Decoy use

[Lefty]

Lets here what happened when you used a decoy this year!!

My daughter and her boyfriend and I were hunting together. We were on our 4th may 5th set up. We sent my daughter ahead to sit on the ridge, we were behind her 80 yards or so.
I let out a bugle and had a quick response. My daughter moved back towards us off the edge of the ridge , sat down and knocked an arrow. That wasn't the plan,. Considering the distance and steepness the bull was on us quickly.
This areas was wide open timber. With a thick canopy but very little under growth. I was caught just as I was moving back sitting down. The boyfriend was also caught 20 yards in front of me, he hadnt moved as quick as I had.
All three of us were in the open. when the bull turned his head, I motioned to the boyfriend to move the decoy in front of him. Slooowlly. He did as I motioned. That bull stopped exactly where my daughter had started to sit down. She was now 22 yards away . During the whole time the bull was quartering to. So my daughter never had a shot.
After 8 minutes the bull seemed to be bored and turned to walk off.
Im not sure what that bull would have done without a decoy, But I can tell you that was an extremely intense 8 minutes for my daughter

[Swede]

No decoy use for me this year. I only tree stand hunted until I got my elk. I never use a decoy when I am in a stand. Some elk don't mind seeing a decoy at a water hole, but others won't come in if they see one.

[CurlyTail]

After serious consideration, I have decided against regular decoy use. Mostly based on my Turkey hunting experience. I want the Elk to come searching for the sound they heard. If they see a Decoy, they may stop and stare - I want them to keep coming closer.

I can see a good use for the Poison Arrow decoy to confuse the Elk as to your true identity, or a decoy to hide behind when making a move on a herd in more open terrain. But a decoy to attract a Bull from a distance seems like a long shot to me.

That said, I would love to hear from people who have actually committed to using decoys, and have real life experience. I do not.

[CurlyTail]

Surely someone used a decoy this season and has a story to tell