Using a Coyote Decoy

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Cschelk2

New member
Hey guys, new member and first post but i've been hunting coyotes for several years now (illinois)

Does anyone have any tips or pros/cons of using a coyote decoy while calling? I mostly call semi open areas (ag fields/pastures around timber) in central illinois and have a montana decoy Coyote decoy. I've taken it out a couple times with minimal success (i think i had a double come in at record speeds on one occasion). My primary reason for not using it much is because i cant get the stakes into the frozen ground but this year i built a little wood stand to use and if i set my foxpro under the decoy and on the stand it provides enough weight to anchor the decoy.

I'm aware of the safety aspect of using a coyote decoy and the places i hunt are private areas where i will be the only hunter; for obvious reasons i try to place it and the call 50+ yards away from me.

Any tips or tricks for setting up or calling? Cons of using the decoy?

Thanks guys
 
We have used a coyote decoy in the past. We started running into situations where the coyotes were doing run throughs of our stands. Using a decoy got coyotes to stop and pose for the shot. We also used the decoy to try and trigger a hard charging response by using it in conjunction with another decoy like a rabbit or woodpecker. It seemed to make the coyotes charge in harder trying to beat the "other coyote" to the prey.

The downside that we saw to using decoys is that some guys seem to get lazy in their stand set ups. They didn't watch their wind direction, cover, etc...they just tried to rely on the decoy to overcome the other stand deficiencies. Their success rates started to go down. A decoy is not and end-all-fix-all for predator hunting. It can be used with success when used on a good stand set up. But don't use it to do lazy stands...
 
I've used a Montana decoy in large winter wheat fields with a mojo laying on the ground in front of it like the coyote had caught one of the geese feeding in the fields, worked like a charm BUT those situations are few and far between for me, I rarely hit private fields, most of the time I'm hunt sage brush and thickets where I try to keep a motion decoy high off the ground so the coyote can see it for a long distance and not be surprised by it and it is not a threat. So far It has worked well for me and have had no problems with with coyotes shying from a decoy and it sure gives me more lee way on getting a shot.
 
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Decoys are like howling. They can help your chances of success, and they can hurt your chances of success. Sometimes, they come in so fast when using a decoy that you can’t get them stopped for a shot, and they are gone even faster.
 
Yesterday evening I set the foxpro with foxjack decoy under the lone howler full body decoy and was able to call in a triple and a single on the same stand. I was hunting in a shotgun only area but but I managed to get two of the four.

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I use one sparingly and can't say it's really helped. Hunting the big flat fields of the river bottom and a few hay meadows with lots of visibility I'll pack the coyote decoy. I keep thinking it might add just that extra bit of realism to make a coyote watching from the thick stuff step out for a better look. When I use it I set it up broadside to the expected coyote's location so they can see it better and put the Mojo Critter a bit in front of it to draw attention.

Downside I see there is that a bobcat might not poke it's head out of the brush for a better look because it sees the coyote standing there.

I do use the decoy built into my FoxPro or the Mojo critter on every stand. I've seldom seen a negative reaction to it. I definitely feel I get away with more movement getting my gun on one and steady with the decoy drawing attention.
 
Originally Posted By: Josh PearsonYesterday evening I set the foxpro with foxjack decoy under the lone howler full body decoy and was able to call in a triple and a single on the same stand. I was hunting in a shotgun only area but but I managed to get two of the four.

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That is awesome. Nice work.
 
Originally Posted By: SDHowlerI made a coyote decoy from a pelt (fleshed and wet - not dried) that I bought from a local fur buyer.

Using a coyote decoy.





That looks awesome SDHowler! Wish someone actually sold decoys like that! Very cool!
 
I just bought a fox decoy on close out at Runnings. The 'foxxy' by Edge. To be honest it looks pretty crappy but what the hey...I'm gonna go out in about a half hour and give it a whirl. The yotes and fox are highly educated 'round here, maybe it'll bring one out into the open.
 
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