth fit, there are some that are much smaller that some people find as a better fit and hence easier to use. Good luck.
ElkNut, four of us bought the app before last season. There’s four wives that are now pretty much sick of you :)
I buy two of my favorites every year. Mine usually get nasty before the latex starts getting bad.
I got some that are 7 years old. Still work great. Keep them cool dry and out of any light
I've generally found that they're worthless the next year, but I'm not anal about taking care of my gear like a lot of guys are. I get new ones every year. They're only a few bucks.
Ha Ha! You would probably believe that I've heard that 100's of times! Man I'd hate to be caught in the same room with these ladies, I may not come out alive! (grin) Thanks!
ElkNut
12 years so far I have turkey calls 20 yr plus by keeping them in the side door of the fridge.
I usually have a few left over from the prior year that I use for practice the month leading up to season. I always start the season with at least 3/4 new reeds. Then repeat.
Ha! I’ve got you beat Ambush! I’ve got three kids that run around the house with me and they think that calls are lots of fun.
My wife has been trying to smother me in my sleep for years. I make my own coffee in the morning too.
^^^^ It’s especially fun when we’re in the truck on a road trip!
Just ordered a few for this year. Some years ago I figured I could do some discreet calling (turkey talk)during a high school girls basketball game my girls were playing in. Wow! Did I get the weird looks. My wife said what is wrong with you!! My girls even looked up in the stands with that look only your teenage daughters can give you! Left the calls home next game.
They are really pretty inexpensive in the big picture. I could re-use them every year, but I go ahead and get a couple new RAGING BULLS every year. Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls, formerly Bugling Bull Game Call Company, have multiple palate sizes available and I still honestly believe they are the best sounding calls made. They make great cow calls as well.
Unlike some who just dress up an old woods wise with colorful wood and call it an industry changer or an old whiffle ball bat dressed up as the next great grunter....LOL.
I keep my reeds in the fridge downstairs and I get 2-3 yrs out of mine. I’ve been using Bugling Bull/ Rocky Mtn diaphragms for years. They sound great and stand up to lots of use. Agreed they’re relatively inexpensive, but I’m not going to toss them when they’re still good. That, and the fact I’m kinda superstitious! ;-)
I like to have 3-4 backups when the season rolls around. Oddly enough, if you’re sold on a particular style and brand of diaphragm, they get damn hard to find in September. Also, it’s not uncommon for them to fall out of my pockets in the mountains. I’d much rather have too many than run out.
My Rocky Mountains would last a year if I was lucky. If used heavily, they’d start to tear on the edges before the end of a season.
I tried Phelps a couple years back and I can’t wear those out! I feel like they don’t work as well after heavy use, but that’s probably in my head. So I get a fresh one for the season, then use the old ones for practice and backup.
Really depends on the call, but out of all that I've used, the Phelps by far last the longest.
Darrell's Link
I found Glacier Country Calls about 7 or 8 years ago. I do a lot of intense calling and usually stretch out a reed in a few days time. The ones from Glacier Country have always lasted me complete season. Actually, I think I have only stretched/ruined one. I've lost a few, but can't blame the call for that. Thanks for the reminder. I just ordered two more. Probably don't need them but it was easier than digging through my stuff to make sure. :)
FYI I don't have any interest in them other than appreciation for a great product. Unfortunately, they don't pay me or give me my calls but they are good people I've dialogued with in the past.
I find the ones with colored latex last longer but it really depends on how much pressure you put on them and if you dip snuff, drink pop etc... I try to have at least three and always start season with new ones
I imagine how long they last depends on how much you use them. If you keep getting into elk and bugling several times a day for weeks, you'll go through them pretty fast. And if you hunt a couple of weekends a season, and bugle rarely, then they might last for years.
Rocky Mountain won't last a day (tried twice) others I think it depends on what day they were made... A new Primos will usually make it through season, 6 weeks.
Although I have plenty from years past, I've widdled it down to the reeds that work for me and need to toss a bunch. Carlton's were my recent Reed of choice. Now it will be the Natives by Carlton