Decoys

[Broken Arrow]

What's your opinion? Use them or don't, head fullbody or both. Only for the rut or good anytime? Worth the weight?

 

[Jared Bloomgren]

I have used the various Elk Montana Decoys and have had good results with them. They are light and very packable.

 

[les welch]

I have used a few different ones. The one I use 99% of the time now is the HUD. Its light, realistic, quick, and very adaptable.

Here is the link, check them out. Let me know if you have any questions.

Les

http://headsupdecoy.com/

 

[mattstanton]

I plan on taking one montana cow but and a heads up decoy this year. I have a spot picked out that is fairly flat and open that holds some huge bulls and will need something for them to focus on so they don't hang up.

 

[Swede]

I like a decoy when I am hunting alone on the ground. When I am calling, the decoy can validate the idea that the bull has found the elk it heard. I think it puts them at ease a little. If I am out in front and off to the side of the decoy, some 20+ yards closer to the bull, I feel I have some advantage. I do not use any decoy when tree stand hunting. Elk coming into a water hole can be startled upon seeing the decoy and turn away. At the water hole, some elk are attracted to a decoy, some seem unconcerned about them, while others leave immediately on seeing one. Since I set up at a point where I expect the elk to come to, I do not want to risk turning them away. My decoys are a simple headless elk outline. I purchased a couple and have made some out of painted burlap cut outs.

 

[TJ]

Does anyone know what the Heads Up Elk decoy weighs?

Just curious.

 

[les welch]

It is under one pound, but I don't have my spreadsheet here. I'll post up the weight to the nearest .01# on Tuesday.

 

[wapitibob]

I have 2 Montana cow Elk. I used the butt last year when walking around to hide myself. I will use the full cow this year.
I'm also making an Elk hat like Lou Phillippe made years ago.

 

[les welch]

Does anyone know what the Heads Up Elk decoy weighs?

Just curious.

9.14 oz total weight.

 

[TJ]

9.14 oz total weight.

Thanks Les.

 

[bbrown]

I used one (Montana full cow elk ) for the first time last year with a client.
We spotted a group of 5 bulls milling around in the sage without much cover between us and them. They paid it absolutely no attention until we closed within a couple hundred yards. Once there, a couple of whinny cow calls and the mellow group of bulls suddenly switched, began sparring and tearing up the sage. We were able to close the gap to just under 100 yards while all this was going on and the client made a great shot on the biggest 6x6.
It was a blast - I am sold.

 

[Aron Snyder]

I use the Heads Up Decoy and have had great success with it...very light weight and easy to pack!

 

[ElkNut1]

I too favor the Heads Up Decoy over the larger MT Decoys! I've slipped in on some pretty wiley critters with it even as close as 15 yards! It's easier to pack for most elk hunting situations. That new Slip Cover Decoy has its place as well over the Heads Up on blind/cold calling setups. I like the fact it will stand on its own & you can get behind it.

ElkNut1

 

[Swede]

I have had deer and elk react both positively and negatively to decoys. I have seen them run off, frightened by my decoy, while I was waiting in a tree stand. I have observed them come up, put their nose up to the decoy and sniff at it, leave, get a drink, then return to sniff at the decoy again. I have observed elk react in a number of different ways to my decoys, but they do usually react when they see it.

I have to admit that I am surprised to see Elknut endorse a "Slip Cover Decoy", especially after he made a strong case last year that camo wasn't important to elk hunting success. From what I have read and observed about an elk's eyes, I doubt they even recognize what is printed on a significantly larger piece of cloth. I believe a plaid pattern or the picture of a bale of hay would do the same thing as a picture of an elk's head. The real advantage of a slip cover is that it is a very portable blind. I have never tried one, but if I am correct, a decent sized umbrella with masking tape strips, splotches of dried (no scent) latex paint or anything else that breaks up a solid color would do as good. I am not positive about my assessment of the slip cover, but I am very skeptical. Has any tree stand, ground blind hunter or hunter in a similar situation, set one up at a water hole and observed different elk's reaction to one while you remained totally quiet?

 

[bearguide]

i have used montana decoys, and called a 6 right into 5 yards before shooting him. his attention was focused on the decoy. but the wind was right and i did not move when he could see me.

 

[Titaniumman]

My darlin' wife bought me the cow elk HUD and the clamp for my birthday. Can't wait to try it out

 

[abovealpine]

i have used the montana critter and managed to get some bulls into bow range but no herd bulls i will try this hud in some thick timber were the montana is useless