Elk decoys - helpful when hunting alone?

[slim9300]

slim 9300 sent me a video of walking up on a bull across an open meadow. He got within 25 yds before the bull took off.  He was not trying to kill the bull, just trying out the decoy. Maybe he will give his thoughts on the decoy.

Here is the video in its raw form. I wish I could edit it but you get the idea. Sorry about the focus issues and problems keeping the same orientation.

Not a valid vimeo URL
This is the bull during the video. I took pics as I was walking toward him. I had a tag in my pocket and I could have killed this bull easily. He was about 30 yards at the closest. He was not tame, just confused. We called him in and I decided he wasn't big enough. Thus, I deployed the decoy, got up and attempted to get as close as I could in the fog. The calling and the decoy clearly helped to confuse him and keep in mind that I kept the decoy between him and I. I ran him back the direction he came simply because there was a herd of elk to my left. They were originally what I was after and I didn't want him to blow them out.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[slim9300]

They work good but I'd be Leary about ussing them in crowded areas.

You only deploy the Poison Arrow decoy when you need it. There is no cow face on the rear. This would never be my concern bow hunting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[slim9300]

Depends where you hunt..in NE WA I bought one and it has sat in my basement for 15 years.. its to thick for them to ever see it and when they do see it they are in bow range

Imagine having an extra 5-10 seconds (many times more in my experience) to shoot an elk that sees you and is spooked. That's the primary reason I love having the decoy on my bow.

I hunt places on the Westside that I have no doubt are much thicker than what you see on the NE. When you don't need the decoy, you don't notice it being there. When you need it, it's ready in a heartbeat regardless of how thick. It's all about timing when you deploy it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Big6bull]

That bull wasn't big enough?

[WapitiTalk1]

That bull wasn't big enough?

That bull was a squeaker compared to the one he arrowed last year   

[xXLojackXx]

Must have been one of those hoof rot bulls that couldn't walk 

[pianoman9701]

Cool video.

[slim9300]

That bull wasn't big enough?

The bull I killed was much bigger.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tbar]

Slim,  does that bull have double crowns and a split g4? 
I do believe that the decoy works.   For what it's worth I was the biggest skeptic, questioned everything about the poison arrow decoy,  and then ate crow on multiple occasions. 

[Big6bull]

What do you guys think about the size of the head on that decoy?it seems so large to me, if it were smaller  would it play with his depth perception on how close you really are.?

Slim can I come with you and shoot your satellites?

[slim9300]

Slim,  does that bull have double crowns and a split g4? 
I do believe that the decoy works.   For what it's worth I was the biggest skeptic, questioned everything about the poison arrow decoy,  and then ate crow on multiple occasions.

I believe it does have double crowns! Pretty neat bull!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[slim9300]

What do you guys think about the size of the head on that decoy?it seems so large to me, if it were smaller  would it play with his depth perception on how close you really are.?

Slim can I come with you and shoot your satellites?

Hahahaha!

The size of the head does not seem to affect the elk in any way other than holding/drawing their attention. If you think about it (just like you implied), it would just give the elk the illusion that the cow is simply closer than it seems. I think it could fool a person for a second or two, and elk are much dumber (at least that's my impression).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Big6bull]

Have any discounts for us poison?

[pianoman9701]

Have and discounts for us poison?

Yes, retroactive? 

[snarkybull]

I'm convinced.  I will buy one right now if somebody can dig up a coupon code for us.