A decoy can be one of the most effective tools a hunter can use. Calling wild turkeys, elk, antelope and whitetail deer into range can be difficult, yet once they see what they think is a female, they often come with reckless abandon. The ATA Show in Indianapolis provided a chance to check out a series of exciting and extremely effective decoys. If you’ve never tried a deke when hunting, you are missing out on a lot of fun and exciting hunting action.
www.TurkeyFan.com
The website is also the name of the company and last spring I had the chance to hunt with the guys with the pop-open decoys. At the time I asked if there were more decoys in the works besides wild turkeys and got my answer at this year’s show. These decoys operate like an umbrella and are super simple to set up and take down. They provide enough space to crouch or sneak behind, allowing you to close the distance between you and your game. The turkey on the fan is oversize, yet that didn’t stop a hunter from sneaking within 10 yards of a strutting Merriam’s as you can see on their website.
New this year are elk and antelope decoys that are very persuasive. Not only are the decoys lifelike, they are large in size allowing a hunter to move quickly with the decoy fully displayed during the approach. Each comes with a special support that folds down, keeping the decoy vertical when its time to shoot. www.turkeyfan.com
Montana Decoy
The folks at Montana began with an elk image a decade ago and have expanded their stable of elk images to meet any need. If you are aggressive, you’ll like Miss September that is a full-frontal image of a cow elk. Other images include a new “rear view” that’s perfect to lure a bull into range with his attention fully focused on the cow’s rump. Additionally, the decoys now come with aluminum supports which make them lighter and easier to carry.
Their strutting wild turkey gobbler now offers a veiled viewing opening in the tail that makes the hunter nearly invisible as you move closer or allow the gobbler to come to you. Keep in mind that these decoys are extremely realistic and take extra precautions to use them safely. www.montanadecoy.com
