How to Make Elk Bugle Tubes

Elk hunters often attribute their success to the mimicking calls they make on elk bugle tubes. These calls consist of everything from chirps and mews to chuckles and barks. Elk bugle tubes can be purchased from stores; however, because these tubes are very simple, many hunters choose to create their own with a few materials such as a plastic tube, camouflage tape or fabric and a tube tamer, which is a ridged rubber mouthpiece that attaches to the end of a tube for controlling the sound of elk calls.

Things You'll Need

  • PVC pipe (approximately 1 to 2 feet long and 2 inches in diameter)
  • Crosscut saw or power saw
  • Camouflage-patterned duct tape
  • Electric tape
  • Scissors
  • Tube tamer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a piece of PVC pipe with a crosscut saw or power saw so that it is approximately 1 to 2 feet long.

    • 2

      Tightly wrap the PVC pipe in camouflage-patterned duct tape. The more tape you add, the more realistic your elk calls should sound because the tape insulates the tube for a deeper sound. If you can't find camouflage duct tape, wrap the tube with camouflage fabric and tape in place with any color of electric tape.

    • 3

      Attach a tube tamer to one end of the tube by stretching it tightly on the end of the PVC pipe. This is where you will place your mouth to make the elk calls. Leave the opposite end open for the sound to come out. Tube tamers have a specially made ridged rubber design to help tame the vibration of your voice in the tube and create cleaner sounds for more authentic calls.

    • 4

      Test out calls on your elk bugle tube to make sure the sound is satisfactory. Wrap with additional tape or fabric if you wish.