Decoy Use

[Swede]

Last night at the seminar, I asked Joel Turner about the use of decoys. I have heard a lot of theories and have grown a few of my own over the years. I got the impression that he does not use them much if at all. That sorta surprised me. I thought he would say they are great for solo hunters. His basic take was the normal: set one up where you call from. then go quickly to your ambush location.
In short range area (places where visual sighting distances for you and the elk are short) the decoy is not an advantage was his thought.
I am no expert on decoys by any measure, but I have tried them. Joel put them down I thought by referring to them as an unrealistic cloth silhouette. My take was that he thinks they look unreal to the elk. I can definitely say that is not correct. I have had deer and elk come right up to them. Deer sniff at them, then go get a drink and then return to sniff the decoy some more. Some deer and elk are afraid of a decoy. Some see it and shy away. All pay attention to it. It never registers to the live animals that the decoy is two dimensional. It just goes out of sight when they get to the thin angle. Maybe it is like the moon to them. You have the new moon and the full moon. New elk and full elk.
I believe in areas where your calling spot can be seen from long distances in light cover, a decoy can sell the call. You call then move to your ambush location. In Oregon you cannot make the decoy move. You can have no strings attached. There Is no prohibition on putting the decoy head near a bush and tying a string to the bush to make it move, so it looks like the decoy is eating or raking it. I would recommend hanging the decoy and attaching your string to the bush before you make your call, or you could get caught with your pants down so to speak.
What do you decoy users think? What can you add to help us along here?

[Lefty]

My daughter and I use a Montana decoy. Like many things in the hunting world they need to be used correctly but often arent.
A long long time ago a trapper was speaking to a bunch of other trappers about lures.
" Lets say you are in church sitting near the isle with your eyes closed:almost asleep,..The big ole lady walks past who poured way to much perfume on,.. You dont open your eyes because you know they kind of person that just walked by.
with your eyes still closed and not asleep, you smell a light fragrance,.. your eyes will open"

With decoys just a taste, or wiff. This is how we use the Montana, When solo I plant the decoy in or behind some cover,call from that location . then set up in front of the decoy 40 yards
With a partner calling we side step the decoy towards the open, then back to cover Dont give the elk a great look. I do the same coyote hunting
Being a fanatic goose hunter I much prefer a few high quality goose decoys than a 10-20 dozen decoys spread.,..

[Elksniper1]

Much like the previous post I have seen the most noticeable use when we just use them to flash color or partial movement when the caller is behind and slightly off to a side! Depending on cover that can be over 100 yards.animals expect movement when they pinpoint a "herd" or even a single elk! Many times I've had bulls slow down at a distance and survey the scene. At this time if you just slowly flash a decoy much like a elk walking. Amongst trees or brush where they basically see the same thing we see with a herd moving through the the timber. The elk have closed the distance faster upon seeing this!also another time we rely upon the decoy is to move thru open when elk are still quite aways out! Two people can slowly move through an opening holding the decoy. wheni am sitting on a water or wallow I have never used a decoy. Mostly because I think without movement it would look out of place.

[Swede]

Sniper, you are right. I have learned from experience not to place a decoy at a water hole/wallow. Most of the time (60%-70% est.) it sends the elk away. That really hurts when you have been waiting there for hours and days. All of a sudden you realize the elk were coming in until they spotted that stupid decoy.

[Wapiti]

I personally use them and like them. Now I obviously do not use them on every encounter but I will let the elk see them and then hide it away and let the bull come looking for it !!

This technique has worked more then once for this bowhunter !!

Trav