Cow calls are consistent and reassuring to the herd — so for callers, they require precision to avoid alarming the herd with a wonky sound. World elk-calling champion Cody McCarthy shares the right amount of tongue pressure and diaphragm air to master this crucial call.

A change in pitch and duration sets a calf's call apart from the basic cow call. Pick up pointers from Cody on the best way to get the little chirp.

Start threading emotion into your calling as you learn to master the location bugle — a higher, longer call between elk trying to get in touch. It's a great call for hunters as they try to determine whether elk are nearby.

A realistic chuckle separates a good elk caller from a great one. These aggressive grunts are bulls' way of asserting dominance. Cody breaks down the chuckle into three parts to learn at your own pace.

Start a screaming match with a bull elk using the hyper-aggressive challenge bugle. It's faster, meaner and more emotive than a location bugle. Be sure to add in those chuckles to spark some extra territorial rage.

This fun, complex call is a bull screaming "Come to me!" to a harem of elk. When you get it right, it's sure to bring the cows — and a super pissed-off bull — running at you. We suggest moving to your shooting position after you lip-bawl!

You might not find a lot of use for barks when you're out hunting, but it's crucial to know what they sound like. Get familiar with barks, the way elk sound the alarm when they sense danger, like a predator … or you.

In areas with a high ratio of cows to bulls, you often hear cows shrilly screaming at the bulls that they're ready to be bred. With the right throaty and nasally inflections, callers can bring a bull running.

Sometimes mixed in with an estrous buzz, sometimes a more subtle call on its own, the estrous mew is a cow's way of asking a bull, "Please?" A slight fluctuation in air pressure and nasally sound define the estrous mew.

Sometimes bulls sound like elk, and sometimes they sound like dragons. Listen closely for patterns in vocalizations from elk in your area. Cody shares some of his favorite variations on the basic bugle that he's picked up from decades-hunting elk.

The most important part of hunting and calling is just getting out there. For folks who can't use mouth calls, this dive into external calls explains how to apply the lessons using mouth calls to a push-button call like the Slayer Calls Enchantress.

A big thank you from Slayer Calls
Thank you for subscribing to Call the Wild and for trusting Slayer Calls. You can find me, Cody McCarthy on Instagram @CodyMcCarthy47. I’m happy to answer any questions you have! The entire Slayer team is also here for you, always! Please don’t hesitate to reach ...