I call coyotes and have had some success, but would like to improve my success. I set up with the typical wiggling fuzzy tail and have called coyotes to it, but most set ups yield nothing. So I've thought about buying a coyote decoy, but don't know if they work. Please share your experience with them.
Varmint calling decoys, do they work??
- Thread starter Sniper66
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We tried them. Ended up being just something else to pack in and out. But our coyotes get a lot of pressure. It’s not uncommon to see ranchers shooting coyotes from their trucks on county roads. Especially during calving season.
Would they work? I’m sure if you threw out some challenge calls you might get a few, in the right spot. But I think people have forgotten that coyotes live in the woods too.
Would they work? I’m sure if you threw out some challenge calls you might get a few, in the right spot. But I think people have forgotten that coyotes live in the woods too.
Aletheia
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What they do best is focus the animal's attention somewhere that you aren't. That will allow you to make small movements without being made, but they are not necessary to call a coyote. If you hunt alone, they can be helpful, but they are, as has been pointed out, one more (sometimes awkward) thing to carry around. We tend to use mouth calls primarily because they are easy to carry, and we enjoy hunting in pairs so one guy sets up to call from somewhere "concealed" better while the other covers the expected approaches from somewhere else. Our decoys have not had much use.
jmorris
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I have never gotten them closer than once I started raising chickens. Motion sensors let me know when something warm is moving outside. All that’s left is putting the coop where it’s visible from the house.
They are close enough for pistol calibers at that point.
For calling them, darkness and thermal optics are your friend.
I find I get better coyote response when using a coyote decoy during the breeding season. I'll use a female coyote estrous call for the first few minutes, then switch to a beta coyote challenge call. If there are any un-mated males in the area, they will respond but they come in real shyly and you must be quick to spot and shoot them before they boogie.
buck460XVR
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Over the years I have had 'yotes attack my turkey decoys more times than I can count. Back in the 70's when I used my old Burnham Brothers cassette caller most very weekend during the winter, I used a tanned rabbit hide attached to a string, that was hung from the brush and moved with the wind. Seemed to work sometimes and sometimes not so much. Similar to using a decoy for turkeys. Some days the Toms run right up to them and attempt to mount/fight them. Next day, they will hang up 70 yards out and just strut, while waiting for the decoys to come to them. Have even had turkeys in range, see the decoys and watch them go out of strut and try to get the 'ell out of there. While I never have used an actual "decoy" for Varmints while Varmint hunting, I assume there wouldn't be any difference. It comes down to the mood of the Varmint that day and the amount of pressure and decoys they have seen in the past. I would think how hungry they are would make a difference too. Kinda like turkeys....easier to decoy in a group of roving bachelor Toms than it is to decoy in a Boss Tom from his Strut Zone/Dance Hall.
As stated, the decoy for coyote calling is for them to look at IT for the source of sound and not YOU. I've seen a few dogs charge the decoy, bet really, you just want it about 30 yds in front of you so that you see THEM before they see you and you have them distracted enough to do what you need to do. Generally, they're as much plain curious as they are actually fooled by the decoy.
Aletheia
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For sure. You don't need a fancy "real coyote" decoy. Anything that moves randomly (in the wind a bit?) will really get their attention, and I believe that even if they have no idea "what the heck is waving around over there" they will very often go have a look just out of curiosity. I'm pretty sure curiosity is often their prime motivation to investigate a call. I know we have called coyotes to turkey calls, and there isn't a turkey within 400 miles. It explains why so many different calls actually work, and why so many different "techniques" are good. There is no doubt that the expensive electronics and decoys can help at times, but we just sneak in and use mouth calls of various kinds.
crestoncowboy
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I've always thought the same.
gotboostvr
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I don't have anything to add unfortunately. I'm looking to do my first dedicated coyote hunts here in the southwest in a few months (just moved here, waiting until I qualify for an in state hunting license). Seen plenty, and heard even more which is promising.
But I'm tagging this thread to keep an eye on updates.
Here's a pair I came across while pushing my daughter's stroller around our neighborhood at 11am a few weeks ago:
You can see both in the top picture. I was practically right on top of them before I noticed them (came around a corner) and they were very nonchalant about it. Stretching, yawning and milling about.
But I'm tagging this thread to keep an eye on updates.
Here's a pair I came across while pushing my daughter's stroller around our neighborhood at 11am a few weeks ago:
You can see both in the top picture. I was practically right on top of them before I noticed them (came around a corner) and they were very nonchalant about it. Stretching, yawning and milling about.
IME, coyotes are going to respond, to the prospect of a meal. Look at it with the Coyote's eyes. 17 wins and 1 loss are a GREAT football season.
