Do all coyote decoys have to have camouflaged covers, corporate logos, or expensive price tags? Do you even need a lure to call in fox, coyote, or bobcat? Are there life-like, inexpensive decoys that could do a better job?
Coyote decoys are critical, or maybe not.
I’ll be honest; I prefer night hunting predators. If you play the wind, you don’t have to wear someone’s branded camo pattern, and you do not have to lug a decoy around all night.
If you hunt during the day, then it’s a different story. Imagine you are Mr. Coyote, minding your own business when you suddenly hear the sound of a wailing baby cottontail. You trot on over to the tree line and gaze out into a wide-open field. Your ears do not lie. For a few seconds, those little radar dishes on top of your head twitch for a bit and then say, “Rabbit, dead ahead!”
You stare directly at the sound. Several seconds go by. Nothing moves.
That feels unnatural. Your start moving your head from side to side and drop your nose down to the ground. You feel hackles rise, and you stop moving. Two seconds later, and you turn and beat paws out of there. https://thepredatorhunter.com/coyote-staring-at-you-shoot-now/
A coyote decoy might have made a difference.
A coyote approaching a distress call during the day often needs multiple sources of confirmation. In nature, a distressed or wounded animal will be attempting to make a getaway. This visual struggle agrees with what the predator is hearing.
A decoy does two things; it convinces a predator that there a potential meal available, and it occupies all of his attention. A coyote staring at your fake rabbit wobbling around on the ground might miss the motion your rifle makes turning in his direction. It may not even notice you shifting your whole body to get into a better position.
Great when they work, but a pain when the don’t.
When decoys work, the predator will often get very close to the shooter. In fact, if you wait too long, your target may overrun the caller or decoy.
When they don’t work, it can stink up your thinking. Decoys like to fall over, run out of batteries, refuse to communicate with their remotes, or plain refuse to operate. The frustration can have you stomping back to your truck instead of staying and going with Plan B.
When to use coyote decoys?
The #1 rule of when you cannot use a 3D decoy? When you do not know if other predator hunters are in the area. Think about it. You make a stealthy approach to your stand and then walk 75 yards out into a clear open space with this in your hand:
Other than that, the timing and seasonal use of decoys is more than this post can cover. So, I’ll let the amazing Fred Eichler give you a quick lesson:
So, where’s the $20 coyote decoy?
I warn you; you are going to laugh at me! But, I still suggest you buy a three-pack. Give your wife two for her garden and hunt with the third. When yours breaks, swap it with one of hers. And they will break. Every damn decoy I ever bought has died, and some of them cost more than $50.
These are perfect! The motion is more natural. If the sun isn’t shining, you can use internal batteries. Hell, some of the customers note it makes for a great cat toy. I wonder why? Maybe it’s because it keeps them interested?
When you are done laughing, buy them. Then go put some fur in the back of the truck.