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Belmont Boy Is World Elk-Calling Champion
by Hank Pellissier, special to SF Gate
July 21, 2003
Greg Hubbell Jr. is a local suburban lad who is gifted with the wilderness instincts of a veteran frontiersman. The fresh-faced young Davy Crockett from Belmont is an age-group world champion in elk calling, a distinction he earned after he defeated backwoods rivals from rural states such as Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Colorado. There aren't any elk in his hometown, of course, so he developed his award-winning technique by studying educational videotapes and practicing with his father, Greg Hubbell Sr., a financial- investment planner and an avid outdoorsman. I interviewed the Greg Jr. and Greg Sr. duo in their sunny backyard while they fed me a barbecue lunch.
How old are you?
I'm eight, but I was just seven when I won the World Elk Bugling Championship in Reno, Nev., at the Hilton, in March. I did it in front of 900 people. I won in the 10-and-under Pee-Wee Division. I won $150, a pair of Leupold binoculars and a big golden trophy.
(Greg Sr.) It's freakish that he won. This little booger from a huge urban area, this city-slicker kid of mine, just totally body slammed all those Rocky Mountain kids that have herds of elk practically in their backyard. It's totally unique!
He was in second place after the preliminaries, but we worked hard before the finals to add in six additional cow-and-calf sounds. He can make two sounds at once -- one with his mouth and the other with his hand -- to mimic the noises of an entire herd.
Was it scary competing in front of a huge crowd of people?
No. Well, sort of. Winning the championship wasn't scary. But then, after I won, we did a "winner's circle" demonstration in front of 3,000 people, and that was kinda scary.
(Greg Sr.) Oh, please mention that the contest was sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. They raise a lot of money for the conservation of elk habitat, and they put an incredible 89 cents out of every dollar raised directly into conservation.
Is it difficult learning how to elk bugle? Did you have to practice a lot?
I practiced a little bit. I practice less than the other kids, because I'm a natural. I learn fast. I have a good ear. I learn by listening to a tape of a guy who teaches you how to elk call, and my dad teaches me, too.
(Greg Sr.) He learned how to call elk in just 12 days. He's phenomenal! When I learned how to call elk, it took me four months and three tongue bleeds to learn how. I've been calling elk for 15 years, but he's much better than me. I know guys who have been trying for 12 years, and they can't do it. Elk calling creates very uncomfortable vibrations inside you, and many people just get a gag reflex when they try it.
When did you start competing?
My first competition was when I just six. I got a prize in turkey calling at the International Sportsmen's Exposition Youth Outdoors Fair in San Mateo. I
by Hank Pellissier, special to SF Gate
July 21, 2003
Greg Hubbell Jr. is a local suburban lad who is gifted with the wilderness instincts of a veteran frontiersman. The fresh-faced young Davy Crockett from Belmont is an age-group world champion in elk calling, a distinction he earned after he defeated backwoods rivals from rural states such as Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Colorado. There aren't any elk in his hometown, of course, so he developed his award-winning technique by studying educational videotapes and practicing with his father, Greg Hubbell Sr., a financial- investment planner and an avid outdoorsman. I interviewed the Greg Jr. and Greg Sr. duo in their sunny backyard while they fed me a barbecue lunch.
How old are you?
I'm eight, but I was just seven when I won the World Elk Bugling Championship in Reno, Nev., at the Hilton, in March. I did it in front of 900 people. I won in the 10-and-under Pee-Wee Division. I won $150, a pair of Leupold binoculars and a big golden trophy.
(Greg Sr.) It's freakish that he won. This little booger from a huge urban area, this city-slicker kid of mine, just totally body slammed all those Rocky Mountain kids that have herds of elk practically in their backyard. It's totally unique!
He was in second place after the preliminaries, but we worked hard before the finals to add in six additional cow-and-calf sounds. He can make two sounds at once -- one with his mouth and the other with his hand -- to mimic the noises of an entire herd.
Was it scary competing in front of a huge crowd of people?
No. Well, sort of. Winning the championship wasn't scary. But then, after I won, we did a "winner's circle" demonstration in front of 3,000 people, and that was kinda scary.
(Greg Sr.) Oh, please mention that the contest was sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. They raise a lot of money for the conservation of elk habitat, and they put an incredible 89 cents out of every dollar raised directly into conservation.
Is it difficult learning how to elk bugle? Did you have to practice a lot?
I practiced a little bit. I practice less than the other kids, because I'm a natural. I learn fast. I have a good ear. I learn by listening to a tape of a guy who teaches you how to elk call, and my dad teaches me, too.
(Greg Sr.) He learned how to call elk in just 12 days. He's phenomenal! When I learned how to call elk, it took me four months and three tongue bleeds to learn how. I've been calling elk for 15 years, but he's much better than me. I know guys who have been trying for 12 years, and they can't do it. Elk calling creates very uncomfortable vibrations inside you, and many people just get a gag reflex when they try it.
When did you start competing?
My first competition was when I just six. I got a prize in turkey calling at the International Sportsmen's Exposition Youth Outdoors Fair in San Mateo. I
