Elk Diaphragm Basics #5: How to Bark like an ElkUpdated 4 months ago

We get a lot of questions here at Phelps Game Calls around how to bark—whether it’s a standard bark, a bark scream, or a bark chuckle. Elk bark for a variety of reasons, most often in response to potential threats such as predators or humans, and in an effort gather their herd together and become more alert. 

When hunters hear an elk bark, most would normally assume their hunt is over...but, if you use the techniques outlined below, it doesn't have to be! 

Step 1: Understanding the Bark

• A bark is essentially an exaggerated grunt-chuckle.
• It requires a lot of air volume—use your diaphragm and tighten your stomach.
• It’s a quick burst of air that rushes across the reed.
• Start at a high pitch, let it drop off, and add a “gut punch” inflection at the end.
• Airflow is key! Many people don’t use enough air—don’t hold back!

Step 2: Barking Without a Tube

• You can adjust the tone:
  • High-pitched bark
  • Mid-range bark
  • Low-to-high-to-low bark
• The type of bark depends on the scenario.

Step 3: When and How to Use a Bark

• When a bull barks at you, he’s demanding you show yourself. If you don’t, he may think something’s off.
• If a bull barks and chuckles but hasn’t seen or smelled you, bark back—this can restart the dialogue and keep him engaged.
• If you’re going to rush in on a bull, do a bark followed by a big scream to close the distance fast.
• When a bull barks at you and you’re unsure if he’s spooked, bark back—sometimes, this keeps him from fully retreating.

If he’s caught your wind, it’s usually game over—but a well-timed bark can sometimes change the situation.

We hope you've enjoyed our Elk Diaphragm 101 series up to this point! If you've found this helpful, we'd highly recommend subscribing to our Youtube Channel via this link! We release new content periodically, and encourage you to take a look whenever you have the time! 

As always, please make sure to watch the video created by Dirk Durham below. Dirk barks, there's really not much more to it than that--but, it's 100% worth the watch!, especially if you've ever found yourself barked at by a big bull. This technique has the potential to save your hunt when it counts!