DIY decoy....fur or feathers?

C

canadian hunter312

New member
im going to be making my own decoy very soon but im unsure about what to use for the body covering. it will be used for coyotes, fox and crows. should i make the body out of fur and have a little tail or use just feathers with a feather type tail? or a mix of both...

seems to me like feathers would give more action that rabbit fur.

thanks for any tips.

also, any ideas on what to use to give it good motion would be apreciated.
 

Canadian hunter312,

There are many different decoys made from both, Feathers eventually break down,and loose there apperance and real tanned fur is very nice ,yet it also has it's down side... if it gets wet! And not properly tended to it can...well think of a leather boot left out in the sun after being wet! Fake fur has held up the best for us and through all kinds of weather.

You may like to view our fake fur decoy tops at
YOTERS DENand check out the MONSTER MOUSE collection, They might give you an idea /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif of how you want yours /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Good Hunting!
Vaportrail /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I've seen plain ol stupid looking kiddy teady bears work wanders! anything that moves will work! feather flex turkeys are great too!
 
Anything furry with some movement will do. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif Please lets not have any cracks about my wife. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I had one of those flex Turkeys once /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

I almost forgot about that, Thanks Glenn. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Good Hunting!
Vaportrail
 
Don't make it more complicated than it has to be. I've often used a light weight rod with a couple of turkey wing or tail feathers attached to it with a piece of fishing line. All you need is something that will move and catch their attention and hold it. Just stick the rod in the ground and let the feathers flutter in the breeze. Works like a charm. Dale
 
Here are a couple of photos of effective home made decoys.

IMG_1264.jpg


BensDecoy.jpg


The top photo is of a straightened wire clothes hanger with feathers tied to it. It doubles as a wind indicator too. It's light, compact and easy to carry. Besides, it works!
 
Bear with a complete moron here, but as decoys for predators aren't a very big thing here I have to ask the actual purpose. Is it to keep their attention away from you?
These are obviously used in conjunction with a caller right?
Do they help alot?
And finally do they work for foxes?
Thanks for bearing with an idiot.
 
Weasel; That's what I'm, talking about. Simple but effective.

Foxman: That's exactly right. It draws their attention away from the hunter. Plus I think that they come in expecting to see something struggling, and when they see it, it puts them at ease a little.

Dale
 
Yes,

The type/style does matter, Yes I do agree a decoy could be an old sock or buzzard feather blowing in the wind! to draw focus away or some silly teddy bear stuffed animal, in the majority of dense coyote populations, West of the Mississippi, as an example HOWEVER!

Depending on you geographical location and sesonal weather conditions when you can hunt when its prime fur season here in Maine and there is snow pack (4) feet deep in the backwoods and snow surface conditions change at times every couple hours, you are not going to stick no wire or cutout look alike in or on the ground, snow or no snow without some weather factor messing you up or freezing you up,your better off at times to use no decoy.

I am a firm beleiver in decoys, so to design and test a decoy/a look, an appearance that would work all around and with different motorized devises and geographical locations (I)we developed the "MONSTER MOUSE",Hec, we needed a name for our feather, teddy bear, ole sock or what have you and some guys and girls cant sew as in (Vaportrails Case)so I wanted to make it available to all predator hunters! Because, I truly do hunt and love this challenge, so I knew the decoy had to be able to stand up to the rain,snow,flatlands,mountains, and so on because it worked for us! One time we didn't even need a call!, We hooked the Monster Mouse on a fishing pole line and just reeled it in across a frozen lake that we had just crossed and a dang yote started chasing it, for awhile anyway, before I lifted him into next week with my RUGAR.

