Decoys for hunting cow elk?

[Greg Szalewski]

I am going to MT in two weeks on a cow elk hunt and want to be prepared for it. I was thinking of getting on of those collapsible decoys but am unsure if it would be of any help. If they work please tell me how you would use it.

Thanks

[wingnut]

Greg,

If you are going to be calling then the decoy set away from the shooter will help.  Many times I try to call the calves and cows to have the bull follow.

Mike

[damascusdave]

Not about elk but about moose...a guiding partner called a moose toward his truck on the road and the moose turned away...Pat ran around the truck, pulled out his Montana decoy, and holding it in one hand with the call in the other, standing beside his truck on the road, called the rutting moose back so that his hunter was able to arrow that moose at 40 metres...unless space is an issue take a decoy with you...you never know when it will come in handy

DDave

[old_goat2]

If you buy a Montana Decoy, buy the Eichler model, it comes with some real nice bungees to deploy it with and leave the poles that come with it home unless your hunting sage brush area where there aren't any trees to hang it from.

[snakebit40]

Heads Up decoy's make a cow elk. I know the turkey and mule deer doe work great. I just got the antelope today, hopefully help out next month.

[tracker12]

I really see no value in lugging a decoy for a "Cow" hunt.  You won't be calling in cows and if you are hunting a water hole they will come in if that's where they want to go.  Actually if the lead cow see's the cow and does't like what she sees she will take the heard out of there.  That's just been my experience others may have had other experiences.

[old_goat2]

I'll be carrying two, and water is the last place I'll set up, because there is water everywhere this year, well maybe I will in a way since it's everywhere;-)

[Greg Szalewski]

I am getting mixed feelings on this. I will be hunting ag land bordering the Charlie Russel which is rougher and the bed room I am sure. I wouldn't think that setting up next to the decoy would be a good idea but perhaps so the decoy would be beyond the ambush. Would it work to focus a curious cow?

[ChuckC]

A tip there Greg.  Learn how to fold the dang thing back up BEFORE you get out on the mountain....  Just saying.

Also, with just a little bit of messing, you can make your own version of the Eichler special using a montana decoy (some are on sale here if you saw that.)  I did that years ago and never carry the legs anymore.
ChuckC