anyone use a cow decoy?

[huntergreg]

Anyone use a cow elk decoy while calling in a bull? I was thinking about it and think it would work pretty good. 

[lokidog]

I had one out a few years ago while I was in a tree stand.  I had been bugling a bull since morning on opening day while he did a big circle around a meadow.  I climbed a tree in the afternoon to wait for him after putting my decoy out.  He finally came out behind and next to my tree (about 7 yards) and stopped where I could not shoot.  Unfortunately, before he could take a step or two and see my decoy, and be in my shoooting lane, some other hunters came out at the far end of the meadow.  At that time, he turned and walked straight away giving me no shot.     I think they definitely have a place, especially if hunting a bull out of a tree stand.

[Johnb317]

Friend used one and swore it spooked an incoming bull.   Maybe he should have sprayed it with cow scent?   

[SkookumHntr]

Ive wanted to try one of those montana decoys. Are they legal tho??

[Instinct]

I got a montana decoy and used it a few times. got busted by a cow while setting it up  but their nice and light, well the poles are a lil heavy and I usually carry it wth me in the  early season

[dscubame]

No way.  Just no way.

[carpsniperg2]

I know a few guys that use them and they have the place for sure and work very well at times. I am not going to pack one with me in the back country.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I own 2, the one with the broadside cow, and the one that is just the butt.
Put 1 oz weights in the legs, and a bungie on the back to hang from branches, thinking that set-up will be a lot smoother, and dont have to carry the legs.
Treated them with UV Blocker, and feel that with the proper set they will work awesome, just another tool in my arsenal.

[buglebuster]

Planning on buying the heads up decoy, seems to be the best bet 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

As it is, I usually only carry them sometimes , and sometimes dont ( )
I have had situations where I wished I had brought them, like when the herd feeds out into the open, across the slough (big MUD) and I cannot go to them, and they just answer my calling, telling me to come to them.
And I wonder if I had them, if I could pull the bull over by "showing" a couple cows, and giving a few estrous whines, with "spike/cow" bugles (or whatever you want to call those little ones, maybe a little raking, some tending glugs... a pant or two...
 

[buglelk]

buglebuster,

We've used the Heads Up Decoy the past 2 years and they work great. The best part is they are light and easy to set up (no stakes, etc), so we end up packing them with us everywhere and have them when we need them. The caller can hold the decoy and use it to bring the bull past the shooter, or, you can get a bow mount for the decoy and the shooter can use it to get closer to the bull. Like most tactics when it comes to elk hunting, sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, but we've definitely found that we can create more encounters with them than we could without.

Many thanks,
Corey Jacobsen
Elk101.com - Extreme Elk Magazine