Whats the best predator decoy?

[huntinfool14]

just curious to what you guys are using for a predator decoy? im looking a buying one i just dont know what one will work the best..

[Black Squirrel]

I saw an actual full size plastic coyote, at Fleet Farm yesterday. Not sure how good they work, it cost $89 bucks.

[matt1336]

I tried frozen rabbits postitioned so it looked like they were sitting. Worked ok- I wasn't able to connect w/ one though. Those tuff suckers had the rabbit gone the next day. It's amazing how strong their jaws are.

[dan]

I don't use a decoy. I just shoot em when they circle in to check out the call.

[Sam Ubl]

I don't use a decoy. I just shoot em when they circle in to check out the call.

Well, sounds like you're limiting your odds.

[dan]

Really? Seems to have worked pretty good for me so far.

[solocam88]

Coyotes always investigate a call by coming in downwind. You need to setup so they have to cross an opening or a field in order to get to the downwind side. Then you pop them the first chance you get. Usually they dont even have a chance to see a decoy.

[Sam Ubl]

Really? Seems to have worked pretty good for me so far.

Not meant to offend.. But to answer your question, yes, I think so, at least for particular set ups - like open snow covered fields.

When you hear a deer coming, what do you do? You start to look in the direction you heard it coming from. When you hear a flock of geese, where do you look - in the sky in the direction you heard them.

Sure, you can have success without a decoy, I've been there many times, but what's the point in being so simplistic if there are things you can do to enhance your opportunity?

When you have a decoy, the visual focal point or source of the call no longer becomes your hiding place, it's directed at the decoy if you're using it appropriately (set up, size, visibility, etc).

Just like decoying deer, you set them up facing you since most bucks will approach head on. The purpose is to draw the eye away from you... Like we musky fisherman do as we dip the lure down or to the side before we go into the first turn of a follower. I'm not saying a coyote will approach the decoy head on, I'm just explaining the thought behind the decoys purpose - create a focal point for the fox/coyote so their not scanning for the source of the noise.

...let's just say that I used to approach my figure 8's the same way every time, even after so many flashoffs. Then I decided to unmold myself and apply an added approach which resulted in a LOT more fish in my boat.

Of course there are places decoys would have absolutely no effect, like huntin vast tumbleweed plains with brush to your knees every couple feet - Oregon comes to mind. When I yote hunted in Oregot, we set up on our bellys at the edge of a 20' cliff edge with a bipod on the AR-15's. We looked out over a couple miles of vastness with a couple little cliff hills and boulders, while the ground was dirt with knee high tumbleweed brush across it all. There we called and lay in wait... No problem without a decoy.

Here in Wisconsin, where do you find that sort of set up? Yeah, you can find a place where their only gonna come from one area and it's out in front of you. If they flank you, you'll see them first, but in most cases, we hunt fields which usually are surrounded by marsh, tall sage fields and hardwoods. They could come from any direction, even behind you, why not implement a decoy to help draw them out of the cover and keep their eyes at bay as they close in on the target?

[lungbuster]

Sam, no offence but have you ever seen any predator tv shows? I've not seen Les Johnson use a decoy ever and he seems to slay more than his fair share of yotes.

[Dewey]

Really? Seems to have worked pretty good for me so far.

Sure, you can have success without a decoy, I've been there many times, but what's the point in being so simplistic if there are things you can do to enhance your opportunity?

Nothing wrong with being simplistic. It's kinda like how some people like hunting with a compound bow and others prefer to hunt with traditional gear instead because it is simpler.
Whatever works and you enjoy doing is all that matters.

[huntinnurse]

A dead animal can make quite a nice decoy. Pick them off when they come in to eat.

[magicman54494]

My beard!

[solocam88]

My beard!

The question is whats the best decoy magic... Not the best bedding area.

[magicman54494]

My beard!

The question is whats the best decoy magic... Not the best bedding area.

What makes me mad is the wolves ate all the deer that were living in there.

[dan]

What makes me mad is the wolves ate all the deer that were living in there.

You must iof meant "deer tick's" not deer...