But 17 wins and one loss, to a coyote, is a dead coyote...
When I use a call, I tend to be very intermittent. Make the coyote search for the source. This buys you the time to put it down, if you're alert.(and lucky)
Aletheia
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Well, those coyotes seem pretty safe to me, and it also seems they know it. Not the sort of neighborhood that I normally call to; so maybe a blind that looks like a fire hydrant, or is that you goboostvr in the first one already hiding? 
Make a blind out of a hedge. Saw a post a few years back someone did just that. Enough room for a small chair to sit in. Had a hinge that opened it. Not sure why it was made but was cool.Well, those coyotes seem pretty safe to me, and it also seems they know it. Not the sort of neighborhood that I normally call to; so maybe a blind that looks like a fire hydrant, or is that you goboostvr in the first one already hiding?
Decoys are not the be all, end all, but they can distract a coyote enough to allow you to make small movements bringing your rifle to bear undetected.
I almost always deploy a decoy of some sort on every stand, they are especially effective on bobcats. Some seem to be a bit more effective than others. The Foxpro Jack Daddy looks like a bird fluttering and also has a "voice" which serves as a coaxer which often entices hung up critters to proceed even closer. https://www.gofoxpro.com/products/decoys/jack-daddy
Every coyote is a study unto itself in the manner in which they respond to the call or decoy. As has been stated, they respond to several different motivations and in a number of different manners.
This cat eased up directly across the sendero from my call & decoy, intent upon the decoy placed about 35-40 yards from my hide, but caught my movement lifting the camera and strolled withing 5' of the decoy as he left in no hurry.
^^ On another ranch, pretty much same setup, this cat walked out of brush, heading straight for call/decoy, picked up moving my camera and slowly sat down and watched me long enough to snap 20-30 frames, got up and disappeared into the brush within a few feet of the decoy. vv
Another cat called in at same location, same setup but 6 months apart. Early winter, came out of brush, inspected decoy and went back from whence he came.^^^ This is the same cat, wearing his summer coat, coming out of same brush line as above.
2nd picture is in front of the same tree as center picture above. vvv
After checking out the decoy again, returning to his bedding area vv.
There is no always or never when it comes to calling critters. Seasons change, weather changes, hunting pressure varies, all this and more affect the outcome. Some things work some days, nothing works all the time!
Have heard lots of folks tell of their decoys being attacked by hawks and owls. Hunted w/decoys 10-12 years before a Kestrel actually hit my decoy and turned it over....unfortunately, I had slipped back to my jeep to get my camera after his first pass when he overturned it.
Did have a javelina steal the topper once and then spit it out as he retreated.
Finally, a couple of years ago, all in one day, 2 different owls on two different stands, actually stole the topper on my Jack Daddy and carried it off. Same morning, two more owls on different stands came to the call, sat in a tree and on a fence and contemplated an attack, only to lose interest and leave.
Then, the very next stand, a Harris hawk hit the topper but failed to get hold of it and flew away.
Why were the birds so strongly attracted to the decoy that day? Your guess is as good as mine!
Regards,
hps
I almost always deploy a decoy of some sort on every stand, they are especially effective on bobcats. Some seem to be a bit more effective than others. The Foxpro Jack Daddy looks like a bird fluttering and also has a "voice" which serves as a coaxer which often entices hung up critters to proceed even closer. https://www.gofoxpro.com/products/decoys/jack-daddy
Every coyote is a study unto itself in the manner in which they respond to the call or decoy. As has been stated, they respond to several different motivations and in a number of different manners.
This cat eased up directly across the sendero from my call & decoy, intent upon the decoy placed about 35-40 yards from my hide, but caught my movement lifting the camera and strolled withing 5' of the decoy as he left in no hurry.
^^ On another ranch, pretty much same setup, this cat walked out of brush, heading straight for call/decoy, picked up moving my camera and slowly sat down and watched me long enough to snap 20-30 frames, got up and disappeared into the brush within a few feet of the decoy. vv
Another cat called in at same location, same setup but 6 months apart. Early winter, came out of brush, inspected decoy and went back from whence he came.^^^ This is the same cat, wearing his summer coat, coming out of same brush line as above.
2nd picture is in front of the same tree as center picture above. vvv
After checking out the decoy again, returning to his bedding area vv.
There is no always or never when it comes to calling critters. Seasons change, weather changes, hunting pressure varies, all this and more affect the outcome. Some things work some days, nothing works all the time!
Have heard lots of folks tell of their decoys being attacked by hawks and owls. Hunted w/decoys 10-12 years before a Kestrel actually hit my decoy and turned it over....unfortunately, I had slipped back to my jeep to get my camera after his first pass when he overturned it.
