Using decoys on callers

L

Lazer32

Active member
Hello Everyone,
I bought a Foxpro X-24 caller earlier this year. I was thinking about getting a decoy to attach to it. Does anyone use a decoy with their X-24 and do they notice a difference? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
I use decoys a lot but much prefer separate decoys that I can get higher than the caller. I guess I would use a caller mounted decoy if a predator would have an uninterrupted view for a long ways.

Something I did a while back, w/pics

www.predatormasters.com

Decoys TIP of the Month

Packing around a placing a decoy. Another thing I've found that decoys can surprise and spook coyotes if they start spinning in their face. I like to place mine high so they can see them from a distance I convert a trekking/snowshoe pole to a decoy holder and they are very versatile not only...
www.predatormasters.com www.predatormasters.com
 
I use one for daylight calling, I have seen them lock in on the decoy and hard charge from different distances, I think they work sometimes I will keep using it for daylight calling.
 
Spurchaser said:
Why? Do you think it scares them or maybe stops them shy of coming in?
Click to expand...
Partly, I don't want to mess with them in the dark.

Partly. I don't want owls to fly off with it.

I use hand calls quite a bit during the day, but flip on the caller/decoy to take the heat off me.

I never hand call at night, & many times I shut off the caller off to keep them from storming in, & make them hunt for it.

Better chance of a standing shot I believe.
 
alf said:
Always during the day, never at night.
Click to expand...

Spurchaser said:
Why? Do you think it scares them or maybe stops them shy of coming in?
Click to expand...

alf said:
Partly, I don't want to mess with them in the dark. Partly. I don't want owls to fly off with it.
Click to expand...
I only hunt daylight and almost always use a decoy. Draws the critter's attention away from me. In all the years I've used decoys have had a number of various raptors swoop down to investigate, sometimes owls landed in nearby trees to observe them. Had one stolen by a javelina but never by a bird actually steal the topper until the day that my topper was stolen by birds on three different stands, miles apart, in one morning! Never figured out why the sudden interest and have never had it stolen since.
 
alf said:
Partly. I don't want owls to fly off with it.
Click to expand...
I don’t mess with decoys at night. During the day I typically stick one out, but I don’t do much daytime calling.

My Mojo Critter has been attacked by several owls and 1 Fisher over the years. All daytime. Can’t tell you the number of raptors that have come to the call and landed next to or nearby.
 
That's my reason for daylight use, had to many owls try taking the decoy, also like others said it takes the attention off of you. I know of some guys using a feather and string, hang it on a branch or a stick in the ground any air moves the feather around, that's the cheap way to try to make sure using a decoy works for you.
 
It has been my experience that Harris Hawks in South Texas are the first thing to come to the decoys, even quicker than gray foxes.

hQpV1jFl.png


Cows eating my decoys are the worst.

ya,

GWB
 
I don't use mine on my Shockwave much these days. I've had too many coyotes booger off when they see it. I think if you're in the open where they can see it far off and zero in, you're good. But in thick cover, when they pop out right on top of it, it spooks them off.
 
DesertRam said:
But in thick cover, when they pop out right on top of it, it spooks them off.
Click to expand...
That can be a concern. The brush is so thick where I hunt, IDK if any spook from breaking out near the decoy; if they do, I don't see them. I usually hunt two tracks or powerlines bordered by heavy brush and most of the ones I see are coming to the decoy from a few hundred yards out.
I did see one bobcat that was about to step out of the brush to give me a shot spook from my foxpro which I had hung in a tree by the strap. I think the wind swinging the call slightly reflected the sunrise off the lens on the call, but it might have been the movement alone?
 
I would never use an intermittent whirler in thick cover but I have had success with a continuous spinning small decoy high in a bush. Twice I've had coyotes leap up and grab them out of the bush, I've had them attack callers too.

Pic of my favorite close cover decoy.
bX1Yho.jpg



A clamp on a section of fishing pole, you can clamp it on a tree or bush and get the decoy up and away so it can be seen without having to search for the perfect branch or having to clear away leaves and branches.

oGB8mr.jpg



I just put together a trekking pole with a button on the top to attach the bird decoy.

I'm always looking for these decoys if you have a non-functioning one. In cold weather they do eat batteries. I would carry a handful in my pocket with a hand warmer and get a couple stands out of a battery.
 
Last edited:
I have but don't anymore. I don't think I have ever called a coyote that I otherwise wouldn't, because of using a decoy. I do think that I have had some booger when they did see a decoy.
 
Back
Top