An Oregon man is this year’s world elk calling champion. It’s a distinct talent that apparently runs in the family.
The World Elk Calling Championship was in Salt Lake City this month, drawing dozens of people who took their turn before the judges.
The winner of the Professional Division was Bryan Langley of McMinnville. He describes his winning bugle.
“I just went to Walmart and bought a Wiffle Ball bat, cut the ends off of it and put a fleece cover over it.”
Langley had four children compete as well. His daughter, Moriah, placed first in the Pee-Wee division, followed by his son, Gavin.
“They were excited, they’ve been driving their mom nuts for months, getting ready for the competition.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq9PUkoHKX8
A member of the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde, Langley says he hunts elk on the reservation or other parts of Oregon.
“Even how loud we can be with a bugle, really doesn’t even compare to a real live elk. I mean, they’re pretty intimidating at times, when you’ve got a big bull elk screaming down the back of your neck, make the hairs stand up.”
The annual contest is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. It uses proceeds towards wildlife conservation efforts.
