Decoys for coyotes

[Citori]

Has anyone used a decoy for predators? I saw a new motorized one in my sporting catalog the other day and was wondering if it would work. If ya had some luck(good or bad) with one I'd like to hear.

[dogjaw]

I haven't used any myself, but I've talked to fellas that use stuffed toy puppies with success. They tie fishing line to the toy and pull it now and then for movement.

[Chad]

I saw the stuffed animal trick in a hunting magazine a few years back. The guy was using a 'Snoopy' toy, he said it increased his sucess by a lot. Chad.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I have thought about tying a rabbit or squirrel skin to a shrub and using the fishline idea.....think I will give it a try this winter. Those mechanical decoys can be pretty pricey; if I had the money, I think I would invest it in one of the electronic callers instead IMHO.

[Cobra]

What really works, especially this time of year, is that FeatherFlex fawn decoy and a fawn bleat call. Stuffed animals work good, my favorite is a roughly life size Red Fox I stumbled upon a few years ago. Tried Rigor Rabbit a few years back, use the rabbit on a corn stalk or stick, leave the battery case at home. A feather or tail hanging from a stick with fishing line works as good as anything. I always try to remember that all I really want to do with a decoy is keep them focused on something besides me. Gave up on electronic calls, mainly there is a lot of people (OVER)using them now, you have to be to active to set them up and mouth/hand calls are more versatile.

[Citori]

I had the idea of getting one of those cat toys with the ball on the end of a spring. It has a base and the spring should move in the wind. Now if I could only find my old rabbit hide I have around. Thanks for the responses.:D

[Bearbait]

Concerning the motorized decoy. KBtoys and most Cracker Barrel's have the basic motor (round ball with rotating unit inside) I purchased one from KB Toys in the Lansing Mall for $5.99 and am making my own using fake fur and the tail that came with the toy. Certainly a lot cheaper than $39.95.

[Citori]

I meant "thanks" for the responces.:D

[Steve in MI]

Bearbait has it right on the money. When I hunt a pasture that works best. I have a fishing swivel that I attached to it and stake it down with a piece of fishing line works great. Cost was about $8.99 at spencers in the mall.

Abother good trick if you are hunting close to a wire fench is a barlap bag drapped over the fance and use a fawn in distress call that works this time of year as the fawn are still young. Good luck

[Alpha Male]

Stuffed, plushie toys can work. But they are also a "wick" which will absorb ALOT of unwanted scent which can be highly detrimental to your effort if you are hunting dogs that are not accustomed to human presence. Been there, done that, bought the tee shirt, AND got sunburned !!!


I like rubber turkey decoys. The dogs don't seem to mind if the area holds 'real' turkeys or not. I believe their curiosity and predatory instinct / hunger overtakes any notion of "what the heck is that thing" that they might have.

Good luck.

[Thebear_78]

I have used a salted and dried fox squirrel hide for several years now. Juse use paper clips and a raquet ball to make the body, clip the edges aroudn the ball. Leave that out in the open. THe tail will move around in any wind at all. It keeps their eyes on a spot allowing you some more movement. I wouldn't invest any money on a decoy as you will probably lose one to a bird of prey. I have had hawks come down and hit my squirrel a couple times. Also watch out for owls. I know a guy up north that had an owl snatch the rabbit fur hat right off his head. He got a couple stiches from the deal. a decoy can be great but also takes the time to set it up. It can go either way. A salted hide doesn't take up any room in your calling bag and doesn't weigh anything either. Its well worth having one.

[Dogshooter]

I hunted with guys that had all kinds of different decoys and I have a decoy called Rigor Rabbit that I used a few times and some of them do help if they are holding back. It got to where I was carrying way too much stuff and the rabbit was one of the first things taken out of my backpack. I now take a turkey feather and use a piece of monofilament to tie it so that any light breeze will make it flutter around. It works just as well as any decoy I have used.

[Worm Dunker]

Went to Kansas quail hunting and the outfitter was telling us about the time he took his wife Chihuahua and put it in a wire basket gave a couple rabbit squalls and he said out of no where came a coyotte rushed the dog turned it over and open the basket and out poped the dog. The scared dog ran toward the outfitter with the coyotte hot on his trail. He said he missed with first shot and didn't detire coyotte, killed it with second shot. Was telling a nother friend of mine this and he said he has done this with stray cats all the time and it works great.

[Chuck]

Ive been wanting to try hunting yotes. Can you hunt during the day? what time of day is better? What advice for a first time hunter of yotes?