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Author Topic: Deke ?? Kokopelli SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice Member # 633 posted December 13, 2006 10:50 AM                      I'm wondering how many here actually use decoys. I see them in a number of respected videos and they seem to work well. My experiences however, have pretty much been just the opposite. The coyotes seem to be intimidated at best and outright spooked at worst. Anyone else have problems with decoys?? -------------------- And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it. Posts: 7589 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005  |  IP: Logged Tim Behle Administrator MacNeal Sector Member # 209 posted December 13, 2006 03:21 PM                       I like to use them for cats. But for coyotes, I've yet to find one that gave me more positives than negatives. For coyotes, I pretty much think that they are a waste, by the time the coyote can see it, I should have him in my sights. -------------------- Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass kickin'. Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged JD HONORARY OKIE .... and Tim's at fault! Member # 768 posted December 13, 2006 03:24 PM                   I`m with Tim on this one although a decoy might make for an interesting video opportunity. Just one more thing to carry IMO. -------------------- Jason -------------------------------------- What do Obama & TA17Rem have in common........both are clueless asshats!!! Posts: 1456 | From: NE. | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged Andy L HI, I'M THE NEW MODERATOR OF THE CENTRAL MISSOURI FORUM, PULL MY FINGER! Member # 642 posted December 13, 2006 03:46 PM                   The only good luck I have had with decoys was on the snow. I have some tanned rabbit hides that I have put those toy weasel balls in and hook it on the bottom strand of a fence. They seem to see it from way out. Otherwise, like Tim, by the time they see the decoy, they are dead or Im cussin a miss. -------------------- Andy Posts: 2645 | From: Central Missouri | Registered: Apr 2005  |  IP: Logged UTcaller NEVADA NIGHT FIGHTER Member # 8 posted December 13, 2006 03:51 PM                    Yea,I agree I never use a decoy for coyotes.No need.Plus one less thing to carry to a stand.Hell I find myself leaving the Foxpro back at the truck more times than I care to admit.That's probably why I call more coyotes with hand calls.Not because it(foxpro) won't call them in i'm just to damn lazy to pack it to my stand.lol I usually always take the foxpro and the enticer decoy when I'm targeting bobcats though.Good Hunting Chad Posts: 1627 | From: Utah | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged TRnCO FUTURE HALL OF FAMER Member # 690 posted December 13, 2006 04:42 PM                    I also don't use a decoy. With that said, I'm trying something different this year. I am going to BE the decoy, or at least the "motor" for a decoy. I've got a fox puppet that I am going to wear/use and see what kind of response I get with it. Actually have used it some already, and so far have had some mixed reactions with it. Just something else to play with while playing with the coyotes! -------------------- Is it hunting season yet? I hate summer! Posts: 996 | From: Elizabeth, CO | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged TA17Rem Hello, I'm the legendary Tim Anderson, Field Marshall, Southern Minneesota Sector Member # 794 posted December 13, 2006 07:08 PM                    [ March 28, 2010, 09:01 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ] -------------------- What if I told you, the left wing and right wing both belong to same bird! Posts: 5086 | From: S.D. | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged DAA Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director Member # 11 posted December 13, 2006 07:43 PM                       I've been using a decoy on most stands this year. Haven't seen what I'd consider a negative reaction yet. Most commonly, they just stop and stare at it. Some have flared when they see it, but they have all just side loped off a short distance before stopping to look back. Have had a few instances where the second half of a double has stayed put after the first shot, staring at the decoy. Had one come all the way in and almost bite it, then flared off about 20 yards, only to turn right around and run right back to it again - like he just wanted to smell something better so bad he had to try once more. - DAA -------------------- "Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969. Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged scruffy Knows what it's all about Member # 725 posted December 13, 2006 07:56 PM                   I haven't used my predator supreme much (most of the time I've had it the dowel was broken, stepped on by wife on "accident"....) but I've recently gotten it back working again, new dowel, some oil in the engine quieted it down some. I've used it twice that I can remember. Once I called a house cat, stray, and it went up and batted it around. Doesn't prove anything, unless you have a feral cat problem. The second time out was the saturday after thanksgiving, and like I said in another post the coyote was locked on it, tunnel vision, I could move to get positioned on the coyote without it busting me, she was only 150 yards SE of me and closing with the decoy infront of me 30 yards to the straight east. The coyote was running directly at me, but looking at the decoy. The closer she got the more at ease she looked and the faster she came in. From 150 to 120 she was checking up every 5 yards but when she hit 115 she