Carlton called the elk within 20 yards of his companion, who put an arrow through its lungs. Wayne instantly bugled. The bull walked 50 to 60 yards over a small hill and was so close that they heard it fall. Later, the antlers scored 328 points, big enough to rank about No. 80 in the Pope and Young Club records.
    Of course, not all of Carlton 's hunts have been so successful. He failed to call in the biggest elk he's ever seen, mainly because his companion tried to stalk it and spooked the animal. Later, a poacher killed it during deer season and the unique antlers are how in custody of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The elk could have been one of the biggest 10 bulls ever taken by bowhunters.
    On the first day of archery season last year Wayne bugled 15 to 20 minutes in one spot. After getting no response, he left his bow on the ground and walked about eight paces to the edge of a cliff. Careful glassing revealed five spikes and several cow elk below the cliff. Suddenly a branch popped behind him. Turning slowly, he saw a magnificent bull with heavy six-point antlers standing just 16 paces away. The elk stood there for three or four minutes before running away. Evidently, it was so early in the season that the bull didn't have the urge to bugle, though he definitely was looking for whatever had been challenging him.
    Learning to use a mouth diaphragm is difficult, but I think it's much easier than trying to call with your voice. After learning Carlton's method, I practiced for about five hours before getting my first satisfac­tory bugle. I needed several more weeks to perfect the call, practicing two to three hours a week. But I had never used a mouth diaphragm before, and I'm sure that somebody who had could learn much faster.
    A diaphragm call consists of three parts. The first is a U-shaped metal clip. A thin sheet of latex or other flexible material is stretched tightly between the two arms of the U. Double-reed models have two sheets of latex, one slightly shorter than the other. A skirt made of rubber or a soft fabric covers the clip and extends around the outside of it.
    The diaphragm is placed against the roof of the mouth, the arms of the U pointing toward the teeth. The tongue holds the call in place and directs air over the reed. Tongue pressure against the reed varies thetone. The skirt prevents air from escaping over the reed. Basically, the greater the air volume and the tighter the tongue pushes against the reed, the higher the pitch. To get a bawling sound, you must growl at the same time as you blow across the reed.
    A good way to learn to bugle is to get a tape or record of bugling elk; then just prac­tice until you can copy the bugles. I used a Johnny Stewart record to help me perfect my calling. Carlton now has his own tape on the market. It features two sequences of Carlton and Pink calling in Colorado bulls after the bow season last year. It also contains some good hunting advice and tips on using the mouth caller.