Did have a javelina steal the topper once and then spit it out as he retreated.
Finally, a couple of years ago, all in one day, 2 different owls on two different stands, actually stole the topper on my Jack Daddy and carried it off. Same morning, two more owls on different stands came to the call, sat in a tree and on a fence and contemplated an attack, only to lose interest and leave.
Then, the very next stand, a Harris hawk hit the topper but failed to get hold of it and flew away.
Why were the birds so strongly attracted to the decoy that day? Your guess is as good as mine!
Regards,
hps
Decoys work as mentioned above on coyotes, as well.
This pair came to the call one morning, entering the sendero about where the X is and approached the decoy at the gallop, the female a few lengths behind the larger male.
They were coming on so strong that I couldn't stop them with a bark, so, with the male getting close to the decoy, I dropped him before he could get a whiff of it. The female turned inside out and covered the 100 yards or so back to where they entered the sendero before I could get on her.
She stopped at the X again, looking back, but only for a moment, however, and I hurried the shot and missed her. As she stepped back into the brush, I was busy cussin' myself. Then she re-entered the sendero and ran back up to check on her mate. Didn't miss the 2nd chance I was given.
Both coyotes were 100% focused on the decoy during their first approach.....hard to say what part it played in the 2nd coyote's return, but it obviously didn't hurt anything.
Regards,
hps
This pair came to the call one morning, entering the sendero about where the X is and approached the decoy at the gallop, the female a few lengths behind the larger male.
They were coming on so strong that I couldn't stop them with a bark, so, with the male getting close to the decoy, I dropped him before he could get a whiff of it. The female turned inside out and covered the 100 yards or so back to where they entered the sendero before I could get on her.
She stopped at the X again, looking back, but only for a moment, however, and I hurried the shot and missed her. As she stepped back into the brush, I was busy cussin' myself. Then she re-entered the sendero and ran back up to check on her mate. Didn't miss the 2nd chance I was given.
Both coyotes were 100% focused on the decoy during their first approach.....hard to say what part it played in the 2nd coyote's return, but it obviously didn't hurt anything.
Regards,
hps
jmorris
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I generally use the ones that I built for hog hunting, using 12v Motion sensors because I have various lenses I can swap out in them that reduce being alerted to things I am not interested in. In this case they were originally designed for indoor use but with the right lens little pets or larger pets could be in the room and not trigger the sensor but larger heat sources would. The sensor when activated triggers a timer circuit I built that powders up a DPDT relay that powers up some old radios that came from Huntsville prison a friend gave me decades ago and the digital voice recorder circuit that plays back a prerecorded message (location). They are supposed to be good to about 5 miles but in the woods, even with the antenna on top of a 20’ section of PVC, that’s reduced to about 2 miles.
I don’t really need the range here at home because we only have 10 acres and my coop is less than 100 yds from the house. These will work 100 yards.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/SkyLink...300/301981469?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US
hps1 said:
I might add, predators are not the only critters that respond to a call and decoy. I think we can safely assume that the motivation in the case of these critters would be curiosity.
This Sable was very curious & circled the decoy slowly before sauntering off into the brush. ^^^^
^^^^ Decoy barely visible in edge of road about 2" from right edge of picture, in front of this young Nilgai cow.
Mature Gemsbok came to the call and was mesmerized by the motion of the Mojo Critter. ^^^^
Even herd animals can also be curiosity driven. Mojo Critter barely visible (in white circle). The sound of the stampede preceded this Wildebeast herd, led by the herd bull (arrow) which can be seen staring at the decoy.
"Curiosity killed the cat" is no more applicable than in connection with use of calls in conjunction with the proper decoy.
Regards,
hps
.308 Norma
Member
Don't you have magpies where you are? Around here I've called in about a hundred magpies to every one coyote.
Sniper66 said:
Don't you have magpies where you are? Around here I've called in about a hundred magpies to every one coyote.
No crows or magpies down here, but cara cara (Mexican eagles) make up for their absence.
I, too, call many more of most of the various birds mentioned above than coyotes. Cows and horses are more problematic than the birds.
In fact, two old cow ponies put out to pasture by the landowner in their own pasture have all but rendered one of my favorite coyote stands useless. I liked to set up on the adjoining fence, but they invariably come right up to the fence next to the call and make a rucus!
I kinda like to have the birds circling around, as I believe they add a 3rd dimension to the illusion we try to convey with our prey distress sounds. Have had up to thirty hawks and cara cara circling my decoy on occasion.
Heck, they even drop in for lunch without any special invitation on occasion.
Regards,
hps
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