was coming in and I barked her to a stop at 100 for the shot. I could have let her come on in but I was afraid she'd come all the way in, 180, and afterburner out. Although I hear all the time where they get to the decoy and stop, I don't trust it. Atleast not yet. The reason I wanted the decoy, and am starting to use it more, is because in my area the coyotes who use the terrain, which is most of them, can get in position to see me before I see them, and are often gone without me knowing they were there. Both the cat and the coyote saw the decoy and were locked on it before I saw them. And I could get positioned for the shot (move rifle/sticks a smidge) without being noticed. Both stands were there was alot of close cover. On the coyote I had 40 acres of CRP to my back (other side of the fence), a timber draw to my right 100 or less yards away, and terraces in the field to my north 200 yards away. So the coyote could look over my shoulder, from the timber 100 yards away, or peek over the terrace 200 yards away likely without me knowing it or atleast without me getting a good shot. Since I'm using mouth calls and want to get the attention off of me and onto something else I'm testing the predator supreme decoy (as well as a couple other things). Hopefully it'll "pull" coyotes from the cover atleast far enough I can see them, however having them run at the decoy is enjoyable. So I'll have an opinion by spring. Ideally I can find a spot on a farm where I can call and give the coyote an approach route that he feels safe to use yet exposes himself for a shot, but that's not always the case. On those farms where a coyote can slip in and out, that's where I hope the decoy helps. later, scruffy -------------------- Git R Done Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005  |  IP: Logged Kokopelli SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice Member # 633 posted December 14, 2006 08:49 AM                      Interesting replies. Thanx!! When I started useing decoys it was to cover the motion of drawing the bow. Coyotes are kind of hard to get an arrow into & I came to the conclusion that placement of the caller in relation to the shooter mattered more. Later......when the experience of having a coyote charge all of the way in was worth more than the fur, I thought that it would be kind of neat to let one actually chew on the decoy just to see it's reaction when it realized the big 'oops'. Didn't work out that way. I've had more than a couple of coyotes up on their hind legs trying to get the caller off of a barrel cactus or out of a low Joshua Tree.(I mist the caller) When I added the decoy, I noticed a tendency for the coyote to flare to the downwind or do a 180° as soon as it spotted the deke. Not at all what I had in mind. TA17REM; What kind of reaction are you getting with that coyote decoy?? -------------------- And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it. Posts: 7589 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005  |  IP: Logged Greenside seems to know what he is talking about Member # 10 posted December 14, 2006 10:03 AM                   Posts: 719 | From: IA | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged TA17Rem Hello, I'm the legendary Tim Anderson, Field Marshall, Southern Minneesota Sector Member # 794 posted December 14, 2006 12:21 PM                    [ March 28, 2010, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ] -------------------- What if I told you, the left wing and right wing both belong to same bird! Posts: 5086 | From: S.D. | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged scruffy Knows what it's all about Member # 725 posted December 14, 2006 02:00 PM                   Kokopelli, what kind of decoy was used that caused the coyotes to 180°??? I'm trying to imagine why a coyote would turn and run in fear from my little cute cuddly PS decoy, and the only thing I can think of is someone else used a decoy similar and educated the coyote to what was going on? TA17Rem, if you ever get tired of that coyote decoy let me know. I'd like to do a test with it. I'll set it up in my area or Rich C's area about 400 yards from the road and see how many trucks drive by before one stops and someone shoots it from the road. Heck, if we did the test during harvest time would be a race. Who would shoot it first, the guys in the pickups or the farmers in the combines and tractors? later, scruffy [ December 14, 2006, 02:02 PM: Message edited by: scruffy ] -------------------- Git R Done Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005  |  IP: Logged Kokopelli SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice Member # 633 posted December 14, 2006 04:36 PM                      Scruffy; The one that caused the worst reactions was the spastic dancing hairball w/eyes & tail. Don't remember the brand name. It got 'shotgun tuned' one dark and dreary day. I had slightly better luck with the RigorRabbit (Still and/or motorized) possibly because it sits on the ground and is not as visable. As to why a coyote that's coming in to a distress cry would be intimidated by a decoy, I have no idea. Makes no sense to me, but I've seen it happen often enough to be convinced that for my set-ups a decoy doesn't bring anything to the party. -------------------- And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it. Posts: 7589 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005  |  IP: Logged Rich Higgins unknown comic posted December 15, 2006 06:04 AM              Kokopelli, I've played with decoys quite a bit and they often have the opposite effect of their intended use. The white Enticer spooked more coyotes than it attracted, although the black Enticer was