Montana Decoys

[AZ RANGER]

What are your opinions on using a decoy for the early bull archery hunt. Are they worth spending 90.00? There are like three different Montana decoy elk. Which ones have you used with sucess? is this money beter spent on something else. I will hunt both spot and stalk and from a blind or tree stand.

 

Thanks

[bobbyo]

I think a decoy would be a waste of money. Get a call and get in shape. Once you hear the bugles you will need to move quickly into different positions. You will not want to carry a decoy around with you IMO.

Bob

[coueschaser3]

First off i think its really gonna depend on your hunting style. if you are sitting water or a treestand i would obviously see a decoy as a waste of time and money. on the other hand if you plan on calling a bull to you it is a very good idea, and montana decoys are very light weight and can be worth while to have if the bulls are slightly call shy. i have actually never used a decoy but i can think of a few over called areas in which i have called bulls in and wish i had one. The reason being if you are not in really really thick stuff and your gonna see the bull coming ive noticed if they hear a cow and dont see a cow they tend to get a little edgy. especially if they have been shot at or busted before you called them. Typically i bugle to locate and stalk from there rather than bringing the bull to me. My theory that is if the bull is not specifically looking for somthing he is less likely to expect me. a bull coming to a call expects to see elk but after realizing that calls can mean people sometime they are realy cautious and a decoy can definately give them some peace of mind and get you your shot.

[SilentButDeadly]

I've been thinking about getting one -- we are talking about the pop-up decoys -- the biggest factor would be weight and johnny-on-the-spot pop-up-ability. We've been thinking if you had one, you hear the bull, you pop the decoy up as you call him in and your caller hides behind it (personally I like the Wapiti-end decoy)...

[COOSEFAN]

I've used a decoy only a few times, but I can think of a bunch of times when I wish I had one! Like has been mentioned already, a decoy is most productive in open country. The bull is expecting to see an elk where the noise is coming from and he will either hold up until he sees that cow, wait for that cow to come the rest of the way to him or he'll skirt around looking for the cow and ultimately get your wind. In thick country a decoy is just a waste of time, the bull will be on you before he's worried about not seeing the cow. This illustrates the point that when calling bulls it's usually best to have a caller set up quite a ways behind you in line with your incoming bull. With or without a decoy this will work and seems to be the most productive, but in open country I think a decoy can give you some room for error in your set up. Sometimes you don't have time to find the perfect set up, this is where the decoy could be handy. Also, decoys can calm a bull into letting his guard down. This can buy you time when looking for a good shot or for a time to draw your bow, also can decrease the chances of the bull jumpin' the string. IMO, as long as you aren't fumbling with it, a decoy can be a great tool. Best of luck, JIM>

[IHunt2live]

I've never used one but I think they are a great idea. They will draw the bulls eyes way from you as you call and it might bring some of the bulls that hang up a little to far out in closer because they can see whats making that call.

[AZ RANGER]

Thanks for the input. I am leaning towards getting one with some of my econ. stim. check.

 

I hope some trigger happy hunter with a cow tag does'nt arrow me or my hunting partner.

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

Thanks for the input. I am leaning towards getting one with some of my econ. stim. check.

 

I hope some trigger happy hunter with a cow tag does'nt arrow me or my hunting partner.

 

 

Ouch! Just don't stand right behind it in thicker country..... Good Luck!

[.270]

i've done a lot of elk chasin' with a bow. i can't see where a decoy would be anything but a pain in the butt. you don't sit under a tree and call a bull in. they ain't turkeys or coyotes. you have to chase em until you can get between the bull and the cows and then make em think you're a cow with call. get a diaphram and learn how to use it. and learn how to sound like a cow really sounds. not like these stupid dang calls they advertise and use on tv. only one that sounds even a little decent is that hoochie mamma deal. but it is one dimensional. you can't vary the sounds. learn how to use a dipahram. learn how to sound like a bull, but forget about all the chucklin' and other stupid crap. learn how to sound like a bull really sounds. and get get in shape and get ready to run. Lark.

[azbownunter22]

I agree with Lark, stick with the basics and get it shape. Jimmy talked about placing your caller 75 yards behind, I couldn't agree more. Stay mobile and draw the bull past you to the caller and whack him. Be aggressive!!!!

