Radical Elk Hunting Strategies by Mike Lapinski -- WRONG!?!

[aengel]

     I just finished a tense reading of    "Radical Elk Hunting Strategies: Secrets of Calling Elk in Close"
by Mike Lapinkski.

     I have read several other elk books, and Mr. Lapinski's technique is in stark contrast to what other author's preach.  I have been so wowed by Mr. Lapinsi's techniques that I am going to adopt his techniques whole hog this season.

     Have you read this book?  Am I wrong!

     The book is available from the King County Library System, or for only $14.95 at Amazon.com.
I am not paid to endorse this book, nor do I work for Amazon.com.

      Here is the review at Amazon :

In clear and lucid text, expert Mike Lapinski takes up elk hunting where other writers leave off -- the secrets of calling elk in close. Any hunter who's worked elk knows the real test of calling elk in comes in the last 60-70 yards and Mike Lapinski has developed a solid strategy for accomplishing just that.

As both a writer and recognized expert bowhunter, Lapinski has taken a number of bull elk over the past several years using his "radical elk hunting stragegies." His system works in both text and photograph, and this new book shows you how you can make it work too! With chapters on the rut, radical hunting techniques, working the immature bull, the herd bull, and others. Lapinski helps both the rifle and bowhunter who go after elk in the early season.

About the Author
Mike Lapinski is one of the most widely-published writers in the elk hunting world. His byline appears frequently in numerous national magazines such as Outdoor Life, Petersen's Hunting, Bowhunter, and others. Mike was born in Pennsylvania and noved west to Idaho in 1970. He now resides in western Montana with his wife, Agnes. He also has appeared in numerous elk hunting videos describing his elk hunting strategies and methods.


Publisher: Stoneydale Press (November 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0912299428
ISBN-13: 978-0912299426

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I read the book back when it first came out and even talked to Mike at the sportsmans show and I agree with his Philosophy except I rely on cow calls more than he does, my experience in Washington has been once I get close a bugle seems to send them into the next drainage in a hurry, bugling at me as they go! I cannot run as fast as an elk so I try to sound like a cow once I get close and usually an elk will try to eyeball me, though not always the bull

[Curly]

What is the author's philosophy?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

He advocates that upon getting a response from a bull to RUN to as close as you can get to him before calling, not trying to call him to you. that is a simplification but the basic idea.

[WonkyWapiti]

My buddy lent me this book to read four years ago after some rough days hunting and not having any luck.  My buddy and I had stumbled across a huge 6 by but ended up spooking it off.  Well that night I read the book.  The next afternoon we went out to the same area and set up and just waited.  Our goal was to hang out and wait until a cut off time of 7 PM when we would try a bugle.  7 PM came and we bugled, our big bull bugled back and we exchanged some bugles back and forth for about a half hour but he wasn't coming any closer.

For those that haven't read the book, Lapinski's basic premise is that many of your bulls are happy to stay where they are knowing that you (pretending to be another bull) are far enough away not to be a threat.  Once you advance into their danger zone is when you really want to bugle.  Well we advanced to within 75 yards and hit the bugle and boy did all hell break loose.  This guy was pissed and was snorting and stamping and thrashing thru the trees to get to us.  At this point I actually thought to myself, "What the hell did we just do?"  This guy came right at us but where we ended up meeting him there were too many trees.  I tried cow calling at that point to help my buddy get a good shot.  My buddy ended up breaking a branch when he tried to move to a better spot to get his arrow off and off went Mr. Elk.  It was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had and it made me a believer in that book.

[bankwalker]

He advocates that upon getting a response from a bull to RUN to as close as you can get to him before calling, not trying to call him to you. that is a simplification but the basic idea.

ive seen a hunting show where they did that. worked like a charm on tv.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I always try to get as close as I can when I hear a bugle and if it is a hunter, oh well, but a couple of really soft cow calls and I rake a tree usually gets some attention, An awfull lot of times I only hear low volume squeals not full volume bugles that turn into really nice bulls.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've done this.  It works.  I'd post some more calling tactics suggestions, unfortunately too many WA hunters seem to think it's cool to go out preseason, or during the other weapons' seasons, and screw around with elk calls.  Nothing trashes rut hunting elk worse than a bunch of previous negative experiences survived due to selfish a-holes with calls messing with elk.

[runningboard]

unfortunately too many WA hunters seem to think it's cool to go out preseason, or during the other weapons' seasons, and screw around with elk calls.  Nothing trashes rut hunting elk worse than a bunch of previous negative experiences survived due to selfish a-holes with calls messing with elk

I agree, a couplr of my friends and I have telling guys for years "you're just educating them." but they persist in going out and bugling with the bulls, sometimes all night long. and then when seasons open the bulls seem to KNOW what bugles are people.

[TheHunt]

+1

[Shawn Ryan]

I've read Mike's book and seen some of his videos.  His strategy works for him.  I've tried his strategy of pushing hard twice (two different years) with success, but no blood.  Both times I knew a bull was in a particular hollow.  After he bugled within 100-150 yards, I ran as fast as I could and as loud as I could straight at his bugle, swapping bugles with him.  Both times, the bull came crashing towards me.  The first time, he and I danced for about 25 minutes trying to get position on each other; at no time was he greater than 40 yards from me.  I intentionally broke branches and stomped the ground the whole time.  Whenever he tried to get uphill on me, I'd clamber higher than him.  The cover was thick, but I could see parts of him most of the time.  While he raked some trees, I tried to get a shooting position on him.  I never could.  The second year, he came in to my crashing and bugling.  He only lasted a few minutes before he smelled us.  The second time my 71 year old Dad was with me.  Maybe too much odor that time.  Very fun.  I intend to use the strategy next week in the same hollow; maybe with the same bull.  Maybe, because I like stealth most of the time.

[Elknut1]

  We use a few aggressive methods as well. We take it up a notch at times to better our odds! This type of method is best used on herd bulls, you can run off the smaller subordinate bulls with to much aggressiveness steered in the wrong direction. Know the bull you're working & proceed accordingly! Never, ever call your way to a bull & announce your intentions!!

  ElkNut1