Motion decoys have been a staple of duck hunting for quite a while now. There are mojos, lucky ducks, and quiver pucks. With the rising popularity of coyote hunting, motion decoys are being used more and more. Unlike duck hunting motion decoys, predator motion decoys are not mimicking coyotes. They are meant to look like prey. Add a dying rabbit call to a motion decoy and you’ve got a deadly combination. The video gives you an idea of what they look like and how they work. There are several companies making motion decoys for predators. This is the Hare Ball Screamer from Edge by Expedite. They make a wide variety of motion decoys sure to fit your budget and your needs
The decoy gives approaching coyotes something to look at while stalking what they think is their next meal. If you are using only a call, when the coyote comes into view he is looking for the source of the call. If he doesn’t spot anything that looks like a potential meal, he’s going to keep visually scanning the area and could spot you, the hunter. The decoy gives the coyote a focus point and allows you to get set for taking the shot.
I like to set the decoy along a ridge or in a valley upwind from where I plan to sit. If you place the decoy at the top of a hill, you won’t see the coyote until he is right on top of the decoy. Of course, ridgeline shots are also unsafe, especially with a speedy predator gun. If you’re hunting flat land, put the decoy up wind from you in an open area that is easy to see. Many models have remote controls which allow you to operate the decoy only when needed. While this is a great feature, I recommend using motion as much as possible until the coyote is spotted. I guarantee the coyote will see your decoy before you see the coyote. Keeping the ‘yote focused on the decoy and not on looking for potential danger is the intent.
Young and hungry coyotes will often run right into a motion decoy without hesitation. In fact, sometimes you have to whistle at them to get them to stop for a good shot opportunity. But just like any other game species, there are some individuals who are a little bit wiser than others. This is where the remote feature really comes in handy. Once you know the coyote is locked on to the decoy but he’s hanging up, turn the motion off for short bursts of ten to twenty seconds. For some reason, this really gets their curiosity going. I guess it’s kind of like teasing a dog by hiding it’s toy.
Another good tip is to treat your motion decoy like a piece of your clothing. Scent is a big element of coyote hunting. They are smart animals and will often circle before coming in to the decoy. Place your decoy outside for a few days to air the human scents out of it before hunting. Obviously, put it somewhere it won’t get rained on but gets plenty of wind. After a few days, place the decoy in a plastic container with your hunting clothes.
Motion decoys are not miracle workers. If a coyote never sees the decoy it does you no good,. Calling is still necessary. You still have to hunt downwind & stay concealed. If you are in an area without a huntable coyote population, these decoys are not going to make a coyote materialize. However, they can help close the distance between a successful hunt and a “maybe next time” experience.