very effective. When I used to take my little blond Pomeranian calling with me, she spooked as many coyotes as she attracted. IP: Logged Paul Melching Radical Operator Forum "You won't get past the front gate" Member # 885 posted December 15, 2006 06:40 AM                   Ive had good results with the jack in the box however I covered it with a bunny skin. If Ive spooked any I probably didnt know it.Have brought in bobcat and coyote. The one that works the best for me is the woodpecker.I removed the foam wing and replaced it with pheasant tail feathers cut down to a smaller size make a good motion and the batteries last longer. with all that said the coyotes seem to come to call with or without a decoy I feel it only helps me in that they get focused on the decoy allowing me to move without being as noticable.I also have had coyotes jump up and grab th caller out of trees and shrubs where I placed them. -------------------- Those who value security over liberty soon will have neither ! Posts: 4188 | From: The forest ! north of the dez. | Registered: Jul 2006  |  IP: Logged scruffy Knows what it's all about Member # 725 posted December 15, 2006 06:59 AM                   Thanks for the info, I'll be very selective by only using it for setups where the cover and terrain is extremely in the coyotes favor. Spots where I have little chance, maybe 5%, of seeing a reponding coyote. In those situations even if the decoy scares off 90% of the responding coyotes but pulls 10% of the responding coyotes out of the cover I've doubled the number of coyotes I see on those stands. Yea, I could just not call those farms, but calling and killing a coyote on that farm might, by word of mouth, get me on three other farms that are perfect for calling. So I try to kill them whereever I can. Besides, those low percentage farms are perfect for testing/perfecting using new calls, equipment, etc so when I go to my "honey holes" I have all the bugs worked out and they go smoothly. A different kind of "deke", but I've been testing an "audio decoy" also. In the timber or areas where a "visual decoy" doesn't work well I've been using a little cass creek auxilary speaker (cost like $20 or less?, runs on 4 AA's, fits in pocket, camoed, comes with 3' and 25' cords) and I have an MP3 velcro'd to the back of it. I have 4 memory cards with different coaxing setups on them like woodpecker, rodent, high pitched rabbit, etc, and can save different sounds on them as needed so as I recall sections I can change the sound used incase I educated a coyote to a certain sound previously. The coat pocket sized e-caller plays at low to medium volume, depending on wind, terrain, etc. I set it up, turn it on, walk back, and it's setup to run for 20 minutes after a 3 minute silent intro (most people could get by with 1 minute, but I like 3...). Anyway, this audio "deke" works like a visual decoy in that it directs the focus of the coyote off of my location (mouth calls) and onto a bush, a brushy fence post, brush pile, up in a tree (woodpecker), etc. I try to locate the e-coaxer where a wounded animal would likely be. I use my mouth calls like I normally would, which is sparingly, and hopefully as a coyote approaches he'll hear the audio "deke" and lock onto it. So maybe the audio "deke" would work better than the visual "deke" as far as spooking fewer coyotes. Only one way to find out, stands, stands, stands. Unfortunately if the decoy spooks the coyote I'll never know it because of the cover/terrain on the stands where I'd use a deke, so I'll have to go by averages, like when using mouth calls my call up rate was x% using the visual decoy, x% using the audio decoy, and x% using both together. At the rate I'm going, 1 stand a week with my current schedule, I'll have an answer on which works best for me 20 years from now, LOL. later, scruffy [ December 15, 2006, 07:02 AM: Message edited by: scruffy ] -------------------- Git R Done Posts: 361 | From: south central Iowa | Registered: Nov 2005  |  IP: Logged Kokopelli SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice Member # 633 posted December 16, 2006 07:23 AM                      Rich; Any insigh as to WHY a decoy or a Pom would spook a coyote?? This seems to go against everything coyote-ish. Best theory I've come up with involves sub-dominates or coyotes trespassing in another's territory. Skittish to begin with. Kind of weak as theorys go, but nothing else I've come up with makes much sense so far. -------------------- And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it. Posts: 7589 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005  |  IP: Logged TRnCO FUTURE HALL OF FAMER Member # 690 posted December 16, 2006 08:41 AM                    My theory is that most decoys look un-natural! -------------------- Is it hunting season yet? I hate summer! Posts: 996 | From: Elizabeth, CO | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged Az-Hunter Hi, I'm Vic WELCOME TO THE U.S. Free baloney sandwiches here Member # 17 posted December 16, 2006 10:25 AM                   Here in Arizona, we don't have wide open fields, covered with snow, where a coyote can actually "see" the damned thing. Any where I usually hunt, you could drop down on your belly, get your eyes at coyote level, maybe 14" or so,and be within 20 yards of the decoy, and still, not be able to see it. As Tim mentioned, there just aren't enough benefits to using one in our area, to be of any real benefit. Like Ive said many times.....the best decoy you have, is the one that makes the sound:) Posts: 1633 | From: 5 miles west of Tim | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged

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