Ultimate Predator?
Equipment
Anyone with any experience with Ultimate Predator (bow mounted) decoys? I am thinking elk and possible muley. Front facing? Rear facing? Which mounting method? Any success stories where they made a difference? Thanks in advance.
They look very interesting to me also Z. I wonder how they will work & hold up in the wind here in NE.
Any sort of wind makes them a pain. But without wind they work on pronghorn and work well on big horn sheep. No experience with elk/deer.
I have the Antelope, moose, caribou, mountain goat, and mule deer. Used it a few times on Sitka blacktails and mountain goat with success. Failed miserably on any attempts with antelope in August. Peak rut animals you’ll have better odds of it being successful.
If you envision a big Viking shield of sorts that allows you to just walk up to the animal for a shot or something they will come sprinting in to, I think you’ll end up disappointed. It does help you cross in sight of animals when you run out of cover, and more importantly I’ve found it helps you gain that extra 1-2 seconds for a shot when raising up/drawing to shoot once already in range. That always seems to be the most difficult step in the stalk sequence and instead of animals bolting in sheer panic they seem to look over and curiously think what is that? It’s frustrating enough to use in higher winds that I often leave it in the pack those days.
That’s my personal take. Great tool for specific scenarios and they weigh practically nothing so there isn’t a negative to having it in the pack in my opinion.
Thanks for input. Yeh I don't expect to put one on my bow and have them to run in and want to dry hump me. My thought for is the curiosity factor and confusion (If I want to cross an opening) Nothing screws you like a human outline. The curiosity factor for MD is just that. Not having them leave the country. For elk, I hope to hold them a little longer or give them something to look at if solo calling.
MD is western ND says wind, so it's use would be selective.
How easy is it to add/remove from your bow? I am thinking the std straps.
I have a moose, goat and muledeer and they do work, but they're not magic. I zip-tie the velcro to the riser and leave it there. I find the wrap around attachment that comes with some of them almost useless. If its windy, forget it.
This past season I used the cow moose decoy to kill a bull. When the bull came came in, I held the decoy up and used binos through the hole to count points and take a couple of pics. I was also wearing a black hoodie and hat. I've had moose walk within bow range over the years while calling. The goat decoy works best if you wear an off white hoodie. They definitely give you an edge and some leeway on movement.
I used a doe antelope decoy this past August. I think it works to an extent. Maybe gave me a few extra seconds on some animals. However, I was never able to just walk right at bucks like you see some people do. I also am wider than the decoy so that could be a factor. I would be inclined to try it again but with a buck decoy during the antelope rut.
I’ll add hunting turkeys with them is a blast and very effective.
get the gear ties instead of the velcro, quicker to attach and silent
I bought the elk one, but our bush is so tight it didn't take long for the bush to rip it out of where I had it and I lost it inside a week.
Have the elk and antelope. Love them. I Have killed over the elk, but not with it on my bow. Usually hang it up behind me when hunting solo. Haven't been as successful with the antelope yet but it's helped for sure.
I bought the elk one, but our bush is so tight it didn't take long for the bush to rip it out of where I had it and I lost it inside a week.
I used the Antelope buck and had a blast with it. Havent tried the others but for Antelope it was very helpful and very fun to have with