[300 wsm]

They can work good on big bulls that are smart. We used one last year on my friends hunt. Sometimes the big bulls will come in, and if they dont see anything they will leave right away. But if you have a decoy up they will come in for a closer look. Plus the montana decoys, which is what I have are light. They also fold up to be put in a back pack.

[tjhunt2]

I've used a decoy only a few times, but I can think of a bunch of times when I wish I had one! Like has been mentioned already, a decoy is most productive in open country. The bull is expecting to see an elk where the noise is coming from and he will either hold up until he sees that cow, wait for that cow to come the rest of the way to him or he'll skirt around looking for the cow and ultimately get your wind. In thick country a decoy is just a waste of time, the bull will be on you before he's worried about not seeing the cow. This illustrates the point that when calling bulls it's usually best to have a caller set up quite a ways behind you in line with your incoming bull. With or without a decoy this will work and seems to be the most productive, but in open country I think a decoy can give you some room for error in your set up. Sometimes you don't have time to find the perfect set up, this is where the decoy could be handy. Also, decoys can calm a bull into letting his guard down. This can buy you time when looking for a good shot or for a time to draw your bow, also can decrease the chances of the bull jumpin' the string. IMO, as long as you aren't fumbling with it, a decoy can be a great tool. Best of luck, JIM>

 

I have to agree with Jim's reply here. There are many tools and technics that can be used in curtain situations and not all will work all the time. I personlly haven't tried Montana decoys but seen it demonstrated on a muzzleloader hunt in Nevada. It worked really well but then again they were hunting in a wilderness hunt where no other hunter was hunting. Safety is a big concern using any type of decoy.

 

I once made a cow decoy out of 1/4" plywood and boy did I look stupid carrying this thing around. Know it didn't work on the antelope but the cows thought I was cute.

 

TJ

[TLH]

A buddy of mine uses them when he is guiding hunters--he calls the bull with a cow call then walks the bull right in front of his hunter--most of the time the hunter has a 15 to 30 yard broadside shot. (he shields his self with the decoy and walks backward)

 

They are good if you have a buddy calling and working with you. By the way, Eric, my pal, had a female hunter last year that killed a 375" bull and that bull was the third bull he called into range for this gal--she missed two bigger bulls!

 

Eric uses the hind end decoy. If you want to use mine i will be happy to let ya take it for the season--you will save some bucks. I have the full body decoy. By the way, i used this decoy two years ago while guiding a Hunt of a Lifetime young man and we sat it up at the water hole--sure enough we had a couple rag horns come in to the tank after they held up half way--i cow called very lightly and they saw the decoy and came running in--the young one couldn't get a clean shot at the bulls and they walked off--it was a lot of fun even if we didn't kill a bull.

[Guest 300ultramag.]

Number 1

when they are bugling u need to capitalize... decoy or not u need to make it happen. (move quickly)

they bugled opening mornin last year and not another bugle for 2 weeks.

 

number 2

if the arrows arent flyin... they aint dyin'

 

 

GL that will be $2,00o dollars

[AZ RANGER]

A buddy of mine uses them when he is guiding hunters--he calls the bull with a cow call then walks the bull right in front of his hunter--most of the time the hunter has a 15 to 30 yard broadside shot. (he shields his self with the decoy and walks backward)

 

They are good if you have a buddy calling and working with you. By the way, Eric, my pal, had a female hunter last year that killed a 375" bull and that bull was the third bull he called into range for this gal--she missed two bigger bulls!

 

Eric uses the hind end decoy. If you want to use mine i will be happy to let ya take it for the season--you will save some bucks. I have the full body decoy. By the way, i used this decoy two years ago while guiding a Hunt of a Lifetime young man and we sat it up at the water hole--sure enough we had a couple rag horns come in to the tank after they held up half way--i cow called very lightly and they saw the decoy and came running in--the young one couldn't get a clean shot at the bulls and they walked off--it was a lot of fun even if we didn't kill a bull.

 

Wow thats a great offer, I would take you up on it if you were closer but by the time I paid for fuel to come and get and then bring it back I could probably buy two of them. Maybe if I went to the valley for another reason but I almost never go.

 

thanks everyone for the feedback keep it coming.