Poison Arrow Decoy (prototype) Review

[slim9300]

Pretty cool idea. Reminds me of the heads up decoy.

How does it do in the wind? Looks like it would flap around

Yeah except you can have it deployed while you shoot or move, and it conceals you as you draw. In low wind it's not noticeable but if it gets windy you just don't deploy the decoy. The UL fiberglass rod under the decoy face helps to keep it from flapping.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Glad you joined James! You will sell a lot of those decoys here on Rokslide.

 

[Brock A]

That's pretty slick....

 

[justin davis]

Yeah except you can have it deployed while you shoot or move, and it conceals you as you draw. In low wind it's not noticeable but if it gets windy you just don't deploy the decoy. The UL fiberglass rod under the decoy face helps to keep it from flapping.

Oh nice.
Yea the heads up decoy does that too. With the bow mount. Stays on the front of your bow and can conceal you

 

[slim9300]

Oh nice.
Yea the heads up decoy does that too. With the bow mount. Stays on the front of your bow and can conceal you

My bad Justin. I had no idea there was a bow mount for the Heads Up and I always saw it used as a stand alone. I will certainly take a look at it and educate myself. (ie. weight, deployment method, storage, speed, etc.) Do you own one? Can you comment on any of this?

 

[justin davis]

My bad Justin. I had no idea there was a bow mount for the Heads Up and I always saw it used as a stand alone. I will certainly take a look at it and educate myself. (ie. weight, deployment method, storage, speed, etc.) Do you own one? Can you comment on any of this?

No worries man. Yea I own one a (turkey and elk, and would like to get an antelope and mule deer in the future.)
They can work as stand alone or there is a bow mount that attaches to the front of the riser. You can conceal your self.

 

[robby denning]

Welcome Poison Arrow Gear, latest Rokslide sponsor.
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?16864-Welcome-to-Poison-Arrow-Gear&p=209551#post209551

 

[slim9300]

No worries man. Yea I own one a (turkey and elk, and would like to get an antelope and mule deer in the future.)
They can work as stand alone or there is a bow mount that attaches to the front of the riser. You can conceal your self.

I guess the biggest downfall I see with the Heads Up decoy is that you are talking about a little over a pound on your bow or your back. Not to mention where the bulk of that weight would be focused on your bow. How quick is it to attach and detach to your bow?

 

[trophyhill]

As a solo hunter mostly, I can't tell you how many encounters fell apart in the end because I needed an extra couple seconds. I have a heads up decoy (to heavy IMO) and a elk mt gear decoy. Way too heavy for my style of hunting to be lugging around. I have pretty much given up on decoys but the Poison Arrow Decoy will definitely be coming along on my elk and mule deer hunts in the future. I love the concept and the fact that it weighs only a couple of oz's. Can't wait to get one!

 

[Mmcan]

Do you find that you attract the attention of the animal to the degree that you'll have more front quartering or straight on front shots??

 

[slim9300]

Do you find that you attract the attention of the animal to the degree that you'll have more front quartering or straight on front shots??

I have never really thought about this. I'm curious what James has to say since he's the only one that has hunted with it that I know of. It certainly is possible to some degree, but I see the decoy calming the elk. I always keep a reed in my mouth so I'm sure if the elk turned to go away like they typically do, a few quick cow calls would give you that quartering opportunity. Or if they come inside 25 yards, I'll take the frontal shot all day long.

 

[poisonarrow]

One thing I am is honest. Last year was the first time I used the decoy and I had a terrible year. I never had the opportunity to shoot.

 

[Manosteel]

One thing I am is honest. Last year was the first time I used the decoy and I had a terrible year. I never had the opportunity to shoot.

Last year was tough for hunting elk all over, thanks for being upfront. I think the concept is rock solid and will enjoy testing it out this year. It's one of those.. "why didn't I think of that.." kind of ideas.

 

[slim9300]

One thing I am is honest. Last year was the first time I used the decoy and I had a terrible year. I never had the opportunity to shoot.

It was your second year hunting elk though correct? I think that is what I remember from our phone conversation.

 

[poisonarrow]

It is the first year I really hunted elk. I would come out to Colorado and go for a week. I lived in Alabama. Between being half sick from the altitude and just hunting a few days at a time I could hardly call it hunting.

We moved two years ago and I promptly broke my leg riding snowmobile. The year after that I was still recovering, went into the woods but couldn't go far or fast, so like I said last year was my first year of really hunting.

I can tell you one thing it hikes good, I believe i hiked fifty miles with that thing on my bow.

 

[poisonarrow]

[video=youtube;wIOXDfBeOtQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIOXDfBeOtQ[/video] This video shows how you can use the decoy on the ground or against a tree.

James

 

[dangerousD]

Thanks James for the above video! I think this is an ingenious invention. So simple and effective looking. I was going to buy a Heads Up decoy but this seems hard to beat for the few ounces that it weighs.

I do have a question as the decoy in your video seems faded and washed out. Will the actual production decoy printings be darker and less transparent?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[rodney482]

Clever

 

[Archelk]

Question for everyone here and I know this comes down to personal preference but as far as the ELK decoy is concerned do you think the rump or the head target would be better. I have never hunted with a decoy but after seeing this I'm sold.

 

[poisonarrow]

What you are seeing in the video is the sheen in the fabric. I am changing that, also it will be darker. As soon as I get the new decoys printed I will post pictures and video showing the changes.