elk decoys for cow elk

[kyrob]

Will a decoy work well to bring cows into bow range? If so, which decoy would work best and how would be the best way to use it? What call/sound should I use to bring them in? I plan on having my boys out front and I will be behind them calling with the wind in our face. Thinking the decoy may help but have never used one before. We are hunting KY elk but I guess they will be like western elk in regards to how they act. Hunt starts in late Oct and runs into Jan. Is there a best time to use a decoy when hunting cows? I figure a calf in distress would work early on but not sure in Oct or later. Any ideas?

Thanks and have a great season,
Rob

[N5J]

Had 2 different cows come to calls last year and each time I had a decoy up during the early season. IMO it doesn't matter on the decoy you use. We use the Cow Elk I decoy and Eichler Elk.

Setup#1: We setup on a spine of a ridge. We got the wind in our face and placed the decoys behind us about 15-20 yards. My hunting partner took one side I took the other. We did a few cow/calf calls then shut up. About 20 minutes later a cow ran down the ridge in my lap...3 yards then stopped once she seen the decoys. When I went to draw she blow out of there!

Setup#2: We setup in draw that we know was a travel corridor to a bedding area. We setup the decoys in the open 20 yards behind us on the side hill. Did a series of cow calls then waited. About 30 minutes a cow came from the dark timber and feed my way. She got to 32 yards and I came to full draw...decided to let her go...we had gotten a bull the day before so we had meat...I was wanting HORNS!

Key is wind in your face and decoys behind you. Best of luck!!

[slim9300]

I like this one! I have called many cows in with excited cow calls and bugles, a decoy would just make it easier.

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ImageUploadedByTapatalk1408853705.028998.jpg (475.88 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

[WapitiTalk1]

I like this one! I have called many cows in with excited cow calls and bugles, a decoy would just make it easier.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1408853705.028998.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1408853718.729416.jpg

Yes sir, got one of those in my quiver also .

[ctdad]

I like this one! I have called many cows in with excited cow calls and bugles, a decoy would just make it easier.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1408853705.028998.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1408853718.729416.jpg

I have the same decoy. It almost completely conceals the drawing motion of my right arm. I'd like to see one that is just a generic camo pattern rather than an elk. It would allow drawing your bow without the elk seeing much motion at all, but they wouldn't be zero'd in on the elk picture. That said, I'll be using mine next weekend as is.

I also have the slip system decoy and I'm going to use it later in september on my second hunting trip.

[kyrob]

Thanks for the replies guys. That elk face looks huge in the pic. Are they that big or does it just look like it on the computer? What is the name of that thing?

Thanks,
Rob

[ctdad]

Poison arrow decoy. They are a sponsor of this forum

[WapitiTalk1]

Thanks for the replies guys. That elk face looks huge in the pic. Are they that big or does it just look like it on the computer? What is the name of that thing?

Thanks,
Rob

Rob, they're made by Poison Arrow Gear (James is a sponsor here)... http://www.poisonarrowgear.com/. The cow face is about 18" tall and a bit less than that wide. It attaches on to your last arrow in the quiver and deploys "quickly" when needed.

[WapitiTalk1]

Poison arrow decoy. They are a sponsor of this forum

Ya, what he said