Anyway, In my opinion at least for us who enjoy living in the real Northeast and pursuing great northern yotes I'll always stand behind my Monster Mouse, and yes you to Vaportrail /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif


April
 
Foxman,
The smaller decoys work great on foxes. The fox silhouette in my photo is pretty much the same size as a red or grey fox that we have here. Our coyotes will attack and kill a fox so it works great to divert their attention away from the caller.
If I were to target only foxes, I'd make a silouette decoy that was the size of a half-grown fox. That way, it won't intimidate the smaller or younger animals.
The purpose of the marabou feather is to add movement, plus tracking wind changes. Even the clump of feathers on the straightened wire works pretty well. I've had hawks dive at it and have had coyotes snap at it. Once the decoy is spotted by an approaching predator, their attention is usually so riveted on the decoy that a shooter can get away with a bit of movement if he needs to change positions to shoot. Of course the decoys are only used during daylight hours.
If you're not a do-it-yourself kind of guy, check out Yoters Den for some decoys that'll work anywhere in the world on any predator.
 
Weasel,

I have never said my decoy would work anywhere in the world! But there are hunters, many hunters who would rather purchase a different decoy attractant than what's available to use with what ever they want.

I happen to like your fox idea with the feather weasel, ( Very Constructive)/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif Yet for me it makes no sense for me to lug something like that out into the thick bogs/swamps we have here. If I'm interpeting you wrong then I apologize. I don't know you, and I felt it was very out of line to address my decoy in the fashion you just did in regards to it working any where in the world and on any predator. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

With the greatest respect to all predator hunters

April
 
April,Weasel's one of the good guys on the board /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif.And the way I read what he said,I took it as him giving your product a very big compliment /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif,and nothing other than that /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif.take care,daveyboy
 
Quote:
April,Weasel's one of the good guys on the board /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif.And the way I read what he said,I took it as him giving your product a very big compliment /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif,and nothing other than that /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif.take care,daveyboy




Well, I do tend to be overly enthusiastic at times. I'd be willing to try it on everything from our little Ringtail Cats to the big bears and cats to prove a point though. If I'm wrong, I can admit that.
 
Weasal,

I was not trying to stir the mud , all I was saying is that I have no proof or right to claim my decoy would work on any predator and anywhere in the world from a business point of view, and will probably in my lifetime.won't be able to say that unless I get the chance to hunt every known predator and have a picture of each with my decoy is all. As I said in my post, if I'm interperting you wrong, then I do apologize. The posting of opinions is fine and I realize communication is one of the hardest things to convey true intent in a clear and concisive manner, So I truely do apologize, to you now.

I also continue to learn and listen more each day and you sir, have help me as well to have more confidence in my product by your opinion you made, now that I uderstand what you really ment. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

Finally, in closing, I hope nothing but the best for you now and for the future, and if our disstress calls ever cross in the valley of life, I will now know, I have heard this sound before and only recognize it, not as a distress call, but as a greeting call of a friend. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

April
 
canadian hunter312;
Just my two cents, but what kind of critters are common in your area that coyotes would prey on. There you will have your answer.
 
Check out this link: MM Decoy
Scan halfway down the page. Now if there is a predator in the world that wouldn't be mesmerized by one of those twitching around on a Decoy Heart, Weasel Ball
 
Simplest decoy in the world that can be carried anywhere and set up as easily is a feather on a string. Grouse or quail wing will do the same. You can hang it on a weed or limb and the slightest breeze will cause it to flutter.No need for rods or stakes.Jimmie
 
Sorry about this shameless plug.
The woodpecker decoy you can put in your pocket and hang it
high in a tree, It runs in all weather and its the least
expensive decoy out there.
Feel free to kick me around now I deserve it!

Rich Fiore
 
Dakota428,

Hello! Rich, And welcome to the PM board
Ok! You asked for it (lol)

No seriously, I want to get one of your decoys, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif But I have to know what is the prefferred method to employ the decoy high into a tree without compromising yourself and every animal within 200 meters? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Thanks and please stop by some time at YOTER'S DEN to meet our "Monster Mouse" collection "RUSTY", "DIRTY" and "SNOW-RO, RO-is short for Rodent /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
RUSTYE-MAILCAMP.jpg



Thanks
and Good Hunting!

Vaportrail /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 


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