Hi all and question. Are coyotes afraid of decoys?

To me there seems to be some individuality in coyotes that you don't find in a lot of other animals. Some seem to be scared of the decoy, some hang up as soon as they see it, and for some you'd better shoot quick to keep them from making off with it.

Yesterday I had one that seemed to be shying away from the decoy when I first saw him, then he came in at a trot to about a hundred yards before he started working the wind on the decoy. That put him right where I wanted him for the shot.

Decoys aren't a necessary tool to call coyotes in. I use them to try and manipulate coyotes after I call them in. I also use them to try and take the focus off me when I'm hand calling.

Nate
 
world premier of my homemade decoy....before you spit on your monitor and laugh till you cry, just know that I can overwhelm the thread with dd coytes at the hand of little buddy here

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can you turn your camera onto the video setting and post your little buddy in action...

does it all move around.. or just the top-knot...

I must be part coyote...because it has my attention... and I'm coming in for a closer look..
 
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When I first got my JIB,..it was very sucessful, and as
I used it, I began to have some problems with some coyotes. It was as if the decoy was intimidating them.
I then built a feathered decoy out of fishing swivels, piano wire, etc and it is smaller and it is a killer. I
have had two coyotes jump on it before I got back into my hide. No shotgun either time.

I agree that some of this stuff is a lot to pack in,..but I would pack the decoy over another gun.

Pack
 
Originally Posted By: KizmoIn my experience, yotes almost always stop their charge and stare at the decoy. In the wide open spaces I hunt, that can be a problem if they're still 400 yards out, so I've pretty much quit using them for yotes.

That's been my experience, too.

Except when the cover's a little tighter. Then I've had coyotes coming in, spot the decoy, and turn tail and RUN. I used decoys (commercial and home-made) for 3 years and never once had a coyote positively turn toward it with intent to attack. They either stopped where they were (sometimes a long ways out) or ran.

Furthermore, if you watch some of the videos very carefully, frame by frame, you'll often see the coyote coming in, head-down toward the E-call, spot the decoy, and turn inside out trying to get away. The narrator will often say something like "That coyote was coming right at the call!", but if you turn the sound off and ignore him, you will often (not always) see a different story.

Given the additional setup, weight, battery hassle, and simple lack of improved success, I don't use them anymore.

 
Some coyotes spook on a fast moving decoy, others charge it. It's really the personality and mood of the coyote at the time. I tend to use slow moving decoys with the most success.

But....if you haven't called in anything yet in the past 30 sets or so, then it's not the decoy that is the issue.

Tony
 
Dan, only the topknot moves. I drastically shortened the stem of the mojo and trimmed the fluff until I got a moving decoy that closely resembles a bird in flight. picture a hummingbird that is hovering above a small critter. it really is amazing to watch. I have had tons of negative encounters with the mojo (pre-makeover)once the coyote came in close. I realized that something did NOT make the coyotes feel comfortable. I tinkered and tinkered with the prototyping of the decoy and the coyotes reactions to the different movements and sizes and colors until I got to little buddy. He stands 8 inches tall and 10 inches long. the oversized eyes actually made quite a bit of difference in the commitment times of the coyotes. Very few hang ups now.

Took my good friend out calling the other day, he hunts lots of things but rarely coyotes. He gave me one off those "you're smokin dope" looks when he saw little buddy, but after a day of dead coyotes at the decoy, I made him a believer.
 
What about bird decoys that hang in tree or bush. One wing spin decoy. Anyone have better results with bird decoys?

I really thought that a decoy would boost the hunt. Build confidence and bring the animal in. But that just wasn't the case. Didn't get out yet. Maybe tomorro I will sneak out for a bit without the decoy.
 
I have seen some folks that had good results with those decoys you are referring to. Wounded woodpecker? I have one never did get any success, But I have seen others that have. I have called one in using the Jack in the Box decoy, but its been attacked more by raccoons. My Mojo Critter thus far has only caused them to run where I live. All you can do is try, and see what works. Good luck.
 
I don't think coyotes are afraid of the decoys. Just watch Mojo Outdoors. They might spook sometimes. Other times they run in and try to eat the decoy. It's really a matter of preference. I like them because it gets the predators eyes off of me in case I have to adjust to get a shot.
 
I have experienced the full spectrum from no show to spook or charging in and once had four coyotes come in and lay down to watch.
Seems like I have experienced all of this without the decoy except laying down to watch.
Verdict for me is one less thing to carry, control, and power.
 
Yesterday was a tale of two coyotes. One spooked from the decoy and the other didn't stop staring at it until the bullet went in.

Nate
 
I was thinking here in my area I hunt there is very little open places. Maybe the animals can see its not real before I see them and beat tail.
Out west and some other places you can see animals comming from 400+ yrds away.
Most areas I hunt I might be only able to see 150yrds.
So maybe they are seeing it from a closer distance than out west where it might look like a real prey animal at 400+ yrds untill they get closer.
I have seen many videos where they charge in hard from way out only to get 100 to 150yrds away and lock up.
Maybe they do know something dont look right with that decoy as they get closer. Or why would they lock up at those distance?
 


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